Hello,
I'm Chikara Kurahashi
CEO
Hometown:
Los Angeles, CA
The Standard Japan Empowerment program challenges Japanese high school students to be more independent thinkers. Through small group discussions and activities, students will examine and discuss various topics and participate in projects and presentations. This program seeks to show students that passion and personal growth are achieved by taking responsibility for their choices.
The Women's Studies Empowerment Program was designed by Kerianne Panos, founder of MCML Consulting service, with the specific goal of empowering young Japanese women. In this program, Group Leaders work closely with students to help them explore their identities and to build the confidence and mindset necessary to become successful leaders in the future.
The STEM program seeks to challenge students to be more independent and creative thinkers with a particular focus on STEM fields. Through lectures, small group discussions/debates, and activities that explore various STEM subjects, Japanese students will examine and discuss various topics alongside American STEM students.
There is a $10 application fee, however, there is no program fee. GPI US and ISA cover your flights, domestic travel and accommodations (See expenses above for more details). Accepted applicants do not receive a stipend for their participation and any leisure activities they participate in are at their own cost. ***Application fee waived for 2022.
Summers in Japan are hot and very humid. Potential for lots of rain and heavy storms!
Unfortunately it is not possible to make any changes to the provided flights
Everyone will spend time in Tokyo at the beginning and end of the program. Then they're sent to different cities in different prefectures for the rest of the program.
Our participants find the most value from visiting the cities that they would never have thought to visit!
High School:
Do more of what you enjoy. Try more things and figure out what you like. Don’t do things just because it might look good on a college resume. Be more aware of the world outside your high school walls. It really doesn’t matter what your peers are saying or think about you...it’s also not worth the time or energy to stress about it. Your teenage years are the shortest of your life!
College:
Do an internship. Study abroad. Take more local trips. Take a gap year. Keep in touch with your friends once college ends.
Relaxing in bed with coffee and surfing the web or social media on my phone. Then, going for a run. Then, adventuring and doing something new, whether it’s a day trip or exploring a new restaurant or area of town I haven’t yet been to.
An actress because it seems fun to be different people and live multiple lives in one lifetime
I don’t have one phrase or quote that sums up what I live by. But I believe that the mind is powerful. If you think it and believe it and are mentally prepared to persevere through the tough parts, you CAN do it. Life experience has led me to believe this from running marathons to caring for a newborn to working at GPI US when no matter how carefully you plan and prepare, curveballs come at you!
Our international students are current students in middle school, high school, or university from Asia (mostly from Japan). The students always come to the United States with an adult chaperone who can act as liaison and emergency contact. Our international students also come on GPI US programs eager to learn new perspectives and improve their English language skills.
Provide a Bed International students will need their own bed. For short-term homestays, international students can share a room with your children, provided they share the same gender.
Provide Meals Host Families provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Please spend dinner time together to converse and interact with international students.
Provide Transportation For most programs, Host Families will provide transportation to and from the student's daily activities or light rail station. GPI US allows and encourages carpooling among homestays hosting students from the same group. If within reasonable distance, students may walk and/or take public transit on their own.
Share about your Daily Life We encourage Host Families to share their culture and hospitality with the international students staying with them. Our international students can learn the best when they interact with their Host Families.
Process to Become a Host Family
Fill our Host Family Interest Form Once we accept your interest form, you will be contacted by GPI US staff. GPI US staff are able to answer any questions you may have and provide more detail about GPI US Homestay Programs.
Complete Application GPI US staff will proceed with asking interested Host Families to complete an official application form.
Screening Process
Schedule a virtual home visit with GPI US staff.
Complete a background check (no cost to the Host Family)
Current Host Family Opportunities
Program Durations: Ongoing (1 - 3 week-long stays)
Locations: Greater Seattle Area
Contact: info@gpius.net
Interested in hosting? Fill out our Host Family Interest Form
“Ichigo Ichie”: Every moment is unrepeatable, thus unique and precious
No matter what your job is, I believe one of the best feelings is hearing from someone that your team made a positive impact on that person’s life. Time and time again, I’m blessed to hear such stories from students and our contractors, allowing me to wake up excited and go to bed fulfilled, thinking, “I love this job”.
Never underestimate your potential to change someone’s life forever, both positively and negatively
I lowkey get annoyed when people mix their curry and rice together.
I like Japanese or English words that are hard to translate into other languages - some words are not meant to be translated. For example, Japanese words describing traditional Japanese colors are so romantic and mythical! There is a word called “akakou” which I would translate to be an aroma coming from the color red. It is interesting to imagine how the color red smells!
ドラえもんのどこでもドア（Doraemon Anywhere Door） so I can visit many countries - especially Japan
Be gentle to yourself and be brave
I really thought I could fly when I was 13 years old and jumped from the window to pick up homework flew from my window. Lucky I landed on top of 蒟蒻 (yam cake ) that my parents were manufacturing.
ドラえもんのどこでもドア（Doraemon Anywhere Door） so I can visit many countries - especially Japan
Be gentle to yourself and be brave
I really thought I could fly when I was 13 years old and jumped from the window to pick up homework flew from my window. Lucky I landed on top of 蒟蒻 (yam cake ) that my parents were manufacturing.
An actress because it seems fun to be different people and live multiple lives in one lifetime
Studying and living abroad changed me in so many more ways than I could have imagined when I first left Japan to move to the US to continue my education. My experiences at a liberal arts college in Southern California exposed me to new ways of thinking and understanding the world.
Even more importantly, my eyes opened to the many possibilities and options available to me to explore and discover. As the CEO of GPI US, I feel extremely fortunate to be able to provide the next generation with these kinds of life-changing opportunities that were instrumental in shaping my future. Our organization acts as a vehicle for educators who not only share this same passion and desire, but also who want to provide their students with opportunities that set them up for success in this highly global world.
Our core mission has been and always will be “empowering today’s youth to thrive in a global world.” We are confident that our globalizing world will provide a multitude of opportunities for those students ready to navigate a more dynamic and complex world. Our role is to help them realize their potential by equipping them with the skills to capitalize on these opportunities and the strategies to pilot their future. Through our programs and services, students are able to explore their passions and build self-confidence to pursue their dreams and goals.
As the world changes, we aim to understand these new challenges and embrace these possibilities. We offer many program opportunities online.
Our programs and services are continually adjusted to deal with our shifting world and provide potential solutions to the issues facing the younger generation from the perspective of global education.