215 Days and Counting

By Yuhki Ueda ‘24, JFOU Fellow 2025-2027

Day 1. I first arrived in Japan in July 2025 as a new Shansi Fellow, preparing to start my summer language training. After landing at the Kansai Airport in Osaka, I lugged my two heavy suitcases as I made my way to the luggage delivery service counter at the airport. I anxiously checked that I had all the necessary information written down on my phone in Japanese. Full name? Check. Destination address? Check. Sender’s address? Check. Whether or not I want the luggage to be delivered at a certain time? Check. Ok, you can do this. After taking a deep breath, I approached the staff at the counter and asked them for a delivery request form. My eyes flitted between the form and my phone as I wrote each stroke, trying to make sure my writing was accurate and legible. After a good few minutes of double and triple-checking that I had written everything correctly, I handed the completed form to a staff member, who asked me a few follow-up questions and rang up the bill. I handed over my suitcases, relieved and pleasantly surprised at how simple the process was.

With my mind and hands now lighter, I mentally prepared myself for my next challenge: figuring out how to get from the airport to the apartment I would be staying at in Kyoto for my language program. I had been to both Osaka and Kyoto before, but this was my first time navigating the cities alone.

Once I got on the train, I vividly remember sitting with my heavy backpack on my lap, feeling a mixture of excitement, awe, and nervousness. And man was I hungry… Even though there were enough passengers to occupy all the seating, the train happened to be one of the quieter ones I’d ever been on, even by Japanese standards. So, when I noticed my stomach starting to rumble a little too loudly for comfort, I didn’t know whether I wanted to cry or laugh. I thought about the onigiri (rice ball) I had grabbed at the airport for later in my backpack, but eating on trains is generally frowned upon in Japan (unless you’re sitting in a seat with a tray table). Looking back, I also remember being very conscious of the passengers around me. Were they sitting or standing? Were they crossing their legs or not? (I later learned that crossing your legs on the train can be seen as rude, so most people keep both of their feet firmly on the ground.) Were they asleep or awake? If they were awake, were they looking at their phones or reading a book, or neither? What were they wearing? What seemed to be the fashion trends of summer 2025? And how about me? Did I blend in or stick out in ways I couldn’t yet tell?

Having visited relatives in Japan about once a year growing up, I was no stranger to taking the train in Japan. But, somehow, this felt different. I was no longer a tourist or visitor — this would be my new home for the next two years, and I was starting to feel the (largely self-imposed) pressure of learning how to be a resident in Japan.

My anxious tendency to obsessively observe the environment and people around me was on overdrive that first day, and would be for the following weeks. Looking back, I will admit that I really didn’t need to be so worried about whether I was fitting in immediately after arriving. I soon learned that I would need to have extra patience for myself, that moving to a new place is challenging for anybody (even if it’s a place I already had some ties to), and that making a mistake is just another opportunity for growth. I learned to remind myself that it’s important to celebrate not just the big wins, like navigating the move-in procedures at the city hall all in Japanese, but also the small wins, like a successful grocery store run or bus ride.

… Fast forward 7 months …

Day 215. (It’s been 215 days already?!) As I sit in my apartment contemplating my Fellowship experience so far, there is a conclusion I’ve come to.

At first, so much was new, which felt intimidating, exciting, and tiring. I remember being utterly exhausted in the first couple of weeks after moving to Japan. I recognized that my brain and body were adjusting to a new environment, taking in new information every single day, both inside the classroom and outside of it. I remember my Shansi Fellowship cohort members (shout out to you all!) and how we leaned on each other in the first few weeks following our arrivals at our respective sites/countries. Even though we were in different locations and cultural contexts, there was a lot of commonality in our experiences, and we were able to support and celebrate each other through our challenges and wins.

Now that I’ve lived here for seven months and worked as a J.F. Oberlin Fellow for five of them, many aspects of daily life in Japan feel like second nature. There are still moments when I feel unprepared and unsure of myself, but I am now more comfortable navigating Tokyo, and much of what felt unfamiliar and intimidating has become background noise. Even so, through this process of acculturation and becoming comfortable in my life here, I don’t want to lose sight of where I started and take my experiences for granted, or have the “boring” everyday moments just pass me by.

Moving forward, I want to make sure I’m intentional and present throughout my time as a Fellow. While embracing the fact that I am becoming more comfortable here, I also want to remind myself to stay curious, open, and eager to learn; and to seek growth in as many ways as possible.

In the meantime, I would like to end my report with some highlights from the past months:

People lining up to take a picture with Myaku-Myaku, the multi-eyed mascot for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka (8/2/2025)

The neighborhood cat spotted taking a nap (10/8/2025)

Enjoying some bubble tea with fellow Obie alum Nevaan during a day trip from Tokyo to Odawara (10/12/2025)

Going through the answers for a worksheet during an English class at the J.F. Oberlin Junior High School. (11/13/2025) Usually, I visit the Junior High School as a teaching assistant twice a week to help the lead English teacher out with classroom activities.

(From left to right) Caris (Lady Doak Fellow ‘24–26), me, Sophie (Hiroshima Fellow ‘24–26), and Alex (J.F.O. Fellow ‘24–26) during our hike up Mount Misen (Miyajima, Hiroshima; 11/16 /2025). It was a beautiful and crisp fall day, and we took many pictures of the fall foliage and stunning mountaintop views!

An end-of-semester pizza lunch with English Conversation Circle students J.F. Oberlin University (12/18/2025). It’s always a joy to chat with the students, and it’s been rewarding gradually getting to know the regulars who attend Conversation Circle every week.

A simple yet delicious dinner I enjoyed at a local restaurant with Alex, my Senior Fellow. The owner was warm and welcoming, and we could tell he prepares the food with care. (Machida, Tokyo; 12/18/2025)

A visit with friends to the Mori Art Museum (Roppongi, Tokyo, 1/13/2026). The exhibition was titled, “What Passes Is Time. We Are Eternal,” and featured a variety of contemporary art by both Japanese and non-Japanese artists.

A view from the top floor of one of J.F.O. University’s academic buildings. I’ve heard that on a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji from here! (1/31/2026)

A commemorative photo with Mia (Jogja Fellow ‘24–26) with the Tokyo Tower in the background (Roppongi, Tokyo; 2/1/2026).

Until next time!