Surrounded by a moat in the middle of Hiroshima stands a tall 16th-century Japanese Castle. Inside are all the historical artifacts and information of Hiroshima dating back to the 1500s. This is where Maya Sakai-Chen, a Junior at River Dell and Girl Scout, fell in love with the architecture, history, and everything and everything related to Japan.

Maya Sakai-Chen, a Chinese-Japanese American, visited her mother nation last summer, a long-held tradition in the Sakai-Chen household. Maya and her family visited multiple attractions in the Hiroshima area. However, upon visiting the Hiroshima Castle Museum, a famous and prestigious museum, Sakai-Chen noticed many Japanese exhibits had no English translations available.

Determined to make it right, Maya stated, “I decided to speak with the director of the Museum and see what I could do.” This small conversation started the beginning of a beautiful project that can help millions learn and educate themselves about the stunning country of Japan.

After Maya’s time in Japan, she began speaking regularly with Hiroshima Castle’s director about ways to translate the Japanese exhibits into other languages for all to enjoy. “I just want everyone to be able to understand the information being given,” Maya stated.

“The history of Hiroshima is way more than what people already know, I want to help convey this information to everybody.” Maya and her team members, who are all Japanese speakers, are starting to make adjustments to the Hiroshima Castle Museum’s exhibits.

Helping change an overseas museum can be problematic. “The most challenging part would be trying to plan everything while I’m in America and everything else is in Japan,” Maya expressed.

The process is extremely challenging; but, nothing is impossible… especially when Maya is involved. “I’ll do anything to make it right.”