The main reason I became interested in Taiwan was that my mother was learning Chinese when I was in elementary school. Because of this, I had the opportunity to visit Taiwan three times as a family trips. At first, I simply enjoyed it as just another travel destination, but as I visited more often, I became increasingly fascinated by Taiwanese culture.

Furthermore, I happened to come across a TV program in Japan featuring Budaixi, a type of traditional Taiwanese puppet theater, which deepened my interest even more. I was truly moved by how traditional culture continues to evolve to adapt to modern times, and this strengthened my desire to learn more about Taiwanese culture. At the same time, I had also attended performances of Bunraku, a traditional Japanese puppet theater. As I compared Budaixi and Bunraku, I gradually developed the aspiration to become someone who can bridge Japanese and Taiwanese cultures and contribute to strengthening Japan-Taiwan relations.

To achieve this goal, I realized that it was essential to experience life in Taiwan firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of its culture and values. Since studying abroad is a requirement in my current university's program, I chose Taiwan without hesitation. In particular, I selected Tunghai University as my study-abroad destination because it is located in Taichung, a city where Taiwan’s traditional culture remains deeply rooted.