When I was young, I loved Japanese anime and manga, and I became interested in tea ceremony, flower arrangement, as well as Japanese legends and myths. I learned that Japan is a unique country where tradition and modernity blend together, adorned with beautiful nature throughout the four seasons, as well as a rich food culture. Before I knew it, I developed a strong desire to visit the country depicted in those works and to deeply engage with Japanese culture and society. With this in mind, I started learning Japanese when I was in high school and chose to major in Japanese at university.
Additionally, I wish to gain the opportunity to deepen my specialized knowledge through experiencing life in Japan. I believe that using Japanese in actual conversations will help me learn natural expressions and improve my speaking skills significantly. Language is the key to understanding culture, and by interacting with local people, I hope to experience authentic Japanese and gain a deeper understanding of it.
Now that I have the opportunity for an exchange program, I am determined to expand my international perspective and learn different values and ways of thinking during this year-long exchange in Japan. I aspire to achieve cultural, linguistic, and academic growth through this experience.