Lara

25, Germany

What is your education level?

University

What is your current (or most recent) job?

Just accomplished my bachelor studies

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

1-Dec-2020

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

Ever since I found my love for japanese folklore and art through the Anime “Inuyasha”, I dreamed about studying in Japan. In Summer 2019 I was lucky enough to study in Kyushu as an exchange student. That gave me a lot of motivation to pursue my dream of studying in Japan (and therefore the language). Also I met my current boyfriend during the exchange program 2019. Due to the pandemic we have been apart for 1 year now..I really want to continue my education and see my boyfriend again. That’s why it is so important to me to study in Japan as soon as possible.

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

I hope I can contribute to the intercultural exchange and also build a bridge between the japanese and european culture. Also I am willing to work very hard and want to learn a lot to be a pleasent and helpful part of society. Plus I am super funny and fun to be around.

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

It would cause a lot of mental stress to me. Not only am I stuck in my home country, with things being already arranged and paid in Japan, I will also have to be apart from my boyfriend for an uncertain amoutn of time. I can’t express how depressed and desperate I feel about the current situation. I asked a family member to support me with the student fee (which is already paid too) and worked very hard to get that. My Bachelorprogram is done. Neither can I search for a job, nor for an appartment (I canceled my old appartment due to notice period and my plans coming to Japan). Right now I am staying at a friends place. I feel so hopeless and really need a perspective. I miss my boyfriend so much. All I want is to continue my education and see my partner again. I am willing to do anything for that.

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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