Studied at Kobe University as a Japanese government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship student, from October 2005 to October 2006.

 

Have you noticed autumn color (Koyo) yet? I just remembered “The Walk of Philosophy (Tetsugaku no michi)” in Kyoto, where leaves turn red and gold beautifully in autumn. Taking this as a good opportunity, I want to try to write about Koyo I love.

Koyo is the phenomenon of deciduous trees turning the colors of their leaves in autumn. In particular, leaves turning to red are called “Koyo”, while those turning to yellow are called “Oyo”, and those turning to brown are called “Katsuyo”. However, leaves on even the same kind of trees change into various colors at different times, if planted in different places. I think temperature and humidity are responsible for it. There are varieties of reasons for leaves changing colors and none have ever been identified as definite.

Koyo starts in about September at Daisetsuzan in Hokkaido and gradually advances southward. Like cherry blossom has “cherry-blossom front (Sakura Zensen)” in spring to show which part of Japan has witnessed cherries starting to bloom, Koyo has “Koyo Zensen (front)”. Koyo season lasts about 1 month. The best times are 20 to 25 days after they started, in other words, October in Hokkaido, November in Tohoku, and November to beginning of December for other parts of Japan. Koyo in mountains happens earlier than these norms due to mountains’ characteristic weather.

Unforgettable Koyo
In Japan, when it’s time for Koyo, a lot of people visit scenic areas for Momijigari (red leaves hunting). The cities famous for its Koyo (Nikko in Tochigi and Kyoto, etc.) are crowded with holidaymakers. When I was studying in Japan two years ago, I was one of those holidaymakers and visited Arashiyama in Kyoto with Japanese friends from international student supporting group. Although it is almost impossible for me to describe how I missed the Koyo for the two years since I visited Arashiyama, I try my best;
Arashiyama in Koyo season is the place everyone yearns to visit at least once. Nobody really understands how beautiful Arashiyama is and how it sets the atmosphere to melt your heart until you actually set your feet there. I’ve known the place as a resort for aristocrats for a long time, and I knew why as soon as I set my foot in there 2 years ago. The river that runs only a few minutes away from Arashiyama Station is like heaven. The river is the first thing you enjoy for numerous sceneries in Arashiyama that follow. Togetsukyo Bridge (Moon Crossing Bridge) crosses over the river and I really felt it welcome tourists with open arms. I still remember the taste of Onigiri and sandwiches we had while listening to sound of the river. I have recorded the day on video tape, so I have played it over and over again to remember the day.

The location, surrounded by mountains and consists of the bridge and the river, provides charms with full of natural beauty in every season; cherry blossom in spring, green leaves in summer, Koyo in autumn, and snow in winter. In the neighborhood, you will find vacation houses of Japanese movie stars. Just over the bridge, rickshaws are waiting for you, but this is where you start your walk through the town. You may be bothered by noisy tourists going round, and tempted to take a boat to enjoy mountains reflected on surface of the river. At that time, I didn’t have time for boat riding, so I had to bear with pictures. At the end of the walk, I found Arashiyama preserved as if a treasure. Upon finding a trail in bamboo grove, I was absolutely sure the trail would take me to the heaven.

Small lights along the trail, “electric lantern”, led us the way as if they have protected the trail. When I took the same trail returning to the station, the lights brought us back to Heian era. All we had to do was to follow the lights to find temples and shrines. On the way, you can buy souvenirs and snacks, which make the trip even more joyful.
The temperature of Arashiyama in autumn was probably twice as cold as winter in India. But the magic of the beauty charmed us to walk around without feeling the cold. I preserved memories of Kyoto in my heart as much as I could which helped me to write this piece. Hopefully Koyo in Arashiyama and my precious and fond memories will remain forever.

My life after returning home

Since I came back to my country in September 2006, I have been working at the branch office of Emptoris Technologies in India. The company I now work for develops “software for electronic bidding” used at Internet auction sites, and I take care of the technical support in Japanese and enjoy myself everyday.

 

When I was studying in Japan, I also had chances to study teaching methods a little, so I have started giving Japanese conversation classes to which we have given the name “Improving Your Speaking Skill” with another Japanese teacher. On Saturdays, I share what I studied in Japan with my students. I am going to endeavor more than ever to increase their Japanese language skills.

 

My hobbies are 1) stock trading, 2) writing KANJI characters and 3) reading The Yomiuri Shinbun on the Internet. I believe that it is the Japanese culture and what I learned from Japanese people that have helped me to get to where I am today. Japan is a country that has such a wonderful language, and I am and will be grateful for the rest of my life to the country. Thank you.

 

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Studied at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) as a Japanese government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship student, from October 2005 to September 2006.

 

Memories in Japan

 

Japan is very technological country in the world and anyone who is getting involved in Japan will learn something new in life. Let alone people from the least developed countries, those who are from the developed ones like in Europe and America will get something new to learn as Japanese society extremely uses technology in every activity. Almost every thing I experienced in Japan when I was there for one year had given me a big lesson that transforms my attitude to time management and use of technology. The transportation network, the efficiency of service delivery, focus on quality, the concern to their customers whether in government or business organizations are all fascinating and you Japanese need to be proud of.

 

People in Japan look busy who needs to avoid interruption in their way or work; therefore, whenever you need any help they will not have time to respond, even if you see them internally worried about you. Besides, they are very humble and hospitable whenever they are free or out of work.

 

What I am very much impressed is the seniority system that Japanese used in their employment system. Academic qualification and merit do not seem applicable in promotion and career development. As a system it is good to follow but those with good potential seems dominated and are not able to reveal their capacity. I found those seniors dictating the lives of individuals and they look unhappy to accept ideas from their juniors.

 

I had good time in Japan for one year though the program I admitted was with tight schedule. I did not understand why they did not allow us to relax, work and interact with the people. Even Japanese students did not enjoy freely with others.

 

I am a university professor with an academic rank of Assistant professor. To get my promotion, what I have learned in GRIPS has helped and what I have observed from a Japanese people make me focused on work and manage my time properly.

Now I am in Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium attending my PhD since September 2008. I have got scholarship with the same proposal I presented when I was in GRIPS who denied me the admission with the reason I did not know. People in Japan look secretive and they do not say out right no, that is what I do not like from them.

 

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Studied at Daito Bunka University preparatory Japanese languate course, from April 2000 to March 2001.

Studied at the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Nagasaki University as a Nagasaki prefecture overseas technical study scholarship student from June 2004 to March 2005.

 

1. Encounter with the Japanese language
I decided to learn the Japanese language by chance. When I was at high school, I leaned Chinese, mainly because my grandmother was a Chinese Vietnamese. After learning Chinese for two years, I took entrance exams for the department on Eastern studies at Ho Chi Minh Vietnam National University in 1994. Due to the exam results, I was directed by the school to switch my major from Chinese to Japanese. It was my first encounter with Japanese, but, as it uses Chinese characters, I didn’t have much difficulty in learning the language.
My knowledge about Japan was limited to a few facts, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki on which atomic bombs were dropped and the country’s rapid economic recovery since the end of the war. In 1994, the environment for learning Japanese was very poor in Ho Chi Minh City. There were few textbooks and dictionaries for Vietnamese to learn the language. Classes at the university were the only place where I could learn it.
In 1995, a Japanese language school, Sakura, opened in the city. I went there until 1999 while attending the university. I took part in a Japanese speech contest held by Sakura in 1996, where I finished third. I was able to read and write the language to some degree, but speaking it was another matter. As there were not many Japanese people in the city in those days, I didn’t have much opportunity to speak the language with them.

 

 

2. Meeting Akagami
It was in 1997 that Tomoko Akagami, who was from Ibaraki Prefecture and at Tsuda College then, came from Japan to my university to study Vietnamese. She was about my age. Still new to the city, she was looking for an apartment to rent. I asked her to stay at my parents’ house after obtaining approval from my parents; we helped each other in our respective language studies. In 1998, the Japan Foundation held a contest to select students eligible for a scholarship program to study in Japan. The contest was held at the Japanese consulate in the city, where I managed to pass the written test and interview. In that contest, only three people including myself were selected in all Vietnam. I was able to go to Japan in September 1998 for the first time in my life.

 

 

3. My guarantor
I met Mr. Kei Hasegawa during a tour of the Japanese Diet, where he worked at the police affairs section of the secretariat in the House of Councilors. Hasegawa-san, while working as a guard to the accounting department, had been learning Vietnamese since 1996. I still remember the jolt in my heart when he greeted me in Vietnamese during my chance Diet tour in the country that I first visited. After the greetings in Vietnamese, the tour was conducted in Japanese to test my language ability. After the tour, Hasegawa-san told me that he would go to Vietnam in October, and we promised to meet there again. As we promised, we met each other again in Ho Chi Minh City in October, but, unfortunately, he was robbed of 4,000 dollars by a pickpocket while he was in the city. But his incident did not seem to faze him very much, as he kept composed and smiling.
In those days, a family of five could live for two years with comfort on 4,000 dollars. I asked Hasegawa-san why he was not angry. “I was partly at fault for being less careful. I don’t mind my loss very much as someone else has gotten richer due to my loss. That money can stop the robber from doing more wrongdoings. It may have helped him make a fresh start. No need to cry over my loss anymore,” he said. I was ashamed of being a Vietnamese on hearing it, and, at the same time, I wondered at the existence of a Japanese like him.

 

 

4. Path to studying in Japan
In September 1998, I graduated from my university in Ho Chi Minh City and joined a Japanese textile company there where I worked as an interpreter. When I graduated from Sakura in 1999, I had a chance to go to its sister school in Shinjuku, Japan, on my own expenses. But this plan went awry due to some technical errors in the procedures. Thanks to Hasegawa-san’s efforts as a guarantor and financial supporter, it was decided in November 1999 that I was to go to Japan to study at the Japanese department of Daito Bunka University. Of the school expenses, I was able to prepare only 4,000 dollars, with Hasegawa-san paying the rest. I decided to go to Japan for the second time, thinking that I could only repay him by studying hard.
After I quit my job at the company in January 2000, I arrived at my apartment in Tsurugashima City, Saitama Prefecture as had been arranged. From my apartment of a kitchen and two rooms where I lived alone, I commuted 30 minutes to the university. Everything was new and refreshing. I studied at the university for a year from April 2000 to March 2001. It was a very enriching year, during which I made many friends. I also enjoyed meeting Akagami-san again at her home in Japan. Some of my friends were in the same classes where I studied Japanese.
During that year, I had opportunities to visit many places in Japan, including Kyoto, Nara, Kanazawa, and Sapporo. I was awed when I saw and touched the cold snow in Sapporo. It was a great experience. I also experienced some Japanese events and festivals—parades are more energetic than I previously watched on TV and read in the books. I was very excited as well. Another thing that I enjoyed very much was a hot spa. The experience was a pleasant surprise for someone from a tropical nation not accustomed to the Japanese cold climate.
In March 2001, I completed my study at the university’s Japanese department at the top of my class. I returned to Ho Chi Minh City in April, where I became a Japanese lecturer at my alma mater.

 

 

5. Life in Japan
Rapid economy advancement of the Vietnamese economy is being reported nowadays, but, while I was in Japan, I was greatly surprised and impressed by the well-developed public transportation system, punctual operations, good manners of passengers on buses and trains, and cleanliness. Though I never got accustomed to the crowd during the rush hour, I felt the power of Japan as one of the G8 nations in a variety of occasions in daily activities. Supermarkets, convenience stores, shopping malls… I was awed by the gigantic consumption scale of these facilities when compared with those in Ho Chi Minh City. Another thing that impressed me greatly was that power blackout seldom occurred. My apartment, in a Lions Mansion building, was just a five-minute walk from Hasegawa-san’s house. I felt truly lucky and grateful that he lived so close by that he could quickly come over to help me when I was in trouble.

 

 

6. Activities back home
As I mentioned above, I became a Japanese teacher at my alma mater. I made teaching materials myself for the classes I taught. To further pursue my study, I entered the university’s graduate course in 2004. In June that year, I received an overseas technical study scholarship from Nagasaki Prefecture. With the scholarship, I studied at Nagasaki University for nine months. I wrote a dissertation on the Japanese history as I looked at it from Nagasaki, graduating from the graduate school in April 2008. In June that year, I attended a “gathering of former international students” at the invitation of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. I was greatly impressed to know at the gathering that former international students from Asia were leading active roles back home.
Currently, I am taking a teacher’s course on the Japanese history while teaching Japanese to my students at the university. I intend to pursue the Japanese history and the Japanese language education so that I can convey to my students and juniors wonderful things about Japan and its language.
In this report, I wrote some of my experiences in Japan and back home in Ho Chi Minh City, though I was not sure if I was qualified to do so. I thank those who helped me prepare this report, and, at the same time, I ask for your warm support for future students from Vietnam. Thank you very much.

 

 

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Studied at University of the Ryukyus as a JICA Trainee from Sep to Nov, 2003.

Studied at Graduate School  of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus as a Monbukagakusho scholar from Oct 2004 to Sep 2006. He received the master degree.

 

1. How did you get interested in Japan?
The fascinating Japanese technology surprises everyone. I am also one of the fans of the Japanese technology. I get interested about Japanese technology when I was at High school. I knew Japan from Ethiopian TV programs (a movie series called “Ocean”) and a weekly TV show which shows mostly the Japanese science and Technology. Therefore, I think the fist reason why I become interested in Japan was because of the Japanese technology. I am a person that loves technology or anything technical.
However, I have never thought of visiting Japan in my life and got a chance to be Japanese University graduate.

 

 

2. What were you impressed most in Japan, School life, People, Culture, etc?
---As JICA Trainee (Sep- Nov 2003)
For the first time I visited Japan in 2003 as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) trainee for the course “Information Technology for School Teachers”. I took the training for 2 months with fifteen other participants from different countries (India, Senegal, Lesotho, Mali, Fiji, South Africa, Honduras, etc. ) in Ryukyus University staying at Okinawa International Center, Okinawa. We took the trainings by about ten professors from Ryukyus University.

Although the training was for very short time, it was a great opportunity for me to see Japan, experience the Japanese people culture, technology and to meet Japanese professors and trainees from different countries. During the two month stay, I had a chance to visit many places and companies. At Tokyo I visited SONY, PANASONIC, Tokyo tower and Fuji Mountain and, at Osaka I have visited Sharp Company and, at Kyoto I visited many Temples & Castles. My visit was very interested and gives me a good experience to know Japanese people, Culture and their technology. It was very amazing to see the high tech of Japan and experience it by touching it.

Moreover, the friendly relationship and experience sharing with other trainees at Okinawa International Center is unforgettable. (Page in my personal website: http://www.tadesse.itgo.com/photo.html)

 

---As Masters Student (2004- 2006)
I visited Japan for the second time from 2004-2006 as Masters Student. I got the Monbukagakusho Scholarship and I did my masters degree in Information Engineering at Ryukyus University, Department of Information Engineering, Okinawa.

During my two years stay, I lived with my family (wife & son) and spent a great unforgettable moment. We have many good memories with friends at the university & with our Japanese host family. Still now I and my wife have a good contact with our host family & international students who still study at Ryukyu.


I really loved the modern and traditional styles of Japanese people. Japanese people are very polite, helpful, kind, respect other peoples culture and they are welcoming people except that they are shy. I have many good memories which I could not write all.

During my study at Ryukyus University, I had a chance to present my research paper at three national conferences in Japan (Tokyo, Sendai, Okinawa) and one international conference in USA.

Still now I have a good contact with my advisor (Professor Tomio Takara) and I am working with him to publish papers.

 

 

What are you doing now?
Currently I am working at Addis Ababa University Information and Communication Technology Development Office (ICTDO) as System Administrator and Help Desk. Addis Ababa University is the oldest and the biggest university in Ethiopia. The ICTDO opened very recently mainly to develop WAN among the different faculties, departments and campuses of the university so that the university uses IT for both academic & administrative purpose. Moreover the office is responsible for automating the university processes (like Registrar and Financial Database) etc. Working at the university gives me a great chance to share my experiences that I acquired from Japan and work on researches

Apart from working at ICTDO office, I am also participating in a project called “Endangered Language Documentation” which record, annotate and archive the language, culture and indigenous knowledge of endangered tribes in Ethiopia (mainly a tribe called “Dasenech”). The project is financed by London University.

In the project I am responsible for recording video, taking pictures, archiving and preparing multimedia presentation. I really love working on project because it gives me a great chance to visit one of the beautiful region in Ethiopia with many nations and nationalities called “South Omo”. The place is very beautiful and frequently visited by tourists. Many Japanese tourists also visited the place and even some Japanese lived there for a year or more. During my visit I also met one Japanese professor (Which I did not remember his name) who came to Ethiopia to work on research. The professor also told me about another Japanese guy who lives there for one year with one tribe. When I met the professor I tried to talk to him in Japanese (little Nihongo) and he was surprised.

In Ethiopia, I have a good relation with Japanese Embassy in Addis Ababa (Capital city of Ethiopia). I was invited to the Japanese Ambassador residence when they celebrated the king’s birthday. I also had a chance participate at the establishment of Ethiopian association who studied in Japan (Which is my proposal). Moreover, I visited the Japanese Film festival at National Theater in Addis Ababa and I had a chance to meet with Japanese Ambassador and other officials. Therefore I can say that still now I have a very close relation and information about Japan.

 

My future Plan
In the future, I am thinking to pursue my PHD study at Ryukyus University, Okinawa, Japan (the same university I did my masters degree). The coming September it will be my second year after I returned to my country. Therefore, I think by now I have a good research & work experience to pursue my PHD study. I hope one day I will return to Japan and refresh my good memories.

 

 

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Studied at the Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University from October 1994 to March 1999.
A Monbukagakusho scholar who graduated with a PhD in Agriculture-Agricultural Economics.

Konnichiwa from the Philippines!

Congratulations and thank you for setting up this newsletter, this is great opportunity for all of us to keep in touch and be updated on what’s going on after we came home from Japan and start a new chapter in our lives.

My journey to Japan started when my co-faculty in Central Mindanao University invited me to apply for scholarship and I was fortunately chosen to be one of the scholars who should head off for Japan in October 1994. I was given the opportunity to live and study in Sapporo City in Hokkaido.

My first six month was spent studying the Japanese Language at the Hokkaido International Center, and the rest of the years was spent at the College of Agriculture. I was a research student for about a year, then I entered the PhD program.

The first few months were full of new experiences. I was admitted at Hokkaido University and I had to stay at the Hokkaido International Dormitory, Sapporo City. The dormitory was just about 10 - 15 minutes walk from the International Student Center where we are having our classes in Japanese Language.

On that autumn season that I arrived in Sapporo, I had witnessed the amazing change of colors of the leaves. It was so breathtaking watching the leaves change their colors from green to yellow or orange then brown. The change of the seasons (winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn) in Hokkaido is so defined and distinct. There’s always something to look forward to in the next season because there are activities that can be done in every season. My first snow was just wonderful, all the while I thought I will be the only person who will see the snow for the first time. But I was wrong! Almost all of us! They were as excited as I am. We were like children playing and jumping in the snow.

I was somewhat homesick at first. The first few months was like forever, I could just remember watching the news and programs in the television without understanding a word or going to the grocery having a hard time finding what we really need. It was really like a survivor game. Nevertheless, a lot of foundations, volunteer groups and the church have organized a lot of social gatherings. Social events consisted of welcome parties, tea party, cultural activities, a trip to nearby towns or home stay programs. Through all these activities, we get to know or meet people from all over the globe. In the dormitory, since we all came from different countries with different culture and taste in food, we also organized parties where we have to cook a dish from our country. As usual, the very famous adobo is always on top of the favorites.

I really have a lot of experiences and memories in Japan that will forever make me smile whenever I remember them. I have experienced the wonders of the shopping malls and I am always amazed of the flea market almost every weekend. I also became familiar to the small markets around who sells vegetables, fruits and other spices. In the university, I have witnessed how the Japanese students and other foreign students really worked hard. I also witnessed how the junior students (kohais) respect and serve their senior students (senpai). I was also surprised how the graduate students look up to their professors. Hierarchy is really very evident. While doing my researches I was also given the chance to learn Ikebana through the influence of one of my best friend from Paraguay. I learned Ikebana for about 4 years. More importantly, I have learned a lot about cooperatives in Japan specifically agricultural cooperatives in Hokkaido. I have seen and learned the cooperative system in Japan and compared it to the Philippines and the support system the government extends to the farmers and the cooperative where they belong. The topic of my research is on credit cooperatives in the Philippines, micro credit schemes or micro lending. Thanks to my Professor Dr. Ohtahara, Asst. Professor Dr. Sakashita and my lab mates, they have been so helpful and patient with me.

Meeting and knowing different people with different cultures and backgrounds was one thing I will never forget. I’m just so lucky to have met my foster family in Japan. They were always there for me and my husband and I am really very grateful for that. But what affected me so much is my encounter with the OFWs and the “Japayukis”. Here in the Philippines, Japayukis refers to those who worked or working as entertainers, bar hostesses and cultural dancers. They used to have a negative connotation but its definition is already changing because a lot professional workers like IT professionals, teachers, caregivers and students have been increasing yearly. My encounter with them really changed my view of who they are. They have been working so hard so they could help their families in the Philippines. I have witnessed how they have sacrificed so much, how lonely they are and how big their hearts are for their families.

There are still a lot to tell but to sum it all up. Everything was worth the sacrifices, the pains, the times when we wanted to just leav e and come home. I graduated in March 1999 and now have a PhD degree in Agricultural Economics. Thank you to the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) for giving me the chance and opening more doors for me. Thank you to all my professors, lab mates and friends for all the help, the time and friendship. Despite our cultural and personality differences, we’ve made it through. We have reached our goal. Again, thank you very much and come visit the Philippines if you have time.

 

 

 

 

 

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Memories in Japan as YLP Student

 

I have a dream to see my country passing rapidly from underdeveloped status to a fully developed nation, a country, which is economically strong and has strong democratic institutions, thereby providing political stability. I always look for opportunities to get my self fully trained to play significantly an important role in the development of my country. It was all along my interest to study the Japanese system, being the only developed country in Asia. It was my desire to know how they have successfully adjusted their mores and traditions in their administrative and economic approach, to achieve rapid economic development and establish a stable society. How the system of administration of this great nation works and possibilities of its replication in my country. Subject of local development and role of the local governments in the economic development of Japan has special attraction for me. The very concept of Young Leaders Programme (YLP) that it would provide access to the students from developing countries to the experiences accumulated by Japan, during the process of modernization since the Meiji Restoration, stirred me to opt for the course.

 

 

My experiences in Japan were beyond my expectations. I learnt a great deal about Japanese culture, government system, intergovernmental relations industrial and economic development, environmental issues and the present trends in governance and economics issues. The system of local government with all its facets in detail was at the core of YLP course at Kobe University. Major emphasis of the study was to draw lessons from Japanese case for developing countries. The study method was based on research. Theory and practice were well coordinated. The professors explained the subjects in detail at the campus and near the end of each term/semester a workshop of around two weeks was arranged in which the student attend the briefings, presentations and demonstrations by the actual practitioners. These presentations were usually followed by critical discussions. Such discussions and explanations not only helped the students to understand the Japanese system fully but also in making opinion whether a particular policy option adopted in Japan could be replicated in their respective local settings or otherwise. Interaction with many international agencies, central government agencies and domestic and international NGOs was also part of our course. This provided opportunity to the students to learn how international institutions, central government, local governments, and NGOs can cooperate to respond to national and local concerns.

 

The personal ideas of the students were invoked at every stage of the studies. The requirement, of the individual and group class presentations as well as mid term and final term reports, was that after explaining necessary facts of the case the students should analyze them independently and give their personal opinion on the subject. At the end of the course, every student was required to make a last comprehensive presentation covering what he has learned during the whole one year. Every individual presentation was indicative of the high level of understanding of the Japanese system by the respective YLP student and what he had found fit for replication in his country. Besides, I can still remember that at the end of our course we have a number of informal interaction with each other and it was acknowledged by each of us that our skills to analyze different issues had improved beyond our expectations This indicates the success of the educational system in Japan in general and YLP programme in particular.

 

My biggest regret is that I could not learn Japanese language fully due to our course being in English, paucity of time and my interest in many things at one time, principal among them my preference for traveling around. However, it would be unfair if I do not appreciate and acknowledge the dedication of the Japanese volunteer to help the foreigners to learn Japanese language. Apart from studies, I was much impressed by the order in the Japanese society and their love and adherence to their traditions and culture despite achieving the highest level of modernization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Years in Japan: 1992 - 2003 (11 years)

April 1992 - March 1993: Studied Japanese at Nara Japanese Language School
April 1994 - March 1998: Education department of Ibaraki University (Bachelor’s degree)
April 1998 - March 2000: Education department of Ibaraki University (Master’s degree)
April 2000 - March 2001: Engaged in cultural activities, joining an amateur theatrical group.
April 2001 - April 2003: Human science at Ibaraki University (Master’s degree)

 

 

My experience in Japan as an international student

I paid my way to Japan as an international student in 1992. I first took Japanese lessons in Nara before obtaining a bachelor’s degree for information culture at the education department of Ibaraki University on scholarships including a Rotary scholarship.

Next, in 1998, I moved to pursue research at the university’s education department on a scholarship provided by the Ministry of Education. In the process, I obtained a master’s degree for education.

 

 

In April 2000, my visa was extended for special cultural activity. I joined an amateur theatrical group called “Butaiya Ai” for one year. The group toured to such places as Tokyo, Mito, and Hitachi-naka to stage a play called “Wakakusa-no Uta” (A Song of Young Grass).

 

In the spring of 2001, I reenrolled in Ibaraki University on the Sagawa scholarship for international students, obtaining another master’s degree for communication in human science in 2003.

As these activities show, I had many interesting experiences and good memories during my 11 years of stay in Japan. Of these, two events stand out - A foreign minister’s award I received in a Japanese speech contest for foreigners in the summer of 2002, and a chance to have a brief conversation with late His Imperial Highness Prince Takamado. It was a dream-like experience.

 

In the 2002 Japanese speech contest, I talked about my home stay experience and international exchanges under the title “International Exchange Equals Entertainment.”

 

I concluded that international exchanges were not just a means to revitalize boring daily lives, but a way to recognize interaction between oneself and others with different backgrounds. “This is the most important thing about international exchange,” I appealed to the audience from the stage of the International House Osaka.

 

After the award presentation, I was thrilled to have an opportunity to converse with late H. I. S. Prince Takamado. It was quite an honor to have a talk with a member of the imperial family at such a close range. I found H. I. H. Prince Takamado highly refined and a good conversationalist. It was a great opportunity and I cherish that moment today.

 

 

With the summer finally over in 2002, while making final preparations for my master’s degree, I returned home. My love of Japan and its language remained intact during my stay back home as I determined to disseminate, as widely as possible, many good things about the country and its cultures.

 

After my final return home, I have become a counselor for high school students who wish to study in Japan while teaching the Japanese at Japan Graduates’ Association of Malaysia (JAGAM).

This counseling service is an effective way for me to let others know many good things about Japan and its people. The job is very rewarding.

 

To know real Japan, it is not adequate to read Japanese comics and watch anime, or take a few-day holiday trip to Japan. “Japan” you have learned through such activities is just a facet of the country.

 

I believe that true international exchange is to know Japan at its core and recognize interaction between oneself and others. To realize this, it is essential for Malaysian students to immerse themselves in the Japanese society, raise questions and solve them together with Japanese college students, and make discussions with Japanese professors.

 

 

After a 4-year college life, Malaysian students have enjoyed the four seasons in Japan, learned to love Japanese food, acquired Japanese manners including the spirit of wabi and sabi (austere refinement and quiet simplicity) and other aspects of Japanese life that make their stay in Japan worthwhile and enjoyable. As a student counselor, I will feel highly fulfilled at the sight of these students studying in Japan.

 

I have committed myself to performing my job as a counselor to let as many Malaysian high school students as possible have access to great opportunities to study in Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

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1979 – 1986, Research Student, Master Course, Doctor Course
Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, Kyoto University

Current occupation: Professor/ Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia

 

Japan in my memories

Coming to Japan is one of my dreams since my junior high school time. So, I was so delighted when Prof. Kogure from Department of Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, Kyoto University, visited the Bosscha Observatory in summer 1978 and asked me if I wish to study in Japan.

 

It was just in the middle of winter when I arrived at Osaka Airport in the evening. I recalled my first days in Japan almost thirty years ago. Those were the days when everything was new to me. Though I was already in Japan, my heart was left in Indonesia. I was thinking if I could be able to go on staying in Japan.

 

The language and culture are completely different. Tastes of the foods are strange compare to ours which are completely spicy. Everyday when I came back to my dormitory from university what I did first was reckoning the day on the calendar “How many days are left before I can return to Indonesia”.

 

But, by and by, I began to conform to life there. It began when the Department of Astronomy held a Welcome Party for me at one Japanese restaurant near Okazaki Park, Kyoto. That was my first time I force my self to use chopsticks to eat. The party finished around 9 pm, and I was thinking to go home when everybody ask me to join them to downtown (later I knew it is called Niji-kai, which means the secondary party) and got in a Japanese pub in Gion.

At the beginning I didn’t know how to enjoy this Niji-kai. Because at that time we had no such customs in my country. No night life, no sake, no beers. Most people go to bed before 10 pm. At Niji-kai I only drank juice. But, surprisingly during the party I almost forgot my sadness, my loneliness, and my homesickness.

 

My first impression when I arrived in Japan was that everything is fast. People walk so fast, almost run. However, it didn’t influence me. I walked as I did in my country. But, when elderly people also walked fast I could not help but walking fast as they did.

 

It was at the observatory when for the first time I experienced snow falling. I was so excited and I felt like a child with new toys. Spring was also enjoyable with cherry blossoms in every corner of the city. Summer in Kyoto was hotter than in Indonesia. I love autumn in Japan with those red leaves. The atmosphere was so melancholic.

 

One of my hobbies is music. Just by chance one morning in the dormitory I watched a young beautiful Japanese singer on TV. She sang a song which was later I knew as enka. The melody is similar to Indonesian music keroncong. The singer was Ishikawa Sayuri and from that time on I became her big fan. Almost every week I used to go to karaoke with my fellow students and sang my favorite song "Tsugaru kaikyo fuyu geshiki" of Ishikawa Sayuri.

 

In Japan I found no ladies-first. For example, in the train when it is crowded, women stand when at the same time many men have seats.

 

I spent more than seven years living in Japan. But this seven years looks like seven weeks. Koin yano gotoshi (Time flies).

It needs more than thousands of pages to describe all my impressions. But, I can say Japanese people are working hard, well-disciplined and kind-hearted.

 

I have so many memories in Kyoto. For me Kyoto is my second hometown. Japan, you are so beautiful! If the so called reincarnation really exists I wish to be reborn in Japan.

 

 

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Was enrolled at Nagoya University Faculty of Education and Human Development from 2001 to 2006. Received the Doctorate Degree in 2007.

Currently works at Toyo University as a lecturer

 

When I meet Japanese people for the first time, there are invariably three questions that they ask (other than “Where are you from?”).  The first is typically “how long have you been in Japan?”, and the second is “how did you learn Japanese?”  These are relatively easy questions to answer, although after about a dozen years living in a foreign country, I think most people would stop counting.  Moreover, the first question pretty much answers the second, since if I had not been living in Japan, I would not have had nearly as much incentive to study and learn the language. 

 

The third question, “do you like Japan?” always strikes me as somewhat strange, since it is also connected to the first and second questions.  If I didn’t like Japan, why would I stay here as long as I have, and invest so much time in learning about Japan? Of course, it is a still a somewhat complicated question, since there are certain times when I don’t like Japan as much.  One of these times is when I visit places in Tokyo and have to deal with nearly always crowded conditions.  Another is not being able to see my family and friends in the U.S. as much as I would like.  Even so, the times when I have “like Japan” feelings probably out-number the other times by about three to one.

 

Prior to pursuing a graduate degree at a Japanese university I had quite a bit of previous experience in Japan, both working and studying.  Also, my research interests were in international higher education in Japan, so it seemed fitting that I spend a lot of time at universities in Japan.  In many ways, the experiences of other international students I’ve met in Japan, as well as my own experiences, have given me direction in my research and my current life.  Most of my impressions about higher education in Japan were developed and strengthened based on first-hand experiences that I have had over the past two decades.

 

The majority of international students studying for graduate degrees in Japan come from developing countries, and relatively few are from developed countries. However, Japanese higher education in recent years has expanded and developed their offerings to appeal to a wide range of interests, whether they students are to engage themselves in research on biochemistry or in the study of Japanese language and culture. I believe that Japanese universities will continue to improve upon their quality and reputation in the world.

 

I also think that most people, like myself, who study abroad, are not merely interested in obtaining a degree in their respective field.  Most also hope to acquire some fluency in the language, and others are interested in a deeper cultural experience and in interacting with the local people.  The degree of investment into a foreign country is bound to vary from individual to individual. I chose Japan, and Asia, as my regional area of interest, and I suppose it makes sense that I still live and work here. In my current job teaching Japanese university students I continue trying to serve as a bridge, or a means of cross-cultural understanding.  As in anything, such understanding has to be a two-way effort, and finding something you appreciate in the foreign culture, whether it is food, arts, language study, etc. will always contribute positively to a person’s experience with a foreign culture, as it has been in my relationship with Japan.

 

Although it was probably not the Japanese government’s intention, more and more foreigners have decided to stay and work in Japan, or at least seek jobs with Japanese companies upon graduation.  I think this can only be a good for Japanese economy, which requires qualified human resources to continue to thrive and to expand. Increasing the number of foreign residents in Japan will also be a positive development for society, since our very presence it expands the definition of what it means to be an upstanding resident living in Japan, and the resulting diversity brings Japan much closer to the rest of the world.

 

One of the most frequent comments I’ve received from my own students goes something like this: “this is the first time I have ever been taught by a foreign instructor. It was challenging and I learned a lot from the experience”.  It is comments such as these that make my work in Japan worthwhile and make me feel as though I made the right choice in investing so many years outside of my home country.  Even if the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs didn’t have this kind of cross-cultural education and exchange in mind in their drive to invite more international students here, I think that if we scratch the surface, the long-term benefits of internationalization can already be found, both overseas and in Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Studied at Kyushu University. He received Doctoral Degree in Engineering Geology from. Now he is a Lecturer at the Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. He is one of the founders of Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI), a think-tank for policy research in Nepal. He is also the Immediate Past President of Japanese Universities Alumni Association, Nepal.

 

Utilization of knowledge and experiences gained in Japan: a few thoughts

Getting interest in Japan
In 1983, I took part in a geological field excursion in a western part of Nepal as an undergraduate student. The field tour was organized by a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) volunteer affiliated at the Department of Geology, Tri-Chandra Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. He was conducting geological field investigation for his doctoral research in the western part of Nepal. During this excursion, besides teaching many interesting facts of geology, he also shared us many valuable information about Japan and Japanese people. Though it is very difficult for me to recall the whole content of the conversation now, I can still evoke some striking impressions that I had made after the interaction with the JICA volunteer. The impressions were: i) He could manage time far better than me ii) He knew the geological events of the area in detail and had also recorded all the relevant points in his note book with clear sketches and drawings. His skill of explaining the geological information was also comparatively effective and convincing. His overall activities during the field trip had made me to think that Japanese universities provide far better education than what was the practice in my own country. Since then I had a plan to visit Japan at least once if not for a long time. It took me more than ten years for my dream to come true. The JICA volunteer, who guided us during the geological excursion in 1983, assisted me to go to Japan for higher study under the Japan Government Scholarship Scheme in 1994. He was affiliated with Kyushu University as an Associate Professor at that time.

 

 

Exploring Japan
I went to Kyushu University in April 1995 as a research student. For the first six months, I attended the intensive Japanese Language Course followed by Master and Doctoral research until 2001. The six-year long period of my stay in Japan was full of enthusiasms and academic achievements.

 

Research facilities and guidance by the professors were far better than my expectance in comparison to what we had in Nepal. Japanese students were also equally helpful. Twenty-four hours available laboratory facility was another encouraging factor to conduct research. Opportunities for attending many national and international conferences in and outside Japan has provided me with enough insight about the state-of-the-art knowledge in my research area. Encouragements and supports provided by my academic supervisor (professor) in all aspects including academic and social parts were praiseworthy. I had opportunities to visit several parts of Japan and abroad including Mexico and USA with my professor to attend and present our research findings in international conferences.

Please insert photograph: Author at a laboratory of Kyushu University

 

Reliable transportation system that runs with time as accurately as a wrist watch was also a surprise for me. Social security such as walking all around the city and campus premises even in the night time was commendable. Well-managed forests, parks, ponds, play grounds, temples, gardens and public places clearly reflected the strong determination of Japanese people to preserve their culture, natural heritage and environment. Similarly, they have been constantly using traditional Japanese foods with high priority in both, formal and informal occasions. In fact, the Japanese foods were of high quality in terms of taste, nutrition, variety, good looking and originality.

 

 

 

Polite and helpful nature of Japanese people has impressed me a lot. Their ways of working in a group and consolidating the feeling of team spirit from early childhood was very much educational. Sense of professionalism in every walk of Japanese life was another lesson. Unlike the case of many developed countries, where traditional social norms are left behind during the pace of development, Japan has perfectly retained her cultural and traditional values along with the development. Enjoying Japanese traditional foods with Japanese colleagues during “hanami” (Cherry blossom viewing) sitting in a beautiful park surrounded by high rise building has made me to think in this line.

 

 

 

 

Utilizing knowledge gained in Japan

a) Research and consulting contribution
After returning back to Nepal in 2001, I continued my job as a Lecturer of engineering geology at the Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University in Katmandu. I am also teaching at Kathmandu University and Pokhara University as a visiting faculty. During the last seven years, I have also published more than ten research papers on various issues in national and international journals. I have also provided consulting services to several civil engineering projects including JICA supported projects in Nepal.

 

b) Establishment of NDRI (http://www.ndri.org.np)
Realizing the need of quality research for nation development, Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI) was established in 2004. I am one of the founder members and now I have also taken the responsibility of the President for the year 2006-2008. NDRI is a non profit, non-governmental organization established with an aim to contribute to the society with high quality research and professional inputs on various issues. Currently NDRI is honored to run joint projects with World Food Program (WFP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asia Pacific Network (APN), University of Tokyo, and International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM), Japan. We look forward to having more international partnership for quality research inputs for the betterment of our society.

 

c) Leading role in JUAAN (http://www.juaan.org.np)
I was entrusted with the responsibility of the President of Japanese Universities Alumni Association, Nepal (JUAAN) for the years 2005-2007. Since the year 2006 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations, JUAAN organized three different programs to mark the historical event. We planted hundred saplings of Sakura (Japanese National Flower) in the premises of Botanical Garden, Tribhuvan University, and Katmandu University. We also conducted Japanese University Education Fair and Counseling Services. In addition, a symposium on “Study in Japan: opportunities and challenges” was also organized. The other important event organized during our tenure was the International Conference on “Emerging Issues on Research and Development”. The conference was organized by JUAAN in association with Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI), Nepal, Ehime University, the University of Tokyo and the University of Yamanashi, Japan during April 4-6, 2007 in Kathmandu. Altogether 114 scientific papers were presented by authors from eight different countries, namely, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, China, Australia, Spain, Japan and Canada. Another important role that I played in JUAAN was to lead the delegation to the Reunion of Former Students (Tsudoi) in Japan organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affair in Tokyo in November 2007.

Thinking about a future plan

Establishment of a private school
Nepalese students are not being able to utilize the Japanese school education system which has helped Japan to be an economic giant in the world. In managing school level education in Nepal, we could be benefited from the Japanese experiences. But until now, there has not been any attempt to utilize the Japanese experiences of teaching students in school. To fulfill this gap, I have a plan to establish a private school (kindergarten to high school) in Nepal jointly with Japanese educationists. In this school, students will be taught by means of Japanese teaching methodologies. Besides regular subjects, Japanese language will also be taught as an optional subject. Both Nepalese and Japanese students can be enrolled in this school. One of the objectives of this project is that those who graduate from this school will be encouraged to go to Japan for higher studies. After graduating from Japanese universities, these students may work in Japanese government and companies to fulfill the demand of skilled manpower which is likely to lack in Japan in the near future. They can also initiate some sort of joint business with their Japanese friends addressing the common interests of both countries. Thus, this school would be an example of ‘people to people cooperation’ that strengthens the friendship and mutual understanding among the people of both countries. Besides, the school will also serve as a model school to reflect Japanese school level education system. Some Japanese University graduates in Nepal have shown interest in this project. It seems that we can manage land resources required for this school but we are still brainstorming regarding the management of funds required for the construction of buildings and purchasing other relevant equipments.

 

Finally a few remarks
Studying in Japan is both, opportunities and challenges. Japan is a unique place not only to carry out quality research but also to learn how to preserve culture and tradition along with the development. The challenge of studying in Japan lies in the fact that one has to be punctual, precise and polite to command a respect in Japanese society. It is also very important to make Japanese friends and keep in touch with them for possible professional collaborative works in the future. Personally, I feel that there are ample possibilities for Nepalese and Japanese to work together for the betterment of both countries. No doubt to mention that there are many Japanese people who would like to offer their help to improve the dire situations of Nepal. Likewise, Nepalese people are also equally eager to extend help to Japanese people if needed. Being graduated from a Japanese University, I am happy to work as a bridge between the both countries.

 

(The author received Doctoral Degree in Engineering Geology from Kyushu University in 2001. Now he is a Lecturer at the Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal. He is one of the founders of Nepal Development Research Institute (NDRI), a think-tank for policy research in Nepal. He is also the Immediate Past President of Japanese Universities Alumni Association, Nepal. He can be contacted at tnbhattarai@wlink.com.np)

 

 

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Studied at Kobe University from October 2003 to September 2006

She was a Monbukagakusho scholar who graduated from Kobe University with a Ph.D. in Political Science.

 

Konnichiwa from the Philippines!

 

 

This newsletter is indeed a welcome sight in my inbox. Congratulations for this wonderful idea to keep all of us in touch wherever our paths lead us.

I was given the opportunity to live and study in Kobe, Japan from October 2003 to September 2006.   My first year was spent at the International Students' Residence in Port Island and the last two years were spent at the Hyogo International Students' House. 

 

When I first found out I was going to spend the next three years of my student life in Japan I was overcome by mixed emotions of excitement, fear and anxiety. I never really left my home that long and I never really thought I would someday be studying in Japan. It was like an opportunity that happened to knock at my door twice. I took the risk and never knew that that choice would change my outlook in life forever. I was a person that generally avoided anything complicated and unpredictable.

The first month for me was full of new experiences. I was admitted at Kobe Daigaku and I was to reside in a school dormitory in Port Island. On that cool autumn night that I arrived at Kobe, I was given a room facing the Eastern side. It was so nice to be greeted by the sun each day. My room faced a small park where I watched senior Japanese citizens play every morning a game that seemed like “golf” but then they always fell in line and took turns in hitting the ball.

 

My room had a little balcony facing a hotel named “Pearl”- my nickname.  Not long after I realized that the word “pearl” is a common name given to streets, buildings, hotels, and every thing else. In a strange way, it sort of made me feel like I belong.

 

 

Admittedly, I was quite homesick at first.  I remember crossing out each day of the month of October because at the time, three years seemed like a lifetime to me! Nevertheless, the University, the dormitories and student organizations may have predicted this common problem experienced by foreign students, like me.  Hence, they organized a lot of social gatherings.  My social activities consisted of welcome parties, tea parties and cultural activities where I got to meet people from different parts of the world. There are countless memories that still make me smile whenever I remember them.

 

 

I observed the singularity of streets, I was pretty amazed about how almost of them really looked the same. Like on the first day of my first semester in Kobe, after a student-friend already showed me the way to school and I attempted to go to the University on my own for the new students’ Orientation- I got lost! I was advised to follow the route of Bus No. 36 and I guess I must have followed the wrong bus. For I remember perfectly well that the compound of my “gakubu” (faculty) is atop a mountainous area, but after 45 minutes of aimless walking, each step got me closer to the sea. I retraced my steps back and found myself asking directions to a lady who was getting her letter/bill from a postman/bill collector in a residential area. Fortunately, the postman/bill collector had a car and gave me a ride towards familiar ground, near Kobe Daigaku! In Kobe, I met quite a lot of kind-hearted Japanese individuals. Like one time in Sannomiya I wanted to find out where the Chuo-ward was, I entered a bank and asked an approachable fellow that wore glasses. He is Japanese and spoke great English so I developed the habit of asking him for directions whenever I got lost in the area. He would willingly sketch a map or show me a map for clearer explanations. Days later he gave me his business card and to my embarrassment I realized I had been talking all along to the bank manager. Again, I felt really lucky for meeting individuals who really went out of their way to help people.

I experienced the wonders of the shopping malls - the "malling culture" that is also existent in our country. Aside from the wonderful things to buy, I was especially smitten by the decorations of the malls, the wonderful ornaments and most of all the wonderful way by which boutiques wrap the omiyage (present, souvenir). Gift-wrapping is really an art in Japan. The more beautiful the presents look, the more special the people who will receive them will feel. A number of times I find myself buying a souvenir or gift item just so I can observe how the shop beautifully wraps the items they sell.

 

 

 

I also became acquainted to the little markets along the way. I notice that the markets sell mostly three pieces of vegetables for the price of 100 yen. Like for a price of 100 yen I can get 3 big pieces of onions! But then I am not really crazy about onions, I only use it to add spice for certain dishes- I can only consume one whenever I buy. I felt it would be a waste to buy 3 big onions all the time. So one time, I asked a vendor if it was alright if I only bought one piece of onion from her. The vendor probably misunderstood and took pity on me for she decided to give the onion for free. At first, I tried to explain but the lady insisted on giving me the onion and uttered- “omiyage.” I couldn’t say anything else but thank you.

 

Slowly I became accustomed to the uniqueness of the scent of Japanese cuisine, from time to time I still long for the takoyaki and the tempura udon.  I did not cook on the first few months and just bought the “obento” (lunch box) because I had no cooking utensils.  When I finally settled down and got my own pans and condiments, I realized that cooking was a good therapy for homesickness.  For me, sharing meals with dorm mates sort of reminded me of home.  It was the act of cooking together and sharing meals with one another that made it more fun.  When you see the ways by which individuals from other parts of the world cook, you get to understand a part of their culture.  For instance, I noticed that my Chinese dorm mates never drank anything cold, made a great recipe for boiled egg and made homemade tea all the time.  I also realized that coconut milk was a frequent ingredient to Burmese and Lao dishes.  I also noticed differences in food preparations.  I remember one time how one of my European dorm mates asked me why I was “mutilitating” my potatoes when potatoes get cooked too even if I would not cut them into small pieces. I never really thought about that but when she asked, for the first time I really wondered why.

 

I realized that transportation was quite expensive so I decided to just invest in a good pair of walking shoes.  I learned the value of brisk walking and running fast especially as I tried to catch the train or whenever I walked down from the University during the coldest months of January and February.  I realized how cold winter can be in Kobe. Since there is no winter season in the Philippines- I did not know then how I could possibly handle the coldest months in Kobe. Someone advised me that the best way to deal with the cold months is to bundle up or through wearing layers of clothes- which I did.  I wore about three layers of clothing every winter.  Too bad I could only wear a pair of boots at a time.  Sometimes in order to warm myself up I would walk really fast and enter stores and drink tea in between walks to get warmed up. Walking allowed me to smell the roses along the way.  It allowed me to appreciate more the beauty and sounds of nature that I tend to overlook back home.

 

I met a lot of new friends. I found out about countries that I never knew existed before.  I guess I was never really good at world geography.  More importantly, I realized that no matter how different we may be physically and culturally there are some things that remain universal and true regardless of our cultural differences. Kindness and love mean the same everywhere.  I am quite fortunate to meet people who treat me like their own daughter, sister or family.

 

Unfortunately, I was not able to learn the Nihongo (Japanese language). Although I wanted to learn I did not have enough time. I was only able to pick up day-to-day conversational phrases. But that was because I found that learning Japanese was a luxury for me considering that I could learn a lot more through interacting with the people. More importantly, I am glad because I did learn a lot of valuable experiences in Japan from budgeting, to changing the light bulbs to embracing a whole new different culture. I noticed how I have matured with the changing seasons- I felt happiest in Spring, more adventurous in Summer, reflective in Autumn and saddest in Winter. Like a tree, I felt that I have grown in different dimensions. Through the changing seasons, my friends were there for me. They taught me that happiness is a choice; that life is interesting; that each day we are brought nearer to the place where we are meant to be.

 

My life in Japan is like a beautiful dream that cannot be forgotten. Memories live on in my heart where they are there to stay.  I look forward to coming back to Japan again someday as I look forward to seeing the cherry blossoms dance in the winds. It has changed my outlook in life.  Japan introduced me to the idea that simple delights of living come in different forms: The beauty of its nature, its people and its culture.  It provided me a lot of opportunities to contemplate and reflect about things that matter most.

 

For all these experiences, I can only say thank you for the memories!

(The author is Perlita M. Frago (Pearl), an Assistant Professor that teaches Political Science at the University of the Philippines in Diliman.  Her dreams include being able to work in an international organization, establishing a non-stock NGO for children’s education, writing a book of personal chronicle containing journeys and life experiences, meeting many more friends and going to other places. Somewhere in between she would like to have a family of her own too.)

 

 

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Studied at at the Kyushu University Faculty of Law in Fukuoka,
He was a Young Leaders Program/Mombukagakusho scholar Japan where he took his Master of Laws in 2005-2006.

 

The disparaging term Japayuki may have been born from the Japanese word “Karayuki,” a Japanese lady who went abroad to work (but were most likely sold) as prostitutes in nearby countries from 1870 to 1940. Japayuki was most likely coined to mean a reverse migration of Filipinas trooping to Japan to do exactly what the Karayuki did pre-war.
In practice, Japayuki refers to Filipinas who worked, or are working, as cultural dancers, bar hostesses or entertainers in Japan – with a sternly negative connotation.

But there is an emerging positive connotation to the term Japayuki. It’s time to reform its undesirable vibe to generally mean Filipinos Japan-bound or already residents, without any sexual or negative implication. More importantly, a new type of Japayuki should be denominated: someone going to or already in Japan because of talents, skills, knowledge, practice or expertise, not for any illegal activity.

Part of this necessary evolution stems from the fact that so many Filipino scholars are being sent to Japan to study education, law, dentistry, engineering, agriculture and a host of other courses. Mostly Mombukagakusho (Japanese government) scholars, these students at the undergraduate, graduate (masteral) and post-grad levels do not pay any tuition, are given generous stipends, assigned dorm units and sent to top universities. Every year, there are at least 150 to 250 students who leave for Japan as Mombukagakusho scholars and spread to as far north as Hokkaido University to as far south as schools in Okinawa.

Academic stay can range from 6 months to 5 or more years, especially for those enrolled in Masters and/or PhD programs. Ateneo undergrads usually attend the Japan in Today’s World (JTW) program for 6 months, while UP Lawyers perform exceptionally well in the YLP-Mombukagakusho one-year LL.M. program. Recruits for the teacher-training program come from all Philippine regions. Thus, Filipino students can be found literally everywhere in Japan nowadays.

Besides these students, other newer Japayuki legally reside and work in Japan as religious workers, software engineers, hotel staff, restaurant operators and nurses, to name a few. In Tokyo, there are even a handful of Filipino lawyers working in the top-tier firms while two attorneys are consulting for an Osaka law firm. Thus there is a burgeoning trend for newer and better opportunities for Filipinos wanting to work or study in Japan.

There must therefore be a gradual shift from the denigrating, generically Japayuki to student-Japayuki, religious worker-Japayuki and so forth. To perpetuate a useless stigma contributes absolutely nothing to national growth and maturity.
The life of a student-Japayuki is admittedly a blissful one. Where in the world will one find a country willing to sponsor thousands upon thousands of scholars from all over the world for years-long scholarships? No tuition at all, no significant school fees to pay, monthly receipt of stipends reaching thousands of dollars and regulated capacity to work part-time. Not even the US can match this kind of generosity.

Even if a university in Europe could match this, its scholarships are circumscribed only to a specific university, not to most of the other learning institutions in that country. Japan is radically and astutely different in that Mombusho scholarships are open to various nationalities spread out in public and private universities around the country. The scholarship program is a national government program, not merely university-based.

Student-Japayukis are sometimes awarded additional travel allowance and internship opportunities, leading to a fulfilled experience at the end of the program. Hence, student-Japayukis are not known to illegally extend their stay in Japan, work with expired work permits, marry Japanese to forestall deportation or become involved in unlawful matters.

Student-Japayukis are well liked by the faculty because of the natural genius and exuberance of Filipinos. With their politeness and honesty, they mirror basic Japanese attitudes. They are also markedly singled out as achievers and almost always outperform and outclass other nationalities, even those from North America. This may not be due only to sheer talent, but also the need to correct the once precarious connotation of a Filipina in Japan as most likely a hospitality girl.

 

Fueled by desire to prove one’s self and in part due to national pride, student-Japayukis and generic worker-Japayukis typically prove to be the cream of the crop. Since the country normally sends the best and the brightest, it is not surprising that Japan keeps on seeking more and more Filipino student-Japayukis and worker-Japayukis.

I happen to be one of the recent student-Japayukis who finished a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from a renowned university in west Japan. Taught entirely in English, with Japanese language as an optional course, the one-year LL.M. program was both insightful and useful. It allowed me to interact and study with notable law scholars from many parts of the world under highly competent Japanese and European professors.

It also provided me with a platform, particularly among my Japanese friends and lawyer-acquaintances, to demonstrate that Filipinos are truly worth investing scholarship money in. I likewise experienced being a worker-Japayuki (an OCW in Japan) on a research job and legal consulting work after I graduated.

The imperfect relationship between our two countries notwithstanding, it must be recognized that Japan does a lot of good when it sends Filipinos to Japanese universities to amass innumerable knowledge for use back home. Through constant interaction with fellow student- and worker-Japayukis, it dawned on me that the loathsome term ‘Japayuki’ must be reinterpreted and redefined. The Philippines must be more mature in realizing that nothing can be had in name-calling and stigmatization. There is a new Japayuki and no one can denigrate her or him.

The author was a Young Leaders Program/Mombukagakusho scholar at the Kyushu University Faculty of Law in Fukuoka, Japan where he took his Master of Laws in 2005-2006. Before graduation, he was recruited as research associate and has also performed legal consulting work with Japanese lawyers. He is now an LL.M-candidate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and undergoing a cross Wharton School -disciplinary program. He is an on-leave Associate in one of the country’s biggest law firms in Makati City.

 

Courtesy "the Philippine Daily Inquirer online"

 

 

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