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Going to the State University of New York in the U.S. with the Japan Dream Foundation Scholarship, the Highest Offering in Japan

Shunya Kaneko, 4th year student School of International Liberal Studies ◆Studying abroad from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022

At Waseda University Toyama Campus

--What made you decide to study abroad, and why did you choose Binghamton University, State University of New York?

My parents worked selling antique furniture, so I was surrounded by imported goods, and so I naturally had an interest in overseas countries from an early age. In fact, when I was in junior high school, I accompanied them on a business trip to Europe and saw them interacting with overseas buyers on purchasing orders. I wanted to be able to use English at work, so I decided to study abroad when I became a university student.

One of the reasons I chose New York is that I love the culture of the city. Also, I wanted to study film and architecture, so the fact that my favorite film director Jim Jarmusch lives there and that there are many famous modern and contemporary buildings there were also deciding factors.

Almost all classes at School of International Liberal Studies are taught in English, so I think it was a good thing that I was accustomed to English before studying abroad.

--Was there anything you kept in mind when applying for Scholarship?

I applied to the Gyomu Super Japan Dream Foundation, which is said to be one of the largest Scholarship grant recipients. It was established with the goal of nurturing talent who can be active overseas in the fields of art and sports.

In Scholarship application documents and interview, I made it clear that I wanted to study abroad by stating that I wanted to study both film and architecture. I also mentioned in detail that film production requires equipment costs, and that even within New York State, transportation costs are quite high when touring film festivals and architecture, and appealed for my desire to take advantage of Scholarship.

Part of the application documents. Rather than just applying for a position, Kaneko emphasized that he had been interested in overseas architecture and art since his high school days.

--How specifically did Scholarship help you?

With the yen continuing to weaken, I had heard that prices in the US were particularly high. In the midst of all this, I was given Scholarship of 200,000 yen per month (in the case of North America), which helped ease my concerns. Thanks to Scholarship, I was able to visit architecture all over the US and experience a lot of real art. That said, saving money was essential when traveling. I chose cheap transportation such as night buses, stayed in cheap youth hostels, and sometimes slept outdoors.

A sketch of the city Kaneko drew while traveling around New York City

--What specifically did you learn through your study abroad experience?

During my one year abroad, I studied architecture in the first semester and film in the second semester. Before returning to Japan, I made a short film with the help of a friend and submitted it to a film festival organized by my university, where it was screened at the campus cinema. It was a rare experience to be able to see a work I made on a big screen. After the screening, students from various countries and even people I had never spoken to before told me that it was interesting, which gave me a lot of confidence.

A scene from an independent film. Kaneko himself appears in it.

- After returning to Japan, how have you put your study abroad experience to use?

Inspired by the many buildings Kaneko saw in New York, he began attending Waseda University Art and Architecture School as a double school in April 2023 after returning to Japan.

There is a common phrase that "studying abroad changes your values," but what I felt was that "your values increase." New York has many immigrants and people with various backgrounds gather there, so you can come into contact with a variety of values. I was almost never treated as a foreigner, and the stateless feeling was strangely comfortable.

Left: A Halloween party was held with fellow international students. A memorable photo from Kaneko's time there.
Right: At an exhibition of works from the Waseda University Art and Architecture School which Kaneko enrolled in after returning to Japan. He created a housing plan for Yanaka, Bunkyo Ward.

After graduating from university, I have decided to work at an advertising agency, but I would like to return to New York someday, whether through that job or for personal reasons. If possible, it would be great to live in both New York and Tokyo.

Tobitate Scholarship, which can be applied to study abroad at educational institutions other than universities, to a cheese vocational training school in the Loire region of France

Yoko Yamazaki, 3rd year, School of Humanities and Social Sciences ◆ Currently studying abroad from Fall 2023

During a class at a vocational school

-- Ms. Yamazaki, you are studying abroad at a vocational college and not a university. Can you tell us how you came to study abroad?

I have loved cheese since I was a child, and in the future I want to be a bridge between cheese makers and cheese eaters. To achieve this, I decided to go to France to study cheese, where cheese consumption is 10 times that of Japan.

Entering School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Waseda University gave me the opportunity to learn French and French literature, which was a good preparation for me. I think having something I wanted to do had a positive impact on my studies at university.

After coming here, I studied at a language school for three months, then spent three days a week at the vocational training school "Campus des Métiers" learning about cheese aging and sales methods, and spent two days a week as an intern at the cheese specialty store "Rodolphe Le Meunier," where I am surrounded by cheese every day. Not only at school and work, but even the cheese shelves at ordinary supermarkets in town are lined with a wide variety of cheeses. I am always surprised by the variety. Just living in the home of cheese is an exciting experience every day.

Interning at a cheese specialty store

--What did you keep in mind when applying for Scholarship?

Most Scholarship for studying abroad are aimed at studying at university, and in my case, the only Scholarship I was able to apply for was "Tobitate! Study Abroad JAPAN", a public-private partnership scholarship run by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Scholarship

The main thing to write in the application form was my study abroad plan, which for me was a summary of what I like, so it wasn't too difficult, and I was more interested in the interview. In order to convey my feelings accurately in a short amount of time, I hand-drawn diagrams and tables in a sketchbook and tried to get them to understand my love for cheese, which I think was a good idea.

Presentation material for Scholarship highlighting Yamazaki's  love of cheese

--When do you feel grateful for Scholarship?

The yen is currently so weak that anything you buy in France is very expensive. I am so grateful for Scholarship even if it means I can just live a normal life.

Also, since I am in the EU where I can travel freely, I think that the benefits of studying abroad will be even greater if I can experience the food and culture of European countries. In the past six months, I have visited the UK, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland, and enjoyed the food culture of each country. Scholarship has also been very useful as a travel expense for these trips.

Left photo: Mont d'Or cheese, a winter specialty. Bake it in the oven and enjoy it as fondue.
Right photo: Cheese comparison. The baguette is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and delicious!

--Please give some advice to people who are considering studying abroad.

Studying abroad is full of unknowns and can make you feel anxious, but once you get there, you'll find that things work out surprisingly well.

In my case, when I first came to France, I could only understand simple words and grammar, but by being in an environment where I was exposed to French every day, I somehow started to be able to understand what was being said. Fortunately, my school has small classes and everyone around me helps me. It's always better to be fully prepared, but by going there without being able to do what I can, I can appreciate the kindness of those around me who help me and the value of being able to live comfortably in Japan.

And it's important to have a clear theme of what you want to learn and what you want to do during your study abroad. I'm able to live surrounded by my favorite cheese, so I can enjoy even the most difficult tasks. Having a clear theme makes your study abroad experience much more fulfilling, and it also makes it easier to get Scholarship.

With teachers and classmates from the vocational school. Yamazaki is fourth from the left.

Habatake World Sky Scholarship: Guaranteed to be awarded before applying to overseas universities

Yumiko Shimada, 3rd year School of Culture, Media and Society Society ◆Currently studying abroad from Fall 2023

At the Peking University International Dormitory

-- What motivated you to study abroad at Peking University?

There are three reasons why I decided to study abroad. Firstly, it was because of my interest in calligraphy, which I have been doing since kindergarten. China is the home of calligraphy, and I thought that Peking University in particular would allow me to deepen my knowledge not only in terms of technique, but also in terms of knowledge, so I had been aiming to study there since high school.

The second is to improve my leadership skills. I thought I had demonstrated leadership skills at various events in Japan, but I wanted to gain a more international perspective.

The third is to develop practical language skills. I had been studying Chinese since before high school because of my interest in calligraphy, but I wanted to learn more business-oriented Chinese. I graduated from Waseda Jitsugyo University, so I had been looking into Waseda University's study abroad program since I was in my third year of high school, and I was also attracted by the fact that I could aim for a higher level with Peking University's double degree program.

A masterpiece measuring 90cm in length and 242cm in width that was submitted to a calligraphy exhibition at Peking University during the second year of university.

--You are taking advantage of Waseda University's unique "Habatake World Sky Scholarship." What did you keep in mind when applying?

In the application documents, I was conscious of summarizing the purpose of my study abroad and what I wanted to do in an orderly and easy-to-understand manner. However, there is a character limit, so I made sure to convey the passion that I couldn't express in the interview. In my case, I brought my calligraphy work to the interview and appealed how much I wanted to learn calligraphy.

"Habatake World Sky" is a pre-approved Scholarship where the selection and results are announced before you apply for study abroad. Even if you are anxious about studying abroad, I think the biggest benefit is that by receiving this Scholarship, you can proceed with your preparations with confidence.

--What are you learning each day at Peking University?

I am a member of the Faculty of International Relations at university. There are many people around me who are interested in international issues, and I am learning things in classes and student club activities that will help me take the first step toward becoming an international talent. I also try to actively interact with local people outside of university.

For example, the calligraphy student club I belong to does not just involve writing. By going to events and visiting museums with my classmates and Professor, I am deepening my experience in a field different from the calligraphy I learned in Japan.

International Politics class

--What would you like to do during the rest of your study abroad?

I would like to not only participate in events, but also host one myself. This will also lead to my original motivation of "improving international leadership," so I am thinking of holding a discussion-style event that makes use of what I have learned in class, and an event where many people can experience calligraphy.

I also want to publish a book summarizing the differences between Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and cultural differences through my own calligraphy works, and I am currently in discussions with a Japanese publisher. After returning to Japan, I will be looking for a job, but I would like to do my best in a place where I can utilize the communication skills, leadership, calligraphy, and language skills I learned during this study abroad experience.

Cheap, delicious, authentic Chinese food is a great help for Shimada studying abroad.

Interview and text: Naoto Oguma (2002 graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences II)