Nathan

25, USA

What is your education level?

Masters

What is your current (or most recent) job?

Assistant director

When did you apply to come to Japan originally?

06 – Nov – 2020

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

Through my past experiences, desires, and goals I see no better way to pursue my dreams than to go to the country I have become so fond of. Japanese Culture and History in addition to my love of Anime and Manga have drawn me in for years. I spent two months traveling the country in 2018 and went from Hokkaido to Yakushima. Those two-months alone have provided me with confirmation that Japan is where I want to be. I want to absorb as much of the Japanese culture as I can and bring it back with me to America in the future. My ultimate goal is to move to Japan, become fluent in Japanese, pursue an MBA, and station myself in the Japanese workforce as an international ambassador.

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

As a student I will benefit to society in Japan in the following fashion. I will uphold all ethics, morals, traditions, and immerse myself fully into Japanese culture. I am looking to become an international ambassador where I can absorb as much information about Japanese Culture as possible and bring it back to America. Additionally, I would love to provide an American’s influence to the citizens of Japan. By combining Japanese and American culture I believe it will further good relations between the countries and cultures. I merely hope to serve as an example. I also enjoy helping others learn English! Through a language learning app called HelloTalk I befriended a family in Osaka whom I will be home staying with in October. We have had a great time getting to know each other and learning English and Japanese. Their daughter is really studying hard to enter Waseda University by taking the Eiken tests. If I were allowed entry into Japan., I would aid her in her studies… In her own home! I love people. It is my belief that every person is a child of a loving Heavenly Father. I would be grateful for the opportunity to be with the Japanese people to love and serve them in anyway that I can. I truly do mean what I say and say what I mean. “

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

I will be devastated. I have already engaged in a delay for my start date at Toyo Language School and another delay could put me very behind. My plan is to get out there as soon as possible, learn Japanese, and begin applying to MBA programs. Pushing it back even further I will have been unemployed for even longer just waiting to enter the country and pursue my dreams. I am so eager to learn and immerse myself in Japanese Culture. I need to be out there as soon as possible, it is all I can think about.

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