Search Icon
Menu Icon
Menu Close icon

Real Stories of International Students in Japan Vol.1

update date
This site introduces products through an affiliate program.
Real Stories of International Students in Japan Vol.1

Many foreign students dream of studying in Japan. However, actually living in Japan as a foreign student can be more challenging than one might imagine, with language and cultural barriers. Nevertheless, international students are growing and gaining invaluable experience day by day as they adapt to their new environment.

In this "Real Stories of International Students in Japan" series, we spotlight international students who are currently studying in Japan and bring you their real voices. We hope you will feel the importance of cross-cultural understanding and international exchange through their real stories of their life in Japan, including their reasons for coming to Japan to study, the joys and troubles they experienced in their life in Japan, and their dreams for the future.

We hope that this series will provide new insights and encouragement to those interested in Japan and those considering studying abroad in the future. Please take a look at the real stories of international students studying in Japan.

▼Goandup Picks Click here for recommended articles!

Introduction of International Students

  • Name:Jee-woong Kim
  • Age:21 years old
  • Hometown:Seoul, Korea
  • Study Abroad:Private university in Tokyo, Faculty of Economics
  • Study Abroad Duration:From April 2023
  • Study Abroad Purpose:To learn about the Japanese business environment and management strategies, and to acquire knowledge and skills for future employment in Japanese companies
  • Hobbies:Japanese Film Appreciation and Cooking

Interviews with international students

Hello, Ms. Jiun! I am Chihiro, the person in charge. Nice to meet you.
How is your life as a foreign student in Japan?

Hello, my name is Kim Jee-woong. Nice to meet you.
My life in Japan has been very fulfilling, with new discoveries every day. In particular, my major in Business Administration is very exciting as I learn about Japanese business strategies.

What made you decide to study in Japan?

I was originally interested in Japanese business culture and wanted to learn about it for my own future. In addition, my goal is to find a job in Japan, so I thought that studying abroad would be an important step toward that goal.

Do you experience any difficulties in your life in Japan?

In the beginning, the language barrier was a major difficulty. I had a hard time keeping up with the classes and learning the daily conversation necessary for life in Japan. Thanks to my friends, I am now starting to gain confidence in communicating in Japanese.

Is there anything that surprised you about life in Japan?

I was very surprised by the diversity of Japanese food culture. Of course, Japanese food is popular in Korea as well, but when I came to Japan, I learned about the wide variety and the unique regional characteristics of the cuisine. I was also surprised by the high quality and variety of foods available at convenience stores. Being able to quickly stop by and enjoy a delicious meal when I am busy is very helpful in my student life.

I heard that you like to cook. Do you cook in Japan?

Yes, I make it. Since I came to Japan, I have been addicted to cooking Japanese food on my days off, looking at recipe sites. I also sometimes cook Korean food for my Japanese friends. Everyone always tells me how delicious it is, which makes me very happy.

I too would like to try Ji Eun's Korean food!
How did your Japanese language skills change through your study abroad?

Since I could only understand simple Japanese before coming to Japan to study, I feel that my conversational skills have improved greatly, especially while actually living in Japan. I have naturally learned not only daily conversation, but also through cooking recipes and interacting with my Japanese friends. Also, through my university classes and living in Japan, I have gradually learned technical terms related to business.

What are your future plans and goals?

My goal is to work for a Japanese company in the future, so I would like to further improve my Japanese language skills and deepen my understanding of the Japanese business environment through the remainder of my study abroad experience. In addition, I would like to use my experience as an international student to further improve my communication skills to overcome cultural and language differences.

Finally, do you have a message for those who are thinking about studying abroad?

If you are thinking of finding a job in Japan like I did, I encourage you to try studying abroad! At first, you may be bewildered by the language and cultural differences, but I found my study abroad experience in Tokyo to be very fulfilling and I am very glad I did. I hope that you will proactively take on new challenges and expand your possibilities through your study abroad experience.

Thank you very much for your time today, Ms. Jiun!

Thank you very much! I'll make Korean food for Chihiro next time (lol).

Yay! Thank you!!!

A Day in Japan for International Students

Here, let's ask Kim Ji Eun to introduce her daily schedule.

8:30 AM - Wake up

I wake up just in time in the morning, but makeup is essential. Japanese people are always dressed nicely, which is amazing.

10:00 AM - lesson

I am attending a university in Tokyo, Japan, where I am studying mainly economics and business administration. It is very exciting to learn about the business environment and management strategies in Japan. It is hard work because there are a lot of discussions in my recent lectures.

12:00 PM - Lunch

Lunch is often taken at the university cafeteria. When afternoon classes start late, I go to a nearby restaurant with my friends. Recently, I like a teishoku (set meal) restaurant near the university.

1:00 PM - Class

More classes continue in the afternoon. Sometimes there are days when there are seminars with special guest speakers, and at those times the learning is especially profound.

5:30 PM - Part-time

After classes, I work part-time at an apparel store. There are many foreign staff members and it is a lot of fun. I have Japanese friends who have become good friends, and it has been a valuable experience for me in my study abroad life.

9:30 PM -Dinner

After my part-time job, I often go out for a drink with my part-time friends. I love izakaya (Japanese style pubs)!

23:30 PM - Bedtime

Recently, I have been working part-time, so as soon as I get home, I take a shower and prepare for the next day, and then go to bed. My days are busy, but very fulfilling.

Ms. Kim Jee-woong tells us how she is learning Japanese in Japan. If you are currently studying in Japan or plan to study in Japan in the future, please refer to this article.

1. watch Japanese movies and dramas

I love Japanese movies and dramas. In fact, this has been a great help in learning Japanese. Through movies and dramas, I can hear natural Japanese conversation and expressions unique to Japan. By watching them with subtitles, you can improve your reading comprehension as well as your listening skills.

2. cook using recipe sites

One of my hobbies is cooking. Since coming to Japan, I have often used free recipe websites, and this has been surprisingly useful for learning Japanese. Recipes are often written in relatively simple language, and it is a natural way to learn new words and expressions. In addition, the words I learn through cooking are often used in everyday life, so I have more opportunities to actually use the words I learn.

3. socialize with Japanese friends

Since you are in Japan, we recommend that you make Japanese friends. Using Japanese in conversation with friends is the best way to put what you have learned into practice. Friends will be kind enough to teach you even if you make mistakes, and many phrases can be learned naturally in daily conversation. You can also learn about Japanese culture and customs from your friends.

4. use online lessons

I recently started taking speaking lessons through an online service called "Goandup Nihongo+" to further improve my Japanese language skills in preparation for a job at a Japanese company. It has been very useful for me to improve my speaking and listening skills, especially since I can learn while actually speaking. I think practical conversational skills are very important for working at a Japanese company in the future, so I hope to gain confidence through these online lessons.

About Goandup Nihongo+

Goandup Nihongo+ is an online Japanese language learning service that offers Japanese language materials and Japanese speaking lessons with Japanese people for a monthly subscription of 500 yen.

Particularly popular are the Japanese online speaking lessons, which start at 30 minutes per lesson, allowing you to practice speaking one-on-one with a Japanese person, and to develop your speaking and listening skills in the time you have available.

To learn more, check out the article below.
▶︎ No Need to Study Abroad Anymore? Goandup Nihongo+, an Online Japanese Learning Service

For those of you who want to further your studies at a Japanese language school

The Japanese language attracts attention from around the world for its rich expressiveness and profound culture. From movies, music, and literature to everyday conversation, learning Japanese is not only a way to acquire a new language, but also a gateway to a deeper cultural understanding and a broader perspective.

For those of you who want to study Japanese more seriously, enter higher education in Japan, or find a job in Japan, taking your Japanese language skills to the next level is the first step in turning your dreams into reality. There are approximately 700 Japanese language schools in Japan with various characteristics, but it is not easy to select the best school for you.

Therefore, we will do our best to help you choose the perfect Japanese language school to realize your goals and dreams! If you have any questions or concerns about Japanese language schools, please feel free to contact us using the inquiry form below.

We will provide you with the best support to meet your Japanese language learning goals. We hope that our support will make your Japanese language study more fulfilling and fruitful.

    Your Name*
    Last Name*
    gender*
    Date of Birth*
    (present) address*
    nationality*
    Phone number*
    Email Address*
    age*
    last educational background*
    Preferred Course*
    Desired Time of Admission*
    Visa Type*
    credentials
    Certificates (passport, ID, diploma, resume, work history: maximum total of 5)*
    Please select the points that are important to you when choosing a Japanese language school.
    (Multiple selections allowed)*
    What to ask at a free consultation at a Japanese language school
    (optional)
    The personal information you provide will be used for the "Privacy Policy." The information will be properly managed in accordance with the description in Section 3.1.1. In addition, we may send informational e-mails, including advertisements, to the e-mail address you provide.

    Finally.

    Kim Jee-woong's experience shows how she overcame the language and cultural barriers she faced while studying abroad and how she worked hard to achieve her goals. Her story was filled with specific learning methods to enrich her study abroad experience and tips on how to enjoy life in Japan to the fullest. Her efforts to improve her Japanese language skills through watching Japanese movies, cooking, and taking online lessons are all secrets to a successful study abroad experience.

    We hope that through this series, we have been able to motivate those of you who are interested in Japanese culture and language and dream of studying abroad to do so. We sincerely hope that by proactively engaging in language study before and during your study abroad, as you do with our online Japanese lessons, you will have a more fruitful study abroad experience. Studying abroad is a great opportunity to discover a new you and expand your world.

    In this "Real Stories of International Students in Japan" series, we have collected valuable stories from international students with various backgrounds. Please check out the stories of other international students!

  • We, "Goandup", will continue to promote the charm of Japan to the world.

  • If you found this article useful or enjoyable in any way, we would appreciate your support to fund our operations.

  • We would appreciate donations of any amount via the PayPal link below.
    ▶️ paypal.me/goandup

    • Related Articles

    Goandup Picks for Expats > Japanese Language Study > Japanese Language School and Study Abroad Guide > Real Stories of International Students in Japan Vol.1