SKIP 2025
“What is it like to live in Japan?”
“What is it like to live in Japan?” was the theme of SKIP 2025.
In recent years, Japanese culture such as food, traditions, and modern lifestyles has attracted attention from around the world. However, truly understanding Japan goes beyond what is seen in short visits or media coverage. SKIP 2025 set the theme “What is it like to live in Japan”, offering Stanford students the opportunity to experience daily life in Japan firsthand.
The 2 week program consisted of four sections (Town Development, Short Trip, Food & Traditional Culture) where we explored not only Japan’s beauty, but also the rhythms, values, and experiences that shape everyday living.
Day 1:
Welcome Ceremony
Our program started off as usual with a welcome ceremony including all Stanford students, SKIP members, alumni, and host families!
The room was bustling with excitement for the 2 weeks to come. We were able to start to get to know one another though ice break games (which were cleverly prepared by our creative freshmen!).
Day 2:
Japanese Cooking Class
The program kicked off with a cooking class (the first of the Food & Traditional Culture section).
Here, we learned about traditional Japanese cuisine and the core elements that make it was so unique. Japanese food, with all of its history and intrigue, made for a interesting lecture by a chef. We also got to see soba being hand-made. What a mesmerizing time it was to see the specialists work their magic into the soba.
Afterwards, we all made our way to the kitchen and starting cooking. We were able to bond through shared experiences in the kitchen and the food that we ate together. After all, food is what brings humans together!
Day 3:
Company Visit
On Day 3, we visited the headquarters of Softbank and Sanrio.
We got to explore Japan’s working culture through these visits to leading IT and IP content companies. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and we got to explore Japan thorough a new lens.
Day 4-6:
Short Trip to Fukushima
In 2025, our short trip destination was Fukushima, land of rolling mountains and vast skies, the country-side of Japan.
We stayed a night in an abandoned elementary school (廃校) where we got to experience what it is like to be an elementary school kid in Japan. From innocent games, playing in a field, doing water balloon fights, and hand-held fireworks, it was a nice break from the bustling city-side.
We also visited the Interim Storage Facility and the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, looking into the community's ongoing recovery efforts since the earthquake in 2011.
On the last day of the trip, we visited Namie Town. We went to a local agricultural farm where we were able to interact with horses, and also learn about sake (Japanese rice wine) breweries.
Day 7-8:
Host Family Day
Every year, the weekend is reserved for spending time with host families. Some students went camping with their family, while others visited Tokyo Disneyland!
Day 9:
Disaster Experience
Did you know Japan exeperiences 1500 to 2000 earthquakes per year?
On Day 89 of the program (the first day of the Town Development Section), we visited a disaster prevention center and experienced an earthquake with a simulator.
Day 10:
Tokyo Metropolitan Gov and the Masason Foundation
On Day 10, we dove deeper into earthquakes and learned about the preventative policies that Tokyo has implemented at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, located in the heart of Tokyo!
In the afternoon, we visited the Masason Foundation in Japan, where we interacted with the talented and gifted kids of the foundation.
Day 11:
Shibuya
A constantly bustling city, Shibuya is currently undergoing redevelopment with a dual focus on promoting tourism and strengthening disaster prevention. On Day 11, we learned about the initiatives and strategies behind these efforts at the Shibuya City Office.
Day 12:
Hayama
Hayama, a coastal town in Kanagawa, is a destination we go to every year. This year, we visited a local middle school. Here we ate Kyushoku (Japanese school lunch) with the the young, energetic middle school students and participated in their English and Japanese class.
Hayama is also home to many entrepreneurs who have built a career outside of the salaryman (Japanese office worker) system. We rendezvoused at a cafe, where we listened to the inspiring stories of these entrepreneurs.
For dinner, we ate nagashi-somen (Japanese fine white noodles served flowing through a open bamboo pipe) at a temple. Eating soba out of bamboo cups under the night sky and talking with each other and the local residents, we enjoyed the precious moment together.
Day 13:
Ghibli day
We explored Studio Ghibli's 3D sculpture exhibition. Later in the afternoon, we were able to learn more about the world of Studio Ghibli though a lecture with the mastermind in charge of the exhibition.
Day 14:
Farewell Party
On the last day of the program, we held a farewell ceremony where we presented our learning throughout the 2-week program to visiting alumni and host families.
Following the ceremony, we had a farewell party, where we enjoyed our last moments together and shared our goodbyes (along with keep-in-touches and see-you-soons!).