About us
Our Story
Connect Youth Asia began with a simple realization during a summer program in Kyoto, Japan.
While spending time with Japanese high school students, our founder discovered how easily we form assumptions about people from other cultures. Some Japanese students imagined that American teenagers ate hamburgers every day, while he had his own assumptions about Japanese students’ daily lives. Through conversations about school, food, and everyday experiences, he realized how much there was to learn from simply talking to one another.
That experience inspired Connect Youth Asia, a student-led platform where high school students from the United States and East Asia can share their perspectives on culture, history, and everyday life.
We believe that understanding another culture begins with curiosity and conversation. By sharing our stories and listening to different viewpoints, we hope to bring students across the Pacific a little closer together.
Meet Our Team
Bill He
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
I enjoy playing the erhu, paddling on the water, and trying new foods.
Kantaro Kurihara
Japan Student Liaison
I love playing basketball, watching anime, and playing video games.
Caisheng Jin
China Student Liaison
I play goalie on my ice hockey team. Outside of hockey, I enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures.
Join Our Team
Do you enjoy meeting new people, sharing cultural perspectives, or connecting students across borders? We’re looking for high school students from the U.S. and across East Asia to join us as Student Liaisons!