EMILY

26, USA

What is your education level?

University

What is your current (or most recent) job?

Lead Guest Services Supervisor

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

1 – Sep – 2020

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

I have been interested in the Japanese culture and language for quite some time. Having the opportunity to study Japanese in Japan would mean having the immersion needed to truly experience the language. Studying online is not the same as having a conversation in a cafe, museum, or park that would inevitably happen if I were studying in Japan.

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

As a student in Japan, I would be benefitting the Japanese economy. I would be contributing to the betterment of the language, city, and community I would be studying in. Not only would I be contributing to the Japanese economy, I would also be strengthening the ties between Japan and the United States. I am a current Business Administration major and I would like to strengthen my current skills with an understanding of the Japanese language and culture.

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

If there is another delay, my plans will change completely. I will have to end my dream of studying Japanese in Japan. I do not have the savings to continue waiting for the borders to open to international students.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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