Aiya Perrine - Akita (2022-2024)
- Japan Society of Boston
- Oct 2
- 2 min read
Where were you in Japan as a JET and when?
From 2022-2024, I worked as an ALT at an elementary school and a junior high school in Yurihonjo, Akita.
What sparked your interest in applying for the JET program?
Since early childhood, I have had a deep passion to learn the Japanese language and to attempt to understand all the multitudes that Japan and its culture have to offer. After studying abroad at Waseda University, I became determined to live and work in Japan as soon as I graduated from college. The JET program seemed to be the clearest path to pursue that goal and to give back to the people and country that have given my life and studies so much meaning.
What are some of the things your prefecture is known for? e.g. food, hotspots, etc.
Akita is known for many things, and some of its most famous foods include kiritampo (pounded rice on a stick) and iburigakko (a kind of picked radish). Of course, the internationally-loved Akita dog (and the most famous one of all, Hachiko!) hails from this prefecture, as does one of the largest firework festivals in Japan, held every summer in Omagari city.
Did you pick up any of the regional dialects? What are some of your favorite words or phrases?
Yes, Akita-ben is a wonderful dialect that can be almost unintelligible compared to standardized Japanese. Some have even described it as sounding slightly similar to French! In Akita-ben, く/ku means “eat” and け/ke means “eat” in its imperative form. So, a conversation between two people—one ordering the other to “eat! (A)” and the other responding, “I am eating! (B)”, could go as follows—A:「け！(ke!)」B: 「く！(ku!)」.
If you were to return to live in Japan, would you choose to live in that same prefecture?
Absolutely! My partner and I have discussed getting a home somewhere in Akita, or in the greater Tohoku region, to live in part-time. It’s a beautiful, lush, bountiful area of Japan, filled some of the kindest, funniest, and most open-hearted individuals you’ll ever meet. I recommend everyone to visit Akita if they get the chance!
How has your connection in relation to Japan changed since living in Japan?
Since living in Japan for over two years, it has come to feel like a second home. The world feels much smaller, but in a comforting and approachable way. Now, I have students, friends, mentors, and a community halfway across the world, and I know that I’ll always end up coming back to this wonderful country. I hope to pursue this global connection for the rest of my life, and do all that I can to keep the bond between Japan and America as positive, reciprocal, and productive as possible.
Thank you, Aiya, for sharing your JET story!