![](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/11\/P1011496.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n- \n
- Name
\nHONG Jing-Chen
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n- Country\/ Region of Citizenship
\nTaiwan
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n- Graduated from
\nNational Chiao Tung University
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n- Department
\nDepartment of Modern Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral)
\n<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nPrivately-financed Student nominated the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How did you find out about Waseda University? <\/strong><\/h3>\n
When I was a child, I already knew the name of Waseda University.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know where I heard that from, but maybe it\u2019s from Japanese dramas etc.\u00a0 At that time, I knew that Waseda University was very well known but it was not my first choice.\u00a0 This is because Waseda University is more known for the political field and the social science field in Taiwan.\u00a0 However, I found that Waseda has some interesting researches on robotics.\u00a0 So I started to search for laboratories on robotic research in Waseda University.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Why did you choose Waseda University?<\/h3>\n
Before I chose to study in Japan, I worked at a company in Taiwan.\u00a0 My job was about developing integrated circuit which was very different from my master degree thesis.\u00a0 Actually, I don\u2019t have interest in this field.\u00a0 It\u2019s very hard to find a well-paid job in Taiwan on robotics.\u00a0 I thought I was still young and I wanted to continue my study in robotics.\u00a0 Then I went to some exhibitions for international programs and universities.\u00a0 When I went to a Japanese study exhibition in Taiwan, I found that there were also English programs in Japan.\u00a0 I thought proficiency in Japanese is the basic requirement for studying in Japan, but this was not the case now.\u00a0 As robotics in Japan is also a well-known field, I decided to start finding information for universities in Japan.\u00a0 Of course, Waseda University was one of the universities that I looked for.\u00a0 Since I decided to apply for doctoral program, I searched laboratories whose research topics appealed to me.\u00a0 Then I found some laboratories including my supervisor\u2019s lab.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 It is why I chose his laboratory.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 After that I decided to come here to become his student.<\/p>\n
As I applied for doctoral program, I chose a laboratory.\u00a0 But the university is also a big factor.\u00a0 As I said that the research at my lab appealed to me a lot and Waseda University was also well-known.\u00a0 My friends and family also supported me when they heard my choice, which made me have no concern to come here.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How did you get information for our program?<\/h3>\n
From the exhibition and the university website.\u00a0 Another source is from my advisor in the master\u2019s degree in Taiwan.\u00a0 He is also an expert in robotics and has many interactions with Japanese scholars and professors.\u00a0 He gave me some suggestions on universities in Japan including Waseda University.\u00a0 The website for the laboratory was the most helpful.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Did you have any concerns before coming to Japan?
![](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/11\/photo-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/h3>\nThere are two barriers.\u00a0 Firstly, just like other international students, language is a very big barrier.\u00a0 I think all the international students talked about difficulties in daily lives without Japanese ability.\u00a0 These difficulties start from finding an apartment to rent.\u00a0 I could only find a housing agent who speaks Chinese because I cannot use Japanese to interact.\u00a0 I found a housing agent who had direct corporation with Waseda University and there was a Chinese staff to help me.\u00a0 But it was still hard for me to find an apartment because most of the landlords required students with basic Japanese conversation ability.\u00a0 Only by this condition, most of the apartments were not appropriate for me.\u00a0 They just refused me and only 3 of 20 or 30 apartments accepted my identity.\u00a0 Then I chose one of them but it is very expensive as it is in Shinjuku City.<\/p>\n
I also bought some furniture from Amazon because I didn\u2019t have to speak Japanese. \u00a0But I still bought some in stores and tried to use Japanese to communicate with the clerks.\u00a0 Those are challenges I set for myself to improve my Japanese communication ability.<\/p>\n
Another thing that annoys me is Japanese for research.\u00a0 This is very difficult and I\u2019m the only person who doesn\u2019t speak Japanese in my lab.\u00a0 Most of the discussions and meetings are held in Japanese.\u00a0 But I can only use English to specific students who speak English.\u00a0 Discussion in research is important but I cannot understand it.\u00a0 So I feel stressful and depressed about that.\u00a0 But if I want to ask questions, the lab mates are always welcome to help me.\u00a0 I need a lot of time to get to know how to use Japanese in daily life and even when discussing research things.<\/p>\n
The other difficulty is the daily expenses in Tokyo.\u00a0 I hope to pay them all by myself, so I am now using my savings earned from previous job.\u00a0 Fortunately, there are some scholarship application programs in school and other institutions, which helps me a lot.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Have you had any difficulties when you started a new life here?<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s always language and the cost.\u00a0 Other difficulty would be that I heard Japanese are not easy to get in touch.\u00a0 But I found that it was not true.\u00a0 Being active is important, and then they are welcome to talk to me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How is your life in Japan and Waseda?<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/11\/photo-4-610x457.jpg\")
<\/a>As I\u2019m a doctoral student, I mostly work in the laboratory and do research as well as taking courses.\u00a0 Although discussion with my lab mates is difficult, I can read papers in the lab and other sources.\u00a0 Lab members are helping me to be more involved in the discussion, which I am very thankful.\u00a0 Post-doctoral members also helped me a lot if I have a question.\u00a0 I also study Japanese in the lab and at home.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
What do you do in your free time?<\/h3>\n
When I go home, I cook for my dinner and watch Japanese TV shows.\u00a0 After that I learn Japanese for one or two hours and play Japanese games.\u00a0 Now I have a plan to use less Chinese as much as possible.\u00a0 I give myself some regulations to use as less Chinese as possible.\u00a0 For example, I choose Japanese subtitles when playing games and watching animations.\u00a0 On a weekend, I sometimes go shopping or window shopping in Ikebukuro or Shinjuku.\u00a0 I also go to \u201cMatsuri (festival)\u201d or some events after I search on the internet.\u00a0 I have already been to some big Matsuri in Tokyo including \u201cKanda Matsuri\u201d, \u201cSanja Matsuri\u201d and \u201cSanno Matsuri\u201d.\u00a0 I\u2019m also anticipating more Matsuri such as fireworks festival in summer.\u00a0 As I\u2019m in Japan, I enjoy local events and tradition to find traditional sites.<\/p>\n
Of course if I have long vacation I would like to go to farther places especially a country side by myself.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How are the relationships with your supervisor and lab members?<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/11\/photo-5-610x458.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAs 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.\u00a0 Some lab members are into help me by actively asking for a help.\u00a0 Post-doctoral members also help me a lot for my research when I am still struggling with Japanese ability.\u00a0 I have been to some drinking parties and had great talks with the members.\u00a0 Because I\u2019m 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.\u00a0 But they are all good people.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Outline of the research<\/h3>\n
My research is on medical robotic technology.\u00a0 Since that the world population is aging rapidly, the proportion of people suffering from stroke and other chronic diseases increases.\u00a0 Most of them have the sequela of abnormal gait.\u00a0 Without proper rehabilitation therapy, the gait for patients would remain abnormal.\u00a0 I am now participating in the research on robotic technology on ankle-foot rehabilitation device.\u00a0 I may take development of indoor assistive system for stroke patients as my own doctoral research theme.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What is your career goal after your degree completion?<\/h3>\n
One possibility is trying to stay here and become a professor in a Japanese university.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 If I have a chance, I would also like to have a working experience in Japan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Short message to the prospective students<\/h3>\n
in English<\/h4>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/fsci\/assets\/uploads\/2017\/11\/photo-3.jpg\")
<\/a>If you have interest in research and foreign culture, consider studying abroad.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 This kind of cultural shock help me reflect myself.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Also, the culture experience with the local is priceless, such as hanami (cherry blossom viewing), nomigai (drinking party), and matsuri (Japanese Festival).\u00a0 Now I am looking forward to hanabi (fireworks).\u00a0 There are always challenges when studying abroad, but they are also motivations to make you improve and grow.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
in Chinese<\/h4>\n
- Country\/ Region of Citizenship