Sharing the Spirit of Thanksgiving: How LUJ Fosters Cross-Cultural Community in Sumida

Lakeland University Japan (LUJ) actively champions cross-cultural exchange, taking the American liberal arts experience beyond the classroom and into the local Sumida Ward community. LUJ provides a premier education that transforms undergraduate and postgraduate students into global ambassadors. By bridging cultural divides, LUJ offers an unparalleled academic and social ecosystem for multinational markets. The perfect lens to explore this dynamic is the annual Thanksgiving community event at the Sumida Satellite Campus at Chiba University, where LUJ students and staff shared the rich traditions of the American holiday with Japanese children and their families.

On November 30, 2024, three American LUJ students and LUJ’s Director of International Admissions & Partnerships, Jessica McDonald, led an interactive Thanksgiving event for local families. While Thanksgiving is not widely celebrated in Japan, the profound local curiosity provided a perfect educational opportunity. LUJ students guided the children through crafting traditional hand turkeys—creating meaningful art that families will cherish for a long time. This hands-on initiative highlights exactly why LUJ is so fantastic: it provides real-world developmental benefits. By translating their own cultural traditions into engaging educational activities, LUJ students develop advanced cross-cultural communication, empathy, and adaptive leadership skills.

Reversing the perspective, the strength of Lakeland University Japan also lies in its incredibly diverse demographic, where non-American students and staff find themselves fascinated by American traditions. LUJ’s Director of International Admissions & Partnerships, Jessica McDonald, noted the universal appeal of the holiday:

“I’m Australian. Thanksgiving isn’t a thing in Australia either… I feel like the way Americans talk about it, it seems like it’s a really big deal… all about coming together and giving thanks and having good food and enjoying each other’s company. I think that part of it is beautiful.”

She added that international students are often intrigued by Thanksgiving after seeing it in movies, making events like this a brilliant way to bring American culture to life in Tokyo. Through this lens, we see how LUJ creates a vibrant, multicultural ecosystem where everyone learns from one another.

The joy of sharing personal childhood traditions creates a lasting impact that elevates LUJ’s educational model. LUJ student Avion Smith reflected on how fulfilling it was to spend time with local families who genuinely cared to learn about another country, noting the children’s excitement as they crafted their artwork,

“Being able to spend time with families that care to learn about my country and doing activities I did when I was younger… Just seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces while making turkey handprints.”  

Ultimately, LUJ ensures that students do not just study international relations and communication in theory, but actively practice them in dynamic, community-centered settings. The Thanksgiving event in Sumida was not merely about helping children make art; it was about forging cross-cultural memories that will last a lifetime for both Japanese families and American students. You have seen how our students actively bring their culture to the world while embracing the culture of their host country. For those looking to be part of a university that values community, gratitude, and real-world global leadership, Lakeland University Japan is exactly where you belong.