High School Students From Fairfax County Invited To Japan Through Kakehashi Project

Students of high school from Fairfax County will be traveling to Japan on the invitation from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Kakehashi Project. The selected students are from Lake Braddock Secondary School, Hayfield Secondary School, Langley High School, and Thomas Jefferson High School. Their selection was based on their performance in this spring’s National Japan Bowl.
Helena Lu Jiarui at the 2018 Japan Bowl with teammate
According to Burke Connection, "The Japan Bowl is a language and culture quiz bowl-style competition for high school students in Japanese classes. More than 30 schools and 200 students from across the country gather once a year in Washington, D.C. to compete and showcase their Japanese skills.

The competition is open to anyone currently enrolled in a Level II, III or IV high school Japanese class. The Kakehashi Project selects the top-performing Level IV teams to visit Japan for a week in the summer following the Bowl. While in Japan, these students will participate in school visits, homestays with host families and a courtesy call to Princess Takamado and Akie Abe, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe."

Helena Lu Jiarui from Langley and Emily Zhai from Lake Braddock are going on the trip. As per Burke Connection, "Both students plan to continue studying Japanese in college, Zhai at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, where she plans to study abroad in Japan for a year, and Lu Jiarui at the University of Southern California. The latter attributes her choice to continue the language to her time at the competition. “I think largely because of Japan Bowl I realized I have a future in this,” she said. “I could study this.”

Lu Jiarui said Japan Bowl is a “really, really good opportunity,” and would recommend it to anyone even “vaguely interested in Japanese,” she said. Similarly, Zhai called it a “priceless experience.”

Properties in Langley and Lake Braddock High School Attendance Zone

9518 Bent Creek Ln

4 beds, 2 full,1 part baths

Home size: 2,542 sq.ft.

Price: $1,050,000

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2169738

Subdivision:

Added: 03/28/24, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

7006 Hector Rd

6 beds, 7 full,2 part baths

Home size: 5,659 sq.ft.

Price: $3,555,000

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2115378

Subdivision: Broyhill Langley Estates

Added: 05/15/23, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

7426 Dulany Dr

6 beds, 6 full,2 part baths

Home size: 11,400 sq.ft.

Price: $3,800,000

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2165672

Subdivision: Elmwood Estates

Added: 03/06/24, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

1337 Beulah Rd

7 beds, 7 full,1 part baths

Home size: 7,580 sq.ft.

Price: $3,689,500

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2164244

Subdivision:

Added: 02/13/24, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

1339 Beulah Rd

6 beds, 6 full,2 part baths

Home size: 6,653 sq.ft.

Price: $3,389,500

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2164238

Subdivision:

Added: 02/13/24, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

5208 Wenlock Way

5 beds, 2 full,1 part baths

Home size: 1,914 sq.ft.

Price: $835,000

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2170304

Subdivision: Lake Braddock

Added: 03/28/24, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

1307 Daviswood Dr

4 beds, 5 full,1 part baths

Home size: 5,836 sq.ft.

Price: $3,250,000

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2163256

Subdivision: Summerwood

Added: 03/24/24, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

1100 Balls Hill Rd

7 beds, 6 full,1 part baths

Home size: 5,771 sq.ft.

Price: $3,375,000

Property Type: Detached Home for Sale

MLS Number: VAFX2155454

Subdivision: West Langley

Added: 11/16/23, Last Updated: 03/28/2024

Maryam

View posts by Maryam
Maryam N. is a Senior Writer at Nesbitt Realty. She is an expert on Fairfax County. Maryam has also worked previously as a geologist. She is a foodie and enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants.