Benjamin Echikson OC ‘22

Hiroshima, Japan (2022-24)

Benjamin Echikson (he/him) ‘22 majors in Economics and East Asian Studies with a concentration in International Affairs. Growing up in Brussels with an American father and Finnish mother kindled Benjamin’s fascination with different cultures and languages. Native in English, French and Finnish, Benjamin studied Japanese at Oberlin to discover a new part of the world. He spent his freshman summer in Tokyo interning at startup EDGEof conducting market research for foreign companies entering the Japanese market. As a sophomore, he interned at the Japan Business Council in Europe in Brussels researching the impact of proposed European Union regulation on Japanese companies. At Oberlin, Benjamin plays on the varsity tennis team, hosted the “French Hip-Hop Show” on WOBC-FM, and tutored students in French. In his final year, he is undertaking an East Asian Studies honors program studying how Japanese video games adapt Japanese culture to foreign markets. Through his Fellowship, Benjamin aspires to connect Japan to his multicultural background and pursue his interest in international cooperation and understanding.