My Upcoming Journey Into the History and Heart of Japan
PGS: Global Radiation History: Living in the Atomic Age, 1945-Present
Nuha, one of the Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares her experience abroad on a Penn Global Seminar. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
One of the reasons Japan has always been a dream destination of mine is because it perfectly balances modern innovation with the preservation of its beautiful cultural traditions. Growing up, most of what I saw of Japan focused on its state-of-the-art technology with neon-lit streets, skyscrapers, and crowded cities. While this has always fascinated me, my first Penn Global Seminar this semester, Global Radiation History: Living in the Atomic Age, 1945-Present, has revealed that Japan is just as defined by its quieter, natural side, and I am beyond ecstatic to experience both!
I’ve taken care of the essentials, including budgeting, organizing my packing list, and researching the incredible variety of restaurants to visit during our allotted free time. The thought of finally visiting Tokyo and Hiroshima after discussing it for so long with my classmates makes the experience feel even more surreal. I’m especially looking forward to trying new foods and visiting Okunoshima, also known as Rabbit Island, which has become a highlight for my friends and I due to our shared love of bunnies! Along with the logistical preparations, I have also been learning some basic Japanese phrases and familiarizing myself with the local customs. While I do not expect to become fluent, I believe that making an effort to speak the language and understand the culture is a meaningful way to show respect, especially since this will be my first trip to a country where I do not speak the native language.
The course has been instrumental in deconstructing the Western-centric narratives I was previously taught about the atomic bombing, particularly its far-reaching and often overlooked generational consequences.
Most importantly, however, I have been preparing emotionally for this trip. Given the course’s focus on the devastating impact of nuclear weapons and radiation, our professor emphasized the need to approach the experience with sensitivity and a deep awareness of such a dark time in history. The course has been instrumental in deconstructing the Western-centric narratives I was previously taught about the atomic bombing, particularly its far-reaching and often overlooked generational consequences. This is one of the main reasons I chose to enroll in this seminar, as it was extremely important for me to move beyond the statistics typically learned in classrooms and gain a genuine understanding of the human experiences behind them. The material we have covered has been eye-opening, and I know that having the opportunity to actually listen to the stories of survivors’ will bring this history to life in ways that written words alone cannot. As the child of immigrants from a country currently at war, stories of resilience in the face of devastation like those of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and others serve as powerful reminders of hope for better futures. I am thrilled to experience it all firsthand, and while words cannot fully express my gratitude, I feel incredibly privileged for this opportunity.
