Annual Report 2020-2021

There is not one feeling, idea, or even phrase that can describe the 2020-2021 year at UWC ISAK Japan. With the world turned upside down, our emotions went from excitement when our returning students were allowed to reenter the country in July to sadness with the idea that our new students would still be delayed until further notice. But then came the day the campus erupted with joy when the Japanese government announced it would begin issuing new visas. (Arata Katayama, especially can attest to this). When our final student arrived in November and nearly everyone was finished quarantine, we seemed to be headed for a normal school year. But in the first week of January 2021, things again took a turn for the worse as a small number of our community were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 upon returning from winter break. We implemented immediate countermeasures, which included a campus lockdown and rigorous testing. This period challenged us all and took a mental toll, but thanks to the incredible resilience of our community and the support from our Board, parents, and local stakeholders, we passed this trial and had much to look forward to going into February and March and through the end of the school year. You often hear our Chair Lin and I say, “it is not how you start, but how you finish.” It is a refrain we’d repeat daily to whoever would listen. But finish strong we did when we all gathered as one community on a beautiful day in May to celebrate the graduating Class of 2021. We witnessed this special class, who together survived historic typhoons and pandemics during their time at UWC ISAK Japan, toss their mortarboards into the air outside the newly opened Accord Center to signify the end of their student-journey at UWC ISAK Japan. When I reflect on the 2020-21 academic year, what stands out the most is the unbridled success of our community in the face of adversity. More importantly, in line with the spirit of our Founders, our belief in UWC ISAK Japan never wavered. In fact, I believe that the passion, dedication, and commitment has never been stronger and the future never brighter. Every day, we recognize that we are in the extraordinary position of having supporters who stand by us no matter the circumstances. I’d like to tell every individual that their support makes a difference and thank them for their belief in UWC ISAK Japan.