Voice of Students

I was on exchange at Hitotsubashi University in Japan for one year, from September 2015 to August 2016. It
was truly a wonderful, life-changing experience, and I regret only that it could not have lasted longer.
Studying abroad changed my perspective on both my host country’s culture and my own. I think mostWesterners’ idea of Japan might be largely shaped by popular media. Many of us have grown up watching
anime and reading manga, playing Japanese video games, and perhaps also listening to Japanese music atsome point. This exchange forged a new, broader, and more nuanced image of Japan in my mind: a country
with a vibrant, multifaceted, never-sleeping capital; a complex (and often surprising, to the average Westerner)
social structure; a unique, exceptional blend of tradition and innovation; a busy student life that usually combinesclasses, bukatsu (extra-curricular club activities), baito (a part-time job), and nomikai (parties); a distinct
business culture; long work hours; and delicious food.
Unfortunately, when I arrived in Japan my Japanese wasn’t good enough for me to understand regular classes
taught in Japanese, and as such I mostly took courses from the Hitotsubashi University Global Education
Program (HGP), which offers courses taught in English. These courses cover many academic fields: business,economy, law, international relations, social sciences, etc. Personally, however, my favorite courses were thosethat gave me some insight into Japan and Japanese culture. For me, these included courses on culturalcommunication and business culture, along with a series of workshops. The two courses on Japanese affairs
provided me with a theoretical framework through which to analyze my experiences in Japan, and they gave mea deeper understanding and appreciation for the differences I noticed between how things are done in Japanand in my own country. It’s always fun for me to realize that I am experiencing in real life something I studied inclass! As for the workshop series, it was a wonderful opportunity to experience Japan through field trips andvarious cultural activities that would be difficult to participate in without a strong knowledge of Japanese: trying
on a kimono, attending a tea ceremony, tasting sake (a Japanese alcoholic beverage), going to an onsen(Japanese hot spring) … truly unforgettable memories!

The HGP also offers Japanese language courses up to the intermediate level(advanced courses are available too at Hitotsubashi, just not under the HGPumbrella). I found them very useful, and when paired with regularly using
Japanese in everyday life, I discovered that I improved my language skills
very quickly. The classes are relatively challenging and require diligent work,
but that is standard for learning any language. They still leave you with plentyof free time to visit and have fun during your exchange!
Looking back, I can say confidently that I achieved my study-abroad goals.
I’ve improved my Japanese, successfully adapted my habits to fit a newlifestyle abroad, experienced Japanese culture from the inside, made newfriends, and tried out and become comfortable with many things that were previously outside my comfort zone.
Living abroad is an absolutely thrilling experience, and Hitotsubashi was a tremendously welcoming university. I
am so fortunate to have been able to have this experience. I rate it a 10 out of 10 and would love to do it again!