Henry Aberle OC ‘16

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J.F. Oberlin University, Japan (2016-18)

Henry Aberle has two passions—music and Japanese culture. With a voice as his instrument, Henry has sung at Carnegie Hall and studied at Mannes Conservatory, where his final project was a solo performance of twelve pieces in four different languages. Henry’s musical experiences have also fueled his interest in Japan. At Oberlin, he learned aboutkaruta, a traditional Japanese card game that tests memory, stamina, and focus based on one hundred classical poems. Karuta is not only a form of entertainment; according to Henry, it provides “a unique window into everyday life in Japan.” Hoping to share his enthusiasm for the game, Henry founded the East Asian Game club, taught an ExCo, and organized a public seminar by collaborating with the Karuta Club at the University of Michigan. With a strong appreciation for cross-cultural understanding that was initially sparked by his love for a game, Henry looks forward to further deepening his knowledge of contemporary Japan and mastering Japanese during his two-year Fellowship.

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Finding My People.
Finding My People.

Henry Aberle ‘16, JFOU Fellow

When I first came to Japan I was pretty confident, maybe even a little cocky. A year prior I had studied abroad in Tokyo at a prestigious school, joined an all-Japanese member club at said school, and overall become accustomed to what felt like “normal life” here. As a Shansi fellow I came to Japan with the unreasonable expectation that I would simply pick up where I left off and everything would be as it had been—want for nothing.

Getting Centered.
Getting Centered.

Henry Aberle ‘16, JFOU Fellow

The first time I come to Tokyo I am 19 years old and really scared. It’s about 4:30pm when I arrive at Narita Airport. I’m probably a really ugly, jet-lagged combination of excited and nervous as I make my way up to immigration, but before I know it I’m sitting on the Narita express with an unwieldy suitcase by my side.