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Stanford e-Japan enrolls exceptional high school students from Japan to engage in an intensive study of U.S. society and culture. The Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP) enrolls exceptional high school students from the United States to engage in an intensive study of Japanese society and culture. Both courses underscore the importance of U.S.–Japan relations.  is the current supporter of Stanford e-Japan, and the Japan Fund at the is the current supporter of the RSP.

On August 11, 2025, the 2025 Japan Day award ceremony was held at 91�Թ� to honor 91�Թ�’s Spring and Fall 2024 Stanford e-Japan student honorees and the 2025 RSP student honorees. The honorees performed at the highest levels of their courses as determined by Stanford e-Japan instructors Waka Takahashi Brown (spring course) and Meiko Kotani (fall course), RSP instructor Naomi Funahashi, and the research paper review committees. The honorees are:

Spring 2024 Stanford e-Japan 
Aoi Furutani, Saitama Municipal Urawa High School, “Comparative Analysis of Surrogacy Policies in the United States and Japan: Proposals for Introducing Surrogacy in Japan”

Komari Machida, Crimson Global Academy, “Futoukou vs. Homeschooling: Exploring Societal Reintegration of Children Outside of Traditional School Systems in Japan and the United States”

Sota Tajima, Seiko Gakuin High School, “Synergy in the Stars: How the U.S. and Japan Can Lead the Next Era of Space”

Honorable Mentions:
Ryu Sato, Soka Senior High School, “Japanese and American Philanthropic Culture in Regard to College Financial Aid”

Sakura Suzuki, Hokkaido Asahikawa Higashi High School, “Designing School Buildings to Encourage Student Creativity: Comparing Historical Changes in School Buildings in Japan and the United States”

Fall 2024 Stanford e-Japan
Ellen Nema, Junior and Senior High School Affliiated to Showa Pharmaceutical University, “Breaking the Chain of Poverty in Okinawa: Educational Approaches and Foundations”

Hirotaka Onishi, Kaisei Gakuen High School, “A Time for Reconsideration: Toward a New International Monetary Order”

Mia Yakushiji, Murasakino Municipal High School, “Dual Citizenship in Japan”

Honorable Mentions:
Lynne Mizushima, Keio Shonan Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School, “The Lack of Female Political Leaders in Japan: A Cultural Glass Ceiling”

Kan Sugimi, Isahaya High School, “Should Bilingual Parents in the U.S. Raise Bilingual Children?”

2025 Reischauer Scholars Program
Bennett Feng, Horace Mann School, “From Economic Rebirth to Structural Stagnation”

Jessica Hu, The Harker School, “Dried-Up Rivers: State-Sponsored Linguistic Oppression and Its Erasure of Ainu Identity”

Ty Tan, Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas, “Recalibrating Japan’s FOIP”

Honorable Mentions:

Jackson Hayward, The Nueva School, “Shikata ga nai: Voter Apathy and Cultural Depoliticization in Modern Japan”

Radoslav Kyselak, Highland Hall Waldorf School, “Norms Through Networks: Japan’s Digital Diplomacy as a Counter to China’s Digital Silk Road in the Global South”

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The program began with welcoming comments from the Honorable Yo Osumi, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco. He commented that the Reischauer Scholars Program and Stanford e-Japan are very important for our two nations—given that both engage future leaders in both countries—and extended high praise to the honorees. Consul General Osumi’s tenure ended at the end of August and on behalf of my colleagues at 91�Թ�, I presented him with a plaque from 91�Թ� to acknowledge his unwavering support of 91�Թ�’s Japan programs.

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Following the welcoming and opening comments, Brown, Kotani, and Funahashi gave overviews of their courses and introduced the student honorees. The student honorees made engaging presentations based on their research papers and fielded very thought-provoking questions from the audience. Each honoree received a plaque from their instructor. The photo on the top is of the Stanford e-Japan honorees, and the photo on the bottom is of the RSP honorees; photo credit: Irene Bryant.

The RSP will enter its 23rd year in 2026, and Stanford e-Japan is about to enter its 11th year. Many of the alumni are studying U.S.–Japan relations, engaged in various fields related to U.S.–Japan relations, and continue to give back to both programs by being guest speakers and mentors to the new students.

Following the formal event, the student honorees—most having just met each other in person for the first time—had the chance to enjoy a Stanford campus tour together. It is the hope of Brown, Kotani, and Funahashi that the Japanese and American student honorees will continue to strengthen their budding friendships and ensure that the U.S.–Japan relationship remains strong.

91�Թ� is grateful to President Tadashi Yanai for his generous support of Stanford e-Japan and to the staff of the Yanai Tadashi Foundation for their regular correspondence and encouragement. 91�Թ� is thankful to the Japan Fund committee at FSI for its generous support of the Reischauer Scholars Program. These courses and the ceremony would not be possible without them. 91�Թ� is also grateful to 91�Թ� Event Coordinator Sabrina Ishimatsu for meticulously planning and implementing the event.

91�Թ� is currently accepting applications for the 2026 Reischauer Scholars Program. The deadline to apply is October 17, 2025.

The application for the 2026 session of Stanford e-Japan will open on November 15, 2025.

91�Թ� also offers online courses to U.S. high school students on China (China Scholars Program), Korea (Sejong Korea Scholars Program), and entrepreneurship (Stanford e-Entrepreneurship U.S.), to Chinese high school students on the United States (Stanford e-China), and to Japanese high school students on entrepreneurship (Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan).

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Applications are now open for Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan (SeEJ), an online course conducted in English to foster Japanese students’ creative thinking and innovative problem-solving skills to address social issues. SeEJ is offered twice a year in the fall and spring through a collaboration between 91�Թ� and the non-profit organization e-Entrepreneurship in Japan. It is open to Japanese-speaking students, in or from Japan, in their first and second years of high school. The fall 2025 course will be taught by Irene Bryant and will run from late October 2025 through February 2026.

The application form is now live at . The deadline to apply is September 5, 2025 at 23:59 Japan Time.

Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan offers students an opportunity to engage with scholars and entrepreneurs from 91�Թ� and beyond through live virtual classes, which are held twice a month on Sundays. The course will culminate in an individual research paper and final group projects. Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion from 91�Թ� and NPO e-Entrepreneurship.

Past students have credited SeEJ with not only expanding their knowledge about entrepreneurship, but also shifting their attitudes and mindset in how to look at problems. “What I really loved about this program is that it required constant innovative thinking, relatively free presentation topics, and more independent action,” reflects Shinnosuke Nakagawa, who completed the fall 2024 course. “This program made innovative thinking and design thinking my norm. I think this program helped me to develop thinking habits that will be very useful in the future.”

Fellow alum Shia Han agrees. “Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan gave me insight on topics I would otherwise never be able to learn about. From the mechanisms on how to think entrepreneurially to how various companies strive for social change, I gained valuable information on how I can work towards solving issues in the world. Hearing about how the guest lecturers and my peers in this program were actively taking action towards topics they were interested in motivated me to not be held back because of my age or abilities but to work towards contributing to causes I was passionate about.”

For more information about Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan, visit the program webpage. Interested high school students should by September 5, 2025.

Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan is one of several online courses offered by 91�Թ�.

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91�Թ� continues to broaden its impact across Japan, recently launching the new Stanford e-Yamaguchi program. This addition joins the growing network of 91�Թ�’s regional high school programs in Japan, which already includes Stanford e-Hiroshima, Stanford e-Kagoshima City, Stanford e-Kawasaki, Stanford e-Kobe, Stanford e-Oita, Stanford e-Tottori, Stanford e-Wakayama, and Stanford e-Fukuoka*.

These online courses are the result of partnerships between 91�Թ� and local governments and schools in Japan. Designed to challenge students to think critically, the programs focus on global issues related to U.S. society, culture, and U.S.–Japan relations.

With the conclusion of the 2024–2025 academic year, each program has selected two standout students for their overall performance, including exceptional final research projects. These 16 honorees will present their work during several recognition ceremonies to be held at 91�Թ� in August 2025. Distinguished guests will include members of the Stanford community, the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco, and representatives from the Japanese community in the Bay Area.

The 91�Թ� staff extends its warmest congratulations to the following student honorees for their remarkable academic performance.

Stanford e-Hiroshima (Instructor Rylan Sekiguchi)

Student Honoree: Haruka Morisako
School: Kamo High School

Student Honoree: Yura Sakamoto
School: Kure Mitsuta High School

Stanford e-Kagoshima City (Instructor Amy Cheng)

Student Honoree: Aoi Machida
School: Kagoshima Gyokuryu High School

Student Honoree: Yujiro Matsunaga
School: Kagoshima Gyokuryu High School

Stanford e-Kawasaki (Instructor Maiko Tamagawa Bacha)

Student Honoree: Yuka Nagasawa
School: Kawasaki High School

Student Honoree: Reimi Ito
School: Tachibana High School

Stanford e-Kobe (Instructor Alison Harsch)

Student Honoree: Karen Ito 
School: Kobe Municipal Fukiai High School

Student Honoree: Shoko Urakami
School: Kobe University Secondary School

Stanford e-Oita (Instructor Kasumi Yamashita)

Student Honoree: Yuri Kishida
School: Ajimu High School

Student Honoree: Yoka Okuda
School: Usa High School

Stanford e-Tottori (Instructor Jonas Edman)

Student Honoree: Maiko Koyama
School: Tottori Nishi High School

Student Honoree: Nobuki Tokukura
School: Seishokaichi High School

Stanford e-Wakayama (Instructor Makiko Hirata)

Student Honoree: Yuto Nishi
School: Kushimoto Koza High School

Student Honoree: Tomoka Kishigami
School: Kaichi High School

Stanford e-Yamaguchi (Instructor Mia Kimura)

Student Honoree: Asako Kaya
School: Iwakuni High School

Student Honoree: Miku Kuramura
School: Shimonoseki Nishi High School

91�Թ� applauds the curiosity, academic excellence, and global mindset of these students and looks forward to celebrating their achievements next month.

* Stanford e-Fukuoka ends later this summer so its honorees will be announced at a later date.

91�Թ� also offers online courses to U.S. high school students on Japan (Reischauer Scholars Program), China (China Scholars Program), and Korea (Sejong Korea Scholars Program), and online courses to Chinese high school students on the United States (Stanford e-China) and to Japanese high school students on the United States and U.S.–Japan relations (Stanford e-Japan) and on entrepreneurship (Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan).

To stay informed of news about Stanford e-Japan and 91�Թ�’s other programs,  and follow us on , , and .

The following is a guest article written by Akiko Mizuno, who traveled to the San Francisco Bay Area with other graduate students from the University of Tokyo—under the leadership of Professor Hideto Fukudome—in January 2025. 91�Թ�/Stanford collaborates closely with the Graduate School of Education at the University of Tokyo and met with the students during their visit to the Bay Area.     

As a student at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Education, I had an opportunity to travel to 91�Թ� to participate in a 91�Թ�-supported intensive seminar at the end of January this year. What I learned during the week-long program far exceeded my expectations. I would like to share some of the highlights of my experience during my stay at 91�Թ�, but first I would very much like to express my appreciation to Dr. Hideto Fukudome of the University of Tokyo who led our group, and to Dr. Gary Mukai, Director of 91�Թ�, who guided us throughout the special lecture series. My heartfelt thanks also go to all the lecturers who gave us such a heartwarming welcome and truly inspiring and eye-opening lectures.

There were many great things that impressed me through my participation in the 91�Թ�-supported intensive seminar. One of the experiences that gave me a lasting impression was a morning walk through San Jose Japantown guided by Dr. Mukai. As we walked, he told us about his childhood growing up as a sansei (third-generation Japanese American) in the 1960s. As I kept listening to his stories, I was able to imagine the hardships he and his family must have gone through even though he told his stories without drama or hyperbole.

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At one street corner in Japantown, there was a long, horizontal granite monument. There, I saw big romaji characters carved in capital letters that read “GAMAN. KODOMO NO TAME NI,” which means, “Endure. For the sake of our children.” It suddenly dawned on me that years upon years of struggles that issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants) and nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) endured so that their children could have a brighter future were expressed in just those 19 letters etched on the stone bench. To this day, I can still vividly recall those letters because they are now etched on my heart.

Another experience that left me with a strong impression was a lecture on design thinking by 91�Թ� educational researcher Dr. Mariko Yang-Yoshihara. Before we left Japan, she had given us an assignment to watch a video about Dr. Ge Wang, professor in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at 91�Թ�, and write about our reactions. The video included Dr. Wang’s talk and a demonstration of how he produces novel musical sounds using a computer and a bow-shaped metal. At first, they were so unfamiliar to me that I felt somewhat uncomfortable. “Is this considered music?,” was my initial reaction. However, when he played Bach on the Ocarina iPhone app he had invented, I could even say that it was soothing. Towards the end of the video, Dr. Wang also introduced us to a piece of music performed by the Stanford Laptop Orchestra, which he had founded. As I listened to their unconventional orchestra sound, I became even more relaxed and fascinated by the beautiful harmony they produced. I then realized that the whole point of this assignment was to gain a perspective on how we should not be close-minded and embrace new experiences. In her research, Dr. Yang-Yoshihara has introduced a trilogical mindset—think out of the box, give it a try, and fail forward—highlighting these as common attitudes shared by individuals thriving in STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics) across diverse sectors today. By being introduced to Dr. Ge Wang’s endeavor and experiencing my own shift in how I appreciate music, I now see myself beginning to “think out of the box” and finding new experiences more enjoyable.

Dr. Mukai, a noted educator and compassionate person, was the very personification of his parents’ profound love and perseverance, and I learned from Dr. Yang-Yoshihara the importance of having an open mind to be innovative. Having had these valuable lessons, how could I stay the same as before? I am truly thankful that I can still grow even though I am no longer in my youth.

In March 2025, both Dr. Mukai and Dr. Yang-Yoshihara came to Japan and took some time to visit us at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Education. It was a big bonus for me to be able to see them again. I know I am fortunate to have had this extra opportunity to further exchange ideas and learn from them. I am looking forward to implementing the lessons learned through 91�Թ� in my daily life. It was indeed a wonderful way to start a New Year.

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The following reflection is a guest post written by Millie Gan, a student in the Spring 2025 Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan Program. Millie recently launched , a platform for encouraging social entrepreneurship among teens.

I believe that ideas from young people can help solve some of the world’s toughest problems; the voices of students are more essential than ever.

My name is Millie Gan, and I am a high school senior in San Diego and a participant in the Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan (SeEJ) program. I am a British national, born and raised in Tokyo. I’m bilingual in English and Japanese, and studying Spanish. My mother is a third-generation Korean-Japanese, and my father is originally from Hong Kong. Though I have no ethnic roots in Japan, living there allowed me to appreciate and respect its people, traditions, and local diversity. 

When I moved to the U.S. three years ago, I was surprised by the number of questions asked by peers and teachers about Japan’s rural challenges, such as its aging population, shrinking towns, and what people were doing to help. I realized how giving younger people a voice can raise awareness of these urgent issues. That is why I created , a national contest that invites high school students across Japan to identify issues in rural areas and propose business solutions, all in English. The top 10 finalists will pitch their ideas live to judges from large corporations and academia. I had the drive to make TBCJ work, but SeEJ helped me execute that drive into action, giving me the mindset and community to take the project further than I could have alone.

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SeEJ gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with purpose and empathy. For example, Dr. Rie Kijima’s session on design thinking taught me how to think from the perspective of those directly impacted. Dr. Damon Horowitz’s lessons on ethical entrepreneurship helped me reflect on why I started this journey. Ms. Megan Carroll’s insights into the nonprofit sector inspired me to treat TBCJ as a mission-driven platform, not just a contest. In one of our first VC sessions, I was partnered with another student for an exercise on creative problem-solving. My partner chose Japan’s aging society and spoke passionately about the need to amplify student voices. At that moment, I remember thinking, “That is exactly what TBCJ is about.” That moment reminded me that while our concerns are local, our hopes are widely shared.

These lessons transformed how I approached leadership as I began to see every obstacle as a lesson. As I worked to grow TBCJ, I started to think more like an entrepreneur: solving problems while learning from them, adjusting my strategies, and staying true to my original mission.

One of the first things I had to figure out was securing sponsorship. I reached out to dozens of companies focused on education and regional revitalization. After many emails and meetings, I was fortunate to secure seven sponsors and raise over ¥3 million. This funding allowed us to provide prizes for the contest and recognize the efforts of students working to help the community.

Reaching students was another major challenge. Japan has nearly 4,800 high schools, but only 150 have strong English or international programs. I directly contacted the 100 schools that had available email addresses. At first, there was silence, and I remember refreshing my inbox, getting more and more frustrated each day, hoping for a reply. But slowly, after a few weeks, a few schools and their students began responding and signing up. That small breakthrough reminded me how wide the access gap truly is. Only around 17% of Japanese citizens hold a valid passport, compared to around 50% in the U.S., which shows how few Japanese students get global exposure. It made me even more determined to connect local youth with global perspectives and to use English as a bridge to opportunity.

The most difficult challenge was gaining official recognition. I applied to multiple Japanese Government offices for endorsement, but most declined due to government policies and TBCJ’s short history. Thankfully, the Cabinet Office met with me and offered support through their regional revitalization team. Soon after, the University of Tokyo’s Innovation Platform Co., Ltd. (IPC) offered its endorsement and created a new “UTokyo IPC Special Innovation Prize” for the contest.

Through this experience, and with the support of SeEJ, I have learned that we don’t have to wait to make a difference. Entrepreneurship isn’t necessarily about launching companies, but about identifying problems and solving them with purpose. I hope to continue expanding TBC Japan and encouraging more students to take initiative, because I truly believe that ideas from young people are what can solve these challenges. It’s our future, and it is up to us to protect and improve it.

If you’re passionate about solving real-world problems, I highly recommend the Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan Program.

to participate in TBCJ.

Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan will start accepting applications for fall 2025 in August.

Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan is one of several online courses offered by 91�Թ�.

To stay updated on 91�Թ� news,  and follow us on , , and .

Applications are now open for the Fall 2025 session of the 91�Թ� Scholars Program for Japanese High School Students (also known as “Stanford e-Japan”). The course will run from the end of September 2025 through March 2026, with an application deadline of August 17, 2025.

Stanford e-Japan
Fall 2025 session (September 2025 to March 2026)
Application period: July 1 to August 17, 2025

All applications must be submitted at  via the SurveyMonkey Apply platform. Applicants and recommenders will need to create a SurveyMonkey Apply account to proceed. Students who are interested in applying to the online course are encouraged to begin their applications early.

Accepted applicants will engage in an intensive study of U.S. society and culture and U.S.–Japan relations. Government officials, leading scholars, and experts from 91�Թ� and across the United States provide web-based lectures and engage students in live discussion sessions.

Stanford e-Japan is offered by the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (), 91�Թ�. Stanford e-Japan is generously supported by the , Tokyo, Japan.

For more information about Stanford e-Japan, please visit .

Stanford e-Japan is one of several online courses for high school students offered by 91�Թ�, including the Reischauer Scholars Program, the China Scholars Program, the Sejong Korea Scholars Program, Stanford e-China, Stanford e-Entrepreneurship Japan, as well as numerous local student programs in Japan.

To stay informed of news about Stanford e-Japan and 91�Թ�’s other student programs,  or follow us on , , and .

The following is a guest article written by Akari Kikuchi, an undergraduate student studying at the School of Social Sciences at Waseda University in Japan. Akari enrolled in the 2025 91�Թ�/Stanford–Waseda Intensive Course: Exploring Peace in East Asia and Beyond Through the Lenses of Cultural Understanding, Education, and International Relations, which was organized by 91�Թ� and Waseda’s Faculty of Social Sciences and taught by Meiko Kotani. The course brought together students from the Graduate School of Social Sciences, the School of Social Sciences, the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, the School of International Liberal Studies, and the School of Political Science and Economics. With participants from Japan and international students representing 10 different countries, the course created a truly dynamic and diverse learning environment.

Looking back on our five-day program, I feel a deep sense of gratitude—for the opportunity to take part in the program, and for the people I met along the way. I’m proud to have shared this experience with such thoughtful, motivated students and teachers.

Although the program took place during our spring break, the energy and engagement from the students involved were truly inspiring. I was impressed by their insightful questions and responses.

Our group presentation—which took place on the final day of the course, after a week full of thought-provoking lectures and discussions—was especially memorable for me. It reminded me how exciting it can be to overcome differences in language and perspective. My part of the presentation focused on how media shapes public perceptions—and sometimes even hostilities—toward other nations. That topic reflected something I found really interesting from one of the lectures earlier in the week: how essential media literacy is when it comes to understanding the world around us. We looked at how the same event can be framed differently depending on the source, and how these narratives create public emotions and opinions.

What I found most important—what I’d like to emphasize—is that this program didn’t just talk about “peace” as an abstract goal. Instead, it helped me understand how peace has been threatened. Through this practical approach, we could explore the often-elusive concept of “peace” in a real-world context.

The world today feels overwhelmingly unstable. The more you think about peace, the more cruelty you see around you. It can feel disheartening, but I found a sense of renewed hope through this project. We discussed weighty, complex issues with people from different countries and cultures. Although that seemed challenging to me at first, in the end I realized that it was based in the simple experience of learning to respect the person in front of me. I think the memory of discussing peace with people from diverse backgrounds during this project will serve as “a guide” toward peace.

The fear of opening up or facing language barriers might hold people back, but I believe the program is worth trying, and I hope many more people will take this great opportunity in the future!

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