1What made you want to come to Japan to study?

I grew up watching Japanese anime since I was little. I was particularly struck by Mach Go Go Go (the American title was Speed Racer), and I had always wanted to go to Japan. Three years ago, my father had the opportunity to go to Japan for work, and he told me it was a wonderful country. I started to think seriously about studying in Japan then. Northeastern University, where I am enrolled, had two Japanese partner universities, but Meiji University was more prestigious and had similar studies to what I was majoring in at Northeastern University. The fact that the campus was located in the center of Tokyo and easily accessible from anywhere was a huge attraction as well. Those are the reasons I chose Meiji University.

2What are you currently studying?

My major at Northeastern University is economics, so I am taking a class in Japanese economics. I am also taking classes on politics because I am currently on an exchange program at the School of Political Science and Economics. For example, in Professor Kenji Suzuki’s Japanese Social Systems Theory class, I am learning about the mechanisms of the Diet and elections, characteristics of Japanese political parties, and the structure of Japanese politics. In the class taught by Professor Kensaku Hogen, who is a former diplomat and served as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Japanese Ambassador to Canada, I am learning about Japanese diplomatic relations with other countries. How Japanese diplomatic policies changed from before the war to after the war, for example, is very interesting.

3What differences do you perceive between Japanese and American universities?

At universities in the United States, as soon as class is over, students leave and go their separate ways. However, in my academic adviser Professor Takumi Takeda’s class on Japanese economics—this may have something to do with the fact that the class is in the late afternoon—my classmates and I, along with the professor, often go and have dinner together. There is a family-like atmosphere. I have never experienced such a thing at my university in the United States. In the summer, my seminar will hold a weekend retreat at Yamanaka Lake and we also plan to climb Mt. Fuji.

4What surprised you when you came to Japan?

This is the first time for me to come to Japan, so there were so many things that surprised me. One example is the excellence of the Japanese train system. American trains are dirty, slow, non-reliable, and very moody. On the other hand, Japanese trains are always on time, and the in-train service is excellent. When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, the actions of the victims, who acted in an orderly manner without panicking, was praised worldwide. Tokyo is always crowded wherever you go, but the streets are clean and everything is orderly. This was a huge surprise for me. I was also amazed to see how little children like 7-8 years old ride the trains by themselves and I felt how safe Japan was. In the United States, it is unthinkable for a little child to ride the trains alone.

5Where is your favorite place in Meiji University?

23rd floor of Liberty Tower on Surugadai campus. The view of Tokyo from the top floor is fantastic!

6What is your favorite Kanji?

泳(Oyogu）. It means “swim”. The kanji image itself looks like exactly swimming.

7What is your favorite Japanese word?

"Nikoniko-suru". It means “smiling”. There is no special reason I like it, but I just like the sound.