Go Forward

Ms. Choi Saeron

Ms. Choi Saeron

  • Daejoen, South Korea
  • Department of Electronics and Bioinformatics, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan and Meiji University?

I was interested in the electrical and electronics field due to the influence of my father, who is an engineer. He recommended that I study in Japan. That was the main reason why I decided to come to Japan. Meiji University is a rare university in that it has a school that consists of both the electronics and communications engineering field and the life sciences and biology field. That was also a significant point for me.

Q. How do you feel about the difference between Japanese students and South Korean students?

In South Korea, there is cutthroat competition in university entrance examinations. In my opinion, most of the students who have entered universities don’t study hard because they have lost objectives to strive for by accomplishing their goal of entering university. But in Japan, I have an impression that students have clear goals and study to achieve those. Also, students in Japan have a lot of hobbies, and they keep a good balance between studying and other activities. In South Korea, students are not likely to take part in club activities when they are junior high and high school students because there is keen competition in entrance exams as I mentioned. It is regrettable that it is difficult for them to find hobbies and other things they can take up other than studying.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I hope to work at a manufacturer of medical equipment and contribute to the development of medical technology, making use of knowledge of biological information control systems that I am studying at present.

Q. Message to prospective students of Meiji University

How much you can make of your campus life substantially depends on whether or not you have a clear goal. Realize why you want to study in Japan and what you want to study. That will be a step toward success in studying abroad.

Mr. Muhammad Asyraf Bin Mahamad Apandi

Mr. Muhammad Asyraf Bin Mahamad Apandi

  • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan and Meiji University?

I wanted to study monozukuri, which is the Japanese manufacturing industry, its craftsmanship and its history. In Malaysia, people think of Japan when they speak of monozukuri. I was interested in the manufacture of robots. As seen with ASIMO, the humanoid robot of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Japan is advanced in robotics. That is one of main reasons why I decided to come to Japan to study. I came to Japan as a scholarship student sponsored by a company. When I was a student of a language school in Japan, I joined a campus tour of Meiji University, and I observed practice in manufacturing of robots there. This experience sparked my interest in Meiji University.

Q. What do you see as the difference between Japan and Malaysia?

Japanese people work hard and are always punctual compared with Malaysian people. Since I am a Muslim, I don’t drink alcohol or eat the meat usually available at the market. In recent years, it has become easier to buy food that is processed for Islamic people and spices indigenous to Malaysia on the Internet, so I don’t have much trouble in daily life in Japan. But it is regrettable that a lot of Japanese people seem to have misunderstanding about Islam.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

Japanese monozukuri technology is amazing. It is applied in the automobile, camera, and other various industries. I wish to work at Japanese companies first, but in future, I hope to start my own business and test my abilities.

Q. Message to prospective students of Meiji University

In Meiji University, there are support systems for foreign students in both studying and daily life. Teaching assistants and the staff of the Office of International Programs are helpful to us. At first, you may need to prepare and review classes a lot, otherwise you may not be able to follow them. But keep your goals clear, and don’t give it up, and carry trough to the end.

Mr. Muhamad Aiman Bin Amdan

Mr. Muhamad Aiman Bin Amdan

  • Maran, Malaysia
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering Informatics, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan and Meiji University?

Japan is the most advanced country in engineering in the world. I hoped to study engineering at a higher level, so I decided to come to Japan. I came to Japan through a scholarship program, which is supported by the Japanese and Malaysian governments. Meiji University is one of 15 Japanese universities selected for the program. I thought I could study under high quality conditions, as Meiji University is also very highly regarded in Malaysia.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I have found a job at a branch office in Malaysia of a Japanese electric company. I haven’t been assigned specific duties yet, but I’d like to design an appliance. As my long-term goal, I am thinking about starting a consulting business related to engineering with my friends in Malaysia by around the time I reach 40. In my country, there are a lot of firms in that field, but they are generally foreign-affiliated companies. So we seek to establish a Malaysian company by ourselves.

Q. About Japanese language

I had studied Japanese for three years before I came to Japan as a part of the scholarship program. In spite of the fact, I was surprised that I could understand quite few Japanese when I had just come to Japan. I made active efforts to make Japanese friends, watched television, and tried to speak Japanese at a department store and bank in the city. Through these efforts I gradually came to understand what they were saying.

Q. What is your best memory about Japan and your campus life at Meiji University so far?

I remember a pleasant trip to Nagano Prefecture for snowboarding. I saw snow for the first time as it doesn’t snow in Malaysia. It was also my first time to snowboard. I slipped and fell down many times, but I always look back at that time with pleasure.

Q. Message to prospective students of Meiji University

You may experience trouble with the language for a while after you start your campus life. But don’t hesitate to ask your friends and professors about anything you are not clear about. If you do so, you will get over the language difficulties and really enjoy your campus life.

Ms. Lee Youngseon

Ms. Lee Youngseon

  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Department of Architecture, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan and Meiji University?

When I was studying architecture at a junior college in South Korea, I became interested in Japanese architecture. At the time, I was hoping to get involved in construction of skyscrapers in the future, so I wanted to study earthquake-proof construction in Japan where earthquakes often hit. The reason I chose Meiji University is that it has high-rise buildings like Liberty Tower on the Surugadai Campus and that it is highly regarded as having high quality classes and facilities. Studies at Meiji University are of such high quality that students of other universities also come to study here.

Q. How did you overcome Japanese language difficulties?

When I had just started campus life, I had much trouble with language in class. Then I brought an extra notebook to write down the words I couldn’t understand in class, and looked up them in a dictionary later. Now I have hardly any trouble with language.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I am going to work for a Japanese company. I was looking for a job at a contraction company first. But I decided to work at a trading company specializing in building materials after I considered my total life plan including marriage and having a child. The company is a global enterprise with branches around the world, so I am looking forward to my assignment. At present I am working on learning English by e-learning as requested by the firm.

Q. What troubles did you have during job hunting?

Since I had no idea how to go about job hunting, I asked for advice at the Employment Career Design Support Center on everything from how to write a resume to how to find a suit appropriate for a job interview. I appreciate their help, especially for my resume. They checked spelling mistakes in my Japanese and advised me on how to improve the content of the resume. Thanks to their great support, all of the international students of Department of Architecture in my class year, including myself, were able to find jobs for after we graduate.

Ms. Kim Jiyun

Ms. Kim Jiyun

  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Department of Applied Chemistry, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan and Meiji University?

I often watched and listened to Japanese television and songs in South Korea. I was interested in Japan from an early age. Also, I had intended to join an applied chemistry department, so I decided to come to Japan because it is advanced country in this field. Meiji University is very famous in South Korea. It has high quality facilities and laboratory equipment. That was also one of main reasons why I chose the university.

Q. What surprised you about life in Japan or on campus?

I was surprised that lunch time is set in the class timetable. At universities in South Korea, students need to manage lunch time in their schedules each day by planning which classes to take because there are classes all day. I was also shocked when I saw the people dressed up in costumes in Harajuku in Tokyo, and also when I saw so many people distributing pocket tissues and handbills in the city.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I am thinking to go on to graduate school and deepen my knowledge in my area of specialization. In the future, I hope to be involved in developments which improve people’s lives. I’d like to take part in a project to decrease CO2 using chemistry, and to develop new medicine, for example. I am a first year student now, and I will further consider what to do in the future and find a specific goal.

Q. Message to prospective students of Meiji University

Studying in a foreign country may be tougher than that in your own country. But set clear targets and goals and keep trying to realize them. If you do so, you will find that various opportunities open up to you.

Mr. Xu Jie

Mr. Xu Jie

  • Shanghai, China
  • Department of Computer Science, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan and Meiji University?

I was interested in Japan from childhood. When I was a child, Japanese anime cartoons were broadcasted in Shanghai, where I was brought up. Also, there are a lot of Japanese affiliated companies related with information technology in Shanghai. The IT business is prospering in Shanghai and my familiarity with Japanese companies strengthened my interest in Japan. Though I had studied Japanese by myself before I came to Japan, I went to a language school for two years in Japan. After that I entered Meiji University. The reasons why I chose Meiji University are that it is also a very famous university in China, and that on the website I found that there are professors who are enthusiastic about teaching the subject I wanted to study.

Q. What surprised you about life in Japan?

I was embarrassed when people at convenience stores and ramen noodle shops yelled at me saying “Irasshai mase!”, or welcome, when I entered those shops. In China, you hardly hear people doing this. I was also surprised that passengers on the train are so quiet. On the train in Shanghai, you always hear people talking.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I hope to work at a Japanese enterprise to do a job in which I can act as a go-between for companies in the two countries. Specifically, I’d like to work as a Bridge SE, who supports business between the two nations for offshore development, ensuring that work and communication runs smoothly for consigning system development to the overseas company or subsidiary.

Q. Message to prospective students of Meiji University

Ms. Zhang Shuning

Ms. Zhang Shuning

  • Changchun, China
  • Department of Mathematics, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan to study?

For China, Japan is the closest advanced nation in the world. I think the two countries’ connections will become more and more close in future. So I decided to come to Japan to study Japanese language and culture. I have been interested in Japanese manga and anime cartoons as well as other Japanese entertainment such as amusement parks. My sister is living in Japan, so I wasn’t worried about coming to Japan so much. After I studied Japanese at a language school in Japan, I passed the entrance examination for foreign students of Meiji University.

Q. Why did you choose Meiji University?

One of the most significant points of Meiji University is that it has a long history. Also, they regard international education as highly important and actively accept foreign students. Teachers at the language school I went to before recommended Meiji University, saying it has excellent professors, substantial curriculum, and quality facilities.

Q. How do you feel life in Japan?

I enjoy the campus life very much. But it is somewhat difficult to manage expenses, so I have a part time job at a restaurant. I appreciate the pleasure of studying when I am taking classes in mathematics, which I major in. I enjoy sports classes too. I am satisfied with the support of professors and the facilities of the university. I have a lot of things to do every day, such as attending classes and having a part time job, but I enjoy life itself, so I don’t feel it is hard.

Q. About Japanese language

I feel I need to improve my Japanese ability more. It is more difficult to speak Japanese just as I compare to listening and writing. I think a lot of practice is important for being able to speak Japanese better, so I try to get myself into situations where I have conversations with Japanese friends and get used to daily Japanese by watching TV and listening to Japanese songs. My Japanese friends all kindly help me out by teaching me Japanese attentively.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

I hope to work in the finance industry, such as at a bank or a securities firm to make use of knowledge in mathematics that I am studying now. Mathematics has been my favorite subject since childhood. I am especially good at calculus. Students of Meiji University are enthusiastic about studying, and that inspires me to go over what I study every day at home.

Ms. Lee Hyangbok

Ms. Lee Hyangbok

  • Ulsan, South Korea
  • Department of Physics, School of Science and Technology

Q. Why did you choose Japan to study?

In South Korea, there is keen competition in finding a job. Students tend to choose a department based on whether or not it will be helpful when they start job hunting in the future. But with a Japanese university, I thought I could choose a department solely according to my interests. I came to Japan after I graduated high school and started to study Japanese at a language school in Shinjuku, Tokyo. In my country, going abroad to study is not rare. A lot of students go to English-speaking countries to study. But considering the period of four years I would spend abroad, I thought Japan would be more comfortable to live for me because it is close by and has similarities in culture to my country.

Q. What is your impression of Meiji University?

I feel Meiji University is strong on sports and events, and there are a lot of occasions when the whole university gets excited. South Korean students at the universities in the Tokyo Big6 Baseball League hold a sports event annually. Even there, students of Meiji University seem to have closer friendships and organize better than any other universities’ students.

Q. How do you like life at Meiji University?

There are few international students in the Department of Physics. That’s a good environment to make a lot of Japanese friends. If I have a problem, I can ask for advice at the Center for International Students. I appreciated their help especially at the time when I had just entered the university. Students of Meiji University are all sincere and top-notch. They keep a good balance between study and play, and seem to really enjoy their campus life.

Q. About Japanese culture

Japanese people are generous and helpful. At my part time job, I was embarrassed to serve with a smile at first. But now, I think this is a good culture in which to live comfortably with others. I also feel Japanese people are good at collecting information. Many people in Japan know much about things they are interested in such as fashion and music. I like Japanese movies and often watch them, and I always find unique Japanese methods of expression in the movies. Sometimes human feelings are expressed in music, and sometimes a story ends with a subtle overtone. These are interesting characteristics of Japanese movies which I am fond of.

Q. What are your plans for the future?

After I entered Meiji University, I really came to enjoy studying itself. I want to absorb further knowledge of various fields, so I am thinking about going on to graduate school rather than working. I think there is still misunderstanding, prejudice, and bad feelings between Japan and South Korea. At first, I felt anger at the prejudice against South Korean people. But now I can understand Japanese people’s point of view. In the future, I hope to work on something to promote friendship between the two countries.