Earlier this month, Amador Valley High School’s Japanese classes went on a trip to San Francisco’s Japantown District to immerse themselves in Japanese culture.

The Trip’s Purpose

Languages are often influenced by the culture in which they are spoken. Culture is an important part of speaking a language, especially when talking with native speakers.

“I want to emphasize not only grammar and having to write and speak Japanese, but I also want to teach fun parts of Japanese culture. My goal is for students to continue studying Japanese because they enjoy the culture,” said Murphy.

Japanese culture shows itself in Japantown not only through how it looks and what they sell but also through the people who live there. Many of the people there are Japanese immigrants or their descendants, giving the district a lot of Japanese character.

“I think it’s a great experience for students to go to Japantown and see a little bit of the culture, at least when they’re walking through the areas and talking to people that may or may not be from Japanese backgrounds, and I think it’s great for them to see this part,” said parent volunteer Chris Faber.

Visible History

Japantown has a history of over 115 years. Back in 1906, the earthquake that shook San Francisco displaced many Japanese immigrants. This led a group of these immigrants to settle in the district now known as Japantown.

“I think you can see a lot of the history in the neighborhood. The main town square with all the restaurants, you could see a lot of architecture and a memorial,” said Isabella Marx (’29), Japanese II student.

Japantown, California, is one of only three remaining Japantowns located in the United States, along with two in Los Angeles and San Jose. The city is one of the few places outside of Japan where someone can get a taste of authentic Japanese culture.

“Japantown is not quite exactly [the] same as Japan. However, they introduced some parts of Japan. And then students who [have] never been to Japan. Maybe they can have some feeling about Japan,” said Reiko Murphy, AVHS Japanese teacher.

Opportunities for Students

There are many cultural experiences to gain from a visit to Japantown. It gives people the opportunity to experience Japanese foods and goods they may not be familiar with.

“I liked eating their ramen, because ramen is actually one of my favorite foods, I liked the matcha drinks and the souvenirs,” said Jiraiya Vales (’29), Japanese I student.

Japantown offers a chance to explore interests in ways that may not be possible in Pleasanton. Getting this experience is very important for Japanese classes, as it enhances their learning of Japanese outside the classroom.

“I would recommend people to enjoy themselves based on their interests, because there’s a lot that Japantown has to offer,” said Kole Kiyoi (’28), Japanese II student.