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Why WASEDA? International students from “the beautiful island,” from past to present

Photo of Taipei 101 Mall (Source: Cheng-han Ho, student from this interview)

European sailors once called Taiwan “Ilha Formosa,” meaning “beautiful island” in Portuguese. As the name suggests, Taiwan is a country with breathtaking nature and fascinating culture. Because the time difference is only an hour and it takes less than four hours by plane from Tokyo, almost two million Japanese tourists visit Taiwan each year. Many Waseda students also choose to study abroad in Taiwan, and the University has signed 56 agreements (including departmental agreements and Double Degree Programs) with Taiwanese institutions, such as National Taiwan University. Furthermore, there are active Waseda alumni associations across the country.

Under the Waseda Vision 150 strategic plan, the University aims to enroll 10,000 international students. Currently at 5,084 (as of November 2015), the University has the largest number of international students in Japan. On top of the list are Chinese and Korean students, and a growing number of Taiwanese students. Are there any particular reasons why more Taiwanese students are being drawn to Waseda? A newly-admitted student and current students spoke about their decisions on coming here and what their experiences with the University have been like so far.

The number of Taiwanese students continue to rise. 391 Taiwanese students are currently enrolled at Waseda (as of November 2015) ※Source: Center of International Education, Waseda University

 

Welcome to Waseda University

Late July in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second largest city, the Japan Student Services Organization held the Study in Japan Fair, an event for international students interested in studying in Japan. At the booth was Chen-yu Huang, a newly-admitted student. Even before arriving at the University, she was speaking to prospective students about how Waseda stands apart from other institutions. We asked Huang how she feels about studying abroad and what Waseda’s recruiting process had been like.

Excited about the life ahead
Chen-yu Huang
Graduated from Kaohsiung Municipal Girl’s Senior High School
1st year student (September 2016 entrance), School of International Liberal Studies
Why did you decide to study abroad in Japan?

Ever since high school, I always knew that I wanted to study abroad. Geographically and culturally speaking, Japan and Taiwan share many similarities, so I felt close to Japan. I thought that living there would be nice, and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunities available in Tokyo, the center of business representing Asia.

Why did you choose Waseda University?

The Waseda University staff and Taiwanese students studying at Waseda visit my high school every year. When I heard what they had to say about the University during information sessions, I was very impressed by its unique curriculum, a kind that is not available in Taiwan. I read every line of the brochure from front to back, looked for information online, and asked my senior, who was already a student there, had to say about the academic environment and life in Japan. The more I learned about the University, the more I wanted to go.

What did you tell prospective students at the Fair today?

I came here today as a volunteer to share what the admission process had been like. Because the admission process in Japan is different, I explained about the documents required for admissions, such as English test scores.

Do you have any concerns about living in Japan? How do you imagine your study abroad experience to be like?

There are many international students at Waseda University, so I look forward to becoming friends with not only Japanese but students from all over the world who have different values and beliefs. Although I’m somewhat concerned about using Japanese for daily communication, I plan on studying the language as much as I can.

When I am in Japan, I would also like to work part-time and learn about Japanese culture and customs. Everything be a new experience, and I am truly excited by what lies ahead. I can’t say that I’m not worried because I am about things like language barriers, but my eagerness to start my education at Waseda win those feelings.

 

Orientation for newly-admitted students

Every year in the beginning of August, Waseda University International Center Taipei holds an orientation for newly-admitted students who will attend Waseda in the fall. The orientation is led by Waseda’s Taiwanese students, and they prep the new admits on what to do before leaving Taiwan, how to sign up for cell phones and open bank accounts, and other important information necessary to start life in Japan. Furthermore, the senior students give academic advice, for example, on which classes to take for fulfilling graduation requirements. This year, nearly 50 students attended orientation.

Life at Waseda for current students

What has it been like for Taiwanese student after arriving here? Here’s what two students who graduated from one of the top high schools in Taiwan had to say.

There were times when I wanted to go back, but my life at Waseda suits me better

Chih-hao Wang
Graduated from Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School
2nd year student, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
Why did you choose Waseda University?

Ever since I was in middle school, I have studied Japanese because I was interested in Japanese subculture, like anime and manga. Yet, my proficiency hadn’t reached the level of taking classes in Japanese, so I felt that applying for an English-based program at Waseda University was the best choice for me. The prerequisite of applying to most Japanese universities is attending Japanese language school, but I was able to skip all that. I learned about the University from information online and attending information sessions.

What has your study abroad experience been like?

At the School of Fundamental Science and Engineering, I have a lot of work to do because of the number of classes I am taking and the reports I have to write. There are also group discussions and projects in my classes, and I work together with students from various countries.

However, despite how busy I am, I participate student clubs and have part-time jobs. Currently, I am part of the Waseda Riko English Speaking Society (WRESS), an official student circle (clubs are called “circles” in Japan) on campus where we talk about different things in English. I want to add that I have made many friends after coming to Waseda. When I first arrived, my Japanese friends at Waseda International Student House (WISH) helped me settle in.

What have you struggled with the most in Japan?

I really wanted to go home once when I became ill. I had a difficult time explaining my symptoms to the doctor and understanding what he was saying. Also, my family would have looked after me if I was in Taiwan, but here, I have to take care of myself. It made me feel lonely, but because of this experience, I became more proficient in Japanese and independent.

Tell us about your expectations for the future.

First off, I want to maintain good grades and study abroad in a different country if I have the chance. I hope to gain necessary skills for the IT industry at Waseda and become fluent in Japanese and English, so that I can work for an international firm in the future.

There are opportunities for growth at Waseda
Cheng-han Ho
Graduated from Taipei Municipal Jianguo High School
3rd year student at the School of Advanced Science and Engineering
Why did you choose Waseda University?

I have always been fascinated by the lifestyle, culture, and food in Japan. Also, because my plan was to major in the sciences, I wanted to take advantage of Japan’s advanced technology. In high school, a representative from Waseda University visited, and I intuitively felt I would thrive in Waseda’s academic environment. Being the most international university in Japan, Waseda is a highly reputable school in Taiwan. I am so happy to be a student here.

What has it been like for you here in Japan?

At first, I struggled a lot because I didn’t understand much Japanese.

Traveling across Japan with a camera in hand

But, I started using more Japanese in daily conversations after joining the photography club. This helped improve my proficiency, and fortunately, I became certified with N1 level on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) after a year. In the photography club, we go to different places, which is great because I love traveling. Wherever I go, I have a camera in hand. Some of my favorite places are Kyoto and Hokkaido because the landscapes completely change depending on the season you go and the people you meet or are with.

I have always enjoyed eating Japanese food too, so I go to ramen shops and conveyer-belt sushi restaurants quite often. I especially love ramen, which totally differs from noodle dishes in Taiwan. In the Waseda area, there are many kinds of ramen shops, but my favorites are the tori-paitan and abura-soba (chicken noodle soup and oily soba noodles).

Lastly, I am part of the Tokyo Taiwanese Student Association, which gives me opportunities to meet Taiwanese students from other universities. Recently, 70 of us went to see fireworks together.

The history of Taiwanese international students at Waseda

Chan-in Chiang, who came to Waseda as an international student nearly 30 years ago, lectures on Taiwanese studies at the Global Education Center. Below, he has written a historical piece on Taiwanese students at Waseda.

The undiscovered days of Waseda’s Taiwanese students
Chan-in Chiang, Director for East Asian Affairs, International Affairs Division

KANO(C)果子電影

One afternoon on a sunny summer day, I sat on the counter and ordered iced coffee at Takadabokusha. If you are a Waseda student, you may be familiar with this retro-modern restaurant on the Soudai-Minamimon Street. What you may not know is that over 90 years ago, Taiwanese students and Waseda University supporters gathered here to discuss the Petition Movement against the Imperial Diet of Japan for the Establishment of a Taiwanese Parliament. Looking around at the quiet restaurant floor and thinking about the Taiwanese students back then, I was filled with emotions indescribable in words.

The number of Taiwanese students at Waseda started to increase in the Showa period (1926 – 1989), and many famous Taiwanese alumni have left their mark in the University’s history. For example, Meisho Go, a Taiwanese ace pitcher and cleanup hitter from a multiracial high school baseball team, was a student at Waseda University. His life story was depicted in Taiwan’s 2014 huge-hit film, “KANO.” In 1936, Go recorded a total of 7 home run hits in the Tokyo Big 6 Baseball League, a tie record for the top number of hits at the time. This record remained unbroken until the Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima came along. Other Taiwanese student athletes at Waseda include Kuo-cheng Hsieh, known as “The Father of Baseball in Taiwan”, and Tzu-chang Ko. Ko, who became captain of Japan’s national rugby team, was a star player in Waseda’s golden years for rugby during the Showa period.

Waseda University is the alma mater of Taiwanese students who demonstrate excellence not only in politics and the arts, but other areas such as sports.

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