Introduction

VITAL Japan Project

As a means to foster closer relationships prior to our visits to Tokyo Friends School and Temple University Japan, our VITAL group developed connections across different courses, departments. The objective was to build community with peers abroad by enhancing our students knowledge of and experience with Japanese-centered topics and activities. 

In addition to utilizing local resources, notably the Shofuso Japanese Garden, Museum of Art, Penn Museum, and University of Pennsylvania, we explored ways in which we can bring opportunities on campus through visiting speakers, cultural workshops, and student-led immersions. The work of this VITAL provides the foundation for how our students and teachers will connect with both Tokyo Friends and Temple Japan. 

Included within this website are not only sections in which our community can learn about curricular highlights, but also resources for those interested in developing local and global connections. This website is intended to be a living document that will continue to evolve as our community explores Japan!

Tokyo Friends School

Our relationship with Tokyo Friends School began through various teacher connections dating back to 2015. Often referred to as Friends School or Friends Girls Junior & Senior High School, it is located within the Mita neighborhood and serves 800 girls from 7th through 12th grades. 

Founded in 1887 by the Philadelphia-based Women Evangelical Friends, it is the only Quaker-affiliated school in all of East Asia. The school. In cultivating our shared mission that there is "that of God in everyone", Tokyo Friends begins each day with meeting for worship and ends with a moment of silent reflection. 

Having previously explored connections aboard and led immersion trips to the United States, they are excited to build community with another Quaker school. Below are some notes their students sent us after connecting with students in last year's East Asian Studies course. 

While classes are taught in Japanese, there are additional opportunities to learn English. Teachers at Tokyo Friends have expressed interest in connecting through project sharing, pen pal exchanges, cultural activities, links with their International Committee, and short videos they can use for language practice. As important caveat is that their school year is from April through February, so they are off during March and reset the year for April and May.  

Temple University Japan

Our emerging relationship with Temple University Japan (TUJ) developed through connections within our community to President Matthew J. Wilson, who is also a board member for the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia. 

Founded in 1982 as the first overseas Temple campus, TUJ survived as one of the few successful foreign institutions in Japan, relocating to a permanent Tokyo location in 2019 and expanding with an additional Kyoto campus in January 2025. Serving around 3,000 students from 80 countries, TUJ offers classes taught in English that balance between Japan-focused courses and curriculum that mirrors the main Philadelphia campus. 

Professors at TUJ expressed interest in both sharing deeper curricular connections and in helping our students as the prepare for our trip. In addition to our visit to Tokyo Friends, we will also visit the TUJ Kyoto campus to provide an opportunity for our students to connect with peers studying abroad.