Tadaimasu - a safe return from Japan

By Erica Bridges
Staff Writer

After an exhilarating rendezvous into the world of Japanese culture, four Hercules High School students have returned from their 10-day stay in Japan as youth ambassadors.

The travelers spent their time in Japan sightseeing and experiencing first-hand a lifestyle different than that of America. From castles to temples, the travelers received their fill of the popular sights in Nagoya, Tsushima, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Tokyo.

Henry Hung, Brittany Irving, Nicole Munoz and Michael Woo were the four fortunate youth ambassadors chosen by the Hercules Sister City Association to take part in this adventure.
The crew arrived in Nagoya after an 11-hour flight and a layover in Narita. Following a tour of the city, they left for Tsushima, where they met their host families at the city hall for a dinner and uniting celebration.

The youth ambassadors and the city employees that accompanied them on the trip were then given the opportunity to stay with a host family for three days and take part in day-to-day activities.
“[Tsushima] was pretty big--bigger than Hercules. It had a lot of schools,” said Munoz.
They then set off to Hiroshima where the travelers visited a temple on the island of Miyajima. The group then visited the Hiroshima Peace Park, a memorial for the lives lost after city bombing
When asked what was the most memorable part of the trip, Irving replied, “The Peace Park in Hiroshima. I really liked that. It was meaningful.”

The travelers boarded a bullet train for Kyoto and visited both a castle and a Buddhist shrine. Also in Kyoto, the quartet shopped at a vast market where they purchased some unique souvenirs.
“I bought a samurai sword and a bunch of key chains. Mostly just historical items,” explained Woo.
The final leg of the trip was spent in Tokyo exploring the Fuji television museum, Tokyo Bay and various parts of the large city. Woo and Hung decided to venture off to the Ginza, the heart of Tokyo, while the girls decided to shop in the Harajuku district.

Next spring, the ambassadors from Tsushima plan to visit Hercules. Members of the Hercules Sister City Association will be able to host students. During that time, they will visit Hercules High School as well as other sites in the area.