Yuki Ayukawa on JOI and Cultural Exchange

Yuki Ayukawa is the JOI (Japan Outreach Initiative) Coordinator for the University of Wyoming. For the past two years, she has improved connections between Wyoming and Japan, sharing Japanese culture experiences and building business opportunities across the state. In a brief interview with Greg Ronco, Yuki shared her thoughts on JOI, cultural exchange, and life in Wyoming.

Greg: How about we start with a short introduction?

Yuki: Yes! Hello, I'm Yuki Ayukawa. I'm from Fukuoka, in the southern part of Japan. I'm here to be a JOI Coordinator, which is a Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator. The Japan Foundation and an American NGO called the Laurasian Institution collaborated together to do the JOI Program, which has a 20-year history now.

They send Japanese coordinators to the United States, and especially regions which have limited access to Japan or Japanese culture. Us coordinators promote our Japanese culture to the community and build friendly relationship between the state and Japan.

Greg: You’ve been here a little bit now, so what has your experience been? Was there anything you didn’t expect?

Yuki: I'm the first JOI Coordinator in Wyoming ever. Even my program officers [at JOI] didn't know about Wyoming well. So when they told me that I'm assigned to Wyoming, they couldn't explain anything about the state. “You just go, and you will find out. Ganbatte (頑張って – do your best)!”

When I came here then, there were no connections between the Japanese community and JOI, and I didn't have any connections. So I had to start to make contact with anyone who wanted to learn Japanese or who were interested in Japanese culture. I felt a little like a, umm… kaitakusha (開拓者)… Pioneer? Pioneer. Yeah, I felt a little bit like a pioneer.

And then it was not as hard as I expected because everyone here is nice. And I was surprised that many people are actually interested in Japan. When I contacted people for the first time, they were like, “Oh, please come to visit our community!” So yeah, it was not hard, but I still felt like a pioneer.

Greg: I mean, in a way you got the true Wyoming experience, a Japanese-Wyoming pioneer. To follow up on your experience, why did you apply to be a JOI Coordinator?

Yuki: Hmm, I've been interested in foreign culture and foreign languages—like English—and cultural exchange since I was a student.

And also, I've worked with people in other countries. So, I had the experience to learn about other countries’ cultures or customs. I also met many other countries’ people who don't know Japan well. For example, my former roommate when I lived in Texas, she is a really nice person, but she didn't know anything about Japan. She kind of mixed up her knowledge of Japan and China. I was so surprised because, you know, Japan is kind of a big country. And then I met other people who also mixed it up.

Then when the pandemic happened, I just searched, and I found the JOI Program online. And I thought I had learned about other countries’ cultures, so maybe it's a good time for me to tell my culture to other people. To let them know more about my country.

My job is to visit schools and communities to tell about our culture. So, I can have many chances to meet students here and give them the opportunity to know another country’s culture. And that helps them to have options in their future, not only in their community or in the United States, they have a chance to experience or maybe even work in another country, too.

Greg: When was your first time in the United States?

Yuki: My first time was when I was a high school student. I visited Oakland, California because we had a sister city exchange program. And after that, I studied abroad in Texas when I was a university student.

Greg: With cultural exchange being really important for you, how would you personally define cultural exchange?

Yuki: To know other countries’ people. Just, you know, talking to other people from other countries. It's different. Because we have different backgrounds, different customs, different traditions.

Greg: And why is cultural exchange important?

Yuki: It’s become a big story, but we have many conflicts, many wars, many biases, many stereotypes between countries or communities. But it happens because we don't know well each other, maybe. So, to reduce our stereotypes of each other, like to know our differences is really important. So, cultural exchange is important to make a better world for all of us. Yeah.

Greg: In terms of the cultural exchange that you're doing, what's some of the work you've done that you have really enjoyed or has felt important, in Wyoming?

Yuki: The first thing is being active in JASWY activities. It's the Japan-American Society of Wyoming, I think. They were inactive during the pandemic and then the former president left the community. I joined them and then we became active again and we had a Japan Festival and Children's Day Festival last year. I think that was the important one for me. And they will keep having those events after I leave.

And another thing is the Japan-Wyoming Business Forum with the Consulate-General of Japan. The Consulate-General of Japan in Denver covers Wyoming, and also Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. And they were active in other states, but they couldn't do much in Wyoming before. But because I'm here, they were more interested in doing something in Wyoming. So that's why we could have the business forum together—and they want to have another business forum in Wyoming. It is one of the great steps for the Wyoming and Japanese community here.

One more thing is the Heart Mountain seminar, with Sam Mihara. It's a sad story, but learning history is really important. And I even didn't know about the history, so it was shocking for me, as Japanese. But that we could have a big seminar at the University of Wyoming, it was a great event.

And then all the other things: I visit schools, churches, libraries, communities or NGO groups—like Big Brother Big Sister and Feeding Laramie Valley. I visit them and then have Japanese cultures events, too, across Wyoming.

Greg: And what's some of the other on-campus stuff that you’re doing?

Yuki: I'm teaching Japanese online with the World Language and Culture Program. And I'm helping Japanese Conversation Club. Not that much, but sometimes. And also, I have some events here too.

Greg: So, you've got to be very busy.

Yuki: Yeah, kind of.

Greg: And what's your experience been like living in Wyoming?

Yuki: It's really interesting because the living environment is totally different from where I am from. I'm from the south of Japan, but we’re in the north here and also in the mountains. It's been really interesting that it’s always windy, always snowy, and then I have to check the Wyoming 511 app every time to go outside of town.

So yeah, it's really interesting. And I think for some people, living in Wyoming might be challenging. I didn't know anyone from here, but I do know one Japanese person who used to live in Wyoming. She advised me to bring a lot of warm clothes and be prepared well for cold. I was kind of like, “Oh my gosh,” but it's already been two years and I’ve adjusted. So, I like to live here. Yeah.

Greg: What are your three favorite things about living in Wyoming?

Yuki: Ah, skiing, because it's powder snow. I really like powder snow. And quiet, haha. And now I like the cold because I'm already getting used to it.

Oh, wait, wait, wait, not cold. Maybe wild animals. I should say wild animals.

Greg: I mean, the nature is really good here.

Yuki: Yeah. And I like driving around Wyoming, too. Because it's beautiful, there's no buildings, no houses, it's just land. Beautiful land.

Greg: So, looking forward. What advice do you have for new JOI Coordinators?

Yuki: My program officers always tell us to be flexible, and so being flexible is one of the things I will advise. And be more active?

Greg: I know you've been very active.

Yuki: Yeah, maybe be active. It depends on where you will be assigned, like in a university or a Japan-America Society somewhere, but still, you need to be active by yourself. Like, if you're not active, you won't have any jobs or projects. You’ll have nothing to do.

Greg: It feels like you have to sort of learn to step out of your comfort zone.

Yuki: Yeah. Like, I didn't want to call new places, and people and I didn’t know. But I had to.

Greg: That does feel very important. And when you're running events or projects or workshops, what activity seems to be the most popular with people?

Yuki: I think tea ceremony is popular. That's cool. I don't know why, but I suggest that I can do things like calligraphy, origami, or some Japanese, but many people ask me to do a tea ceremony first. I don't know why, but it's so popular.

Greg: Speaking of Wyoming, for people from here that are interested in Japan and in Japanese culture, what advice do you have for them?

Yuki: Just go to Japan. Yeah. I met many people who are interested in other countries—not only Japan, other countries, too—but never try to actually go to that country. So, I would say, just go wherever it is you want to experience that other culture. And you might like it, and you might not like it, but you will find out.

Greg: I like that. Especially with some of the students that I’ve taught, they want to travel but they’re worried about what to do.

Yuki: Yeah, many people are too worried about the language. Like that no Japanese people will speak English and they worry about it. But if you go, you will find out something to do, you know. Walk around the town, try things out. So don't worry too much.

Greg: And I would say it's pretty easy to get around a lot of Japan with no Japanese at all. At least most cities and most trains. It's also very easy to just accidentally end up in some village and then get confused…

Yuki: But it's fun, right?

Greg: Yeah, I think it's very fun.

Yuki: It's so adventurous. I like it, haha.

Greg: Yeah, yeah, I agree. Now, I hate to bring this up, but what's next for you, after the JOI Program?

Yuki: I haven't decided yet. I'm hoping to stay in the United States, I'm not sure though. But I'm looking for another adventure.

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Yuki has recently completed here two-year term as the University of Wyoming JOI Coordinator. Check out her Instagram to see the work she has done across Wyoming. She will be returning to UW this fall to begin a graduate degree in International Studies.