March 16, 2018—Today, Shaker Heights High School held an assembly to welcome 20 students and two teachers from Nara, Japan, who traveled to Shaker as part of our exchange with Takatori Kokusai High School. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the exchange program, which is the second-longest running exchange between the US and Japan. The assembly included a special guest, SHHS alum Matt Lehman ('87) who was a member of the first exchange.

 

Mr. Lehman, who is now the chief digital officer for an insurance company, told the students that the exchange had a profound influence on his life. After traveling to Japan, Mr. Lehman pursued an additional undergraduate degree in Asian Studies. His first job after graduation was teaching English in Japan. Later, he moved to Washington, DC, where he was a journalist for Kyoto News Service. 

 

The assembly included student performances from the Shaker Heights High School choir, Sankofa and the chamber orchestra. The students from Takatori Kokusai also performed a traditional Japanese dance that represented the challenges of fishermen. 

 

The students from the exchange arrived last week in Cleveland. They will visit with students at Beachwood High School and Shaker Heights High School who attend a Wednesday night Asian Studies class taught by Individuals & Societies teacher Andrew Glasier and Language and Literature teacher Molly Miles.

 

Next week, the Takatori students will join their Shaker peers on March 21 at a Cavs game. Then in June, a group of Shaker and Beachwood students from the Asian Students class will travel to Nara.