Round-Table Talk by International Students
Studying Japan at Kumamoto University (KU)

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Thanks to KU Students, We Can Pursue Our Interests
More than 500 overseas students are enrolled at Kumamoto University. Along with degree
programs, a short-term exchange program and other special programs are also available forinternational students from partner universities and institutions. The following is an excerpt
from a conversation between four students studying in the Japanese Studies Program.

Easy to Find Places Where Domesticand International Students Can Talkand Exchange Ideas

Testa Brandon,Eric, Robert

Phonenapha: The KU library is awesome. It has so many
books in different fields and we can make free photocopies

From France. Studied Japanese
Economy at Université Paris
Diderot 7. Going back to France
on ﬁnishing the KU program,and coming back again soon,
hopefully to work in Japan.

of material we need for our research. It’s great! The KU
students also study very hard in the library.
Brandon: I agree. KU students are very serious. And, they
help us a lot!
Xenia: When I started to practice Kendo at KU, seniorstudents passed down their Men (mask) and other Kendo
equipment to me. KU students make my dreams come true.
Paulina: The program I’m working in allows me to takeclasses both for Japanese and international students.
Learning about the different ways of thinking of the students
in international classes and understanding Japanesemodern culture better in domestic classes is a very
beneficial experience for me.

Brandon: Bravely stepping forward to a new world andseeing it with your own eyes opens up great opportunities.
Ninety percent of the students in France prefer studying
abroad.
Paulina: I major in Japanese religion at Warsaw University.
In Poland, Christianity is very important. Living in Japan, I
have learned that people can live without religion. Though
there are advantages and disadvantages about that,
becoming familiar with different traditions and cultural
practices is valuable.
Xenia: I believe understanding different traditions and ways

Xenia Fernandez Fragine

Standing in front of the national flagof the student’s home country at an
event held by the International
Students Circle

Friends and Senior Students Said,“It’s great in Kumamoto.”

From Spain. Major: Japanese
Culture at the Universitat Autònomade Barcelona (UAB). Aim: to study
the Japanese culture further in a
graduate school in Japan, afterﬁnishing at UAB.

Xenia: When I was studying in Osaka, I thought ofKumamoto as my second destination. Spanish people
usually travel to Tokyo and the Kansai region when they

I was in Japan, because it wasn’t busy at all and it’s rich invisit Japan, but I wanted to know how people live innature here, completely different from Osaka. People in bigKyushu. Then a Japanese friend of mine in Fukuokacities are too busy to enjoy chatting with a sales clerk when

Studying Abroad Affords Us a Great
Opportunity to Learn about Different
Ways of Thinking

recommended I study at KU.

shopping.

Brandon: I had never been to Kyushu, either, and had

Phonenapha: A university is where you encounter all types

Brandon: My university is in the city of Paris. Not muchwanted to come here to know more about it. I decided toof people and different points of view. It’s great to interact

greenery there. The KU campus is very comfortable withstudy in Kumamoto, because KU offers great programs. Inwith people from different countries.

lots of trees and flowers. I feel so lucky studying in suchthe future, I want to get a job and work in Japan.

beautiful surroundings.

that KU teachers are very good, and kind.
Paulina: I came to Kumamoto because my teacher at
nice. Kumamoto City is not too big, not too small. It’s justright. Actually it’s small enough I can go anywhere by bike.
Besides, living here is very convenient because technology
makes almost everything possible. Japanese vendingmachines offer hot drinks!
Phonenapha: Vegetables and fruits in Kumamoto are very
good, too.
Xenia: When I first came from Osaka, I couldn’t believe thatMagrzyk, Paulina Maria
From Poland. Major: Japanesereligion at Warsaw University,
Faculty of Oriental Studies, Chair ofJapanese Studies. Immediate Aim: topass JLPT, the Japanese Language
Proﬁciency Test. Will come back toJapan after graduating fromWarsaw University.

Japanese students to get a chance to study abroad, too.

Phonenapha Keothavong
From Laos. Major: Japanese
language at the National Universityof Laos. Immediate Aim: to pass theJLPT, the Japanese Language
Proﬁciency Test Level 1. Will startworking on her thesis after goingback to Laos.

Japanese Studies Program

Phonenapha: A senior student who studied at KU told me

Warsaw University told me that people in Kyushu were veryof thinking makes the world more peaceful. I want

Domestic and international students from different countries get together
at the International Exchange Lounge in the College of Cross-Culturaland Multidisciplinary Studies.

The Japanese Studies Program is a program inwhich overseas students majoring in Japanese
language or Japanese studies are accepted asgovernment-sponsored international students for
one year. Enrolled in the Department ofLiterature, the students acquire knowledge andskills necessary for academic research in
specialized fields regarding Japanese language
and culture. Ten students are chosen yearly andmore than 200 students have studied in theprogram so far.
Kumadai Tsushin 60, 2016