JASH Japan Wizards Competition Sends 2025 Teams to Japan
On February 22, 2025, 102 students from 19 high schools across Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui participated in the 22nd Annual Japan Wizards Statewide Academic Team Competition (JWC), presented by Hawaiian Airlines and hosted by the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Campus Center. A total of 34 teams, each composed of three students, competed in one of two levels, A or B, based on their current Japanese language level. Students demonstrated their knowledge across a broad range of Japan-related topics, including contemporary society, culture and traditions, geography, history, politics, U.S.-Japan and Hawaii-Japan relations, language, and more. The 2025 competition theme was The Beauty of Traditional Japanese Arts.
At the conclusion of the JWC, the annual Atsuhiko Tateuchi Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship, given by JASH Board Director Ms. Ina Tateuchi in honor of her late husband, Atsuhiko Tateuchi, who was a strong supporter of JASH and the Japan Wizards Competition, and the International Christian University Special Award was awarded to the overall top-scoring team in the competition, ‘Iolani School Level B Team.
‘Iolani School Level B Team
JASH awarded Japan trips to the top scoring private and public school teams in each level. Level A: Hawaii Baptist Academy and Farrington High School, and Level B: ‘Iolani School and King Kekaulike High School. The Japan Wizards Competition title sponsor, Hawaiian Airlines, sponsored the four top scoring teams’ airfare to Japan.
Additionally, Kalani High School Level B team was randomly selected to receive the Dr. Leineweber Trip Award, thanks to the generous donation from JASH Board Director and Youth Educational Committee Chair Ms. Jean Rolles. This award is named after her friend and former JASH Board Director, Dr. Michael Leineweber, who passed away in 2014.
The winning students and their advisors traveled to Japan this summer to experience firsthand what they studied in their classrooms and independent research. Each team created their own itinerary, incorporating an educational program visit that JASH arranged which was hosted by our colleagues in Japan: America-Japan Society of Tama Tokyo, Fukuoka Foreign Language College, International Christian University, Sendai Ikuei Gakuen, and Temple University Japan Campus.
(L-R) HBA team at FFLC making ikebana arrangements; Nagasaki Peace Park
Hawaii Baptist Academy Level A team visited Japan from July 6-15, 2025. The team visited major cities, including Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Osaka, and Kyoto. They started off their journey with their educational visit with our partners at Fukuoka Foreign Language College. There, they interacted with local Japanese students and participated in ikebana (traditional Japanese flower arrangement). They also took a boat ride on the Yanagawa River and visited the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Next, the team traveled to Nagasaki, where they learned about the history of the city after visiting Oura Cathedral and Dejima. Then, they caught a ferry to Osaka and visited the 2025 World Expo and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. They also spent a day in Nara, seeing many deer and visiting Todaiji Temple. Student Lexi Kamikawa reflected on their trip, “Throughout my experience on this trip, I was truly able to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and customs that have over time blended and been brought to Hawaii.”
(L-R) Farrington team at Temple University; Wearing yukata in Asakusa
Farrington High School Level A team traveled to Japan from June 4-14, 2025. The team explored various sites around Tokyo. They started their trip with their educational visit to our partners at Temple University Japan Campus. There, they participated in a campus tour and interacted with students and faculty. The team continued to explore around Tokyo by visiting famous landmarks including Tokyo National Museum, Sensoji Shrine in Asakusa, Rainbow Bridge in Odaiba, Meiji Shrine in Harajuku, and Tokyo Tower. The team also had a fun time at a local Japanese festival at Torikoe Shrine. Student Frank Palacios reflected on the trip, “Visiting Temple University and seeing both American and Japanese students attending classes and hanging out made me realize that the future of this partnership depends on people-to-people connections like the one I experienced. As well, listening to the principal and his story of how he got to Japan and started Temple university also highlighted the relationship between America and Japan through religion, economics and education which helped me understand how the relationship between the U.S and Japan can deepen and grow.”
(L-R) ‘Iolani team at ICU; Ritsurin Garden
‘Iolani School Level B team traveled to Japan from June 8-16, 2025. The team traveled to many locations, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Kagawa, Tokushima, and Osaka. They started their trip in Tokyo with their educational visit to our partners at International Christian University (ICU). There, they participated in a campus tour and met with ‘Iolani alumni attending ICU. They then visited famous sites including Shibuya, Harajuku, Asakusa, and Odaiba. Next, the team headed to Kyoto by shinkansen and explored Nijo Castle and experienced Nerikiri Wagashi (Japanese confection) making at Kyoto Tower. They continued exploring Kyoto with visits to Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, and Kiyomizudera. Then, the team travelled along to Takamatsu City in Kagawa prefecture and visited Ritsurin Garden and ate sanuki udon. They then took a train to Tokushima to see the Naruto whirlpools. Finally, they made their way to Osaka and walked around Shinsaibashi and Dotonbori. Student Emi Okimoto commented, “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity as a culmination of my six years of studying Japanese, both in class and for the competition. I’ll always remember the experiences I had and the joy I felt from being in Japan.”
(L-R) King Kekaulike team meeting students at Sendai Ikuei Gakuen; Kaiseki meal at a ryokan in Hakone
King Kekaulike High School Level B team traveled to Japan from June 17-28, 2025. The team traveled to Tokyo, Sendai, Nikko, and Hakone. They started their trip off in Sendai with their educational visit with our partners at Sendai Ikuei Gakuen. The team interacted with local high school students, gave a presentation about Hawaiian culture, and participated in a traditional tea ceremony. Student Lilinoe Quitazol commented on the exchange, “I think our fun, short, simple cultural exchange made memories on both sides for sure, and that small experiences like these can help strengthen Hawaii/Japan ties, and in particular between our youth and students.” Next, they visited Nikko and Hakone, visiting historic sites including, Toshogu Shrine and Odawara Castle. While in Hakone, they stayed at a ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn) and enjoyed delicious kaiseki ryōri (traditional Japanese meal) in their yukata. The team spent the rest of their time exploring around Tokyo, including visits to Akihabara, Asakusa, Harajuku, Ikebukuro, and Odaiba.
(L-R) Kalani team at Hachiko statue; Nara Park
Kalani High School Level B team, recipient of the 2025 Dr. Michael Leineweber Trip Award, traveled to Japan from May 25-June 3, 2025. The team visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. They started their trip in Tokyo with their educational visit to our partners at America-Japan Society of Tama Tokyo. The staff educated the team about the history of Tama Tokyo, and took them up Mt. Mitake by cable car, and showed them a traditional Japanese house and garden. They then explored around Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Shibuya. The team then took the shinkansen to Kyoto with visits to Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizudera, Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji, and Arashiyama. Finally, the team went to Osaka and checked out the Osaka Aquarium, Osaka Castle, and Dotonbori. Student Mari Chong reflected, “This whole experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity I will never forget. I learned a lot and broadened my horizons by practicing my Japanese. I am so grateful this opportunity was given to me, and out of pure luck as well. Thank you JASH!”
JASH would like to thank our overall sponsor, Hawaiian Airlines, for coordinating and donating the four winning teams’ air transportation, and our other major supporters – Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation; College of Social Sciences, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa; Freeman Foundation; Halekulani; Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation; International Christian University; Ms. Jean Rolles; JTB Hawaii; Kosasa Foundation; License Academy; Lighthouse Hawaii; and Temple University, Japan Campus – for continuing to encourage Hawaii’s high school students to study about Japan, its fascinating culture, and the U.S.-Japan relationship. Because of the generous support of our donors and supporters, these students were able to have life-changing experiences and immeasurable opportunities to learn about the country firsthand.
Student Estelle Eyre from King Kekaulike High School reflected on her experiences, “Overall, this trip to Japan was far more than just a reward for winning a competition, it was a life-changing experience that deepened my understanding of Japanese culture, history, and values. Through our cultural exchange, historical exploration, and everyday interactions, I gained a new perspective and expanded my knowledge of Japanese culture and language…I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and hope to carry the lessons I learned forward in my life and community.”
To learn more about the Japan Wizards Competition, visit www.jashawaii.org/education/jwc.
