Otomi Tochika - Class of 2020
February 9th, 2022
Otomi Tochika ’20 Explores Okayama
Some PBA graduates leave the nest in a big way.
Since graduating from Pacific Buddhist Academy in 2020, Otomi Tochika joined Okayama University’s Discovery Program for Global Learners in Okayama, Japan. The program places an emphasis on experiential learning, placing students in internships to help develop their skills.
“My favorite thing about living in Okayama is that it is not as urban as other areas of Japan such as Tokyo or Kyoto. We do have the train station and the metropolitan area, but if you leave even 20 minutes out of the center, you will find yourself in the countryside. I love being
able to see the stars at night. Because the land is relatively flat, most people ride bicycles as a form of transportation. I do not like crowded places. In Okayama, it is so peaceful and lovely and one of the best locations I could have hoped for,” said Otomi.
“My favorite thing about living in Okayama is that it is not as urban as other areas of Japan such as Tokyo or Kyoto. We do have the train station and the metropolitan area, but if you leave even 20 minutes out of the center, you will find yourself in the countryside. I love being able to see the stars at night. Because the land is relatively flat, most people ride bicycles as a form of transportation. I do not like crowded places. In Okayama, it is so peaceful and lovely and one of the best locations I could have hoped for,” said Otomi.
Otomi is involved on campus as a PR leader of the Global Discovery Program Student Association, PR member of the Japan Korea Student Convention, and an intern at SPeak-JPort, a company focused on international students who are job-hunting in Japan. She explained that she has been able to share Hawaiian culture and history throughout her university. “Some people who are from America barely know about how Hawaii was colonized or what went on during World War 2, which I learned so much during my whole childhood. Also, because Hawaii is influenced by multiple cultures including Japanese culture, it's amazing to see the origins and distinctive differences. My goal is to feed my friends more Hawaiian food. I started with li hing mui, but getting some ingredients is a little expensive here,” said Otomi.
Otomi hopes to pursue a career in marketing, whether it be in Japan, Hawaii, or somewhere new. “My university experience has opened me up to a very global perspective. I realized the privilege I have with these opportunities, and that I should take a risk and strive to reach higher. My dream is to someday have a job that allows me to travel the world and go to different cities!”
