My first ever exposure to Japan was in 2011, when I was 13 years old. My family was returning to Germany from a trip to New Zealand, and we had a layover in Osaka. Exiting the plane, it was like entering an entirely different world from where I grew up. Everyone was so nice, everything was so organized, and the service was impeccable. I was immediately fascinated by this country, and though we didn’t leave the airport terminal, that experience awakened an interest in Japan that would last a lifetime.

First, I wanted to learn the language, but with no opportunities to take classes, I turned to books to learn as much as I could about Japan. I read a wide variety of books about all kinds of aspects of Japan. The most useful book I read was one called "Gebrauchsanweisung für Japan," which translates to “User Manual for Japan.” It describes various aspects of Japanese society and its inner workings in a comical and entertaining way.

After I finished my high school exams, I saved up enough money to visit Japan. I was on my own, and I had no Japanese language ability, so I was initially met with what I call “Japan shock,” for the first few days. At the time, even in Tokyo there were many places without romaji letters on signs, and I didn’t have any translation apps or GPS to help me when I got lost. I was completely overwhelmed by how different everything was. However, after four days, I released that feeling and accepted that being in Japan was a completely fresh experience, and then I could really enjoy the rest of my trip. I had a fantastic time visiting Hiroshima, Kyoto, and Tokyo.

I came in without really knowing what to expect from traveling in Japan, but I fell in love with the beauty of the country during the trip. I won’t forget stepping onto a shinkansen bullet train for the first time and zipping through the countryside. After spending 12 days here, I had survived and met many wonderful Japanese people who helped me along my journey. I came home to Germany with a feeling of accomplishment and an itch to return in the future.

My last short trip to Japan was in 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic. I spent about a week in Tokyo, and my Japanese skills had once again improved, so I really enjoyed it. However, I had always dreamed of staying in Japan for a longer period, and this exchange at Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) finally gave me that chance. 10 weeks in, and I am having the best time of my life.

My reasons for coming to Japan long-term were two-fold. First, I think that by living in a country, I can get a better understanding of how that society works and how people think and act in different situations. That has been my experience with Italy, where I have spent five years—first studying Italian, then in my current master’s program at the University of Bologna. It pains me to see many people view Italy as no more than a “holiday country.” Similarly, through a western lens, Japan can often be simplified as a mysterious tourist attraction. Spending a few weeks here was enough to get over the initial shock and acclimation, and now it continues to get more and more interesting living in Japan.

My second reason was to improve my Japanese. Finding native Japanese speakers to talk to in Europe is challenging, and from my experience, immersing myself in the country is the best way to learn a language. That’s how I learned Italian. Acquiring knowledge of different languages opens all kinds of doors and opportunities, so I am confident the same thing is happening for me with Japanese as well. With the Japanese classes I am taking now at AGU, I feel my skills steadily improving. I look around, and everything is starting to make more and more sense, so I can feel proud of my progress.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was very difficult to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in Europe. The fact that AGU did not require a JLPT certificate , and it offered courses in English , was a major draw for me. When I examined AGU further, and learned more about the history of the school, it seemed like an interesting and exciting place to study. After noticing the incredible location of the school, I decided that I needed to come here. Here at AGU , we are in the densest part of the biggest city in the world, and the possibilities are truly endless. I can walk over to Harajuku, go to Shinjuku in no time, and eat anything I want. And on top of that, the campus at AGU is a lovely island of green spaces and trees in the metropolis of Tokyo.

The facilities of the university are very modern and well-kept. Everything works smoothly and is very clean. As for the gym, I have never seen such a clean and organized gym in my life. The campus is a comfortable environment, conducive to studying, but also has plenty of places to meet up with friends and socialize.

When it comes to classes, my favorite is United Nations Studies , taught by Dr. Matsukawa Kiyoshi(currently serving in the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs) . From various case studies, we learn how the UN works, and how peacekeeping works. The professor also shares his first-hand knowledge from doing actual UN peacekeeping work. I am interested in doing such work in the future, so it has been inspiring to learn from Prof. Matsukawa. My academic background is a bit old-fashioned, and I am older than most of my classmates who are undergraduates, so I prefer taking lecture-based classes where I can absorb the knowledge of the professor. Classes at AGU have been a mix of both lectures and discussions.

Another class I have enjoyed a lot is Japanese Politics I , with Prof. BOYD J. Patrick. Japanese politics can often be difficult to understand and boring, especially bureaucracy and lawmaking, but the professor makes the content very compelling. He has vast expertise in the topic, and since I was interested in Japanese politics, the class has been very fun and interesting. My professor back in graduate school highly praised AGU’s academic reputation, especially in economics and politics classes, so I have been happy with my choice to study here. I don’t have strong skills in mathematics, so my International Finance Ⅰ class has been challenging, but I am taking it to gain skills for my future work.

The staff at AGU have also been a great help to me as an international student. From before I arrived, the email correspondence I received was very reassuring, and now if I have any problems that I cannot figure out on my own, I can easily go and speak with the staff at the international center to get help.

Japan has such a massive variety when it comes to the different islands, terrain, and cityscapes. Beyond that, it is also rich in variety of cultural traditions, industries, and things to do. There are so many big contrasts in this country, and that makes it an incredible place to stay. A great word in Japanese that encapsulates this sense of variety is jidohanbaiki, which means vending machine. Vending machines are everywhere in Japan, and while they usually sell refreshing drinks, some also sell all kinds of interesting or unusual things. I saw machines selling only Sriracha chili sauce bottles, or t-shirts in a can, or 2000-yen premium puddings. It is sometimes so absurd what you can find in these machines, but I think that it reflects the unpredictable Japanese sense of humor.

Japan also has a reputation for having many societal rules, and this is part of what makes it so orderly. Things like not talking loudly on trains, letting people get off at each stop when it is crowded, these are wonderful things to see. Some rules I find a bit difficult to understand, such as when and where to take off my shoes, but in Germany, we have a lot of rules as well, so I have adapted quickly. Now, I feel comfortable in Japan, and the opportunities presented by Tokyo are magical. You could spend your whole life here and still not see everything. If I have a chance to come work here in the future, as a diplomat or otherwise, I would love to.