ALEXANDER

22, Indonesia

What is your education level?

University

What is your current (or most recent) job?

University Student

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

9 – Sep – 2020

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

Because, it is way for me to grow individually as person. Therefore, when i’ve got the opportunity to do an exchange program in japan i am very excited to do the program. Because, it one of the step to reach my main aim is to continue studying in Japan and hopefully working in Japan. However, since 2020 Pandemic it is become hard for me to come and do the exchange program. This is because, the strict border restriction from the Japanese government. However, my host university back then told us that the border will reopen sooner or later. Even, i rejected my internship opportunity so therefore i can come to japan and continue my study however after 7-8 months there is no real confirmation whether or not i can physically come to Japan. This suspense make me personally frustrated because there is no clarity from the university and the government on how we can actually come to Japan. It feels like we are being abandoned and no having clear answer on how we can go to japan or not it affect many international student planning our education and job in the future. In the end i just wanted that the government can make a clarity for us student therefore we can know what exactly are happening in Japan.

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

Mostly it will help Japanese society in economic for a long term period. Having us meant there is steady income from international student abroad that are paying a lot of money to come in Japan so as student it will help japanese government in having more foreign income from education sector. Afterall, we seen in the past year that the rise of international student in Japan have make one of important sector in Japanese economies by limiting us it will impact japanese long term economy as fewer international students come to japan which also affect many specialized worker leaves japan.

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

maybe it is the time to move on and find another opportunities if there is another delay i cannot afford to waiting again for another border reopen. Because, im on my last semester at my uni and i need to do my thesis sooner or later. Therefore i really hope that there is a special measure for foreign students to come physcially to japan and we will surely do all of the requirement to make our arrival safe and covid-19 free

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