'ET' leaves home, travels 6,500 miles to West Holmes High School class reunion

When Japanese exchange student Itaru Kaji was at West Holmes High School in 1987, he was known for his incredible gymnastics ability, tumbling down the basketball court with the cheerleaders.

Kaji was known as "ET" by his Holmes County friends and classmates because Stan Cass, his high school guidance counselor at West Holmes, couldn't remember his name. His tumbling days long behind him, "ET" returned to Northeast Ohio recently for his 35th high school reunion at Millersburg Brewing Company.

"I traveled more than 6,500 miles to attend the reunion, so I was awarded "Traveled Farthest" at the reunion," he said. "I was known as the exchange student who did backflips, so they asked me if I can still do them, but I said 'Sorry, I can't because I don't wanna go back home with crutches under my arms'."

Debbie Mullen, a West Holmes classmate, said one of her favorite memories of Kaji is of his prolific backflips. Her husband Matt was one of Kaji's closest friends during his high school days in Millersburg.

"He did them anywhere, anytime," she said with a laugh. "He said he got yelled at for doing them at a girls basketball game, but afterwards he was added to the cheerleading squad so he could do backflips without getting in trouble."

Amazing generosity of Itaru Kaji's Ripley Township host family

Kaji was one of 17 foreign exchange students hosted by Ed and Sue Dye of Ripley Township over the years. The Dye family enjoyed opening their doors to students from around the world, including Brazil, Spain, France and Japan. Some students stayed for six weeks, some for three months and the majority, like Kaji, stayed a whole year.

They worked through various organizations, such as Rotary International and PEACE (Pacific Educational And Cultural Exchange) USA.

Sue Dye remembers the first few exchange students they hosted did not speak any English.

"The language barrier was always the hardest thing to overcome," Sue Dye said. "We often had a foreign language dictionary where we would point to what we wanted to say, and they would recognize what we were saying. The dictionary helped keep many of the kids from going hungry. They all communicated pretty well.

"Having some kids for a whole year, like "ET," made it a lot easier," she continued. "He was pretty good with English."

The Dyes' three sons also enjoyed having exchange students.

"It was a great experience for them," Sue Dye said. "Our son Scott went to Japan for a year. He and 'ET' have remained in touch."

What's changed over 35 years in Holmes County?

Kaji has made two other return trips to Holmes County, once to celebrate the high school graduation of Scott Dye, and then for Dye's wedding 14 years ago.

Much has changed in his adopted Ohio home since his first visit in 1986-87. For one, there's a newer high school, erected in 1999. The new fairgrounds with huge barns impressed the former exchange student. He was also fascinated to see so many Amish people riding electronic bikes wearing the high visibility vests.

Another noteworthy change is the hairstyles.

"The hair of the high school cheerleaders is not as big as it was 35 years ago," Kaji said. "Sunny Slope (which used to be a gas station) is now a winery. But what hasn't changed is the generosity of my host family. After 35 years, they still treat me as one of their boys, and I appreciate it. Now I'm thinking about hosting exchange students, and I'll do the same for them."

Kaji has always enjoyed the scenery of Holmes County.

"On the way from Columbus, I was so excited when the road was getting hilly and curvy because that is the sign that we are getting closer to Holmes county," he said. "The landscape is really great here. We don't have this in Japan. I enjoy eating beef, too. Meat is very good over here."

Looking back, he fondly recalled Bob Porter's U.S. history class at West Holmes. He was happy to see him again during this visit.

Porter, now retired, remembered Kaji as studious.

"He couldn't speak much English when he first got here, but he learned very quickly," Porter said. "He was one of my favorite exchange students."

Kaji works as an associate professor in Osaka, Japan, where he teaches Japanese to foreign students.

He admits he didn't keep very close contact with many classmates from West Holmes, but last year a computer algorithm took him to the Facebook site of WHHS Class of 1987.

"The technology today is amazing," he said. "Somehow classmates looked much younger than the pictures on their Facebook, and the way they talk had not changed much, so it was easy to tell who was who."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Foreign exchange student from Japan, 'ET,' attends West Holmes reunion