Anime club travels to Japan to explore anime culture

From January 20 to 28, eleven members of Anime Comic and Game club (ACG) traveled to Japan to learn about Japan and its anime culture. In the span of just eight days, the team traveled to four cities: Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Tokyo. Throughout the trip, members were able to learn more about the role of anime in the Japanese culture. The members agreed that they were able to expand their interests and passions for anime in Japan, a place historically and culturally famous for anime. “The best [part of the trip] was about understanding how the Japanese people view anime. We saw the Japanese Otakus (people who are obsessed with anime) in their home habitat and the integration of anime culture in the Japanese advertisements and other multimedia,” said ACG Treasurer Kevin Zhou (11C). Katie Liu (11A), the Vice President of ACG, also added, “We [also] went to Akihabara, [which is] “anime central” of Japan. Since all the members of our club are anime lovers, it was really enjoyable to go somewhere where we can buy and see so many things related to our hobby.”

The best part of the trip for the team, however, was the opportunity to relax and have fun together. Throughout the trip, they were able to build a stronger bond with one another by spending their time together. Kevin also shared that the most memorable part of the trip was the card games the members played every night in the hotel rooms. From playing card games till midnight to taking thrilling rides at the Universal Studios amusement park, members of ACG made unforgettable memories together as a team.

With project assignments, homework, and exams and tests, the first semester of this school year may have been stressful for many students. ACG chose the right time of the year–after final exams–to alleviate their academic stress and enjoy themselves by organizing their cultural trip to Japan during the winter break. In the future, ACG officers hope to host more creative activities where members can continue pursuing and expanding their interests. “We plan to have more outings [that] can create a better platform for the club members to present themselves,” the ACG President Victoria Liu (12A).

Featured Image – Katherine Liu smiles with a curator at the Toyota Car Museum 

Photos courtesy of Katie Liu