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I want to change Japan and the world through education.

Masaki Nakamura, Representative of the NPO EdFuture

At Waseda Campus

Even after leaving the academic sanctuary of Waseda University, life's learning continues. Masaki Nakamura, alumni of School of International Liberal Studies, is another example of someone who has continuously learned and expanded his career both during his student days and after graduation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he leveraged his study abroad experience from his undergraduate years to create his own online learning program. He subsequently pursued further studies at institutions such as Stanford University in the United States, and currently works for an educational NPO that introduces new learning opportunities to those wishing to study abroad. What is the driving force behind his "learning"?

What I learned about the strengths and weaknesses of Japanese education during my "overseas teaching practice trip"

"When I was in junior high school, I tutored a friend, and their grades actually improved, and they were incredibly grateful. I was so happy that I could contribute to someone else, and that's what inspired me to pursue a career in education. When I was deciding on a university, I wanted to learn about educational settings overseas, so I chose School of International Liberal Studies, which requires overseas study and allows me to obtain Faculty license."

Driven by a desire to learn about educational practices abroad, Mr. Nakamura redoubled his efforts to study English, a subject he struggled with, after entering university. He also actively communicated with international students in his department, preparing for his study abroad experience. A year later, he headed to Indiana in the United States. His "learning journey" unfolded in ways he could never have imagined.

"In America, I was able to gain teaching experience, and it was a stimulating experience to witness firsthand the differences between the Japanese and American education systems. When I shared my excitement and admiration with my mentor, he suggested, 'Why don't you study abroad in another country and do teaching experience there?' and introduced me to a school in Swaziland (now the Kingdom of Eswatini), a country in southern Africa."

Mr. Nakamura's "overseas teaching internship journey" didn't end in Africa, but extended to India, Honduras in Central America, and other places on a truly global scale. Naturally, he experienced things that would be unthinkable in Japan.

"In Swaziland, the homeroom teacher of my class was fired for corporal punishment, and I, a student teacher, became the temporary teacher until a new teacher was appointed. That was shocking. Thanks to these experiences, I was able to realize how different educational systems are in various countries and how excellent the Japanese education system is."

During my teaching practice in Africa, I interacted with local children.

On the other hand, one area where Japanese education clearly lagged behind was online learning.

"When I studied abroad in 2015, every elementary school student in the U.S. was provided with a free computer, and homework was submitted online. There were even video editing classes. I wonder how many years it will take for Japan to reach this point..."

With these feelings in mind, after graduating from university, Mr. Nakamura became a middle school Faculty in his hometown of Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. However, in 2020, his third year Faculty, the external pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the wave of online learning to hit Japan.

"The education system was in complete chaos. I had experienced online classes in the United States, but for most Faculty, students, and educators, it was an unknown experience. The adoption of online classes in schools progressed very slowly."

So Mr. Nakamura decided, "I'll take the lead since I know the know-how," and built an online learning service called "Online Terakoya" that provides learning opportunities for children, utilizing social media. This initiative garnered attention, winning the "Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Award at the ICT Dream Contest."

A scene from an online Terakoya tutoring session.

"I posted a request on social media asking, 'Is there anyone who wants to take classes online?' and it spread rapidly, resulting in nearly 200 applications. On the teaching side, I wasn't the only one; nearly 50 other Faculty joined in, and before I knew it, we had received a tremendous response. What kept me going through those days of trial and error was a sense of mission to utilize my overseas experience. At the same time, it also became an opportunity for me to think, 'I want to relearn more about education and technology.'"

Failure and hardship are "growing pains of life": How to work and learn in the age of 100-year lifespans

Thus, Mr. Nakamura decided to pursue graduate studies in the United States. He overcame the demanding days of working as a middle school Faculty, helping students with their entrance exams while also studying for his own, and successfully passed the entrance exams for several prestigious graduate schools. From among them, he first enrolled in the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University. Later, he furthered his studies at Harvard University's graduate school.

"I thought that after online learning, the next big thing would be VR, or virtual reality, so I first studied at Stanford, which has a research lab strong in VR. At Harvard, I obtained a license to become a school principal in the United States."

Photo on the left: A scene of someone conducting VR research at Stanford University Graduate School.
Photo on the right: At the Harvard University Graduate School Convocation in May 2024.

Currently, Mr. Nakamura works for the Boston Board of Education and serves as the representative director of EdFuture, a non-profit organization he founded, expanding support for young people who wish to study abroad but lack the opportunity.

"We genuinely believe in changing Japan and the world through education. Thanks to everyone's support, our network of study abroad support is expanding rapidly. The project, which started with supporting 10 students in its first year, expanded to include a partnership with Waseda University's Entrepreneurship Center in its second year. In its third year, we received support from the U.S. Embassy, further broadening the range of study destinations. The number of students and the regions we support are increasing year by year, and we are now working to collaborate with local governments throughout Japan."

A photo of high school students (left) who participated in a short-term study abroad program at a US school through EdFuture, and a photo of them visiting the Statue of Liberty (right).

Mr. Nakamura is full of ambition and is pushing forward into the future. While it may seem like everything is going smoothly, in reality, he often encounters failures and obstacles, but his strength in not stopping his thinking at those times generates even more momentum.

"I've had plenty of failures and frustrating experiences, but I always try to learn from those failures, figure out what I can do better next time, and turn it into a cycle of improvement. I always think of 'a crisis as an opportunity,' and I think I have a kind of inner strength that prevents me from getting discouraged by failure."

He sends his best wishes to the graduates who are about to embark on their journey into society, hoping that they will develop the strength to overcome difficult situations.

"The key is finding something you can be passionate about and something you're good at. It's never too late to find that after you start working. In this era of 100-year lifespans, where working styles and lifestyles are becoming more diverse, it's important to be able to look five or ten years into the future. There will be difficult and challenging times, but those are surely 'growing pains of life.' Think of them as proof that you're learning something, and boldly take on something you're passionate about. Accumulating various experiences will surely become nourishment for your life."

He also left this message for students currently enrolled at the school.

"I still think it's important to keep an eye on the world. Even if you don't have much money as a student, you have significantly more time than working adults. I hope you'll make good use of that time, whether it's through budget travel or gathering information, and broaden your horizons to the world."

There are other ways to broaden your horizons besides traveling the world.

"Since you're at Waseda University, a treasure trove of diversity, how do you make the most of this opportunity? I encourage you to actively interact with people from other faculties, and you should definitely try to become friends with Professor. Opportunities to meet people with expertise in your field of interest are rare after graduation. Actively asking questions outside of classes and connecting with various people will be very meaningful in your life."

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

【Profile】

In front of Building No. 11 Waseda Campus

Born in Chiba Prefecture in 1994. Graduated from Waseda University's School of International Liberal Studies in 2018. During his studies, he gained teaching experience in schools in the United States, Africa, India, and Central America. After graduation, he worked as a public junior high school Faculty in Japan for four years before studying at Stanford University and Harvard University Graduate School. Currently, he is the representative director of the NPO EdFuture, supporting youth education. He holds a principal's license in Massachusetts and is an educational supervisor for the Boston City Board of Education.

NPO EdFuture/World Terakoya: @npo_edfuture