MIMARU, Japan’s premier apartment hotel brand catering to families and managed by Cosmos Hotel Management Co., Ltd., recently reflected on a special Children’s Day celebration held on May 5 at ANO-NE Kids Club in Tokyo’s Ginza/Yurakucho district. The event provided children from Japan and various countries with an opportunity to connect through interactive play and cultural activities.

A total of 26 children participated in a variety of experiences, including active games, bilingual story sessions, and traditional Japanese craft workshops. The program was designed to give children a welcoming environment to explore and socialize while allowing parents to enjoy personal time around the city. This approach aligns with ANO-NE Kids Club’s mission of enhancing family travel experiences.

The event highlighted how children can build friendships naturally, often without relying on a shared language. Through collaborative activities and play, participants formed connections with ease, a result reflected in the highly positive feedback gathered after the event.

International families make up 51% of ANO-NE Kids Club’s visitors, representing more than 30 countries and regions. Since the club’s launch, staff members have frequently observed children overcoming cultural and linguistic differences through spontaneous interaction. During the Children’s Day event, these connections became particularly evident as children who had just met engaged in teamwork, communication, and shared play.

“Seeing the children interact so naturally reminded me that adults are often more aware of language differences than children are,” said Mao Mochizuki from the Management Planning Office at Cosmos Hotel Management. “Children seem to have an innate ability to connect across borders. Spaces like ANO-NE Kids Club help create opportunities for those meaningful interactions to happen.”

Post-event evaluations revealed an average satisfaction rating of 9 out of 10. Parents also valued the chance to spend time independently, confident that their children were participating in a secure, enjoyable, and enriching environment.

As family travel preferences continue to change, more parents are looking for experiences that balance quality time for both children and adults. According to Mochizuki, the club’s goal is straightforward: “We want parents to fully enjoy moments for themselves during their travels, while children build lasting memories and friendships with peers.”

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) has announced the recipients of the 2026 Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships and Travel Grants in China Studies. The selected projects cover a wide range of historical periods and regions, offering innovative perspectives on longstanding historical issues as well as lesser-explored aspects of modern China.

These 24 fellowships and grants are awarded through the Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies, funded by a $3 million commitment from the Henry Luce Foundation that extends through 2028. The program is designed to strengthen scholarship on China by encouraging diverse viewpoints and supporting researchers from varied academic institutions and disciplines.

JM Chris Chang, ACLS Program Officer in China Studies, highlighted the creativity and ambition of this year’s awardees, noting that many are developing new archives, tracing the movement of commodities across regions, and using religious sites to better understand medieval societies. Chang emphasized that continued support for early-career humanities scholars is vital for fostering informed and meaningful scholarship on China in today’s changing world.

Yuting Li, Program Director for Asia at the Luce Foundation, stressed the importance of supporting young scholars to ensure the continued growth of the field. Li remarked that the work of this year’s fellows and grantees demonstrates both the adaptability of China studies and the determination of emerging researchers to pursue innovative scholarship despite shifting global and academic conditions.

As part of the 2026 program, recipients of the Luce/ACLS Travel Grants will also join a professional development workshop series focused on public engagement. Led by Lindsay Krasnoff, Clinical Assistant Professor at New York University, the workshops will help participants strengthen skills in public communication and media writing, enabling them to share informed perspectives with wider audiences.

Beyond these fellowships and grants, the Luce/ACLS Program in China Studies continues to promote growth in the discipline through initiatives such as the Collaborative Grant program, scheduled for announcement later this year, and the China Studies Digital Mapping Project, which expands access to free and open research resources for scholars.

Founded one hundred years ago, the American Council of Learned Societies is a nonprofit federation representing 86 scholarly associations. As a major advocate for humanities and social science research in the United States, ACLS promotes the idea that knowledge should serve the public good. Through partnerships with organizations, institutions, and scholars, ACLS works to broaden access to scholarship and strengthen the systems that support academic research.

The Henry Luce Foundation, established in 1936 by Time, Inc. co-founder and editor-in-chief Henry R. Luce, aims to advance understanding and knowledge in support of a more just and democratic society. The foundation pursues this mission by supporting intellectual communities, encouraging dialogue across differences, enriching public discussion, elevating diverse perspectives, and investing in future leaders.

In June 2024, two of my greatest passions—Native American culture and technology—came together in an extraordinary way. Alongside a small team from Cisco and IP Consulting, a Cisco Partner owned by African Americans, I traveled to Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Alaska, to support IỊisaġvik College and the Iñupiaq Alaska Native Tribe.

This journey was a surprise addition to my personal “bucket list,” one I hadn’t realized I needed until I experienced it. Our goal wasn’t to alter the Iñupiaq culture but to contribute to its preservation.

Addressing a Critical Need
Cisco’s Social Justice Action 8 initiative focuses on sustaining minority-serving colleges and universities by offering funding and modernizing their technology.

At IỊisaġvik College—Alaska’s only Tribal College, situated in the northernmost city in the United States—I witnessed the unique challenges faced by the community. Accessible only by air or sea, the college struggles to keep its technology up to date due to its remote location.

Guided by the principles of Action 8, we evaluated the college’s cybersecurity systems and implemented updates to meet federal requirements necessary for maintaining its Title IV funding. Additionally, we introduced Cisco’s Networking Academy to their curriculum, giving students the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications.

More Than Technology
While enhancing cybersecurity was our primary focus, the trip was about something much deeper: preserving the Iñupiaq way of life.

As a Native American, I deeply value the preservation of Indigenous cultures for future generations. This passion drives my efforts, including continuing my grandmother’s legacy from her work at the Intertribal Friendship House in Oakland, California, and my leadership of Cisco’s Native American Network (NAN), one of over 30 Inclusive Communities at the company.

IỊisaġvik College’s president, Justina Wilhelm, shares this vision. She recognizes that building IT and cybersecurity expertise in the Arctic is vital to sustaining the Iñupiaq culture. Together, Cisco and IP Consulting contributed to this mission, helping the college prepare for a stronger future.

A Warm Welcome
From the moment we arrived, the Iñupiaq community welcomed us with open arms. Rich in culture and deeply rooted in subsistence traditions, they generously shared their way of life. Each evening, we dined with different families, and since our visit coincided with whaling season, we participated in whaling ceremonies, including the traditional blanket toss, which hunters once used to scan for whales.

Visiting the Iñupiat Heritage Center gave me a deeper appreciation of their traditions, from crafting traditional clothing to the unique practices that distinguish their culture. I also shared some clothing customs from my own tribe, fostering an enriching cultural exchange.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the trip was connecting with students, showing them that opportunities exist for people who share their heritage. Representation matters deeply to me, and those conversations reinforced the importance of being a visible example for the next generation.

A Journey of Growth
Throughout my career at Cisco, I’ve embraced opportunities to represent my Indigenous heritage in projects that bring technology to Tribal communities. Each initiative has left a lasting impact, and my visit to Utqiaġvik was no exception.

The experience reminded me of home, with familiar sights like village houses, rez dogs, and children playing outside. At the same time, I marveled at the differences, particularly in the whaling ceremonies, which included traditional dances and sampling whale prepared in five distinct ways.

I’m deeply grateful to work at a company that empowers underrepresented voices. Native Americans comprise less than one percent of Cisco’s workforce, but I’ve always felt encouraged to be my authentic self—whether in an office, at a conference, or supporting social justice efforts like this.

IỊisaġvik College is the second Tribal College to benefit from Cisco’s social justice initiatives, and I’m honored to have been part of this work. I look forward to expanding our impact to more Indigenous-serving schools while continuing my own journey of learning and self-discovery.
 
Click here to know more about Cisco’s support of IỊisaġvik College.