In response to the budget deficit at SFUSD, several classes and programs are being proposed to be cut to mitigate the impact, including Japanese language programs.

The Japanese language and culture have grown immensely popular among language learners, and the students at SFUSD are no exception. Japanese language classes often see total enrollment within days of signing up for classes. Out of the many programs offered within SFUSD, Japanese was the only A-G subject at the high school level to be selected for cuts. 

Students who take Japanese gain lifelong skills in non-English languages and develop unique cultural perspectives. The Japanese community has a longstanding history in San Francisco and the western United States but only makes up 1.5% of the city population. Despite this, Japanese media and culture are extremely popular, especially amongst students. The Japanese language program helps students connect with the historical Japanese community through volunteer service opportunities in San Francisco's Japantown. It also encourages multicultural connections, such as meeting students from Japan and summer trips to Japan. 

Cutting the Japanese language program would prevent students from learning a new language (an essential skill in today's society) and keep students from exploring their own or different cultures. Many students continue to learn Japanese beyond their high school years and apply their knowledge in careers like journalism, translation, art, and politics. The Japanese language is crucial to so many students, and cutting funding for this program would be detrimental to the future of Japanese culture in San Francisco and SFUSD students.

We urge you to vote “No” to cutting funds for Japanese language programs so that students can continue to have these exceptional opportunities in the future.