We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aiko Hatano a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Aiko thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I am dispatched by Japan Foundation as a Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator. Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) is the program to connect people in the U.S. and Japan throughout the cultural exchange events especially in the region which is relatively few resources of Japanese culture. I am hosted by Mayville State University in North Dakota. I am working as a volunteer coordinator to expand Japanese culture in a rural area in North Dakota.
I have visited many local schools or communities to share Japanese culture and language since I came here to North Dakota.
One thing I feel meaningful was one of the class visits. I visited a public school in a small town to teach Japanese tradition and how to make sushi roll.
Several months later, I bumped into the mother of one of the students at the Mayville Library. And she told me that her daughter impressed my class and ask her to buy Japanese rice and seaweed.
I am so happy to hear that the student shared Japanese food with her family. When I had a Japanese cultural workshop I am not sure if it ever happen to them but I am so grateful they try to continue their interests.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I am Aiko Hatano, Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinator at Mayville State University. Japan Outreach Initiative program is a joint initiative of the Japan Foundation and Laurasian Institution, the Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) brings volunteer Japanese coordinators to regions of the U.S. where Japanese culture has been less accessible. JOI coordinators are hosted by U.S. nonprofits and educational institutions with a strong commitment to promoting learning about Japan. During the two-year program, JOI coordinators engage their American community through Japanese-themed programming—from lectures to hands-on elementary school activities to events focusing on traditional Japanese art forms. Before applying for the JOI program, I worked at a Japanese trading company as an administrative staff for 4 years. I was in charge of importing American Beef and I got interested in the mid-west in the U.S..
When I was in University I took a Japanese language education course and joined International Student Conference. I still had interest in cultural exchange. Also I have been doing Japanese calligraphy since I was a child. I wanted to share my experiences in the U.S.. My dream was to connect with people from other countries.
Now I am eager to visit as many communities as possible to share my experiences and Japanese culture. My workshop is about Origami folding, Japanese Furoshiki wrapping, Making Japanese food, Japanese calligraphy, Japanese traditional dance, Japanese traditional clothing and learning language etc..

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Meeting as many as possible in person. I try to meet not only for my activity but also my private interests. Sometimes it happens another connections.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

What is the regions history like. How much Japanese resources or connections are here.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @aiko_japan_msu_nd

Image Credits
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