Meiji University

Ms. Kim Haein

Q. Why did you choose Japan to study?

First of all, when I was a junior high school student, I was really attracted to Japanese hiragana characters, and found them easy to remember. I loved their round shape! I also liked the katakana characters. Finding myself very interested in different cultures, I started to consider taking an undergraduate course in Japan when I was in my second year of high school in South Korea.

Q. Why did you choose Meiji University?

Meiji University is well-known in South Korea, especially among older people who remember the days of Japanese colonial rule. There are universities in South Korea where you can learn about public administration, but there was no university offering the kind of courses in local public administration that I was interested in. This department is giving me exactly what I was hoping for.

Q. How do you find studying at Meiji University? And how do you like Tokyo life?

One of my favorite things at Meiji University—actually this is true of Japanese universities in general—is the general education course for first- and second-year students. I can choose what I want to study among various disciplines before deciding what I am going to major in for the third and fourth years. The professors are kind and nice. Although people think a little differently here I can communicate well with my classmates, enjoying parties and travelling together. I also have nice Korean friends with whom I share information on study and life in Japan. The cost of living in Japan is higher than in South Korea, especially when it comes to renting an apartment, but I have had a good experience in my part-time job. I love going out to places like Asakusa and Shinjuku. I have tried a lot of Japanese dishes, such as ramen, sushi and sashimi.

Q. Was Meiji University helpful when you were getting started here?

The University was vey helpful with my application for a student visa. I was lucky to find an apartment to rent through the Internet and by making phone calls. Some of my friends from abroad told me the most difficult thing about starting life in Tokyo is finding a place to live.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

First, I’d like to be able to study further at Meiji University’s graduate school, or perhaps at some other university. I think this will help me to start a career as a civil servant in South Korea. I’m particularly interested in studying social welfare for children and the elderly.

Mr. Sascha Kwetina

Q. Why did you choose Japan to study?

I first got interested in Japan through Aikido in my home town Linz, from the age of 14. I became more interested in Japan when I started to study at the University of Vienna. I gradually became very interested in Japanese culture and economy, felt that if I could become a fluent speaker of Japanese this would be an asset in my future career.

Q. Why did you choose Meiji University?

One of the reasons is the fact that the School of Political Science and Economics is highly regarded by Japan scholars in the University of Vienna. Another reason is the location of Meiji University: Izumi and Surugadai campuses are located in the heart of Tokyo. Also, Izumi International House, where I live in, is very close to Izumi Campus, and just 30 minutes away from Surugadai Campus by train. This is a very convenient dormitory for me.

Q. How do you find studying at Meiji University? And how do you find life in Tokyo?

The studying has been going very well. I feel just as comfortable studying here as I do in Vienna, thanks to my professors and the friends I have here. The professor in my international finance seminar in particular gives me a lot of helpful insights academically. My seminar classmates treat me well and make me feel included even though I am a foreign student. I’m also really enjoying life in Tokyo. Tokyo is much safer than Vienna, and is well-organized and more convenient for shopping. It’s really convenient to have these 24-hour convenience stores. And you can eat out more reasonably than in Vienna. The quality of Japanese food is good. The diet is lower in fat than in Austria. I love tempura, sushi, sukiyaki, noodles and okonomiyaki. Although life in Japan is certainly more convenient than in Vienna, the people here have to work much longer hours than Austrians. European people normally enjoy 3 or 4 weeks of holiday every year, but Japanese people do not. The “convenience” we enjoy in Japan has both pros and cons.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I am going to start to look for a job in Japan. I have been working hard to learn the Japanese language, and my current target is to pass Level 2 Japanese Language Proficiency Test. I’m also planning to get a good score on the TOEIC test, as companies in Japan usually assess the English proficiency of job applicants with this score. Since I have studied international finance, I want to get a job in this field.

Mr. Alexander M. Djourdjin (“Alex”)

Q. Why did you choose Japan to study?

I have been interested in East Asian politics. Why I chose to come to Japan is because of my strong interest in Japanese politics, culture, tradition, etc. Besides, there aren’t many Europeans who can speak Japanese, so I wanted to learn Japanese for my future career.

Q. Why did you choose Meiji University?

First, Meiji University has an excellent reputation in the United Kingdom. Second, Meiji’s modules fit my needs very well, and third, the location of Izumi International House where I live in. A friend of mine who was in Meiji University as an international exchange student in the last year told me that both the University and its dormitory are located at the center of Tokyo. It really is very close to Shinjuku, Shibuya and other major sections of Tokyo. On top of that, the apartment I have in the dorm is very clean and very new! It is much better than I thought it would be.

Q. How do you find studying at Meiji University? And how do you like living in Tokyo?

Studying in Japan is difficult, so far, as I cannot understand the lectures and seminars held in Japanese. However, this is a good opportunity for me to improve my Japanese. Of course the seminars in English like Gaisho Kenkyu are helpful. I was surprised by how long the lectures are here. In Sheffield University, a class lasts 50 minutes, while in Meiji, it is 90 minutes! But it is still shorter compared to the lectures we have in Bulgaria, where a single lecture lasts 180 minutes! As for living in Tokyo, I am having the time of my life. It is fantastic being in a big city like Tokyo, with great places to eat, museums, and different kinds of people. Although I find it hard riding on crowded trains, I can say that I am enjoying everything, and that everything is different from what I’ve experienced so far. There is a lot of Japanese food that I like: sushi, deep-fried pork, ramen, udon, okonomiyaki, for example. I also enjoy going out to places in Shinjuku, Roppongi, Shibuya, Omotesando and the Ginza. I am planning to travel around Japan and also visit neighboring countries.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I wish to work for an international organization. Being able to speak several languages will help me to get this kind of job. I’d like to first come back to Japan for a year if I can get an interesting internship somewhere. After that I want to study more to get a master’s degree. Meiji University is certainly one of my options. I’d like to be involved with Japan in some way for the rest of my life.