My Student Exchange to Japan: The Summer That Changed Everything

In the summer of 1999, I embarked on a journey that would shape the rest of my life. After studying Japanese for a year at Hölderlin-Gymnasium Heidelberg, I had the incredible opportunity to spend three weeks in Kumamoto, Japan, as part of an exchange program between Heidelberg and its sister city. It wasn’t just my first time in Japan—it was my first trip to Asia.

Looking back, this experience set my love for the continent in stone, a passion that eventually led me to move to China years later and planted the seeds for countless creative projects connected to Asia and gave me perspectives that continue to inspire my work today.

Heidelberg and Kumamoto: A Bridge Between Cultures

The sister city partnership between Heidelberg and Kumamoto began officially in 1992, building on decades of shared cultural and educational exchange. For me, a student who had just spent a year learning the basics of Japanese, it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. At 17 years old, I found myself on a plane to a land that felt as distant as it was fascinating.

Kumamoto, located on the island of Kyushu, welcomed us warmly. Known for its history, stunning landscapes, and its iconic Kumamoto Castle, the city blended tradition and modernity in a way I had never seen before.

A Funny Culture Shock: Raw Horse Meat with the Mayor

Our very first day in Kumamoto was unforgettable for an entirely unexpected reason. We were invited to a formal welcome by the mayor of Kumamoto—a huge honor for a group of German students. As we sat down at the beautifully arranged tables, the first dish appeared: raw horse meat, or basashi, a local specialty.

At that moment, I experienced what can only be described as cultural whiplash. None of us had ever encountered anything like this before. You could feel the silent hesitation at the table, but our Japanese hosts were one step ahead. Alongside the thin slices of basashi were small tabletop grills, intended for roasting vegetables. I’m convinced this was a subtle gesture of understanding—allowing us to grill the horse meat if eating it raw wasn’t an option.

And yes, I took that way out. I quietly roasted the meat on the grill, grateful for the chance to save face while not offending our hosts. It’s funny how these little moments stick with you. That meal, a mix of culture shock, politeness, and relief, became one of the best stories of the trip.

Life with My Host Family

Staying with a host family in Kumamoto gave me an authentic view of Japanese life. They patiently helped me practice my limited Japanese and introduced me to their daily routines, which felt both fascinating and humbling. From enjoying simple breakfasts of rice and miso soup to trying on a yukata for a local summer festival, I was immersed in traditions I had only read about before.

One evening, my host father invited me to attend a traditional tea ceremony. It was here that I truly grasped the importance of mindfulness in Japanese culture—how every movement, from whisking the tea to serving the cup, was performed with care and precision. These were moments of quiet beauty that I’d never experienced before.

Hiroshima: A Haunting Field Trip

The trip wasn’t just about fun and discovery. Our visit to Hiroshima was a sobering, unforgettable experience. At the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, we were confronted with images and stories of the atomic bomb that destroyed the city on August 6, 1945. I remember standing silently in front of the A-Bomb Dome, a skeletal remnant of the devastation, and trying to process what I was seeing.

Hiroshima left a deep impression on me. It was the first time I truly understood the weight of history, war, and loss. For days afterward, I found myself reflecting on the importance of peace and the resilience of the people who rebuilt their lives in the shadow of tragedy.

A Sega Dreamcast: A Piece of Japan I Took Home

Of course, not every memory of Japan was serious. As a teenager, I was fascinated by Japan’s status as a global tech leader. Walking into an electronics store in Kumamoto felt like stepping into the future. There, sitting on the shelf, was the Sega Dreamcast—a console that wouldn’t be released in Europe for months.

To say I was excited is an understatement. I spent most of my savings to bring the Dreamcast home with me, along with a couple of games. Owning it months before anyone else in Germany felt like having a superpower. That console became a symbol of the trip, a reminder of how far I had traveled—literally and figuratively.

The Impact: A Foundation for Creativity

This trip to Japan was so much more than three weeks abroad. It was the start of something bigger. My experiences in Kumamoto sparked a fascination with Asia that only grew stronger over time. Years later, this passion led me to move to China, where I spent six years living and working, immersed once again in a completely different culture.

The foundation that was laid in Japan also led me to collaborate with my friend Tim Graf on our documentary film, Souls of Zen. Shot in Japan, the film explored the impact of the Fukushima disaster on Buddhist practices and beliefs. Making that film was a full-circle moment for me—connecting the seeds planted in 1999 to a deeper creative exploration years later.

Japan, and specifically that first trip to Kumamoto, became the cornerstone for so much of what I do creatively today. It shaped my curiosity, my storytelling, and my ability to see beauty in different cultures and perspectives.

Looking Back

When I think of the summer of 1999, I remember the laughter with my host family, the haunting silence of Hiroshima, the vibrant festivals, the basashi on that first day, and the moment I bought the Dreamcast. Every piece of that trip contributed to who I am today.

Traveling to Japan at such a young age taught me the value of stepping outside my comfort zone. It taught me that the world is vast, beautiful, and complex, and that there’s so much to learn if you’re open to it.

Years later, as I reflect on this journey, I realize how lucky I was to experience it. That summer didn’t just teach me about Japan; it gave me a new way of seeing the world—one that continues to inspire me creatively, personally, and professionally.