JASH Japan Wizards Competition Sends 2026 Teams to Japan
On February 21, 2026, 99 students from 18 high schools across Oahu, Hawaii Island, and Maui participated in the 23rd 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 33 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 2026 competition theme was Let’s Celebrate! Discovering Japan’s Festivals.
At the conclusion of the JWC, the annual Atsuhiko Tateuchi Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship—established by the late Ms. Ina Tateuchi, a longtime JASH Board Director, in honor of her husband, Atsuhiko Tateuchi, a strong supporter of JASH and the Japan Wizards Competition—along with the International Christian University Special Award, was presented to the overall top-scoring team, Kapolei High School Level A Team.
Kapolei High School Level A Team
JASH awarded Japan trips to the top scoring private and public school teams in each level. Level A: Hawaii Baptist Academy and Kapolei High School, and Level B: Mid-Pacific Institute and King Kekaulike High School. The Japan Wizards Competition title sponsor, Hawaiian Airlines, sponsored the four top scoring teams’ airfare to Japan.
Additionally, Waiakea High School Level A 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: Ehime Prefectural International Center, International Christian University, Nagaoka International Exchange Association, Rikkyo University, and Temple University Japan Campus.
Hawaii Baptist Academy Level A team visited Japan from July 2-14, 2026. They began their trip in Osaka, with day trips to Kyoto and Nara, before traveling to Tokyo for a fun-filled day at Tokyo DisneySea. From Tokyo, they traveled to Karuizawa, where they explored the area’s beautiful natural surroundings and various scenic sites. They then returned to Tokyo to explore its many districts and complete their required educational visit at Rikkyo University. Reflecting on her experience, student Cami Choy shared, “When studying for the JWC, I reviewed topics about anime, school life, festivals, current events, katakana phrases, and more. It made me happy to see that I learnt some things from JASH to help me understand Japan better…I appreciate Japanese culture and can’t wait to learn more about Japan in the future. This was an unforgettable and memorable experience and I’m thankful that I got to learn from it.”
Kapolei High School Level A team traveled Japan from June 20-27, 2026, spending the week exploring Tokyo's districts, including Shibuya, Harajuku, Akihabara, Ueno, Ginza, and Shinjuku, as well as enjoying a day at Tokyo DisneySea. The team also completed their required educational visit at International Christian University, which included a campus tour and an opportunity to learn more about the university and its academic programs. Throughout the trip, the students were especially impressed by Japan's spirit of omotenashi (hospitality), noting its similarities to Hawaii's "aloha spirit." Reflecting on the experience, student Mari Meia Flores shared, "From this trip, it was eye-opening to see the genuine care that the people of Japan show their guests. It has taught me how to respect different societies and gave me insights on how we as a community can learn to apply practices from different cultures. As I strive to take these experiences and apply them in my community, I hope that the Japan–Hawaiʻi-U.S. relationship can grow stronger."
Mid-Pacific Institute Level B team traveled to Japan from June 7-14, 2026. The team began their trip in Kamakura before traveling to Kawagoe, where they visited various shrines, temples, historical sites, and museums. From there, they traveled to Nagaoka for their required educational visit with the Nagaoka International Exchange Association. The staff guided them around the city, sharing insights into Nagaoka’s history and culture, as well as its sister-city relationship with Honolulu. The team also visited Koryo High School, where they participated in a student exchange and experienced traditional Japanese activities, including kyūdō (archery), shodō (calligraphy), and chadō (tea ceremony). They concluded their trip in Tokyo, exploring its many districts. Reflecting on the experience, student Anareece shared, “Looking back on this experience, I realize that Japan is no longer a place I knew out of books, anime, or films, but it has become a place filled with real people, connections I have made, and lessons that I will take with me the rest of my life. This trip really challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, and I have gained a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture because of it. The kindness from the people I met, the beauty and care for their environment, and the hardships that these people have felt is something I hope to carry with me along my journey.”
King Kekaulike High School Level B team traveled to Japan from June 15-26, 2026. They started their journey in Tokyo with their required educational visit at Temple University Japan Campus before traveling to Karuizawa, where they enjoyed the area’s natural scenery and shopping. From there, they headed north to Sendai, taking day trips to Matsushima, Aomori, Iwate, and Yamagata to experience the region’s diverse landscapes, history, and culture. The team then returned to Tokyo to explore its many districts, with a day trip to Kamakura. Reflecting on his experience, student Brayden Kitagawa shared, “Looking back on the trip, from the blinding lights of Osaki Station to the quiet heartfelt conversations I had in Yamagata, this trip showed me a different side of Japan and completely reshaped my appreciation of the country and its culture…This trip surpassed everything that I had expected and I am forever grateful to JASH for providing me with the opportunity to see the natural beauty of Japan. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for what you do for all the students of Hawaiʻi and thank you for this wonderful opportunity.”
Waiakea High School Level A team, recipient of the 2026 Dr. Michael Leineweber Trip Award, traveled to Japan from June 22-30, 2026. The team began their trip in Matsuyama, Ehime, where they experienced daily Japanese school life at Matsuyama Kita High School, visited the Ghibli Exhibition at the Ehime Museum of Art, explored Matsuyama Castle, and experienced the historic Dōgo Onsen. They then flew to Tokyo, where they explored the city’s many iconic sites and districts and enjoyed a day at Tokyo DisneySea. Reflecting on her experience, student Elle Watson Correa shared, “This trip really changed how I see the relationship between Japan and the United States. Before traveling to Japan, I might have focused on the differences between our countries, the different language, customs, and ways of life. However, interacting with Japanese students who are just like me showed me that we are more alike than different. What struck me most was realizing that beneath cultural differences, we share the same hopes, dreams, and experiences.”
JASH would like to thank our presenting 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; 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 Chase Nakamura from Mid-Pacific Institute reflected on his experiences, To everyone at JASH, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing students with this amazing opportunity to be able to visit, learn, and further our relationship with Japan. And to future wizards, I urge you to do the same, visit, learn, experience, have fun, but also do consider: What can you do to strengthen Japan-Hawaii/U.S. ties?”
To learn more about the Japan Wizards Competition, visit www.jashawaii.org/education/jwc.
