Written By: Sean Hanke, Museum Summer Program Fellow
Introduction by Akemi Chayama, Museum Educator and Japan Program Manager
Boston Children’s Museum’s Japanese House, a 140 year old traditional Japanese House, was a friendship gift given from Kyoto, Japan to Boston in 1979 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their Sister Cities relationship. Years later, the Japanese House still acts as a symbol of friendship, bringing together old and new friends. Recently, the Japanese House reunited Kyoto friends Arisa Furimoto and Mariko Katayama with Museum Program Fellow Sean Hanke after 15 years! What serendipity! While the three reunited, Arisa’s students from Kyoto and young Museum visitors engaged in playing together through fun activities – forming friendships instantly. The ripple effect of the friendship continuing on at Boston Children’s Museum. In this blog, Sean shares their thoughts about seeing old friends.
I recently helped support the celebration of the 65th anniversary of Kyoto and Boston’s sister city relationship. To commemorate this day, a class of 30 5th and 6th grade students from Doshisha Elementary School in Kyoto visited Boston Children’s Museum with their English teacher, Arisa Furimoto, and travel agent, Mariko Katayama. The Doshisha Elementary School kids brought origami, calligraphy, and games to share with Museum visitors.
When I was in 6th grade in Amherst, MA, my classroom at Wildwood Elementary School also welcomed a class from Doshisha Elementary School to visit for the day. Both Arisa Furimoto and Mariko Katayama – the teacher and travel agent who came to the Museum this August – visited as well! I remember the weeks of excitement and practicing greetings in Japanese before they arrived. When we finally met, the kids gifted us origami cranes (which I still have) and we played games and got to test out our skills in each other’s languages. I never thought that 15 years later Doshisha Elementary School would visit me again, but this time, at my workplace in Boston.
Getting to greet and host this group was such an impactful and special experience for me. I will always hold close the memories it brought back from my childhood, of the friends I made and the cultural exchange that widened my perspective of the world. Now, I have two origami cranes from Kyoto.
The Power of Play 