Global Citizen Fellowship 2026 Fall Retreat: Learning and Connecting at the Asian Rural Institute
On October 24–25, 2026, JICUF held the Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) Fall Retreat at the Asian Rural Institute (ARI) in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture. GCF is a year-long leadership program conducted in English for 12 undergraduate students, including students from ICU. ARI is an educational institution where rural leaders from around the world come together to learn about building sustainable communities through shared living and hands-on experiences. During the retreat, GCF fellows learned about ARI’s mission and activities and participated in a campus tour, cooking, and farm work. Through interactions with ARI participants, they encountered diverse cultures and perspectives and reflected on what it means to live and work together. […]
JICUF International Day 2026: Connecting People Through the Cultures of 12 Countries
The photo above by Seidai Goto In October 2026, JICUF hosted International Day 2026 during the ICU festival. International Day brings together ICU international students and faculty members to share the cultures of their home countries and regions, fostering mutual understanding through interactions with visitors. This year, booths representing 12 countries—China, Estonia, India, Japan, Lithuania, the Philippines, South Korea, Syria, Ukraine, the United States, Venezuela, and Vietnam—welcomed more than 800 visitors over two days, marking a significant increase in attendance compared to last year. At each booth, students and faculty members introduced their countries’ traditions, cultures, and food. Visitors had the opportunity to explore different cultures while engaging in conversations […]
Wyatt Howard, the second recipient of the Nelson Ranch Scholarship
We interviewed Wyatt Howard, a Kentucky native who enrolled at ICU last September as a recipient of the 2025 Nelson-Ranch Scholarship. (All photos courtesy of Wyatt.) JICUF: When and what made you interested in Japan? Wyatt: I became interested in Japan at a very young age. From the beginning of my education, we were taught Japanese—presumably because of the presence of Japanese businesses and companies in Kentucky—so I believe that first sparked my interest in the language. I also had a few Japanese friends, and I really liked movies that showcased Japan or took place there. Two movies in particular, Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword and Teen Titans: Trouble in […]
Introducing the 2026-2027 Media Interns
JICUF recently hired two new media interns, Hiyu Shiraki and Seidai Goto. These two ICU undergraduates, along with Kyoka Horiuchi—who has served as a photography intern since 2024—will regularly post promotional photos and short videos on JICUF’s Instagram and Facebook accounts. Please follow us on social media to check out their posts! Hiyu Shiraki Hi, I’m Hiyu Shiraki, ICU Class of 2028. Having grown up between Japan and the U.S., I’ve always loved connecting with people from various backgrounds. At JICUF, I hope to use photography and film to meet more people and share the stories of the students and supporters who carry forward JICUF’s founding spirit. More than just […]
Othmer Research Fellowship Spotlight: Michiru Sasaoka
Project Title “The Effects of Environmental Stress on Mosquito Size Along the Urban–Suburban Gradient from Central Tokyo to the ICU Campus” The Othmer Research Fellowship (ORF) provides funding to ICU students to conduct independent research projects during the summer break. We spoke with Michiru Sasaoka, one of the 2025 Othmer Fellows, about her research project. At the time of her fellowship, Michiru was a fourth-year undergraduate student at ICU. JICUF: What inspired you to develop this project? Michiru: I have always been particularly prone to mosquito bites, so summers can be quite difficult for me. Not only do I get bitten easily, but I also have a strong reaction to […]
JICUF Summer Intern Sophia Hammond Shares Her Experience
Sophia Hammond, a fourth-year student at Bowdoin College, interned at JICUF’s New York headquarters from June through August. Sophia spent the fall term of 2025 at ICU as an exchange student and worked with each staff member on a variety of projects throughout the summer. She is now back in Maine and recently shared her experience with us.
2026 Global Citizen Fellowship: New York Program
In mid-August, the second cohort of JICUF’s Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) traveled to New York for an intensive two-week program. GCF is an eight-month program for ICU and other university students living in Japan. It is designed to help Fellows explore their values, deepen their understanding of the world and their place in it, and consider how they can contribute to the common good. Led by JICUF President Paul Hastings and Program Facilitator and ICU alumna Yuri Morikawa, GCF unfolds in three modules over eight months, each with a distinct theme. The first, Discovering Self and Authentic Leadership, focuses on values, mindset, and purpose. The second, Creating Meaningful Relationships and […]
The 2nd JICUF SWC 2026 Held at Lake Motosu!
From August 26 to 28, 2026, JICUF held its second Summer Waterside Camp (SWC) at Lake Motosu in Yamanashi Prefecture. With the support of Professor Masao Higashiyama of ICU’s Health and Physical Education Program, who also collaborated with us last year, a total of 23 students participated in the camp. Participants included ICU students as well as students with refugee backgrounds who are currently studying at universities and Japanese language schools in Japan through the Japan Education Pathways (JEP) and Japanese Language School Pathways program. One of the changes to this year’s camp was the participation of several ICU students who had attended last year’s SWC and returnedas student staff […]
JICUF Supports Conference on Education Pathways for Refugees in the Republic of Korea
A conference titled “Exploring Education Pathways for Refugees in the Republic of Korea and Beyond” was held at the Embassy of Canada to Korea in Seoul on July 29-30. As a member of the Global Task Force on Third Country Education Pathways, JICUF contributed to its planning, which began a year earlier.
USSI Scholar Alyssa Emiko Kimura Reflects on Her ICU Journey
Alyssa Kimura received JICUF’s U.S. Scholars Initiative scholarship for four years, and graduated this year. During her senior year, she served as a JICUF Student Ambassador. We asked her to reflect on her time at ICU.