Exploring Education Beyond the Classroom in Korea, Japan, and Brazil

Written by David Maemoto | 04/24/2025

Education is a powerful catalyst for breaking down barriers, fostering cross-cultural understanding, and enabling innovative solutions to global challenges. Reflecting on my recent journey to Korea, Japan, and Brazil, I found that this pursuit of education extended beyond traditional classrooms into the rich landscapes of cultural heritage, collaborative design, and engineering innovation.

Through immersive experiences in these regions, I drew on my Korean-Japanese-Indonesian heritage to build bridges of understanding and cooperation, gaining first hand insight into diverse approaches to education. Growing up in a household dominated by my Korean grandmother’s traditions, I was drawn to explore how culture influences education during my first stop in Seoul. From the winding streets of Insadong to the vibrant night markets of Hongdae, Korea’s rich and bustling culture came alive. Crowds gathering to watch traditional Korean performing arts: an embodiment of unity and harmony. Libraries and coffee shops in Gangnam overflowed with working students: a symbol of hard work and education. Towering palace gates at Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung stood as quiet testaments to resilience. These were not just tourist sights to admire–they reflected the values I was raised with, a metaphorical mirror to my upbringing, and a catalyst for understanding how Korean culture has shaped my identity.

In reconnecting with family and rediscovering a long-held dream of my late grandfather—to bring Indonesian coffee to global markets—I found a personal bridge between heritage and aspiration. Though I didn’t grow up steeped in Indonesian traditions, this journey gave me a chance to embrace that side of my lineage and explore his legacy. I visited roasting facilities, coffee bean research labs, and unique Bali coffee shops across Seoul, observing how Indonesian Bali Coffee found a foothold in one of the world’s most sophisticated consumer markets. I learned that success here isn’t just about marketing and product–it’s about cultivating relationships, consistency, and long-term vision.

Unlike markets driven by short-term metrics, Korea’s business culture emphasizes trust and legacy. Conversations with my uncle–whom I met for the first time on this trip and who now leads Bali coffee operations–showed me how authenticity, generosity, and quiet perseverance build something far more enduring than quick wins. His approach reminded me that in cultures with centuries of tradition, growth is measured not in quarterly profits, but by reputation, purpose, and time–a truth reflected in his relationship to the business, which he nurtures with the same care and devotion one might show to family. In many Asian cultures, work is deeply personal, often intertwined with identity and legacy. Watching him operate with this sense of purpose and integrity reframed my own understanding of success. His long-term vision, grounded in both tradition and heart, now shapes not only how I think about business, but also the values I strive to carry forward in my own life.

It was here where I first started to realize that my education which has shaped me into the person I am today is not just a reflection of the hours spent studying, but also a lifelong process that has influenced my personal values from the moment I was born. Seoul showed me that the quality of education ascends beyond the classroom into strong cultural roots that continue to drive our everyday lives.

Upon leaving Seoul, my travels took me to Tokyo, Japan, which uniquely blends historical traditions with cutting-edge technology, creating modern-day practices that honor cultural continuity while addressing contemporary challenges. Central to my exploration in Japan was the second pillar of my research—understanding design, ethics, and respect. By engaging deeply with Japanese design philosophy, from architecture to product creation, I learned that ethical design is rooted in respect for materials, maintained user experience, and environmental harmony. By visiting numerous temples, shrines, gardens, and the Imperial Palace, I observed and interpreted how each element held cultural significance. Every gate and pagoda served as a representation of Japan’s rich history. Lines of sakura cherry blossom trees were symbols of renewal and new beginnings. Rapid Shinkansen bullet trains were flashes of exponential technological growth. By appreciating and recognizing the symbolism behind the beauty, I admired how Japan effectively balances both innovation towards the future and preservation of the past. These insights reinforced my understanding that responsible innovation and thoughtful design are crucial principles for engineering global solutions that yield long-term positive impact while resonating across diverse cultures.

Beyond the gold mine of delicious food that melted in my mouth and bustling Tokyo nightlife, there is a singular value that truly makes Japan feel magical: mutual respect. From the moment I was greeted at breakfast parlors to when I paid respects at Senso-ji Temple, I felt a unifying energy filled with friendly hospitality and empathy. Unlike anything that I’ve ever seen in America, Japan has cultivated a unique blend that sits at the intersection of traditional values with modern technology, creating a special experience that made me consider the power of education through the lens of selfless, respectful collaboration. The cohesion of Japanese people, bonded by this simple principle, has yielded shockwaves of success in both the world of business and more recently, baseball. As a lifelong Dodgers fan, I was fortunate enough to watch the Tokyo Opening Series for the Dodgers while they played in Tokyo, and it was shocking to see the influence of Shoehei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki brining crowds of blue and white together to support their home-grown superstars! I feel blessed to finally gain a glimpse into Japanese culture, which has revealed that the power of education hinges upon our respect for others and the strength of our collaborative bonds that have the potential to produce astoundingly positive results.

However, a global education that genuinely seeks to break cross-cultural barriers and tackle global challenges requires more than exploration—it demands action. Recognizing this, my journey extends beyond East Asia to São Paulo, Brazil, where I worked with nonprofit Orientavida that supports and empowers local seamstresses. Throughout the last 3 months, I have collaborated with a Stanford team to build an efficient web platform that streamlines the process of connecting clients like Disney and Netflix with Orientavida to place and execute orders of items including tote bags and blankets. Although the power of AI technology isn’t vastly utilized in the rural areas surrounding Sao Paulo, our team has been constructing WhatsApp API tools powered by AI that will not only boost Orientavida’s internal communication processes, but also drastically expand opportunities for the seamstresses. By gaining useful feedback and understanding product market fit in Brazil, I look forward to continuing innovating and improving our platform for Orientavida in the coming months!
This commitment directly aligns with the shared vision of education and innovation as fundamental drivers for positive global change. By providing Orientavida with technology-enabled resources and exposure, this initiative creates scalable economic opportunities and enables seamstresses to achieve meaningful and productive lives. Reflecting on the project progress, I understand the transformative power of cross-cultural collaboration and global perspectives, where insights from my technical Stanford experiences have translated into impactful actions fostering community development across continents.

Ultimately, this journey signifies more than personal growth; it represents the power of education and an active commitment to understanding cultures, leveraging engineering expertise, and fostering collaborative global solutions. Education is not merely academic—it is experiential, reflective, and fundamentally transformational—the cornerstone for solving challenges that transcend cultural and geographic boundaries. Whether reinforcing culturally-driven personal values in Korea, balancing technological innovation with cultural authenticity in Japan, or supporting local artisans in Brazil, education becomes the bridge that connects diverse cultures toward shared global progress.