VIA has over 60 years of experience connecting Asia and the US, and has facilitated programs for students from Asia in Silicon Valley since 1977. Our participants are able to stay connected to an international community of peers throughout their careers. VIA’s extensive alumni network allows past and present participants to strengthen their personal and professional development. VIA also provides opportunities to contribute to meaningful impact with local organizations that serve a diverse range of communities and needs.

No. Program sessions will be conducted in English. However, if you are studying Japanese, this is a great opportunity to practice with native speakers in both formal and informal settings.

VIA staff and Rikkyo University faculty, as well as on-site coordinators and guest speakers from the local community.

It depends. The personal information section should only take 5-10 minutes to fill out. The second part of the application asks you to write several short essays , which may take 1-2 hours. The application is designed to help us get to know you better, but is also intended for you to reflect on what is really important to you and what you want to get most out of this experience. We encourage you to spend some extra time to think deeply about your answers. If you can’t finish your application all at once, you can save it and complete it at a later time.

For the first part of the application, you will need to provide personal information (name, nationality, year in school) and contact information (email, phone number, etc). For the essay questions you will be asked to provide information about yourself and why you are interested in joining the program. The final step will be an online interview with the Program Director. If your application is selected, the Program Director will follow up with you to confirm the interview time.

• Review the answers to your essay questions and be prepared to speak about them in more depth.
• Double-check your interview time and plan to be ready a few minutes early in a quiet place where you will be free from distraction.
• Test your internet connection, run any updates on your device and apps, and make sure your microphone, headphones, and camera are working properly. Of course, we realize there are technical difficulties sometimes, so we will work with you to make sure these are resolved.

We will send out results approximately one week after your interview.

You will receive information about the next steps, including travel preparations, insurance enrollment, etc. You will also be invited to join an online group with other participants, so that you can get to know each other better. In addition, you will receive some materials to help you prepare for the program.

We recommend that you pack one small suitcase and one small bag only. You should be able to carry your own luggage around one city block and up and down stairs. Japan can be quite hot, humid, and rainy in the summer, so we recommend bringing lightweight sun-protective clothing and rain gear (a light shell jacket, umbrella, etc). You will be walking a lot, so comfortable shoes are highly recommended. It is also customary to not wear outdoor shoes inside, so you may want to bring a pair of in-door only shoes.

Other important things to bring are: prescription medication, copies of your travel and insurance documents, and adapters to charge your electronic devices. You will receive a detailed packing list to aid you as you prepare for your travels.

VIA staff make participants’ safety and well-being their highest priority at all times. All participants are required to have travel medical insurance, which can provide coverage for medical and other emergencies. We will arrange or plan transportation routes and accompany participants to all organization visits.

Violent crime is not common or prevalent in Japan, even in Tokyo. However, as is true for most major cities, one should take a common-sense approach to safety precautions as one would anywhere else. Carry a cell phone with international coverage so that you can access maps and call VIA staff in case you get lost. Japan is still a very cash-based society, so carrying large amounts of cash isn’t unusual. This may be a new experience for you, though, so be careful to keep track of your cash and other belongings at all times.

If you hold a passport from the US (as well as Canada, Mexico, or any other visa-exempt country), you do not need a visa for a short-term stay in Japan.

For safety purposes, all participants are required to maintain medical insurance coverage during the program. If you decline to enroll in insurance offered by VIA, you must submit proof of insurance valid for the program location and duration to VIA staff before your departure.

For minor emergencies (small injuries, illness, etc.), program staff will take care of the participants’ immediate needs and accompany them to the hospital if a hospital visit is necessary. For major emergencies (serious injury, illness, or accidents), VIA staff will ensure you receive the care that you need, and notify your emergency contacts.

For program policy violations, VIA will discuss the incident with the participant(s). Depending on the severity, the participant(s) will receive a warning or, if it is a very serious problem, the participant(s) may be sent home early at their own expense.

The program is designed to be an intensive experience in order to maximize participant impact and learning. However, we understand that proper rest and time off are also beneficial to student learning, bonding and overall well-being. You will have some time for exploration and self-directed activities during the program.

While in Tokyo, you will stay at a hotel in Ikebukuro, near the Rikkyo campus. Accommodations in Rikuzentakata have included hotels, guest houses, and homestays, depending on availability.

Yes! You are welcome to go somewhere before and after the program, as long as you arrive in Tokyo on the first day of the program and depart no sooner than the final day of the program.

Yes! After completing all of the priority activities to a satisfactory level, as decided by VIA, you will receive a certificate.

Post-accelerator, teams go on to do a variety of things both professionally and personally. Some teams continue to expand and develop their programming, while others use the international education experience to apply for other programs, such as scholarships, graduate school, or jobs. Some individual participants apply to become Program Fellows for the following cohort.

Project funding is not a core element of the accelerator program. However, VIA can and will connect you with funding opportunities that are more specific to your project. All participants and alumni of the accelerator program are eligible to apply for the Social Impact Grant ($3000 USD).

Yes! We encourage you to connect individually with your peers and others you meet during the program. After the program, you can sign up to receive updates about events and opportunities from VIA. VIA organizes alumni gatherings and other events in the US and Asia several times a year. We also have online communities for participants to connect with each other and past program alumni. Finally, alumni may come back to join another program, or return as a program fellow to help facilitate another VIA program.