ANDIRA

26, Indonesia

What is your education level?

Masters

What is your current (or most recent) job?

Lecturer in private own medical school preparatory course.

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

1 – Jan – 2021

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

My husband is currently a research student in Handai Anesthesiology since 2020. We have been separated since 2020. We are both aiming to be doctoral student after finishing research student program. The more further delay in my education in Japan, means I have smaller chance to apply for residency program (specialty in ophthalmology residency program). In Indonesia, the maximum age of applicant for ophthalmology nor anesthesiology residency program are 35 years old. Right now I am in my 26, and my husband is in his 28. Usually research student+doctoral degree in japan takes around 6-7 years in total. Thus it is frustating for us. We also have 2 years old daughter who have not seen her father in months. This is so hard on us. I cannot even apply for job in indonesia as usually we have to sign 1-2 years contract to be a medical doctor in indonesia’s hospital. Been losing income since july 2020. Because i cannot be in contract, as i will have to be readily prepare whenever the japan border open for us.

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

Translational study in handai is a huge project, the more students come to conduct research it will bring better output, it will escalate the magnitude the depth of the study itself. The more background of international students who are coming to be japan international student will also provides wide variety of perspectives who might not be able acquired from native japanese students. I am coming there to learn and also contribute my time my effort my knowledge to the advance of science.

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

It mean I am losing jobs, i cannot get any more income, i have to bear long distance marriage which accounts to the single child bearing burden only on my shoulder. While child bearing is two party responsibilities, me as mom and my husband as a dad. At this time I have to pay tuition fee but all I can access is japanese language class, which does not make any sense. I cannot even access the essential class of ophthalmology research student program and doctoral course because my senseis informed me in medical school it must be “one on one” “offline” “physically present” to be able learn from senseis. I guess both japan government should think about it and how their regulation make international students hanging for nothing but they are getting money from us every single semester.

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.

Read More »

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.

Read More »

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.

Read More »

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.

Read More »

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.

Read More »

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.

Read More »