Welcome Letter from the Director, Summer 2026
Welcome to the Japanese Academy!
2026年5月5日
Dear Student and Parents, こんにちは！
Congratulations on behalf of the staff of the 2026 Virginia Governor’s Japanese Academy. We are all excited to have you at the Academy and cannot wait to welcome a new group of outstanding Japanese students this summer.
Our Academy has a tradition of providing an intensive yet exciting academic study of Japanese Language and culture. Immersive experiences are a hallmark of our Academy – wearing traditional Japanese clothing, eating sushi, even simply trying to use chopsticks. Students will participate in core Japanese language classes, conducted at several learning levels to accommodate students of various proficiencies. The instructors of the Academy will teach cultural classes to include Japanese traditional cooking, caligraphy, benshi comedy, and more. Academy participants will certainly have the opportunity to study the culture of Japan from an array of perspectives. Additionally, students can look forward to participating in a Japanese tea ceremony, as well as creating art using classical Japanese methods. Regarding the Japanese language classes, students are expected to fill out the placement survey by May 26th so as to inform us which language level they are comfortable with.
During this summer, we expect you to grow, learn, and expand your knowledge of and experiences with Japanese language and culture. The staff of the Academy are all here to support and help you on your personal educational journey as you build a passion for Japanese studies. This being said, please come motivated and ready to challenge yourself, and never stop learning.
Please review your comprehensive welcome packet and guide for the Academy. This student packet includes a list of things to do in order to prepare for the Academy. Please make sure that both parents and student carefully read the entire packet to fully understand the Academy and its requirements.
On behalf of the Japanese Academy staff, we are thrilled to meet you and cannot wait to make this summer a lifelong memory for everyone. For now, good luck with the rest of your school year! Please contact me at VAJapaneseAcademy@gmail.com should you have any questions or concerns.
All the best,
Kyle Maclauchlan
マグラクラン カイル
Director, Governor’s Japanese Language Academy