From October 4 to 12, a group of hospitality and tourism management (HTM) students from Brigham Young University–Hawaii traveled to Japan for an immersive learning experience centered around the Expo 2025, a world expo held in Osaka, Japan, a global event that takes place only once every five years and draws millions of visitors from more than 150 nations.
Led by Jeff Christensen, associate professor in the Faculty of Business & Government and the director of the Center for Hospitality & Tourism Management, and Poerava Brodien, assistant professor of HTM, the group included students and HTM majors Koto Nakagawa, Angela Caburnay, and Emmanuel Badong, alongside Manu Tefan, a business management major who served as the trip’s videographer.
Throughout eight days of exploration across Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo, the group examined how innovation, culture, and collaboration shape the global future of tourism, while gaining firsthand insight into Japan’s world-renowned hospitality standards and sustainable urban design.
A Global Classroom
At the heart of the trip were two full days at the World Expo, held on Yumeshima Island under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” Students engaged with country pavilions from around the world, each showcasing how tourism and innovation can address modern challenges such as sustainability, health, and community resilience.
“The World Expo provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to see how global tourism operates at the highest level, where innovation, culture, and diplomacy intersect,” said Christensen. “It’s where students could see how hospitality becomes both a cultural expression and a tool for global connection.”
For Koto Nakagawa, a junior from Japan majoring in hospitality and tourism management, the Expo became a turning point in his academic and personal understanding of the field.
“Seeing so many countries in one place gave me a deeper understanding of how hospitality is expressed in different cultures,” Nakagawa said. “It showed me that hospitality is not just about service; it reflects a country’s values and mindset. I learned how each nation approaches guests differently, which expanded my global perspective.”
Nakagawa said the Expo’s theme encouraged him to imagine how he could contribute to the next generation of tourism professionals. “It inspired me to think about how to create experiences that are both meaningful and sustainable,” he added. “It made me realize that hospitality has a role in shaping the kind of future we want to live in.”
A conversation at the UAE Pavilion left a lasting impression on her. “I asked the staff about the difference between Japanese and Middle Eastern hospitality,” he recalled. “They said that if something doesn’t exist, they’ll find a way to create or prepare it for the guest. That mindset showed me what world-class hospitality really means.”
Hospitality Beyond Service
The students also met with two senior Japanese officials—individuals that even local citizens rarely have the chance to meet—who played central roles in organizing the Expo. The private meeting offered an insider’s view of the strategic bidding process, the logistics of hosting millions of guests, and the long-term redevelopment of Yumeshima Island into a sustainable innovation hub.
For Emmanuel Badong, a junior from the Philippines, these interactions reinforced the importance of humility and purpose in leadership. “One of the experiences that left a deep impression on me was meeting government official Nakayama Yasuhide in Osaka,” Badong said. “Listening to his passion for public service and humility despite his high position reminded me that true leadership means being grounded in service and sincerity. I hope I can embody that in my own career.”
Badong said witnessing how different nations branded themselves through their pavilions broadened his understanding of tourism’s global reach.
“Each pavilion had its own story,” he explained. “It reflected the unique culture, technology, and sustainability efforts of that country. It reminded me that hospitality goes beyond service—it’s a way of expressing national identity and values.”
He added that the Expo’s theme resonated deeply with him as a future professional. “It taught me the importance of innovation and responsibility in shaping a better world,” he said. “We need to create tourism that’s sustainable, inclusive, and community-based—where experiences benefit both guests and local communities while protecting the planet.”
Behind the Lens
As the trip’s videographer, Manu Tefan, a senior from French Polynesia majoring in business management, said documenting the experience helped him see hospitality and global collaboration through a creative lens.
“I was not ready for the sheer scale of the World Expo,” he said. “With over 150 countries gathered in one place and over 200,000 visitors per day, my understanding of global tourism and hospitality was forever changed. It showed me how much work goes into creating such a massive event and how each country markets itself and captures people’s attention.”
For Tefan, one of the most powerful experiences came from meeting Mr. Nakayama in person. “When he walked into the room, he didn’t just start with a speech; he personally went around to get to know each of us,” he said. “He asked about our backgrounds, interests, and dreams. Then he connected us to people in his own network who matched those interests. That personal touch showed me the real meaning of leadership and mentorship.”
The trip, Tefan said, “was life-changing” since it gave him “the opportunity to apply everything I’ve learned at BYU–Hawaii; networking, business communication, storytelling, all at once,” he said. “Being surrounded by so much diversity felt familiar, like being back on campus. I realized that BYU–Hawaii’s multicultural environment had already prepared me for this global stage.”
A Culture of Faith
Angela Caburnay, a senior from the Philippines majoring in hospitality and tourism management, witnessed many nations gathered at the expo, which deepened her understanding of hospitality as a bridge between cultures.
The Expo’s theme, she said, encouraged her to reflect on how innovation and tradition can work together to shape a better world. "It made me think about what kind of world I want to help create,” she said. “As an HTM student, I was inspired to see how technology and tradition can coexist to improve people’s lives.”
One moment that stood out for her was visiting the Philippines Pavilion, where she and another student spoke with a representative from the country’s Destination Marketing Organization.
“When we asked what the Philippines offers that others don’t, he said, ‘the people,’” she recalled. “It reminded me that our culture of warmth and service is something truly special, and it challenged me to find new ways to share that with the world.”
Caburnay said the trip strengthened her both professionally and spiritually. “I gained a clearer understanding of how hospitality can promote peace and connection,” she said. “It also reminded me that kindness and service are universal languages, and that as disciples of Christ, we’re called to speak to them wherever we go.”
Connecting Classroom and Career
The group also met with BYU–Hawaii HTM alumni Yusuke Kochiyama, now working in IT for Japan Airlines, and Parley Wen, a revenue manager at Marriott International’s Asia headquarters in Tokyo. Their stories gave students a firsthand view of how lessons from BYU–Hawaii’s HTM program translate into leadership roles in major international companies.
For Nakagawa, those alumni meetings brought his BYU–Hawaii education full circle.
“I realized how valuable it is to have professors who care about giving us real-world experiences,” he said. “I learned more through this trip than I ever could in a classroom or video. It made me hope that more students can have opportunities like this.”
Badong agreed, adding that the trip gave him a new appreciation for BYU–Hawaii’s mission. “It prepares us not only academically but spiritually,” he said. “I see now how intercultural understanding, leadership, and service are meant to be lived, not just learned.”
“A Christlike Spirit of Service”
Reflecting on the journey, Christensen said the trip embodied the prophetic mission of BYU–Hawaii: to prepare students from Asia and the Pacific to become leaders who bless their families, communities, chosen fields, and in building the kingdom of God.
“Seeing the World Expo wasn’t just about attending an event,” he said. “It was about helping students envision their place in shaping the future of global tourism with integrity, creativity, and a Christlike spirit of service.”
By experiencing Japan’s model of innovation, sustainability, and human-centered design, the students returned with renewed determination to uplift others through their chosen professions. Their stories, Christensen said, are proof that faith, education, and intercultural connection can work together to build a more compassionate world.
“The Expo helped us all see that hospitality is more than a career,” Tefan reflected. “It’s a calling to bring people together, to tell stories that heal, and to serve with purpose.”
