Ogawa Award Honoree: Risa Ochiai

The Betty and Hiro Ogawa Award grants two $5,000 scholarships each year to University of Washington students who promote cross-cultural understanding between Japan and the United States through their involvement in FIUTS programs. Here is Risa Ochiai, the recipient of last year's award, recounting where she came from and where she plans on going in promoting the relationship between these two countries!

I was 15 years old when I moved to West Vancouver, BC and started studying at a local high school there. “Where are you from?” – I was asked countless times. “I’m from Japan” – every time I say it, it always sounded weird. Everyone around me was Japanese when I was in Japan, so I was never really conscious about being Japanese. What does it mean for me to be a “Japanese”?

I am currently a third-year student studying business and applied mathematics at UW. Aside from classes, I try to participate in many extracurricular activities including FIUTS to meet more people. There aren’t many Japanese students at UW, and I often feel that our culture is underrepresented and misunderstood. So being friends with many others has been my way of promoting Japanese culture while understanding about others’ cultures.

This award has lessened the financial pressure on paying tuitions, and allowed me to challenge myself and learn even more. Last summer, I participated in Foster study abroad program, and spent a wonderful time in Rome with 30 other UW students.

I also had an opportunity to be a part of C21 Tokyo challenge (a three-weeks long study abroad program in Tokyo) as a student staff last summer. It was very intriguing experience for me to revisit my home country and culture but look through it from U.S. students’ perspectives. After graduation, I hope to help Japanese businesses expand internationally using data analysis skills that I am learning at UW.

The Betty and Hiro Ogawa Award is now open for applications. Click here for more information and to apply. The deadline is April 7, 2017.