Three Hawaiʻi participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program recently returned home from Japan, bringing with them memories, friendships and experiences that they hope to share with others in the community.
The Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu welcomed the returnees at its 2026 Welcome Back Reception on Sept. 25 at the Consul General’s Official Residence. The three participants served as assistant language teachers in Fukuoka and Hyogo prefectures.
Consul General Chotoku thanked the JET participants for their efforts to promote international understanding and nurture a new generation of globally minded youth. He encouraged the returnees to continue sharing their experiences and connections with Japan with the people they meet in Hawaii.
Representatives from local organizations also welcomed the returnees and introduced opportunities to stay involved with the Japan-Hawaii community. Participating organizations included the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, United Japanese Society of Hawaii, Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce, Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Center for Japanese Studies and Department of Second Language Studies, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, Hawaii Wakayama Kenjinkai and Hawaii Fukuoka Kenjinkai.
Keith Sakuda, a member of the JET selection committee, offered the returnees three pieces of advice: “Stay connected to fellow JET alumni, stay connected with Japan, and to look back with a smile; look forward with excitement.”
The returnees also shared highlights from their time in Japan.
Sydney Patterson, who served in Fukuoka from 2024 to 2026, recalled a humorous experience learning how to make okonomiyaki.
Erin Kushimaejo began her JET experience in Fukuoka in 2020, during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges of beginning her experience during such an unusual time, she said her time in Japan helped give her a clear vision for a career in teaching.
Crystal Skuda, who served in Hyogo from 2022 to 2026, said her experience strengthened her interest in learning about cultures around the world. She especially enjoyed seeing her students having fun and engaging in the classroom.
For all three, their time in Japan became one of the most memorable experiences of their lives — an experience they now have the opportunity to bring home and share with the Hawaiʻi community.
The JET Program began in 1987 to promote internationalization and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. Participants work in schools, boards of education and government offices throughout Japan as assistant language teachers or coordinators for international relations.
More than 82,000 people from around the world have participated in the program, nearly half of them from the United States. Through its emphasis on language education and local-level cultural exchange, the program provides Japanese students with opportunities to interact with people from other countries while giving participants a deeper understanding of Japan and its culture.
For Hawaiʻi’s JET alumni, returning home does not necessarily mean the end of the journey. Through continued connections with Japan and the local community, they can carry forward the exchange that began in Japan.
