AddRan Asian Studies Builds Cultural Connections With Students From Japan

TCU students put their language and cultural learning into practice during a recent exchange with visiting nursing students from Nagaoka, Japan, bringing together AddRan College of Liberal Arts’ Asian Studies program and Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

The collaboration offered students from TCU and Nagaoka an opportunity to connect through conversation, games, food and cultural exchange. The visiting students also spent time with the Harris College nursing students and classes, creating an immersive experience across academic disciplines and cultures.

The exchange grew from a partnership between Benjamin Ireland, associate professor of French and director of Asian Studies, and Suzy Lockwood, associate dean of nursing. The program also builds on TCU’s involvement with Fort Worth Sister Cities International, which connects Fort Worth with partner cities around the world, including Nagaoka.

For TCU students, the gathering provided a chance to make personal connections with a culture they have encountered through their studies.

“As a Japanese American who hasn’t had a lot of exposure to Japanese culture and people in recent years,” BK Lehano, a psychology and Asian Studies student, said.

Sarah Campbell, an educational studies, English and Asian Studies student, said the experience helped bring her study of Japanese language and culture to life.

“I am so thankful for this unique opportunity to connect what I have learned about the Japanese language and culture with real names and faces,” Campbell said. “The nursing students from Nagaoka were very gracious and kind, as we enjoyed learning from one another!”

A Foundation for Future Exchanges

The experience was equally meaningful for the visiting students, many of whom were traveling abroad for the first time. Mayumi Toyomoto, a professor accompanying the group, described the exchange as a “heartwarming experience” that allowed students to discover new sides of themselves while interacting across cultures.

Ireland said the Nagaoka visitors shared that TCU stood out among the universities they visited for the opportunity to engage organically with American students.

Those connections may also provide a foundation for future exchanges.

Before leaving TCU, one Nagaoka student expressed hope that Horned Frogs might someday visit Nagaoka, giving their Japanese counterparts the opportunity to return the hospitality and introduce TCU students to their own culture and community.

With the visiting group hoping to return next year, the collaboration is becoming a tradition that demonstrates how partnerships across TCU can turn international connections into meaningful student experiences.