Spring 2014: Keio University

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Keio Short-Term Japanese Studies Program 2014:
Student Perspectives

Following the success of last year's pilot program, the second Keio Short-Term Japanese Studies Program (KJSP) was held in late January to early February this year, with 20 international students from 14 universities in 8 countries and 11 Keio students participating. Designed to present a broad and yet engaging look into Japan's culture and society, the program included lectures, practical activities, and outings on a wide range of topics from economics and disaster management to art and food culture. Keio Global spoke to four of the students to ask about their impressions and experiences of the program.

Kelsey Henderson
USA
Princeton University
East Asian Studies

Which part of the program did you enjoy the most?

Sushi making was the best activity--the sushi chef was an amazing teacher and a great performer. I also really enjoyed the "Cultural Differences" lecture. Dr. Shaules told us to pay attention to the little details and to challenge ourselves, which was very applicable to our experience in Japan, but it's also good advice to follow whenever you travel abroad.

What was your most memorable experience during the two weeks?

The friendships I made with Keio students. The students were really great about organizing things for us to do and I made good friends with people who I can now go and visit during the rest of my time in Japan.

What do you think you will take with you from the program?

I am majoring in East Asian studies and I was really inspired by the lecture on economics, in which we discussed "women changing the future of Japan." I am really interested in exploring this topic more, maybe for my graduation thesis. The lecture on media design, which discussed Japan's future role in the world, was also really inspiring.

How would you recommend the program to students in your home country?

The program is good for people with a range of interests and a range of knowledge of Japan because there's something for everyone. I have been studying East Asian Studies for a while but I still got something new from the program and was able to see a different side to what I had been learning.

Lam Wattei
Macau
Beijing University
Urban Planning and Philosophy

Which part of the program did you find most interesting?

The tours of the Nezu Museum and the Edo-Tokyo Museum--I liked the fact that we got a short explanation of what we were going to see and then got to experience it for ourselves.

What else did you enjoy about these two weeks in Japan?

I enjoyed spending time with the other students, and the way that the program allowed us to experience how Japanese students live.

What was your most memorable experience during the two weeks?

I think that would have to be going sightseeing in Asakusa with the Japanese students despite record levels of snow in Tokyo!

What do you think you will take with you from the program?

I'll take away the experience of real life in Japan. I was also really interested in the dedication involved in creating things. The working system that we saw at the Japanese company, Askul, really inspired me to believe in creating a complex system.

Manuela Coldesina
Switzerland
University of Zurich
Japanology

Which part of the program did you find most interesting?

I enjoyed the program as a whole, because I found it was easy to enjoy and be engaged in even topics that I'm not normally interested in. The teachers were very good at activating our minds; I'm used to a very academic style of lecture back at home, and these were very interactive lectures.

What else did you enjoy about these two weeks in Japan?

I was fascinated by the different faces of Tokyo. There were lots of new discoveries waiting around each corner. It is also easy to get around; you can point to things if you get stuck and people are very forthcoming to help you. And after all, not understanding everything is part of the fun.

What do you think you will take with you from the program?

I think it is a great reason to come to Japan not as a tourist. I got to experience student life, and I really want to come back as a student for one year at Keio.
Although I already knew a lot about Japan, because I major in Japanology, it was really interesting to hear the Japanese professors and lecturers tell it from their point of view and also compare it to the way that Western lecturers on Japanese studies view Japanese culture--I got a new slant on what I already knew.

How would you recommend the program to students in your home country?

I would recommend this course particularly for people with no background in Japanology. It would be very interesting for anyone with a serious interest in or fascination with a certain aspect of Japanese culture. It is a great way to really meet Japanese people and see Japan through Japanese eyes.

Lam Wattei
Macau
Beijing University
Urban Planning and Philosophy

Which of the activities did you find most interesting?

The most interesting class was Murakami Haruki and Modern Japanese literature, because I really enjoyed talking about Murakami's novel, "Tony Takitani," with foreign students who are not familiar with Japanese literature. The most interesting activity was visiting Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department because I was so excited to watch amazing ways to control the many roads in Tokyo.

What did you enjoy about the program as a whole?

I really enjoyed hearing foreign students' views about Tokyo. I was able to see Tokyo from foreigners' perspectives and discover some aspects of Tokyo that I did not notice before taking part in KJSP. It was such a precious experience to talk with foreign students about many things from aspects of daily life, such as food, music, and movies, to academic topics, such as education, politics and economics.

Was there anything that you learned on the program that particularly surprised you?

It surprised me that most foreign students thought of Japan as an innovative country. I did not think so at that time because I had often heard from the news in Japan that Japanese people need to develop a more innovative mindset. I felt the difference in the Keio students' and foreign students' image of Japan.

What do you think you will take with you from the program?

I became more curious about Japan through the lectures and activities on this program. I have also become more interested in the similarities and differences between Japanese and foreign people. This has inspired me to consider taking some international classes next semester and improving my ability to think in English in order to better understand the views of foreigners and discuss many things with them on a higher level.

How would you recommend this program to other Keio students?

In this program, Keio students can do many things in only two weeks. Of course, all the lectures by esteemed professors and all the activities were great experiences for me, but I think the best thing was being able to interact with a wonderful group of foreign students. I do not think that Keio students can take part in various lectures and activities with foreign students from more than two countries in other short-term programs. We can make friends from overseas and experience cultural differences while still being in Japan.