WANGARATTA teenager Leo Harwood is currently living in Ishikawa prefecture in Kanazawa City in the Chubu region of Japan.

Leo left for Japan on January 20 and is three months into his one-year exchange sponsored by the Milawa Oxley Rotary Club as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program.

The 17-year-old said he chose Japan for his exchange trip as he has always had a keen interest in the country.

"As a child a lot of my favourite films, games, animated shows and books were from Japan," he said.

"Later, I started to get into studying Japanese culture and history, from traditional events and traditions to the customs and lifestyle of the country.

"When I started learning Japanese my interest only deepened further, and all of that pretty much cemented my want to go to Japan someday.

"To go as an exchange student and to be able to experience everything I had been so interested in first hand was the perfect opportunity for me."

Leo said it is difficult to choose a favourite memory from the trip so far.

"I think the two memories that stick out to me the most would be my first day here...getting off the aeroplane into Narita Airport was one of the best feelings I have ever had, everything I had worked for the whole of last year finally led me to going to Japan," he said.

"Then my Rotary trip to Osaka and Hiroshima with the other exchange students in my district.

"From going to Itsukushima to see the traditional shrines, to learning about the history of the Hiroshima bomb memorial museum, to going on rollercoasters at Universal Studios Japan.

"I've loved everything about the trip, and I am extremely thankful to being able to have such a great opportunity from my Japanese Rotary Club."

Leo said the biggest challenge he has had to overcome was the language barrier.

"I have to pretty much rely on Japanese 24/7 and especially at the start having to work out how to say something is very draining," he said.

"Now I can speak a lot better than when I started...at the beginning I was often very tired and mentally strained when I returned from school.

"When I came here, I could speak a bit of Japanese, I could probably hold a simple conversation about a simple topic, but yet still struggled a lot with understanding, especially listening.

"One thing that surprised me was just how fast people speak here, learning to get used to such a fast-paced language was very difficult and one of the main challenges.

"After a lot of practice through speaking to my host family, friends and others, and listening to as much Japanese as I could here, things have become better."

Leo's journey learning about Japan started long before his exchange trip.

"When I started learning Japanese, I just started by using some apps on my phone to learn the basics, and then a couple weeks later I was hooked, and started formally learning Japanese through the Victorian School of Languages during year 11," he said.

"After putting in multiple hours per day, I was able to get from beginner to being relatively confident within simple Japanese conversations pretty quickly, and I was able to do well and pass my Japanese class.

"I still have a long way to go, but It's a really enjoyable journey that has given me so many great moments."

Leo said there have been many things that surprised him about Japan.

"Japan and Australian culture are totally different, and learning about the mannerisms, customs and just the way of life in general has been super interesting to me," he said.

"I really enjoy learning and experiencing the differences between different places and people."

Leo said he has enjoyed his time in Japan so far and his overall experience has been incredible.

"Massive thanks and appreciation to my Rotary clubs for helping me make this incredible opportunity go from just an opportunity to a reality," he said.

"Thanks for everything to my sponsor clubs, the Rotary Club of Milawa Oxley, Higashi-Kanazawa Rotary Club and the Rotary Youth Exchange 9790.

"I can't wait to see what waits within the rest of my exchange here in Japan."