Zach Siegel 5/29 - Kendo, Samurai Museum, & Group Dinner

Our final morning kicked off in the smoothest way possible: with a subway meltdown. Our line was shut down, everyone got rerouted, and we ended up cramming ourselves into a packed train like it was a competition. Not ideal, but honestly hilarious in hindsight. Once we finally made it to the kendo studio, however, the tone flipped completely. Kendo isn’t just a sport; it’s a direct descendant of samurai swordsmanship, and you can feel that weight when you’re learning the strikes and footwork. After drilling the basics, we suited up in full armor. It was heavier and bulkier than expected, but once you got moving, it was a blast. The instructors wrapped things up with balloon battles, one on the wrist, one on the head, and pure chaos from there. This was easily one of the most unique and fun experiences that we had on the trip.

After lunch, which was at a really cool conveyor belt sushi place, we headed to the Samurai and Ninja Museum. Seeing actual armor and weapons up close made the history feel real. Learning about the two side by side was eye‑opening; samurai built around honor and open combat, ninjas operating in secrecy and often coming from everyday professions like farming or trading. The tour ended with us throwing plastic ninja stars at foam targets, which was way more fun than it had any right to be. A perfect mix of learning and play.

  

We had some free time before meeting up for the last group dinner of the trip. You could feel the mood shift, still fun, still loud, but with that quiet awareness that everything was wrapping up. We went around sharing favorite moments, funniest memories, and the things we didn’t expect to love as much as we did. Almost everyone ended on the same note: we couldn’t wait to see each other again back at Syracuse next semester. It was the kind of ending that hits you in the best way, grateful for the time you had, already nostalgic for it, and excited for what comes next. 

As someone who got the chance to go on two different trips through the university, one to Europe and the other now to Asia, I can say that these trips have easily been the most impactful and life changing experiences of my life. The places, the meetings, the people, the connections, all of it made every moment feel even more special. I am so grateful to have had these opportunities and hope that anyone else who has the chance to do these trips takes full advantage. You will not regret it one bit.

Zach Siegel 5/15 - KSPO, KSOC, Olympic Park & Baseball

Our morning started with a subway ride out to the Olympic Park, where the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation welcomed us for a deep dive into how Korea invests in sport at every level. The scale of the park itself set the tone, with modern architecture, massive plazas, and monuments honoring the 1988 Olympics making it clear we were standing somewhere historically important. Inside KSPO, we learned how intentionally Korea approaches sport development. Their promotional videos covered everything from archery and cycling to tennis, golf, and even darts, showing just how broad their investment is. What stood out most was the national fitness testing program. It’s free, accessible, and normalized in everyday life. Trying the reaction‑time and grip‑strength stations made it easy to see how Korea frames physical activity not as a luxury, but as a public right, something Professor Kim emphasized throughout the visit.

Right after lunch, Korean‑style burgers delivered straight to Olympic Park, we headed to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. This session focused more on Korea’s Olympic identity and how the 1988 Games reshaped the nation. The presentation made one thing clear: the Seoul Olympics weren’t just a sporting event. They were a turning point for Korea’s global reputation, economic growth, and modernization. Sport became intertwined with national ambition, and that legacy still shapes policy, investment, and culture today. Hearing how intentionally Korea uses sport as a tool for national development was one of the most eye‑opening parts of the day.

After we finished our meetings, we took a quick train ride over to the Lotte World Mall. The mall complex was massive, endless shops, food options, and energy everywhere. I went with a couple of people to the aquarium (yes there is an aquarium in the mall and it was huge and awesome and fun) before doing some shopping and grabbing a bite at the food court. 

However, the highlight of the day, without question, was the baseball game. I’ve been to a ton of high profile sporting events in my life, including the World Series, so my expectations were already high, but Korea somehow blew past them. The stadium atmosphere was electric from first pitch to last out. Fans chanted, sang, and cheered in perfect unison. It wasn’t just loud; it was collective. The entire crowd moved as one, creating a synchronized environment that felt completely different from most American sporting events. It ended up being one of the best live sports experiences I’ve ever had. By the time we got back on the subway, everyone was exhausted in the best way. The day had moved from Olympic history to modern city life to a stadium bursting with energy, each part completely different, yet all connected through Korea’s relationship with sport.

5/22 Gabby Ovadje

 We started off the morning by visiting a kung fu school, which I really enjoyed. As soon as we arrived, we were welcomed with an elaborate performance showcasing the students' skills. They used different weapons, waved colorful flags, performed incredible flips, and even put on a traditional dragon dance. It was amazing to watch how coordinated everyone was, and it was clear that they had spent years training to reach that level. The entire performance was a really cool way to introduce us to Chinese martial arts before we got to try it ourselves.

After the performance, the instructors gave us a demonstration of some basic moves before teaching us a full sequence that we had to follow. It was definitely harder than it looked! One thing that made it even more fun for me was that I used to take karate when I was younger, so it brought back a lot of memories. Even though kung fu is very different from karate, I enjoyed learning the movements and trying to keep up with everyone else. It gave me a new appreciation for the amount of discipline and practice that goes into mastering martial arts.

Once we finished our lesson, we learned more about the school and the students who train there. I was surprised to find out that many of the students actually live at the school year-round and only get a weekend break every two weeks. We got to tour the dorms where they sleep, and I couldn't believe how small the rooms were, especially since several students shared each one. Along with their regular school classes, most of their day is dedicated to training and preparing for kung fu competitions. Seeing how much time and effort they put into improving their skills was really inspiring.

After leaving the school, we had lunch at a nearby mall where I tried a really good bowl of ramen and had some ice cream. It was nice to relax for a little while before heading to our next stop, NBA China.

Visiting the NBA China offices was definitely one of my favorite experiences of the trip because basketball is my favorite sport. We learned all about how the NBA promotes games and players throughout China and how they tailor their marketing to a completely different audience. I thought it was especially interesting how certain NBA teams become popular in China because of one player with a connection to the region. They talked about how stars like Yao Ming completely changed the popularity of the Houston Rockets, and now newer international players like Wemby are helping grow basketball even more. It was really interesting to learn about everything that happens behind the scenes to make the NBA such a global brand. They even gave us some really cool NBA China gifts to take home.

That night, a group of us went out to dinner, where I got to have Peking duck again along with a variety of other delicious Chinese dishes. It was a great way to end the day. Looking back, this was probably one of my favorite days of the trip because it combined so many of my interests. We got to experience traditional Chinese culture through kung fu while also seeing the business side of one of my favorite sports. It taught me a lot while also being a lot of fun.

5/29- Gabby Ovadje

 Our last day of the trip started out early with a kendo lesson, where we got to learn about the ancient Japanese martial art of swordsmanship. After getting dressed up in the traditional armor, we watched a quick demonstration from the instructors before jumping right into it ourselves. We started by learning some of the basic movements and strikes, then eventually put everything together into combinations. Even though we had just started, it was a lot of fun to try. Some of the kids on the trip even got to face off against the instructors, whose armor had balloons attached to it that they had to try and hit. Watching them give it their all while the instructors dodged was hilarious. It definitely gave me a new appreciation for how much skill and discipline kendo takes.

Afterwards, we headed to a revolving sushi bar for lunch. This ended up being one of my favorite meals of the trip because I got to try so many different kinds of sushi and other Japanese dishes that I probably wouldn't have ordered otherwise. My table also decided to make it a competition to see who could finish the most plates. I didn't end up winning, but I had a lot of fun trying. I also thought the desserts were really interesting because they were so different from what I'm used to back home. It was cool getting to experience flavors and desserts that you don't really see in the United States.

Next, we visited a samurai and ninja museum. It was really interesting to see all of the different weapons, swords, and armor up close and learn more about the history behind them. There were so many artifacts and displays that showed how important samurai and ninja were in Japan's history. My group didn't spend too much time there, though, because we still had some last-minute souvenir shopping to do before the trip was over.

We ended up spending the afternoon in the Shibuya area, where I picked up gifts for my family and friends. It was fun walking around one last time, taking in all the energy of the city while checking a few final things off my shopping list. Finally, it was time for our final group dinner. It was honestly a bittersweet moment because it meant the trip was coming to an end. We spent dinner talking about everyone's favorite memories, laughing about things that had happened over the past two weeks, and finding out who won the scavenger hunt. It was the perfect way to wrap everything up before we all flew home the next day.

To finish off the night, a few of us decided to go to Shibuya Sky. Seeing Tokyo from that height at night was absolutely incredible. Getting to look down on the famous Shibuya Crossing one last time was the perfect ending to an unforgettable trip. I think it was the perfect way to spend our final day. We got to experience more Japanese culture, eat amazing food, spend time with friends, and make a few more memories before saying goodbye. While after 3 weeks in Asia I was excited to head home, I was definitely going to miss Japan, and I know this is a trip I'll remember for a long time.

Sophie Navarrete - May 24, 2026

On May 24, 2026, we had a free morning and were able to immerse ourselves in whichever way we wanted. I decided to get an iced coffee from the hotel’s lobby to get the energy needed for today’s activities. I was very excited for today since we were watching two basketball championship games. 

Before we saw the two championship games, we had lunch first. This lunch was very delicious and was a family style lunch. We enjoyed foods such as duck, beef, and chicken. There were also some American options such as pasta and french fry wedges. Once we concluded our meal, we had some time on our hands to shop. 

Some of us went to the Nike store to see the different styles of clothing they were selling. There was a lot of commotion in the store as there was a famous Chinese basketball player who played in the United States. His name is Yao Ming. He also attended basketball games. After checking the Nike store, we saw a Miniso store and decided we needed more blind boxes. I picked a couple of Winnie the Pooh blind boxes, as they are sold out in the U.S. I opened them as soon as I checked out due to the excitement. I got a tiger Winnie the Pooh plushie and a bunny Winnie the Pooh plushie. I was satisfied with the results of both blind boxes as I got the one I wanted. 

Following our shopping trip, we headed toward security to start our basketball game experience. These were the National Finals of the Nike China High School Basketball League. The first game was the girls’ final game and the second game was the boys’ final game. It was very fun to watch all the excitement fans had towards the teams. There were bright lights and cool video edits of the high school players. The environment felt like it was a college or professional basketball game. In between the games, we met with a Syracuse Alumni who helped with the preparation of the games and their amenities. It is fascinating to see the Syracuse network expand so far! 

Once the games were done, we decided to eat in the surrounding area for dinner and get dessert afterwards. I have been obsessed with Tanghulu and decided to buy the grape one. It was the perfect way to end the day and I cannot wait to experience the Great Wall tomorrow!   

This blog entry was delayed as the wifi connection in China can be a bit unstable and there are certain sites blocked. 

Jeremy Shatzer - 5/27/2026

   We started the day with a visit to the MLB Japan office, which has been around since roughly 2004. The whole reason it exists comes down to Ichiro and Hideki Matsui. Their success in the early 2000s made MLB realize they needed more than just advertising from overseas, they needed an actual office in Japan doing real work. They walked us through how they license merchandise, manage sponsorship rights, and grow their younger fan base through youth baseball events aimed at elementary and middle school kids.

     One thing that really stuck with me was learning about the financial side of the Tokyo Series. When a team plays games abroad, MLB has to cover the lost home gate revenue for both clubs. That means flying over 120 employees per team to Japan, which adds up fast when you factor in flights, hotels, and food for over 200 people. Since games tip off in the morning Tokyo time, the office has to find creative ways to get fans who are commuting or already at work to think in the back of their head that a game is happening right now. They lean on radio, apps, and some genuinely cool marketing moves. The best example was a collaboration with Demon Slayer, where they made an anime style advertisement to connect with Japanese audiences on their own turf. They also compared how their approach differs across China, Korea, and Taiwan. Japan focuses on highlights and on field plays, while Korea leans into bringing out K pop celebrities to generate buzz at games.

    After MLB we headed over to the PGA Tour International Japan office. Honestly I did not know what to expect walking in but it turned out to be one of the more interesting stops of the day. The office itself was on the smaller side, but the guy running the presentation did a great job breaking down how the PGA Tour actually functions as its own separate operation from Augusta and the USGA. They are not the same thing, which I think a lot of people assume, and they each run their own events while still finding ways to work together when it makes sense. We got to see each department up close including sponsorships and international media, and learned how tightly they work with the JGTO to give Japanese players a real competitive ladder to climb beyond just dreaming about a PGA Tour card someday. He also pointed out that youth interest in golf across Japan has been climbing steadily since COVID, and the office here is trying to turn that momentum into something lasting. The challenge is that golf in Asia is just expensive, Korea even more so than Japan, and both are pricier than what you would pay in the States, so bringing younger people into the sport is genuinely difficult work.

We wrapped up the day at Tokyo Dome to watch the Yomiuri Giants take on the SoftBank Hawks. Right before the game we made a stop at the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, and as someone who grew up playing and watching baseball their whole life, that place was something special. Seeing decades worth of Japanese baseball history displayed like that was genuinely cool, not something you come across every day. The Giants pulled out the win and the crowd energy inside Tokyo Dome was on a different level than anything I have seen back home at a stadium.            

Viktor Allen 5/29

The day started with a little chaos. The subway line we needed was completely shut down for maintenance, so we had to walk to a different station that was already slammed with everyone else who got rerouted onto the same line. We shoved our way onto the train and were packed in like sardines the whole ride. Not the best start but honestly kind of funny looking back on it.

Once we got to the kendo lesson we changed into the gi and met on the mats. Kendo goes back centuries in Japan, rooted in the swordsmanship of the samurai, and you can feel that history a little when you are actually doing it. The instructors walked us through the basic strikes and footwork first and we got to practice on them and the other kendo students there. After drilling the basics for a while we got suited up in full armor. It is bulkier than it looks and moving around takes some getting used to, but once you figured it out it was a lot of fun.

They finished the lesson by tying two balloons to each of us, one on the wrist and one on the head, and we just went at each other for fun. First to pop two balloons won, they got replaced after each pop. I beat Ryan in my first one 2-1 then lost to Dalton 1-2 in the second. After that Ryan and I got asked if we wanted to go against one of the instructors together, so we did a 2v1. I got one of his balloons but he was just way better than us and won pretty easily. Still one of the more unique things I have done on this trip.

Lunch after was at a sushi place with a conveyor belt where you could also just order and have it come straight to your table. I tried sushi for the first time, not the biggest fan honestly.

From there we went to the Samurai and Ninja Museum. Got a walkthrough of the history of both and saw actual armor and weapons up close. The two are pretty different when you learn about them side by side, samurai were built around honor and open combat while ninjas operated completely in the shadows and were typically farmers or merchants. They ended the tour by letting us throw plastic ninja stars into a foam target which was a pretty fun way to close it out.

Had some free time after and then headed to dinner with the group to wrap up the night. It was the last dinner of the trip and you could feel it a little. We went around talking about favorite moments and the funniest memories from the past few weeks, and pretty much everyone ended on the same note, that we could not wait to see each other again back at Syracuse next semester. Good way to close out the trip.

Justin Altman Blog 5/28

There are days on a trip where everything just clicks, and today was one of them. We met in the hotel lobby at 8:00 AM and took the subway to MUFG Stadium, where we had a lecture outside before the tour. The lecture focused on comparing yesterday's Tokyo Dome experience to games back home. The seats were way more compact with barely any legroom, but the bathrooms were surprisingly nice, individual and private, which I've never seen at a stadium before. We also compared KBO and NPB games, and the main difference was that the crowd sections in NPB were smaller and pushed further into the outfield.

The stadium tour itself was really cool. We saw the place from the upper level, walked through the VVIP club for the Prime Minister, checked out the VIP lounge, and got down onto the turf. Getting on the actual field was probably my favorite part. One detail that stood out was the wooden ceiling. Each section represents a different city in Japan and together they form the shape of the country's map. A really unique architectural touch.

After the tour we had a recap discussion on China and the start of Japan. The biggest thing I took away was how much easier the language barrier is to navigate here compared to China. On the sports side, it was interesting talking about how one player can shift an entire country's relationship with a sport. For example, Yao Ming with the NBA in China and Ichiro with MLB across Asia. The Ohtani point was also interesting because there are barely any Angels fans left in Tokyo even though he played there for years. Now that he's a Dodger, everyone's a Dodgers fan. Fandom here follows the player, not the team.

After the discussion Spencer, Jason, Ryan and I walked to a conveyor belt sushi restaurant nearby for lunch. I got tuna, salmon, and a california roll and it was all incredible. Easily one of my favorite meals of the trip.

After lunch Spencer and I headed to Tokyo DisneySea, which is ranked the number one Disney park in the world. I was worried about lines but we paid a per ride fee to skip them and ended up hitting all seven rides we wanted. The highlight was Journey to the Center of the Earth which went 47 mph and had a 65 foot drop at the end. Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania were great too. The park totally exceeded my expectations. We caught the tail end of the nighttime water show before slipping out and grabbed a 25 minute Uber back toward the hotel.

Before calling it a night Spencer and I stopped at a sushi restaurant around 10:00 PM near the hotel. We got an assortment of sushi and rolls, and honestly it might have topped lunch. The difference was the seating, as we sat at the counter with the sushi chef right in front of us, which made the whole experience feel completely different. Watching everything get made up close just added another level to it. The perfect way to end the day.

Jason Glick Blog 5/28

Tokyo is unlike any city we’ve stayed in thus far for its unique culture, food and shopping, and we hadn’t had too much of an opportunity to explore that. That changed on Thursday, May 28 — a day that began with an organized group tour of the Olympic MUFG Stadium and was followed by plentiful free time.

The 8:00 a.m. start time definitely was not ideal — especially for people who enjoy sleeping late like me — and earlier than the average day on the trip, but it paved the way for more time on our own later on.

As it is almost every day, our means of transportation is the subway. The Tokyo Metro is very big, as we’ve learned across the past few days, with nine lines. We typically take the Ginza Line to get to and from our hotel, but we had to transfer on some lines a bit to get within walking distance of the stadium.

It took just shy of an hour to get to the correct subway stop, and it was then a 10-15-minute walk to reach the stadium. We had some time before the 9:30 a.m. tour, so professor Jamie Kim had us sit down outside in the shade to discuss the past day. Specifically, Wednesday, when we visited MLB Asia and attended a Nippon Professional Baseball game. We had discussed the marketing approaches that defer between Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan for baseball and also contrasted Korean and Japanese in-game experiences, having attended games in both countries.

That concluded the small lecture, and it was time for our stadium tour. As we passed through a side entrance, there was a small screen showing the site of this stadium being built in the mid-late 2010s. We were also handed a two-sided paper that detailed the history and features of the stadium.

There were countless strong angles we got, peering across the stadium and at the field. There was an upper-deck view, one on the first level, one in a fancy lounge and — best of all — one on the field. It was an overwhelmingly fun experience being on the pitch that hosts so many soccer matches and concerts. It felt that every stop was designed to give us insight into what different types of ticketing offers. Granted, our tour was fully in Japanese alongside another tour group, but I clearly got a sense of the tour’s angle.

One of the coolest parts of the tour was that, on the field level, we had the opportunity to explore the locker rooms and hallways the teams use. There were interesting memorabilia and signings on the wall of former players and even signed team pages; even some of the early 2000s Real Madrid teams were present.

After the tour concluded, we wrapped up our organized class outside with another discussion, recalling our time in Beijing and comparing stadium models. We had announcements for Friday, and then, by early afternoon, we were off on our own.

I went out with three members of the trip to a revolving sushi restaurant — we couldn’t resist it before Friday’s group lunch in a similar setting. It took a few subway stops to arrive, and soon, we were gobbling salmon and tuna nigiri rolls, ordering off a touch screen. The prices, in Yen, were quite cheap, as sushi is charged for much more in the United States.

Then, I headed to Shibuya with my trip roommate to take in one of the world’s most famous shopping areas. It had some parallels to the likes of Times Square but also had its own Japanese nuances.

I was most enthralled by some of the athletic clothing stores. There was Nike, Adidas, Reebok; you name it. My goal with shopping was to get something I couldn’t find anywhere else, specifically with Japanese logos or phrases, so I took that into account when purchasing items. There were also interesting pop-up shops with themes from Star Wars to Pokémon to Back to the Future. And we were sure to cross the renowned Shibuya Crossing, which has to be the world’s busiest crosswalk.

It was late afternoon, and I had already reached 20,000 steps, so my roommate and I headed back to the hotel on a long subway ride. I took a small nap, and we headed out to dinner on the subway in the Asakusa area we visited Tuesday. We went to a kobe beef sushi restaurant. It was unlike anything I’d ever had before with raw beef stuck to rice instead of fish, but I was impressed.

It got pretty late, so we headed back to the hotel for the night after our final free day of the entire trip before it all comes to a close Friday.

Jack Farkas - 5/27 Blog

    
    On Wednesday, I woke up at 8:20, because the group was leaving at 9.  To start off the day we had a meeting with MLB Japan. This office controlled everything related to MLB actions in Japan, and plenty of us were excited for their presentation and the chance to ask questions afterward.  We got there 30 minutes before our meeting at 10:30, because of how important it is to be punctual in Japanese culture. After checking out a local convenience store, we headed up to the meeting where we were greeted and led to the meeting room. During this meeting they talked about expanding the MLB in an already mature baseball market, dealing with different time zones, and their relationship with NPB. 

 

After the meeting we headed to a mall to get lunch. We ate at a hibachi restaurant, which was different from typical hibachi in the states as they did not cook in front of f you, however the steak was exceptional. We were given some time to look around the mall, before going back to the same building to meet with PGA Japan, for a meeting that was added to the schedule about an hour prior. The mall contained numerous amounts of luxury stores, so I only looked around the golf shops for a little while before heading to the meeting. Due to short notice, PGA Japan did not have anything planned, but they were able to give valuable insight into my project group about having a tournament in Asia and operating in that market. 

 

The last thing on the schedule for Wednesday was the NPB game between the Yomiuri Giants and the Softbank Hawks. In the hour and a half, before we entered the gates, I was able to buy plenty of Giants merchandise, including a Masahiro Tanaka jersey. A group of us were also able to a get some Shake Shack for dinner before we walked in the stadium and found our seats. For the first inning, I watched from the third base line at our regular seats, however I wanted to explore the stadium a little bit more and ended up athe right foul pole for an inning, and the left foul pole for the rest of the time I was at the game. The environment felt like a mix of the high energy crowds of the KBO, while also keeping a heavy focus on the baseball that was being played. For the league typically being played with a dead ball, we got to see plenty of action, as there wasconsistently base runners in every inning, and the Giants even put up five in the fourth. Eventually, a group of us went back around the end of the seventh inning and headed back to the hotel.