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The Student News Site of The American School in Japan

HANABI

The Student News Site of The American School in Japan

HANABI

The Student News Site of The American School in Japan

HANABI

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The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Winner: The Story Behind Maria Corina Machado
Article by Mayuko Kawase, Writer • October 20, 2025

Every year, six Nobel Prizes are awarded to remarkable, accomplished individuals from all over the world for their outstanding achievements in one of six categories. With the peace category gaining the most attention and...

Photo by Jeanne Menjoulet
Uncertainty in France: Political Instability and Market Fallout
Article by Sarah Higashio Gocsei, Writer • October 6, 2025

France has seen a dramatic increase in political instability over the past year. At the same time, the nation’s deteriorating economy and growing fiscal risk are causing widespread unrest in the local stock and bond markets....

Drawing by Aileen Bang, representing Mario trying to navigate the US Visa process.
Visa Revocation: An Interview with Ramy Ghaly on the Rights and Responsibilities of International Students
Article by Sophie Lee, Writer • September 2, 2025

Revocation, termination, deportation. In the era of the Trump administration, what should international students know about visa safety during these uncertain times? Every year, hundreds of thousands aim to acquire a United...

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Photo by Sarah Higashio Gocsei
Behind the Scenes: How Student Aid Keeps ASIJ Events on Track
Article by Sarah Higashio Gocsei, Writer • October 16, 2025

Ever wonder who keeps ASIJ’s biggest events running without a hitch? From the Yujo Tournament to Spirit Day, Student Aid is the group quietly making sure everything behind...

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Image design by Meredith Michels
The Quiet Crisis: The Conversations We Avoid
Article by Meredith Michels, Writer • September 12, 2025

We sat in rows under humming fluorescent lights, fanning ourselves with crumpled paper schedules. It was the first day of summer camp, and the room buzzed with quiet nerves. The projector at the front...

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How Disillusionment Fuels Europe’s Far-Right Surge
Article by Shivaan Kothari, Editor-in-Chief • April 8, 2025

In 2000, traditional center-left and center-right parties maintained around 75% of the vote across major Western democracies. In the 2020s, they are struggling to overcome newcomer far-right parties. So,...

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Why the Beatles Are Not Overrated
Article by Elizabeth Rexrode, Writer • April 2, 2025

A quick Google search on who is the biggest band in music history will immediately present you with the Beatles. Their “Abbey Road” album cover appears as an easter egg in countless movies, “Here...

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Image from Kai Socco
Whiplash—An Excellent Movie about Excellence
Article by Shiwhan Kim, Writer • September 20, 2025

It’s easy to overlook abuse when it leads to excellence, because with the lash of a whip, perfection can be within reach. The complex relationship between obsession, abuse,...

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The 10 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2024
Article by Shivaan Kothari, Editor-in-Chief • February 12, 2025

Defined by a beef between the two biggest rappers of our generation—Drake and Kendrick Lamar—2024 was a historic year for hip-hop. The sparks for this battle had existed...

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Gold Circle Awards

Read articles that won Gold Circle awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association:

Informational graphics
1st Place - Sena Chang
A Look Through Time: The War in Afghanistan

Interactive graphic
1st Place - Sena Chang
The Russia-Ukraine Crisis: A Chronology of a Turbulent History

Personal opinion: Off-campus issues
2nd Place - Aaryan Kumar
How Japan’s Obscenity Laws Reinforce Conformity

Sports Features
Honorable Mention - Sam Barbir
The Race that Captivates a Nation

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