Faculty of Science and EngineeringWaseda University

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Student Voice: HONG Jing-Chen

From Taiwan

  • Name
    HONG Jing-Chen
  • Country/ Region of Citizenship
    Taiwan
  • Graduated from
    National Chiao Tung University
  • Department
    Department of Modern Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral)

Privately-financed Student nominated the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students

 

How did you find out about Waseda University?

When I was a child, I already knew the name of Waseda University.  I don’t know where I heard that from, but maybe it’s from Japanese dramas etc.  At that time, I knew that Waseda University was very well known but it was not my first choice.  This is because Waseda University is more known for the political field and the social science field in Taiwan.  However, I found that Waseda has some interesting researches on robotics.  So I started to search for laboratories on robotic research in Waseda University.

 

Why did you choose Waseda University?

Before I chose to study in Japan, I worked at a company in Taiwan.  My job was about developing integrated circuit which was very different from my master degree thesis.  Actually, I don’t have interest in this field.  It’s very hard to find a well-paid job in Taiwan on robotics.  I thought I was still young and I wanted to continue my study in robotics.  Then I went to some exhibitions for international programs and universities.  When I went to a Japanese study exhibition in Taiwan, I found that there were also English programs in Japan.  I thought proficiency in Japanese is the basic requirement for studying in Japan, but this was not the case now.  As robotics in Japan is also a well-known field, I decided to start finding information for universities in Japan.  Of course, Waseda University was one of the universities that I looked for.  Since I decided to apply for doctoral program, I searched laboratories whose research topics appealed to me.  Then I found some laboratories including my supervisor’s lab.  The reason why I chose his laboratory was that my research topic in Taiwan was medical robotics and I had some basic knowledge in it.  And I think it is very important for the future because population is aging and more and more people are suffering from chronic diseases, while medical resources are insufficient.  It is why I chose his laboratory.  After discussion and application to the lab, I found that he was very kind and helped a lot for giving me information about the lab as well as application.  After that I decided to come here to become his student.

As I applied for doctoral program, I chose a laboratory.  But the university is also a big factor.  As I said that the research at my lab appealed to me a lot and Waseda University was also well-known.  My friends and family also supported me when they heard my choice, which made me have no concern to come here.

 

How did you get information for our program?

From the exhibition and the university website.  Another source is from my advisor in the master’s degree in Taiwan.  He is also an expert in robotics and has many interactions with Japanese scholars and professors.  He gave me some suggestions on universities in Japan including Waseda University.  The website for the laboratory was the most helpful.

 

Did you have any concerns before coming to Japan?

There are two barriers.  Firstly, just like other international students, language is a very big barrier.  I think all the international students talked about difficulties in daily lives without Japanese ability.  These difficulties start from finding an apartment to rent.  I could only find a housing agent who speaks Chinese because I cannot use Japanese to interact.  I found a housing agent who had direct corporation with Waseda University and there was a Chinese staff to help me.  But it was still hard for me to find an apartment because most of the landlords required students with basic Japanese conversation ability.  Only by this condition, most of the apartments were not appropriate for me.  They just refused me and only 3 of 20 or 30 apartments accepted my identity.  Then I chose one of them but it is very expensive as it is in Shinjuku City.

I also bought some furniture from Amazon because I didn’t have to speak Japanese.  But I still bought some in stores and tried to use Japanese to communicate with the clerks.  Those are challenges I set for myself to improve my Japanese communication ability.

Another thing that annoys me is Japanese for research.  This is very difficult and I’m the only person who doesn’t speak Japanese in my lab.  Most of the discussions and meetings are held in Japanese.  But I can only use English to specific students who speak English.  Discussion in research is important but I cannot understand it.  So I feel stressful and depressed about that.  But if I want to ask questions, the lab mates are always welcome to help me.  I need a lot of time to get to know how to use Japanese in daily life and even when discussing research things.

The other difficulty is the daily expenses in Tokyo.  I hope to pay them all by myself, so I am now using my savings earned from previous job.  Fortunately, there are some scholarship application programs in school and other institutions, which helps me a lot.

 

Have you had any difficulties when you started a new life here?

It’s always language and the cost.  Other difficulty would be that I heard Japanese are not easy to get in touch.  But I found that it was not true.  Being active is important, and then they are welcome to talk to me.

 

How is your life in Japan and Waseda?

As I’m a doctoral student, I mostly work in the laboratory and do research as well as taking courses.  Although discussion with my lab mates is difficult, I can read papers in the lab and other sources.  Lab members are helping me to be more involved in the discussion, which I am very thankful.  Post-doctoral members also helped me a lot if I have a question.  I also study Japanese in the lab and at home.

 

What do you do in your free time?

When I go home, I cook for my dinner and watch Japanese TV shows.  After that I learn Japanese for one or two hours and play Japanese games.  Now I have a plan to use less Chinese as much as possible.  I give myself some regulations to use as less Chinese as possible.  For example, I choose Japanese subtitles when playing games and watching animations.  On a weekend, I sometimes go shopping or window shopping in Ikebukuro or Shinjuku.  I also go to “Matsuri (festival)” or some events after I search on the internet.  I have already been to some big Matsuri in Tokyo including “Kanda Matsuri”, “Sanja Matsuri” and “Sanno Matsuri”.  I’m also anticipating more Matsuri such as fireworks festival in summer.  As I’m in Japan, I enjoy local events and tradition to find traditional sites.

Of course if I have long vacation I would like to go to farther places especially a country side by myself.

 

How are the relationships with your supervisor and lab members?

As I said my supervisor is very kind and friendly although I do not have many chances to talk to him because he is a very busy person and there are a lot of students in his lab.  Some lab members are into help me by actively asking for a help.  Post-doctoral members also help me a lot for my research when I am still struggling with Japanese ability.  I have been to some drinking parties and had great talks with the members.  Because I’m a doctoral student who speaks English and most of my lab mates are younger than me, they may be a little bit afraid of talking to me directly.  But they are all good people.

 

Outline of the research

My research is on medical robotic technology.  Since that the world population is aging rapidly, the proportion of people suffering from stroke and other chronic diseases increases.  Most of them have the sequela of abnormal gait.  Without proper rehabilitation therapy, the gait for patients would remain abnormal.  I am now participating in the research on robotic technology on ankle-foot rehabilitation device.  I may take development of indoor assistive system for stroke patients as my own doctoral research theme.

 

What is your career goal after your degree completion?

One possibility is trying to stay here and become a professor in a Japanese university.  Although it is just a plan, I will try to know the environment of the research field as well as the industry field in Japan in 3 years.  If I have a chance, I would also like to have a working experience in Japan.

 

Short message to the prospective students

in English

If you have interest in research and foreign culture, consider studying abroad.  It is hard to have international interaction in Taiwan, but I gained a lot of this experience when taking exchange program in Belgium and studying doctoral degree here in Japan.  This kind of cultural shock help me reflect myself.  For research, I have known a lot of interesting robotic research in Japan, and gain a lot from being a member of such well-organized as Iwata Laboratory. For culture, you always have the chance to make local friends and learn languages.  Also, the culture experience with the local is priceless, such as hanami (cherry blossom viewing), nomigai (drinking party), and matsuri (Japanese Festival).  Now I am looking forward to hanabi (fireworks).  There are always challenges when studying abroad, but they are also motivations to make you improve and grow.

 

 

in Chinese

若還年輕有理想且有興趣闖蕩,我建議能考慮出國留學。一年在比利時的交換與現在在早稻田大學就讀的經驗,讓我深刻理解在台灣要做外國文化的交流相當困難,但這卻是相當重要,如此的文化衝擊才讓我體認的自己的見識仍不夠廣。研究上,日本的機器人研究行之有年,因此不乏有新穎有趣的研究能去追蹤,並且我所在的岩田研究室人數多卻組織相當健全,研究本身與研究室事務上都能讓我有不少收穫。而在異國,自然不乏交當地朋有和語言學習的機會,文化體驗更是很好的經驗,例如賞櫻、飲酒會、祭祀活動等,現在我也正期待花火節活動。在國外留學確實會有不少的困難和挑戰,但這些都會是讓自己進步和成長的動力。

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