MANUEL

20, Switzerland

What is your education level?

University

What is your current (or most recent) job?

Student

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

1 – Mar – 2020

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

I have studied in Japan for one year in high school from 2018 to 2019. I was able to live in Japan for a year, make friends, and learn many things about Japanese culture and society. During that time, Japan became my second home and I decided that I would definitely return to Japan. However, living in Japan for four years was very expensive, so I worked hard for a year and a half in Switzerland to save money. On top of that, I haven’t seen my girlfriend for a whole year and a half, believing that the borders will open up and promising to see her as often as possible. I also enrolled in a university this spring, but since I am only taking online classes and there is a time difference, I wake up at 1:00 in the morning and go to bed at 6:00 in the evening every day in Switzerland according to Japan time. The other thing is that I have two Japanese friends who are professional soccer players in Switzerland, and while I have not been able to go back to Japan for a long time, they have gone back to Japan many times to hang out with their friends and family and then go back to Switzerland. Many times, I almost cried as I saw my friends off and watched the plane take off for Japan right in front of me. In other words, my heart is in Japan and my life is happening in Japan, but I haven’t been able to go back to Japan for a long time.

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

I’ve already learned a lot about Japanese culture and society, but I’m going to study hard, and in the future I’m going to get a job in Japan and actively contribute to internationalization. When I was studying in high school, I participated in the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival held every year in Fukuoka City every day for a week, learning a lot about Japanese culture and making memories that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I learned a lot about Japanese culture and made memories that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I was told by many of my bosses that I should definitely participate again next year. Whenever I talk about it in Switzerland, I get a lot of surprised reactions. I hope to continue to live actively and create such thoughts to connect our country.

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

I’m usually a very happy person, but I couldn’t go back to Japan for a long time, so I had to endure being in Switzerland, and before I knew it, I was depressed. If I can’t go back to Japan in the future, and my hopes and dreams for the future are destroyed again, I will be disappointed again about the Japanese government, and I will be even more depressed than before. Even though Japan is not a perfect country, it is the country I want to live in in the future, and I will definitely return to Japan, so I don’t think my health will change any more than it will get worse.

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