Exchange Students’ Voice / 交換留学生の声

「Learning from a new culture and gaining new knowledge of a language is always a fulfilling experience！」（Toulouse School of Economics、HAMILTON JULIAN RAMIROさん）

Profile of the exchange student

Name（氏名）:　Hamilton, Julian
Home institution（所属大学）:　Toulouse School of Economics
Period of exchange program（留学期間）: 2025/09～2026/08

What brought you to study abroad in Japan? Why did you choose Meiji University? / 日本への留学を志したきっかけと、明治大学を選んだ理由

Since my high school years, I had thought about coming to Japan not just because of anime, which I still love, but also because I wanted the cultural shock a city like Tokyo is guaranteed to give you. My favorite movie of all time, Lost in Translation, made me want to experience the “feeling” of Tokyo for myself. I chose Meiji since it’s a well-respected private university in Japan and because the university campuses are in central Tokyo.

What do you like about Meiji University? / 明治大学の好きなところについて

(1) What is your favorite place on the campuses of Meiji University? / 明治大学のキャンパスで好きな場所はどこですか。

My favorite place on campus must be the top floors of Liberty Tower. To have such a view on campus is breathtaking. The weather in Tokyo is nearly always pleasant and since it’s a very flat city you have a guaranteed good view.

(2) What is your favorite subject (course) at Meiji University? / 好きな授業を教えてください。

Course title: Advanced seminar (Lecturer: Prof. Sekine)

My favorite course must be my advanced seminar with Prof. Sekine. Taking an advanced seminar has allowed me to deepen my understanding of econometrics and to immerse myself in the way economics is taught in Japan. Having the chance to share a classroom with Japanese students has also helped me integrate and understand the culture better.

How is your life in Japan? / 日本で過ごした感想について

(1) What made you surprised during the study abroad in Japan? / 日本に留学して驚いたところは？

What most surprised me about living in Japan is the behemoth-like size of Tokyo. You could say it’s also a very new city compared to European cities so it’s always a nice surprise to find old temples when walking around or traditional houses.

(2) Comparing with your student life in/at your home country/institution, do you find anything that you particularly enjoy as well as anything challenging for you in your student life here in Japan? / 自分の国の学生生活と比べて、日本の学生生活で楽しいところ・大変だと感じるところはありますか？

■Things you particulartly enjoy / 楽しいところ
For me, it must be the fact that the Surugadai campus is located in Jimbocho which is such a cool and outgoing neighborhood. There are so many niche cafés and stores near the campus you can always walk around and discover new things.

■Things challenging for you / 大変なところ
I live in Izumi International House and all the classes I enrolled in are held at the Surugadai campus. The commute is quite long compared to my commute in France, which was 10 minutes by bike compared to 40 minutes by train now. However, I still manage to like the commute even when the trains are packed in the morning. Since this often-uncomfortable experience, is still a very unique and very different experience from using the metro in London or Paris.

About yourself and messages / ご自身について＆メッセージ

(1) What is your dream? / 将来の夢は何ですか？

I wish to work in the public sector and if I’m lucky later on I would like to work in a multilateral organization.

(2) Please introduce something about your home country./ 故郷の国の紹介や自慢をしてください。

Toulouse is located in the south of France. This brings to mind good weather and welcoming people. As in Tokyo we have lots of sunny days, which are particularly beautiful in Toulouse as the light reflects from the iconic brick building. Making Toulouse the "pink city". It is also a city with a thriving music and art scene so that there is always something interesting to do.

(3) Please introduce something about your home institution. / ご自身の所属大学の紹介や自慢をしてください。

My home University is Université Toulouse 1 Capitole, specifically, the Toulouse School of Economics. We are ranked the first economics university in France and fifteenth worldwide. It’s located in a mid-sized city with plenty of universities, so there is definitely a young vibe all around, which makes it a more pleasant and stress-free city.

(4) Please give some messages for Meiji University students / 明大生へのメッセージをお願いします。

I wish them the best and hope they can visit Europe one day. Any country in Europe is worth a visit.

(5) Please give some messages for international students who wish to come and study at Meiji University as an exchange student. / これから明治大学に留学することを志している方へのメッセージをお願いします。

I think it’s the opportunity of a lifetime to study abroad as a student. Later in life, it’s very hard to stay for six months or a year in a new place since you have so many other responsibilities. Also learning from a new culture and gaining new knowledge of a language is always a fulfilling experience.