2026 Japanese Immersion Program Completion Ceremony

On May 7th, Japanese Immersion Program completion ceremony was held at Dimond High School, where 19 students completed the program, having studied Japanese continuously for 13 years—from kindergarten through 12th grade.
 
At the ceremony, Head Consul Hamada delivered opening remarks, expressing his sincere respect and congratulations to the graduates for reaching this milestone through years of steady and dedicated effort. He also referred to the school visit the previous week by former Foreign Minister Kamikawa, noting that she had been deeply impressed by the students’ strong enthusiasm for learning Japanese and their excellent command of the language.
 
In their speeches, the graduates shared that through studying Japanese they had learned not only the language itself, but also Japanese culture and etiquette, the importance of respecting and valuing others, and the significance of perseverance without giving up. Their confident and hopeful outlook toward the future left a strong impression on those in attendance.
 
At the ceremony, a letter of appreciation was presented to Mrs. Kono, who has taught in the Japanese Immersion Program for 36 years and is retiring at the end of this semester. In recognition of her long-standing dedication to supporting students’ growth, the audience expressed deep respect and gratitude. The event was filled with a warm and friendly atmosphere, reflecting the strong bonds within the Japanese Immersion Program family. 
 
The Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage will continue to support the further growth and success of Japanese language learners in Alaska.