Callum

20, Canada

What is your education level?

University

What is your current (or most recent) job?

Care Provider at a Retirement Home

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

01 – Sep – 2020

Why does studying Japanese in Japan mean so much to you?

Immersion is a key component of language acquisition. One can study and be disciplined with their studying, however there will be a wall without that practice and immersion of using Japanese in daily life. Because I am University student, alongside my studies for my degree, studying Japanese is of the utmost importance because I intend to work in Japan after graduation and during 就活 shūkatsu, many job positions will require a fairly advanced level of Japanese. I have struggled to study Japanese consistently and effectively in the early hours of the morning (3~4am) when my classes are taking place.

How do you think that as a student in Japan that you will add benefit to Japan society?

As an international student studying and ultimately obtaining a degree from a reputable Japanese University, I believe I would be a valuable asset to Japanese society because having best of both worlds- a foreign background and perspective and a distinctly Japanese education and understanding of the functions of Japanese society. I believe it puts us international students in an advantageous position with studying Japanese, understanding the flow and expectations of student and work life in Japan, already being adapted to Japanese routine and society and combining a Japanese education with our foreign upbringing is a really powerful asset to be incorporated to Japanese society. The efficient contribution of international students in Japanese society is a key factor in modernizing and progressing Japan to be at the very top of developed nations on the world stage. We students want to work with Japanese people and study Japan in all it’s capacity.

What will it mean to you if there is another delay for students to be able to come to Japan?

I won’t be able to have a scholarship as it requires the international student to be living in Japan. I pay for this immigration ban, both mentally, physically and financially. It’s very difficult to be in the right academic mindset when my classes are between 8:00PM and 5:00AM everyday. The mental health ramifications are hurtful for all of us stranded abroad. We chose to take this path with our lives, we chose to move to Japan to work and study, many of us sold our belonging and house in preparation to move, for me I am losing precious time and experiences in Japan and it’s effecting my education I worked so hard to get to negatively. Please consider opening to Students. We have signed written pledges which requires us to abide and respect all quarantine measures or risk being deported, we wouldn’t put the Japanese people at risk. There are many measures in place to ensure safe immigration procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are not tourists, this is our dreams- this is our futures.

Chamika, 30, Sri Lanka

I am waiting from April 2020 to get into my university as a self-financed student. April intake was postponed because of the corona situation. Then I was able to register for the September intake. However, because of COE delays, I couldn’t get in during the time Japan was open for students. My research is already on hold since I cannot perform the experiments needed for data acquisition. Because of this uncertainty, I now have to consider a Ph.D. topic change even after spending 8 months into my research. I left my previous job in 2019 January thinking I’ll be able to get in by April. Because I don’t know when Japan will start accepting students, I can’t apply for any other job positions either. There is a minimum contract period that I must complete before quitting all most all of the jobs. So my life is on hold since January of 2019. It is not an easy task to keep going [especially mentally] when you are already 30 and you have to depend on your parents for food and a roof over your head. At this point, I am prepared to accept any conditions imposed by the Japanese government if it means that I can start my research. Even something like quarantining in a paid embassy designated quarantine location in my home country before I come to Japan. So, total of one month quarantining is a possible action for me now at this point. That’s how desperate I am at the moment, and I know it would be same for many students who dreamt of studying in Japan. Another long delay will force me to drop my research dream and focus on a different path for the sake of my mental health alone.

July 16, 2021 No Comments

Giulia, 26, Italy

I have been studying Japanese for seven years. I spent the last year stuck at University, keeping paying taxes even if I finished all the exams in Winter 2020 just waiting for Japan to open and let me in, since I am trying to write my MA thesis regarding women contemporary literature in Japan.

May 27, 2021 No Comments

Lissette, 30, America

It is very important to learn first hand in Japan because it will let me keep pushing forward to learn. There is no better way to learn a language than in the country it comes from.

May 26, 2021 No Comments

John, 30, America

Studying in Japan has always been part of my dream. I wish to pursue not only studying and becoming fluent in Japanese, but to be able to build a life in Japan. I have visited many times and made many Japanese friends. Each visit has had a profound effect on my life, and I wish to be able to communicate fluently, in order to become a contributing member of Japanese society.

May 25, 2021 No Comments

Veronica, 25, Italy

I always dreamed of going to Japan as soon as I graduated in Japanese (which was last October). My goal is to improve the language, as I would like to become a translator in the future.

May 20, 2021 No Comments

Abhishek, 23, India

studying Japanese in Japan is means a lot to me because for me it’s always my dream to live and study in japan and experience their culture while enjoying student life which I always dreamed of.

May 20, 2021 No Comments