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.
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