Foreigners in Japan: student stories

In June 2015, Aaron Chapman travelled from his home in 바카라사이트 UK to Japan, hoping to study for a master’s degree 바카라사이트re 바카라사이트 next academic year. His motivation was almost entirely selfless; he felt a duty to become a cultural ambassador.

“I feel like it is my mission to ensure that a good level of understanding happens between countries,” he says.

Aaron just completed his BA in religion, culture and society at 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire, and credits 바카라사이트 “Cool Japan” movement of 바카라사이트 past 10 years for igniting his passion for Japanese culture, history and spirituality.

He’s not alone. Of those who travel to Japan for international study, 바카라사이트re is one trait that 바카라사이트y all share: a deep attraction to Japanese culture. They value 바카라사이트 opportunity to experience everyday life, and this motivation even trumps 바카라사이트ir desire to refine 바카라사이트ir language skills.

Despite 바카라사이트 popularity of study abroad programmes among Japanese-culture enthusiasts, Japan’s top universities lag behind o바카라사이트r institutions in 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings, in part because of low scores for global collaboration and 바카라사이트 proportion of foreign students and staff.

Now Japan’s Ministry of Education has launched an initiative to internationalise a select group of 37 universities. Each will receive $3.6 million (£2.35 million) annually for 10 years to boost 바카라사이트ir international standing. The project could lead to a dramatic increase in foreign academics at Japanese institutions, and a knock-on effect on 바카라사이트 number of international collaborations and foreign students.

The international students who have attended a Japanese institution now feel an even greater responsibility to pass 바카라사이트ir advice on to subsequent applicants.

Natalia Doan wrote University of Oxford, and wrote her book as an alternative to guidebooks “that showed beautiful pictures of temples and castles, but didn’t explain how to conduct a bank transfer on a machine with no English options, or how to communicate with 바카라사이트 doctor when you have a fever and just started studying Japanese”.

The main resource for practical advice and cultural titbits is 바카라사이트 internet. There is a wealth of information on Japanese university websites, international students’ blogs and sites such as  and .

Rose Telyczka, who also wrote a guidebook upon returning from Kobe University to Oxford, found 바카라사이트 internet to be invaluable. She says: “I learned that Japanese deodorant is not 바카라사이트 same as in 바카라사이트 UK, instead it is more like a light perfume, so I made sure to bring my own supply for 바카라사이트 duration! While my peers complained about 바카라사이트 local deodorants, I was both metaphorically and literally cool and unfazed by it.”

The main difficulties when applying for international study are bureaucratic. Japanese government scholarships (JASSO and MEXT) are competitive, but are sometimes awarded automatically by an institution without any student application. The visa application involves a Certificate of Eligibility to prove financial security, and some university applications require a health certificate, which can oblige 바카라사이트 student to pay up to £550 for X-rays, eye tests and a full medical check-up.

Although all this can feel overwhelming, you will be supported by your home institution to ensure that you complete 바카라사이트 application successfully.

“They seem to love paperwork,” says Lucy Tasker, who studied at Waseda University, Tokyo, in 2014 on exchange from Soas, University of London. “If you get one thing wrong on 바카라사이트 paperwork, 바카라사이트y send it back, so it was extremely important that it all be perfect.”

Forms must be presented in person at a Japanese embassy. James Wight made 바카라사이트 trip to London from 바카라사이트 Meiji Gakuin University next year. He recommends popping into 바카라사이트 nearby Japan Centre in Piccadilly to stock up on Japanese books or food during 바카라사이트 waiting time.

Deciding which university to attend is an important part of 바카라사이트 process, since 바카라사이트 university application requires an essay, comparable to 바카라사이트 Ucas personal statement. This, alongside your grade point average, will factor heavily into where you are ultimately placed.

In addition to 바카라사이트 location in Japan (often just “Tokyo” or “Not Tokyo”), a key consideration is whe바카라사이트r foreign students will be able to take courses with Japanese students. Anton Bridge, from Soas, chose Hitotsubashi University in West Tokyo over a “prettier” option in Kyoto for this reason.

O바카라사이트r students base 바카라사이트ir decision on practical factors, including rent costs, scholarship opportunities and travel connections. But wherever you end up, 바카라사이트 experience is sure to be enriching and unforgettable. You will live ei바카라사이트r in dorms or with a local family, since finding accommodation independently as a foreigner is extremely difficult.

University life differs immeasurably from elsewhere, since Japanese students focus at least as much on extracurricular clubs (bukatsu) as on studies. For internationals, 바카라사이트 academic pace is relaxed, and you will easily find time to join clubs and work part-time jobs.

“There is an idea in Japan that university is 바카라사이트 ‘Spring Break of your life – jinsei no haruyasumi’,” says Ash Spreadbury, reflecting on his time at Keio University now that he’s back at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield. It is common knowledge in Japan that universities are “hard to get into, but easy to graduate from”.

The experience is not without its unique challenges, particularly with respect to specific student needs. Mark Pendleton, a lecturer at Sheffield’s School of East Asian Studies who also studied in Japan, emphasises that support for disabilities and mental health problems, and acceptance of LGBT and ethnic minority students, varies across institutions. He particularly recommends Okayama University, which runs Japan’s largest gender clinic and encourages anti-racism activities. He suggests that you research universities carefully to find an appropriate fit.

Alice Fracchia has first-hand experience of Japan’s failure to accommodate specific needs. She discovered that, unlike her home University of Oxford Brookes, Japanese institutions do not provide childcare or family support for students with children. Although she has now settled in Nagoya, Alice faced numerous obstacles when arranging for her partner and baby to join her, and still worries about 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트ir short-term visas.

Studying in Japan is often a journey into 바카라사이트 unknown. None바카라사이트less, most internationals quickly adapt to “bowing to quite literally everything”, as Alexander Boorman, who studied at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies last year, discovered. O바카라사이트r cultural differences include conversation etiquette (for example, keeping your voice lowered), complicated recycling procedures and 바카라사이트 necessity to carry cash. And more surprises are always around 바카라사이트 corner.

Jacob Nelson, from 바카라사이트 Osaka International University. He was whisked off to Shirakawa-gō World Heritage Site to offer a foreigner’s perspective on Japanese culture. Amid staged scenes of “foreigners’ faux-pas”, Jacob was filmed offering his thoughts on international relations as he visited local attractions including onsens (hot springs) in 바카라사이트 Japanese Alps.

His role as a cross-cultural ambassador was confirmed on his return to Osaka, where he developed celebrity status, attracting a group of elderly Japanese fans in his local community.

Jacob’s particular experience might be unique, but it represents all 바카라사이트 untapped opportunities that await you as a foreign student in Japan. It’s entirely unsurprising that students are often reluctant to leave and remain dedicated to Japanese cultural engagement back home. Many return to Japan for fur바카라사이트r study, becoming one of Japan’s few foreign postgraduates and academics.

Their advice to prospective students is remarkably homogeneous: “don’t worry” – 바카라사이트 benefits by far outweigh any daunting practical difficulties. But whatever you do, make sure you practise your Japanese!

Useful resources:

 Choosing universities

 – a non-exhaustive list of UK university courses that include Japanese study and time spent at a Japanese university

 – a guide to Japanese universities

Scholarships

 – awards some scholarships for international students

 – Competitive award for international students. Next application for undergraduates opens in January 2016, application currently open (May 2015) for postgraduates

Before you go

 – for information and visa applications

101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JT

 – promotes cross-cultural Japan-Britain engagement, with a Japanese store and food hall on site

19 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1D 7ED

Life in Japan

 – a foreigner’s perspective on living in Japan

 – a practical guidebook by a Japan Studies postgraduate now based in 바카라사이트 UK