Anime and manga are what first got me interested in Japan. As I watched and read Japanese anime and manga, I gradually became interested in the hiragana and katakana writing systems, and so I started to learn them. Then, as I continued to study Japanese at university, I developed a strong desire to go to Japan. Wanting to earn a degree, not just be a short-term exchange student, I researched Japanese universities on the Internet and found Doshisha University. The thing that most caught my attention was that there are programs where one can study in English. Being able to study in English and earn a degree while living in Japan was attractive.

I choose the International Science and Technology course (ISTC) because I could learn something new while making use of the subject I had majored in in Germany. As I felt that I had studied all I could in Germany, taking up a new challenge in Japan allows me to learn with enthusiasm. Before enrolling, I thought that the classes would be a bit tough, but that is not actually the case. I am taking with interest a variety of classes besides my area of specialization, including classes on financial statistics and equity securities. I am also taking Japanese classes to increase the level of my Japanese. Right now, my main goal is to earn a master’s degree. I will decide my future path through my university studies.

Not only my studies at Doshisha, I enjoy daily life here as well. Internationalism is one of the principles at Doshisha University, and this is embodied not only in the fact that the student body consists of many nationalities but also the fact that everyone, especially the Japanese students, tries actively to learn about people from other countries. Doshisha University has a lot of events where students can interact with each other. I go to some of them when friends invite me, and they are a good opportunity to adapt to life in Japan. The fact that Doshisha University is in the old capital of Kyoto is another positive for me. There is good access to large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. In contrast to large cities, however, there are not too many people, and Kyoto’s quiet and peaceful atmosphere is a good environment for studying and living.