"...I believe that engaging with a country’s traditional culture, even the parts that seem to have long faded away, provides a more holistic understanding of its modern society."
I applied to study Classical Japanese at the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies (KCJS) as my first ever endeavor not only in the subject, but also in international travel. Given my long held opinion that the destination for my first international trip would have to be one where I could speak the language at least a bit, Japan was an exciting but reasonable choice. My experience in Kyoto was a great balance between navigating the unknown, such as living in a sharehouse off campus and learning a new subject at a fast pace, and having a sense of security given my lifelong entanglement with Japanese media and history.
My residence during my time in Kyoto was only a five minute walk from Kinkakuji, or the Golden Pavilion, one of the more well known temples, with its dazzling exterior, which I cherished. The ability to access cultural heritage sites, each with their own complex histories and stories, enriched my day-to-day experience. My experience in class at Doshisha University was also both rigorous and enjoyable, with the smaller group of students in my cohort growing closer and often sharing local sweets with each other in the morning.
Though the program I had been accepted into focused on antiquated forms of Japanese language, I found that while studying, I was always absorbing more modern vocabulary as well. The class taught me to notice the vestiges of Japan’s medieval culture in its modern society, whether it be kuzushiji (a Chinese-derived cursive script) restaurant signs or the literary themes with their origins in Heian epics. As a result, particularly in a city like Kyoto where traditional buildings and monuments mingle constantly with modern life, simply wandering around after class daily promised a new intellectual adventure. Being able to read some of my favorite Japanese literary classics such as the Tale of Heike in their original form also gave me a new sense of excitement for translation. The program also fed my personal interests in art history and modern Japanese culture, from getting to see places I studied in high school AP Art History to visiting neighborhoods I had seen depicted in anime I watched as a teenager.
While Classical Japanese may not so obviously fit into my desired career path in East Asian diplomacy, I believe that engaging with a country’s traditional culture, even the parts that seem to have long faded away, provides a more holistic understanding of its modern society. I have been intrigued by the way Japan in particular summons aspects of its history and traditions in the way in which it regards not only itself but also other countries in the region. I was only able to afford going abroad due to the aid provided by the Global Learning Scholarship, and had never imagined I would be able to experience so much on just my first trip.
