I’d like to share my experience attending the Pacific Northwest Japan Bowl, and theincredible moments I shared with many others. This event is something I hope to remember fora long time, but I also want to express my gratitude for being able to participate and competewith such outstanding and impressive people. My experience here at the Japan Bowl was unlike
any other I’ve faced, and I mean that with all good in mind. It was a new challenge for me, to bea part of this amazing event. While was a journey to get to where I am now, it is something I willremember fondly.
From the beginning until now, my journey through learning Japanese has been far more
rewarding than I had ever expected. It all started when someone dear to me had mentioned
their experience taking Japanese at the local university in town. I was initially shocked, because
not only were they taking a class at a college whilst in high school, but they were also taking
Japanese. I learned a lot from them throughout this past year. Students have the opportunity totake a select few classes at my high school through this university, including Japanese, which Iwas more than excited to hear about. So, after learning that I could take classes my school didn’t
offer (such as Japanese), I felt like it was a good opportunity to give it a shot. I never thought Iwould have been able to get where I am today, and finally follow my passion in Japanese. It’s
been a whirlwind of an experience. It was initially daunting having to balance a schedule atmultiple campuses and go to a university to learn a new language at college level. I quickly
realized that I enjoyed it and that it was the start of something I would quickly grow very fondof.
Taking Japanese at my local University, Pacific University of Forest Grove, was, and stillis, something I cannot be more appreciative of. It was not as difficult as I expected, and thepeople I got to meet and talk with were vastly different than those in my high school. It felt likean entirely new community, full of people from other states coming to learn together. It
provided a refreshing environment for me, in which to socialize. Although it was more like highschool than I thought it would be, the instructors still treated things a little differently and morefast-paced. I have to give a lot of appreciation and credit to the 先生 (せんせい、sensei) I havenow, for helping me make it this far and win the Pacific North West Japan Bowl.
I was given an offer to participate in this competition by an upperclassman at myuniversity. I was nervous and unsure of whether or not I could perform, especially at the level
our team would (and will) have been. With the reassurance of one dear to me and my teacher, wedecided it would be a great chance to challenge myself and further my studies in the Japaneselanguage. I learned a lot preparing for the competition and even on the day of, I continued tolearn. People at the competition had even taught me new valuable lessons and understandings.
The community that I experienced at this event was like no other. People were nervous
but also excited. It was a chance for everyone to share their passion and compete. To me, theJapan Bowl felt like more than a competition. It was a chance for everyone to come together witha shared passion and share their experiences and enthusiasm. There were teams there to win,and others to learn. However, I believe that in the end, everyone still came to have fun. I knowthat I did. Despite our teams being competitors, with a sense of commonality in our stress toperform and win among all others, I felt that we were more than just competitors. It felt
welcoming. We were all given a chance to get to know one another and network, and I realizedthat I wasn’t alone in how I felt.
In addition to getting to know a new and unforgettable community of amazing people,
there were also other fun events we got to experience at this annual competition. Networking
was fantastic in my opinion, and so was the chance to meet many sponsors who supported thisevent and those who wanted to see young students find passion in their language and culture
and potentially take that further in life. The sponsors were great and made the experience asamazing as it was. They helped fund many things to make this year one to remember. A lot wasmade possible this year as a result, and I’m sure others could agree.
Beyond the networking and people who supported this event, there were even more
events that were made possible for us. There was a great performance that set me at ease during

a wonderful Japanese lunch. Bento boxes were provided for all to enjoy alongside Japanese
breakfast options and pastries. Having a taste of what people eat in Japan helped create a more
immersive experience for a Japanese event. It wasn’t just their food that created this immersion,
but also the shocking performance we all got to see. People who have practiced for a great
majority of their lives or education all came to share a piece of Japanese culture through music.
An experience of authenticity that was like no other, brought Japan's culture here as if it weren'tfrom afar.
I want to thank all of those who made this competition possible and went to such great
lengths to ensure its success. I came across many new things and many familiar things. I felt as
Though there was a lot to learn, but also a lot to remember. The people who made all of thispossible provided me with an experience that I will continue to tell, and never forget. Everyone Iwas able to meet along the way created a strong memory that I am sure to hold on tight. If I
could, I’d love to participate again - and for those who’d like to try? Please do. This event is one I
couldn’t be more thankful for and would highly recommend. It was unforgettable. Thanks again
to everyone who made this possible.
My name is Aidan Siemsen, and I come from Forest Grove High School. This is an
opportunity not to take for granted. Test yourself, prove yourself, and have fun while you do it.