A FORMER Keighley pupil who "fell in love" with Japan thanks to a trip arranged by her school is half way through a year-long stay in this country.

Isobel Holdsworth, 19, who took A-levels in Japanese, German and Religious Studies at Holy Family Catholic School is studying at a university in Tokyo.

She explained: "The first time I was able to travel to Japan was through Holy Family in 2010. From that point on it was my ambition to come back for a longer period."

While she was at Holy Family she met Hazuki Kinoshita, a Japanese student visiting Keighley as part of a school exchange.

Isobel added: "We instantly clicked and became close friends. I was so sad when she left England.

"We kept in touch and when I came out to Japan I finally had the opportunity to see her again. She invited me to her house in Kyoto and I stayed there for five days. It was great to be able to go back to the place where I first fell in love with Japan."

Isobel, who is from Ilkley, said Holy Family's teachers had inspired her to continue studying Japanese.

"I’m not sure if I'd class myself as fluent, but I’m able to converse normally with my Japanese friends and classmates," she said. "The people of Japan are so friendly and helpful, the efficiency of public transport is amazing and the food is wonderful."