Expanding Knowledge of Japanese Culture: Global Bridge Academy Students from Batches 2 and 3 Visit the Japan Foundation

On Wednesday, 24 June 2026, Salsa, a student from Global Bridge Academy (GBA) Batch 3, had the opportunity to take part in a visit to the Japan Foundation’s office, located on the 1st floor of Summitmas 2 Building, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Lots 61–62, Senayan, Kebayoran Baru. This event was organised by GBA as part of its efforts to broaden students’ understanding of Japanese culture. During the visit, Salsa played an active role as a participant, taking part in discussions, listening to the presentation, and exploring various interesting facts, including through a Monopoly-style game themed around traditional Japanese culture. Salsa’s motivation for taking part in this activity was to gain a better understanding of the role of the Japan Foundation, to learn about the various programmes available such as scholarships to Japan and to find out about the cultural exchange programme to be organised by GBA in collaboration with the Japan Foundation. Throughout the event, one of the challenges Salsa faced was taking in a great deal of new information within a relatively short space of time. However, through interactive presentations and discussions, Salsa gained many valuable insights into the importance of building an international network and understanding cultural differences. The event also taught Salsa to be more open-minded and to continue improving her communication skills. Overall, the visit to the Japan Foundation was a highly beneficial and inspiring experience for Salsa. This event not only provided new knowledge but also motivated me to continue developing my skills, expanding my network, and being more proactive in seeking opportunities for learning and collaboration at an international level. Salsa hopes that similar events will continue to be organised as they have a positive impact on the personal and professional development of the participants.