October 2025: Erik Wochholz
Hello, and welcome back to the JET Alumni Spotlight! Today we feature Erik Wochholz. Please read on to learn more about his time in Hokkaido, his passion of education, and his love for konbini coffee.
Are you from the Great Lakes area? What is your experience in the Great Lakes Area?
I am originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’ve lived in Michigan for all my life (save for the five years that I spent on JET!)
What is your favorite Japanese convenience store?
I am a big proponent of 7-Eleven in Japan. While other konbini that shall not be named may have certain advantages, 7-Eleven coffee is perfect. I cannot begin to describe how many times their coffee saved me in the morning.
What is the biggest difference you see between Japanese and American culture? What do you believe these two cultures could learn from each other?
The single biggest difference I see is that Japanese people are more inclined to not directly confront a problem compared to Americans. This mindset is something that I personally refer to as “gaman culture,” derived from the Japanese word for “to endure or to persevere.” Generally, Japanese people tend to avoid disturbing the peace of the group. Conversely, Americans tend to be much more direct about confronting a problem regardless of the repercussions it may have on the group. I believe that both cultures could benefit from attempting to learn the positives and negatives of these two different problem-solving approaches to create a more nuanced perspective.
How did you become interested in applying for the JET program?
My interest in applying to the JET program is tied to me starting to study the Japanese language. I first became interested in learning Japanese by browsing the internet during high school. One day, I happened across a forum thread about the JET program. I had been interested in Japan for some time by that point; making it a goal to move to Japan via the JET program seemed like a good idea. I knew that learning Japanese would be critical for life in Japan. Who would have thought that coming across a random forum thread would have so drastically changed my life?
Were you an ALT, a CIR, or an SEA on the JET Program? How long were you on the program, and where was your placement?
I was an ALT in Itoigawa, Niigata prefecture for 5 years from 2018 to 2023. Fun fact: we refer to 5-year ALTs as unicorns.
Would you please tell us more about your placement? For ALTs, what were your schools like? For CIRs and SEAs, what sort of work were you involved in?
I was a city-based ALT, meaning that I worked in elementary and junior high schools. I ended up teaching at five elementary schools, one junior high school, and four pre-schools throughout those five years. My schools varied greatly in size, with the largest elementary school consisting of over 200 students while the smallest had nine students in its final year.
What is a memory you have from your time on JET that sticks out to you?
My strongest memories are tied with that elementary school with only nine students that I mentioned previously. That school was unfortunately closed due to the area’s declining population. The students gave me a very touching gift on the last day of my lessons. I will never forget how hard I cried that day.
What has your career path been since leaving the JET Program? How has JET influenced your journey?
Upon returning to the US, I became a participant in AmeriCorps and spent a year as an administrative assistant for a Japanese company. However, my time as an ALT on the JET program really taught me that my true career passion is in education. I have now decided to refocus my efforts on teaching overseas once again, this time through the PeaceCorps. I will have more information to share about that journey soon.
Do you have any advice or other support that you can give to current / future JET applicants? How about your fellow alumni?
Never let someone tell you that your dreams are impossible. I have had close family members tell me before that they didn’t believe that I could get into the JET program. Ultimately, you are the only person who can decide whether something is truly impossible. Have confidence in yourself and stay true to the path that you have decided. Perseverance will pay off.
Where can we reach you for networking?
Please feel free to reach out to my LinkedIn profile for any networking.
Please do reach out if you have any questions for our alumni. Thank you, Erik, for sharing your own story.
Alumni Spotlight is an outreach activity through the Great Lakes JET Alumni Association seeking to build stronger connections between alumni and to provide bridges for networking. If you or an alumnus you know would like to be featured in an installment of Alumni Spotlight, please email us at .