Japan Homestay - 2005/2006
These photographs were taken during two brief exchange trips (each 14 days long) to Saitama Municipal Urawa Minami High School during the summers of 2005 and '06. Over the course of the two trips I lived with four different Japanese students and their respective families, attended school with them, sat in on classes, and learned a great deal about life in Japan.
For three days in the middle of each trip I stayed at the Tokyo International Youth Hostel for a total of six nights, and visited areas of Tokyo such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, Asakusa, Harajuku, and Ginza. I also had the privilege of visiting the nearby prefecture of Nikko to explore the temple grounds at Rinnoji Temple, as well as the neighboring city of Yokohama to see the Landmark Tower and surrounding sights.
My passion for photography met with my love affair with Japan and its rich cultural heritage, and so through the lens of my camera I was able to capture vignettes of daily life, ancient historic landmarks, as well as the bustling metropolises that define much of this beautiful, captivating and endlessly fascinating island nation.
