Japan Alumni eNews (Vol.107)

Learn the life in Japan with photos posted by our readers! We look forward to your submissions of memorable photos of your experiences in Japan, including your student life, exposure to Japanese culture and history, travel, and more.

The theme of the March issue is photo introduces March of Japan.

Bringing you news and first-hand stories about international students!

According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as of the end of October 2017, there were 1,278,670 foreign nationals working in Japan, an 18% rise over the previous year and the highest for the fifth straight year. By country, the most were from China with 372,263 (a 29.1% increase), followed by Vietnam with 240,259 (an 18.8% increase), and the Philippines, 146,789 (an 11.5% increase).

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan in 2017 was about 28,690,000, 19% higher than 2016 and the highest for the fifth straight year. By country, Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and the Philippines showed increases of more than 20%. The easing of visa restrictions for tourists and the increasing number of low-cost carriers and cruise ships linking Japan with other Asian nations are considered to be the main reasons.

Name: Zhou Jieying
Nationality: Chinese
University in Japan: University of Tsukuba Graduate School
Major: Policy and Planning Sciences
Year: 2nd year (Master’s)
Period of Stay in Japan: October 2015 to present
Japanese Proficiency Level: Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1

The reason I chose Japan as a place to study was to make use of my language skills while studying more in a field different to my undergraduate degree. As an undergraduate, I majored in the Japanese language and spent a year in Japan as an exchange student. At that time, I got to experience the comfort of life in Japan as well as the rich learning environment it offers, and decided I would like to come back to study.

When I first arrived in Japan, it was a sunny summer’s day. The moment I stepped out of the plane, I saw a clear blue sky and a bright sun shining down. It was amazing, just like a scene from a drama. The airport and the town are both very neat and tidy, and I was left with the impression that Japan is a very clean place.

At the moment, I’m researching Applied Optimization at the University of Tsukuba Graduate School. This is about researching algorithms and methods to find the optimal results or solution methods for actual issues related to services or production by constructing mathematical models. I work with companies to develop systems that show cooking procedures that even inexperienced cooks can ensure the quality of the food they offer. I realized that working with companies requires much higher levels of precision in words and actions as well as quick grasp for learning new things, and so provided a daily motivation for me to be able to grow.

My favorite place in Japan is Kamakura. It’s a very attractive place. I had a chance to visit the historic shrines and temples, wander down Komachi-dori eating delicious foods, and stroll along the Yuigahama Coast. The view of the sunset as I strolled along the beach gazing at Enoshima and Mt. Fuji really left an impression. The setting sun, and the sound of the waves were so relaxing. I was really moved.

My favorite Japanese food has got to be sushi. There are two reasons for this. One is that I just love the sublime flavors as the fish melts inside my mouth. The other is that they look so simple but the ingredients are carefully selected, and the process is so complex. Things like the pressure you use to mold the rice and how you control it to reach body temperature are really fascinating. I really respect the training a sushi chef undertakes, with like three years of just cooking rice, then eight years of shaping it, as well as their passion for making such delicious food.

My dream for the future is to be a top professional in the IT field. I want to change as many lives as possible by personally providing the world with new services that utilize IT.

If I had to give any advice to anyone considering studying in Japan, it would be that leaving your family and friends and living alone in Japan to study can be a lonely time, so you have to learn how to become independent, rather than rely on others too much. Also, at Japanese schools, you get a lot of freedom in terms of your life as a student, as well as your study and research. That means that everyone gets something different from their time studying in Japan. So you need to set goals before coming to Japan, then refine them as you go along with your studies here. By the time you finish, what you’ve learned over here can be of use in your future life.

WAJAA (Western Australia Japan Alumni Association) was established in March 2017, bringing together people who have spent time studying in Japan. We currently have around 30 members.
WAJAA’s charter is to strengthen tertiary education links between WA and Japan. We hold bi-monthly meetings and networking events aimed at addressing the following goals:

1. To promote undergraduate and graduate studies in Japan by Australian students.
2. To encourage governments, institutions and companies to continue their ongoing support of scholarship programs for Japanese study.
3. To promote and expand study by Australian students at Japanese tertiary institutions and to communicate the benefits of maintaining and expanding scholarship programs.

In March 2018, we will hold a scholarship program information session for those who want to study in Japan, co-hosted with the Consulate-General of Japan in Perth. As we are a newly formed association, your cooperation and kind support would be highly appreciated. If you happen to be a former student, having studied in Japan, and are currently living in Western Australia, We look forward to hearing from you.

Western Australia Japan Alumni Association, Acting President, Bill Hart
To contact WAJAA：wajaahq at mark gmail.com
*Please convert “at mark” to @ when you send an e-mail to us.

Introduction of scholarships, grants, unique activities at particular universities, and more!

Here we introduce you to particular faculties and graduate schools at Japanese universities.

University Profile (As of May 2017)
Name: Teikyo University
Itabashi Campus: 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo
Hachioji Campus: 359 Otsuka, Hachioji City, Tokyo
Utsunomiya Campus: 1-1 Toyosatodai, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi prefecture
Fukuoka Campus: 6-22 Misaki-machi, Omuta-shi, Fukuoka prefecture
Kasumigaseki Campus: Hirakawachō Mori Tower 9th floor, 2-16-1 Hirakawa-chō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Number of students: 22,831 (Undergraduate), 433 (Graduate), 108 (Junior college)
International students: 540 (Undergraduate), 67 (Graduate), 2 (Junior college), 4 (The Japanese Language Course)

Teikyo University is a comprehensive institution that offers studies in medicine, humanities, and sciences in 10 faculties and 32 departments. Education at Teikyo University is guided by the ideals of "practical learning" for acquiring real-world knowledge and skills, an "international perspective" for learning about and experiencing other cultures, and "open-mindedness" to broadly learn the necessary knowledge and skills. In this way, Teikyo University cultivates skilled individuals with the capability to go forward into futures of their own design.
Teikyo University has celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2016. Over 100,000 talented Teikyo University graduates have gone on to excel in the fields of business, government, and education.
Hachioji campus which is considered as the main campus of Teikyo University holds about 15,000 students who are studying humanities. Among them are more than 550 international students.

Each faculty offers many seminar classes to cultivate student’s fundamental social skills of communication and presentation. The Lecture classes are taught by specialist researchers as well as professionals active in the world of business and the government, and their real-world experiences make for more in-depth, practical lessons. The curriculum focused on hands-on learning will enable students to learn practical strategies by experiencing economic activities firsthand and apply that knowledge towards the study of theory.

Teikyo University offers a scholarship for distinguished international students.
Also, there is an international dormitory where Japanese and international students live and learn together. Students will have private rooms but by sharing the lounge and kitchens they will be able to become understanding of other cultures and cultivate their communication ability.

The student-run group, "International Exchange Assistants" is comprised of currently-enrolled students whose purpose is to support international students. They take care of international students' worries as they enter their new learning environment in Japan, and work towards making their study abroad in Japan more meaningful as well as plan exchange events for them with current students. The group encourages exchange among students through various events.
International students who aim to work in Japan have access to career support from the career support center. The students are to take career seminars from their first year and are provided the experience of internship.

Program name
41st JTRI Awards

1. Objective
To encourage and improve the standard of research related to taxation.

2. Scope
A paper or similar on any theme related to tax law, tax systems, tax theory, tax administration, tax accounting systems or tax accounting.
Unpublished papers must be written in Japanese (not including joint authorship) for this prize, and not be published in any medium until the ceremony for this award is over. Formats and lengths are shown below.

(1) Format
A4, written horizontally in Microsoft Word. Use 10.5 point font size. (This only applies to the main body.)
(2) Length
Researcher Category: 40,000 characters. General Category: 16,000 characters
(3) These lengths have a leeway of 10% either side.
(4) The cover, table of contents, photographs, references, bibliography, and so on are not included in the character count.
(5) Diagrams and tables ranging from half a page up to more than one page long shall be counted as 1,200 characters, while those less than half a page shall be counted as 600 characters.

Previously published papers and books (that include the paper) shall be those published in Japanese between January 1 and December 31, 2017 (not including joint authorship), and article collections that include paper released prior to December 31, 2016, those that do not go beyond simple explanations of practical work, revised works, translations, dictionaries or encyclopedias, and works submitted for awards other than the JTRI Awards are not eligible.
However, for a series of articles or books that is ongoing for more than a year, the year of final publication or printing will be treated as the year prior to the submission year.
*Papers that have been submitted for other awards or papers that do not meet the format requirements will not be accepted.

3. Application categories
(1) Researcher Category
B Category: University research associates, assistants, graduate students* and those of equivalent status.
*Those who are university/junior college professors, associate professors, and instructors are not eligible to apply.
(2) General Category
Working people and university students (including two-year college students)
For details, refer to the Application Procedures for the JTRI Awards posted at the URL in 7. Inquiries.

4. Submission method and deadline
· The paper, book, etc., must include a separate abstract on A4 paper and not longer than 1,600 characters. For book, the preface can be considered the abstract.
· Applicants should submit four copies each of their paper and the abstract along with one copy of the filled-out application form to the Japan Tax Research Institute, JTRI Awards Section. Unpublished papers should also include a data CD-R containing the same content as the paper and abstract.
· Each applicant can submit only one entry. Submitted papers, etc., will not be returned.
· The period for submissions is from Thursday, February 1 to Saturday, March 31, 2018. Submissions received after March 31 will not be accepted.

5. Selection and announcement of results
· Selection of winners will be made by a committee composed of academic experts.
· The results will be announced by mail to the applicants by Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

6. Award types and amounts
-Unpublished papers
(1) Researcher Category
JTRI Grand Prize: 1,500,000 yen
JTRI Prize: 500,000 yen
JTRI Commendation: 200,000 yen
(2) General Category
JTRI Grand Prize: 500,000 yen
JTRI Prize: 200,000 yen
JTRI Commendation: 100,000 yen
-Published papers and books
(1) Researcher Category
JTRI Special Prize: 500,000 yen
JTRI Honorable Mention: 200,000 yen
(2) General Category
JTRI Special Prize: 500,000 yen
JTRI Honorable Mention: 200,000 yen
Note that those that the selection committee judges to be suitable for the above awards will be granted the awards by the selection committee. Award winner will receive an award certificate and commemorative item.

7. Inquiries
Japan Tax Research Institute, JTRI Awards Section
1st Floor, Nihon Zeirishi Kaikan, 1-11-8, Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032
TEL: 03-5435-0912
FAX: 03-5435-0914

Program name
32nd Advanced Technology Award for Encouraging Creativity

1. Eligibility
(1) Adult Category
Researchers and engineers (40 years of age or below) who are part of a company research team or business-academia collaboration and whose research outcome were presented in FY 2017. Research may be a technical paper or new product which can be of practical use in the near future. (Foreign researchers who live in Japan are welcome to apply.)
(2) Student Category
Undergraduate and graduate students at national, public and private universities; technical college students, or groups of such students. International students are also eligible.

2. Significance and Objective
Fuji Sankei Business i founded the Commendation System of Student Research Paper on Advanced Technology in 1986 as a way to encourage creativity and individuality in science and engineering students and foster their desire for research. To turn Japan into a country creative in science and technology, we need to develop industry-academia-government links and train young engineers. Therefore, as of the 16th Awards, the name has been changed to "Advanced Technology Award for Encouraging Creativity" to show that younger researchers and engineers from companies are also eligible.

3. Eligible disciplines and themes (Select one field from the following. Any theme is acceptable.)
A: Electronics / Information
B: Biology / Healthcare, Medicine, Food
C: Materials
D: Environment / Energy
E: Mechanical Engineering / Civil Engineering / Architecture
F: Science
G: Non-specialized fields or interdisciplinary themes included in A-F

4. Content (Choose one of the below)
(1) Technology paper
An unpublished science or technology paper written in Japanese with a creative, individualistic dream of the future. The length should be no more than 8,000 characters. (It can include sections which have been published in academic journals, etc. However, these journals need to be clearly listed. Tables, diagrams, and acknowledgments are not counted towards the character limit.)
(2) New product
A summary in no more than 5,000 characters of the technology details. News releases and catalogue-based applications will not be accepted.

5. How to apply
Post the following four items to the Awards Secretariat.
(1) Paper or résumé
(2) Application form
Download the application form from the URL provided in the Inquiries section and fill in each section clearly.
(3) Data
The original data (Word file, text format) for the paper and the application form, plus PDF file of the original data.
(4) CD-R, etc.
Containing (3) above

6. Application deadline
March 31, 2018

7. Inquiries
Fuji Sankei Business i
Office of Advanced Technology Award for Encouraging Creativity
1-7-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8125
TEL: 03-3273-6102
FAX: 03-3241-4999
E-mail: sentan at mark sankei.co.jp
*Please convert “at mark” to @ when you send an e-mail to us.

Marine Biology Symposium 2018

This symposium is a forum for research presentations related to a range of marine biology fields, including taxonomy, physiology, ecology and biogeochemistry, with the goal of developing the science of marine biology through discussions and debate. It should be a good chance for students and young researchers in particular to give presentations based on their own free ideas.

Dates: Saturday, March 24 to Sunday, March 25, 2018
Location: Hakuyo Hall, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

<Literature, Philosophy, Education, Psychology, Sociology, History>

<Law, Politics>

<Economics, Commercial Science, Management>

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<Engineering>

<Agriculture>

<Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences>

JASSO provides information about job-search for both current and graduate international students!

The Program for Advancement of Foreign Human Resources is launched in 2015, as a collaborative effort of related government ministries and agencies, and other relevant organizations. The Program seeks to increase employment of international students in Japan, and hence increase the number of highly skilled international professionals in the future, following the recent trend in policy that includes the 2014 revision of “Japan Revitalization Strategy – Japan is Back” (approved by the Cabinet on June 24th, 2014). The ultimate aim is to vitalize the Japanese economy further and enhance Japan’s presence in the global economy.
Through seminars, events and other activities, the Program will strengthen the system of connecting international students and other foreign nationals looking for employment in Japan, with companies in Japan looking to recruit international employees.

Name: Tran Thi Trang
Nationality: Vietnamese
University in Japan: Mie University
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities, Law and Economics
Period of study in Japan: April 2010 to March 2016
Company: Hitachi Zosen Corporation (Hitz)
Japanese proficiency level: Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1

The reason I came to Japan to study is because I wanted to learn management to protect local crafts back home. Where I come from is famous for straw mats and handicrafts made using a relative of the rushes used in Japan for tatami. Many people make their livings from these, but with demand dropping every year, they are finding it harder to make ends meet. I have a grand dream of being able to do something that would help people back home by learning the Japanese way of management, which is trusted around the world.

The reason I looked for a job in Japan is because I had a lot of chances to work with local craftsmen in my part-time job at university and decided that I wanted to be involved with Japanese manufacturing, "monozukuri." The reason I chose Hitachi Zosen, where I work now, is because I was attracted by both their people and their products. Vietnam is undergoing remarkable economic growth these days, and our lifestyles are improving. On the other hand, we’re facing increasingly serious environmental issues. My job hunting gave me a chance to learn that Hitachi Zosen is constructing Vietnam’s first energy-from-waste plant, so I wanted to join the company to help my country. My current job is to take charge of new hires, and I hope to be able to take pride in this as I tell students about how wonderful Hitz is.

In the future, my dream is to start a company that provides public transportation services such as a network of local and express buses across ASEAN countries as a new business field for Hitachi Zosen. Back home, most people get around on motorbikes, so accident rates are horrible. So I think if I could provide them with safe transport methods everyone can use, it’ll mean fewer accidents. Hitachi Zosen has never shied away from taking on new ventures over its 137 years of history. I would like to follow in this tradition and tackle the challenge of contributing to ASEAN.

What I paid the most attention to on my job-hunting entry sheet was the "Why do you want to join our company?" part. To get across my passion, I obviously needed to research the company I was aiming for, but I also needed to imagine a specific impression. For example, I asked myself many times what I wanted to do at that company, why I wanted to do it, what I would need to do it, and what the company would want from me. I believed that if I worked hard and was sincere, then my passion and desire to join the company would come across even if my words weren’t perfectly fluent.

When researching companies, I made sure to go to plenty of university career seminars and joint company briefing sessions for international students. I kept a job-hunting notebook, which I would use to record information about companies, what I realized during briefings, what moved me, and what I wanted to do at that company. Looking back over my notes when I was applying for companies was really helpful in clarifying which sort of company I was interested in.

What I would like to tell students who will start looking for jobs in Japan is to value both your health and your friends. You’ll be moving around a lot when you look for a job, and that can be really physically stressful, so make sure you get plenty of sleep and eat properly. And when you’re feeling at the end of your tether, don’t try and cope on your own: find a friend to talk with. Also, when you go to different parts of Japan for interviews, don't forget to check out the local culture and food. I think it’s important to think of the job-hunting process as something to enjoy, rather than something to suffer.

Interview Strategies

In March, companies start advertising job opportunities. This is when the job search really gets started. Job-hunting support sites open, companies start holding briefings, written tests or requiring entry sheet submissions. Selection of candidates begins properly in June, but it’s a good idea to get started on interview strategies and techniques ahead of time.

Interviews are done immediately after the document screening (entry sheets, etc.) and the written tests. A company will generally hold about three interviews, with different interviewers each time, and the third and final interview is often held by the president or the directors. Interviews can be either individual, with just one student, or group, with multiple students at the same time.

Interviews are done by the interviewers asking questions based on the entry sheets: those that continue until they find out what sort of person you are, what you’ve done, and what your strengths and weaknesses are. You may be asked about the background and status of things you’ve written in your entry sheet, what you specifically did, what results you got, etc., so it’s best to have your answers prepared. It can be a good idea to get your teachers or friends to help you practice, so you can prepare effectively. Many people get nervous in interviews, but in most cases this is due to a lack of preparation. Prepare ahead of time to get used to interviews, then you can relax when the real thing comes around.

Have you been travelling around Japan? In this section, we bring you information about sights, events, and foods from all over the country! The March edition looks at Shiga prefecture.

Lake Biwa is Japan’s largest and oldest lake. About 460 rivers, big and small, flow into Biwa, which is emptied by the Seta River (also known as the Uji River in Kyoto and the Yodo River in Osaka) and the man-made Lake Biwa Canal. Lake Biwa is rich in life, with about a thousand species of plants and animals, including many unique species that are found nowhere else in the world. Out in the lake, the Okishima Island is the only inhabited lake island in Japan, with about 300 people living there earning their living mostly by fishing. Okishima has recently become famous as the "Cat Island" due to the number of cats living there.

Built in the Edo period as the home of Mochizuki Izumo-no-Kami, the most powerful of the fifty-three Koka-ryu ninja families, it is now the only remaining genuine ninja house in Japan. From the outside, it looks like a normal farm house, but inside, it has a mezzanine floor, a third floor and hidden rooms. Visitors can use ladders to see around these areas. The house is also full of pit traps, escape routes, concealed windows and many other tricks using the skills and knowledge of the ninja. You can also see exhibits of tools and weapons actually used by the Koka ninja.

Noppei udon is a local noodle dish from Nagahama, made with shiitake mushrooms, yuba tofu skin, kamaboko fish cake, mitsuba (a type of wild parsley), and other ingredients in a thick soup. The name "noppei" is believed to refer to the soup thickened with potato starch and Yoshino kudzu, which makes it glutinous, almost like mochi rice cakes ("nopperi" in Japanese). The starchy soup ("an") on top coats the udon, so they remain warm right up to the very last strand.

This pottery comes from the town of Shigaraki in Koka City. The pottery is very heat-resistant and retains heat well. It is used to make things like teacups, bowls, dishes, vases and artworks where the natural feel and tones of the clay are drawn out. Shigaraki pottery is noted for its distinctive finished appearance caused during firing, including the scarlet tones brought out by the redness of the iron in the clay, the "vidro" glaze where ash adheres to the clay due to the fierce fire inside the kiln, and the "charred" dark brown tones where the pottery has been embedded in charcoal ash.

This section features enjoyable stories about pop culture, traditions, dining, cutting-edge technology, and more!

The cherry blossom front refers to the line showing the expected dates that the cherry blossoms (mainly the Somei-Yoshino variety) will bloom in different parts of Japan.
The front generally moves from the south to the north, and from low elevation to higher levels, but there are exceptions, like how the blossoms can come out sooner in the southern Kanto region than in Kyushu further south, so the front is not always a single line.
The blossom forecasts are based on the fact that the buds need a certain temperature to open. Cherry trees form the buds that will flower the following spring around summer, then go into hibernation. Once the buds have been exposed to the cold winter temperatures for long enough, they will awaken. The buds then grow into blossoms as the temperature rises.

The cherry blossom forecasts were done by the Meteorological Agency until 2009. The Agency used sample trees from each region, and the first day when at least five or six flowers had opened was announced as the flowering date, while the first day when at least 80% were open was announced as the full bloom date.
Since 2010, blossom forecasts have been handled by a range of private-sector companies that work in the field of meteorology, using their own methods.

March 7 is the Fire Brigade Memorial Day, commemorating the day in 1950 when the modern Fire and Disaster Management Agency was established.
The Fire Brigade Memorial Day comes from when the Fire and Disaster Management Organization Act was established on this day two years before the memorial day was established. This Act split off the fire department from the police, and the day is designed to spread awareness and understanding fire fighting.
Every year, the week from March 1 to March 7 is called "Spring National Fire Prevention Week", and events are held around the country related to preventing fires.

There are seven points to remember when it comes to preventing fires.
1. Don’t smoke in bed, and don’t throw lit cigarettes away.
2. Don’t let children play with matches or lighters.
3. Never leave the stove when cooking.
4. Don’t light bonfires on windy days.
5. Don’t put easily burnable things by the house.
6. Use electrical appliances correctly and don’t overload plugs.
7. Don’t place flammable items near heaters.

Providing public relations materials regarding Japan including culture and sport.

Information about JASSO Scholarship programs, invitation program, Study in Japan Fairs, and the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU).

JASSO holds Study in Japan Fairs overseas to provide information to high school students, university students and other individuals who are interested in studying in Japan. We also attend and cooperate to the events and seminars sponsored by other organizations.

For all those considering studying in Japan, we recommend you to read the “Student Guide to Japan” first.
In addition to information on the Japanese education system, scholarships, and daily life in Japan, the guidebook also includes stories on experience of international students in Japan.
You can read the guidebook on the JASSO website, so we encourage not only those who are considering studying in Japan, but also students already studying in Japan to take a look.

You can read in 14 languages such as Japanese, English, Chinese (Simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese), Korean, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Myanmar language and Bengali, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, French, German, Mongolian, and Portuguese.

We also provide the latest information on studying in Japan on our official Facebook pages. Check them out!

The March 2018 issue will be published on March 12th. Please make sure to read it!

This program provides former international students who play active roles in education, research and government in their home countries to conduct short term research at universities in Japan.

This program provides Japanese academic advisors with an opportunity to visit and to help further research of former international students who are teaching and/or researching at universities or research institutes in their home countries.

How did you find the March edition of Japan Alumni eNews?
The 21st of March is called Shunbun-no-Hi, Spring Equinox Day, in the Japanese calendar. On this day, the night and the day are of equal lengths. In late March, the cherry blossoms finally start blooming throughout the country, the weather starts warming up, and we can sense the coming of spring. In this month’s NIPPON Time Machine, we learn about the Cherry Blossom Front, a reminder of the season that lets us know spring is on its way. In the Lifestyle section, we feature the Fire Brigade Memorial Day.

Japan Alumni eNews Editorial Desk is looking for someone who can share their job searching experiences. We also welcome pictures from your life abroad as an exchange student and your comments for our email magazine. Our next issue of “Japan Alumni eNews” will be distributed on April 10th. Don’t miss it!