SJA joins Anne Crescini’s visit to Yorktown High School

Written by Junko Katada

On November 1, 2023, SJA co-hosted Anne Crescini's visit to Yorktown High School. Ms. Crescini gave a special lecture to the lucky 15 students of Parrish-sensei's Japanese class. She moved to Japan with zero Japanese skill and zero interest in Japanese/Japan when she was 23 years old.  She talked about how she came to love Japan so much as to apply to become a Japanese citizen. She encouraged the students not only to study a language but to understand the culture and the values behind it.  

Anne Crescini is a teacher and writer based in Munakata, Japan, on the southern island of Kyushu. Originally from Southwest Virginia, she has lived in Japan with her husband, Riz, for 26 years. When she is not writing and teaching, she enjoys hanging out with her three daughters, eating cookies, and drinking coffee. She is an associate professor of The University of Kitakyushu.  She is also a TV personality in Japan.