On August 9, 2022, a virtual award ceremony was held to recognize the 12 honorees of SPICE’s 2021–2022 regional programs in Japan. These students performed at the highest levels in their respective courses. Their names, high schools, and final research project titles appear below.

Stanford e-Fukuoka (Instructor Kasumi Yamashita)

• Kasane Horiuchi (Tochiku High School), “Research on Plastic Bottle Recycling”
• Mihiro Tomomatsu (Hakata Seisho High School), “Break Invisible Barriers. Create the World that Everyone Needs”
   

Stanford e-Hiroshima (Instructor Rylan Sekiguchi)

• Minori Imai (Hiroshima Prefectural Kuremitsuta High School), “All Lives Are Important”
• Yui Miyake, (Hiroshima Prefectural Hiroshima High School), “U.S. Prison System: How the Country’s History of Racial Inequality Drives the High Rate of Incarceration in America”
   

Stanford e-Kawasaki (Instructor Maiko Tamagawa Bacha)

• Sayaka Kiyotomo (Kawasaki High School), “How Can We Improve Junior and Senior High School English Education in Japan?”
• Anne Fukushima (Tachibana High School), “How Are Invisible Disorders Accepted in the United States and Japan?”

Stanford e-Kobe (Instructor Alison Harsch)

• Nonoha Toji (Kobe University Secondary School), “How to Foster Entrepreneurship in School Days: Between U.S. and Japan”
• Cullen Hiroki Morita (Kobe Municipal Fukiai High School), “The Different Work-Life Balance in Japan and America”
   

Stanford e-Oita (Instructor Kasumi Yamashita)

• Rina Imai (Usa High School), “Learn About War and Peace Through the Naval Air Base Bunkers in Oita”
• Yuki Nojiri (Hofu High School), “I Want to Live in the Second House of the Three Little Pigs”

Stanford e-Tottori (Instructor Jonas Edman)

• Sakurako Kano (Tottori Keiai High School), “Being Proactive”
• Yuki Yamane (Tottori Nishi High School), “The Effect of Collectivism and Individualism on Education”
   

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The event began with welcoming remarks by the Honorable Hajime Kishimori, Acting Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, who recognized the students for their impressive academic achievement. “You have demonstrated initiative and dedication to enhancing your understanding of Japan and the United States. I’d like to congratulate all of you.” He also expressed his hope for the students to play an active role in the future of U.S.–Japan relations. “I hope that your experiences have motivated you to consider an international career involving Japan and the United States. I believe the future of Japan–U.S. relations is in the hands of the next generation, and I hope young leaders like you will continue to strengthen our countries’ friendship as we move forward.”

Following Acting Consul General Kishimori’s remarks, each honoree delivered a formal research presentation in English and fielded questions from the audience. Each honoree also received a plaque to recognize their award.

For the instructors, it was a joy to watch the students present the research projects they worked for months to refine. “It’s so rewarding to see their hard work pay off,” commented Stanford e-Kobe Instructor Alison Harsch. “You can’t help but feel proud of them—for their academic accomplishments, but also for the ways they’ve grown as young adults over the course of the program.”

Stanford e-Fukuoka honoree Kasane Horiuchi is a case in point. Thinking back on her experience in the course, she reflected, “At first, I hesitated to speak up in class, but my instructor always encouraged us to be brave and told us that making mistakes was important. Thanks to her encouragement, I was able to talk with my classmates and enjoyed participating in every class. This experience was so important to me.”

SPICE would like to thank its collaborators at the Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Oita, and Tottori Prefectural Boards of Education, Kawasaki City, and Kobe City, who have helped make these regional programs a success. SPICE would also like to thank Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori, Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki, Kawasaki Mayor Norihiko Fukuda, Kobe Mayor Kizo Hisamoto, Oita Governor Katsusada Hirose, and Tottori Governor Shinji Hirai for their continued support of these regional programs.

SPICE’s regional programs are a subset of our local student programs in Japan.

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