Four Sixth Form students from West Lakes Academy recently took part in an educational and cultural visit to Japan. The trip combined STEM learning, cultural experiences, and international collaboration, giving students the chance to represent both their school and West Cumbria on a global scale.
The group began their visit in Tokyo, where they explored the city’s iconic landmarks including the Imperial Gardens and Tokyo Station. They then travelled to Fukushima to participate in the 2025 International STEAM Workshop, a weekend-long event that brought together students, scientists, and industry leaders from around the world. Highlights included keynote speeches from Hajimu Yamana, President of the Nuclear Damage Compensation and Decommissioning Facilitation Corporation (NDF), and Koetsu Yamazaki, President of F-REI, as well as talks by renowned scientists Robin Grimes and Fiona Rayment.
Students attended mentoring sessions, networked with Japanese peers and MIT graduates, and explored future careers in STEAM. On the final day, they delivered a confident and well-received presentation to nearly 100 delegates, sharing insights into life in the UK and education in Cumbria.
Year 13 Student Ben Ashton commented:
“The most memorable part of the trip was definitely being able to interact with students who had a completely different perspective from our own. Their aspirations and lives, whilst similar in some ways to ours, often differed drastically.”
Year 13 Student Esosa Clarkson Williams, added:
“At first, I was quite nervous, but I quickly became comfortable and confident as everyone was enthusiastic and kind, especially the Japanese students. I made a lot of connections and had good, in-depth conversations with those around me.”
Year 13 Student Louisa Norton added:
“Before presenting I was really nervous, but everyone involved in the workshop was so polite and friendly. I felt more confident because they were all listening and engaged, making it such a nice environment for us.”
The group also visited the Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum, gaining a deeper understanding of the region’s history and recovery. They toured a textiles mill known for its patented dual yarn technology, and later took part in a guided visit to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, where they explored the damaged reactors and advanced water treatment systems.
Returning to Tokyo, the students visited the NDA/NTS offices to learn about roles within the nuclear industry. They then explored Shinjuku’s Godzilla Road, the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Cat Street, and the famous Shibuya Scramble, culminating in panoramic views from Shibuya Sky. The trip concluded with a formal audience with the British Ambassador.
To capture the full impact of the trip, students reflected on their experiences, both personal and academic:
Ben Ashton shared his thoughts on navigating the city:
“Navigating through Tokyo in general was an achievement… by the end of the trip we were able to navigate through Tokyo Central Station.”
Esosa Clarkson Williams was struck by the cultural warmth:
“What surprised me most is how hospitable and respectful Japan is. Everyone is very considerate of others compared to other cultures, it inspired me to be more generous towards others and my community than I have before.”
Louisa Norton reflected on the language skills of her international peers:
“Almost everyone could speak English at the workshop, which surprised me because they were the same age as us and could speak to us fluently.”
Ben also spoke about how the experience shaped his career goals:
“This experience reinforced my decision that a career in STEM was the right choice for me. It also opened my eyes to international opportunities through presentations from American, Japanese and even British mentors.”
Esosa expressed her aspirations as a future innovator in STEAM:
“As a young woman in STEAM, I will go down this route to inspire more women to add new innovations, opportunities and ideas.”
Louisa added:
“I’m now even more interested in nuclear engineering and looking at different courses with nuclear science at university.”
Kim Beckwith, Assistant Headteacher at West Lakes Academy, said:
“Visiting Japan was an exceptional, once in a lifetime opportunity for staff and students to immerse ourselves into a completely different culture. Myself, Mr Turpin, Esosa, Ben, James and Louisa all experienced a wide range of places and people we would never have had the opportunity to before. Getting the opportunity to network with experts in the STEAM field, Japanese students and graduates from MIT really helped our students to explore their next steps in their chosen fields.
We thank the British Embassy, NDA, and NTS for their support, funding and guidance in our visit to Japan.”
