16-year-old Jamie Chan interviewed Ashinaga Foundation’s educator on his time in Japan and the lessons learned
As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan during World War II, it is crucial for us, as the younger generation, to learn from the past: to turn cultural differences into connection, and discrimination into peace and harmony.
For Eugene Wanyama, the Senior Student Relations Coordinator of the Ashinaga Foundation in Japan, this anniversary is not only a moment of remembrance but also a chance to reflect on the ways culture shapes self-identity and fosters understanding across divides.
Ashinaga provides orphaned students in Japan with financial support and emotional care to access quality education, while Wanyama’s role focuses on guiding scholars in Japan to achieve their goals on their leadership journey to become strong contributors to the future of Africa.
“Ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki serve as reminders of the human cost of division and the need to move beyond the mental boundaries of ‘us’ and ‘them’,” he told Harbingers’ Magazine in an exclusive interview.
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The bridge from culture to identity
Wanyama argues that before culture can serve as a tool for unity, we need to understand how it influences identity.
He points out that the question “Where are you from?” often translates into another way of asking “How should I interact with you?”. The answer creates general expectations about communication styles, preferences and cultural exposure.
However, as someone with a mixed cultural background — being born and raised in Kenya and having lived in Japan for the past 24 years — Wanyama disagrees with modern cultural stereotyping.
“It will be more meaningful to identify people by their interests and values rather than by their country of origin,” he said.
In his view, navigating a new culture like Japan’s requires patience, strong communication skills, and openness to people of all ages. Only then can individuals move beyond stereotypes to recognise each other as unique personalities.
“Small phrases like ‘those people’ may seem harmless, but they can open the door to injustice,” Wanyama warned.
From division into connection
In times of war and conflict, legacies of the dehumanisation of entire communities remain the most harmful and detrimental. Once the mental division of ‘us’ and ‘them’ is created, societies tend to focus on differences such as language, ethnicity or religion – and these differences can be weaponised to fuel fear, hostility and discrimination.
“On the contrary, it is important to remember that every human being is part of a shared identity,” he emphasised.
Although cultures often come with different customs and social norms, efforts to find similarities that create common ground remain vital for peaceful coexistence.
Wanyama shared a personal example: the common concept of tatemae – the practice of presenting thoughts or opinions in a way that will be more acceptable to others – which exists both in Japan and East Africa.
“In peacebuilding, it is key for all parties to assess their priorities and sometimes let go of smaller opinions in order to respect the dignity of others,” he explained. By doing so, space can be created for different viewpoints to exist without unnecessary conflict – something urgently needed to prevent history from repeating itself, as it did with the tensions that culminated in the atomic bombings in Japan.
Towards a future of mutual harmony
Wanyama believes that the foundations to peacebuilding and harmonious connection across cultures remain to be mutual learning and respect, nurtured by openness and patience.
To conclude the interview, he offered advice to younger generations — both those adapting to foreign environments and those who are local and wish to help others overcome cultural differences:
“The world is a beautiful place and it belongs to all of us, which means it belongs to you as well,” Wanyama said, encouraging young people to remain curious in new environments.
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