A Transformative Summer at UCLA
by Joanna Marie Ang Through the generosity of Friends of UTokyo, in conjunction with the University of Tokyo’s GLP-GEFIL program, I was given the opportunity to spend six weeks of my summer at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where I took classes in Urban Policy & Planning and Social Psychology. From the world-renowned academic rigor to the beautiful campus set against the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, it was a joy to be a UCLA student, even if just for six weeks. There was no shortage of activities for students on and off campus. Coming away from the program, I can sincerely attest that it has been a truly foundational experience, inspiring me to continue pursuing various academic interests and instilling in me a desire to explore different cultures. During the six weeks, I was housed at Olympic Hall, known for accommodating Olympic athletes in 1984 and set to do so again at the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics. As one of the best public universities in the United States, the rich history and cultural significance of UCLA, along with its vast resources, were not lost on me. I made the most of my time on campus, spending my afternoons exploring with peers, touring on-campus museums like The Fowler Museum and The Hammer Museum, browsing the extensive catalog at the Powell Library, and taking leisurely strolls through the botanical gardens. I even appreciated the 20-minute walk from my dormitory to the classroom each day, as it allowed me to fully immerse myself in the diverse, vibrant community and meet new people from all walks of life. The classes I took in Urban Policy and Planning, in particular, were eye-opening and informed my future academic pursuits. I was initially drawn to the discipline of urban policy because my interests primarily lie in environmental law and policy—a field fundamentally intertwined with urban environments. The city of LA, specifically, served as the perfect case study for investigating how historical urban policies impact not only the environment but also how environmental justice is distributed among different communities. This stands in stark contrast to the urban landscape of Tokyo, making it fascinating to compare and contrast the two cities. For my final project, I created a policy proposal aimed at addressing unequal access to clean air resulting from previous urban renewal policies, utilizing emerging smart technologies. To prepare for this assignment, I sought to understand the LA landscape more deeply by visiting areas particularly relevant to my proposal, allowing me to engage with the city on a profound level. The other class I took, Social Psychology, was vastly different from my usual coursework at the University of Tokyo. I found the discipline immensely fascinating and seized the opportunity to engage with a topic I had previously never explored. This not only nourished my intellectual curiosity but also provided me with a new psychological perspective to apply to my interests in policy and law. Beyond the classroom, I had numerous opportunities to explore California and other parts of the United States. Most notably, I visited Yosemite National Park in Northern California, where I spent a couple of days hiking up mountains and granite cliffs, surrounded by towering sequoia trees and cascading waterfalls. Having lived in the concrete jungle of Tokyo for much of my life, this was one of the first times I truly experienced such breathtaking natural wonders. This excursion further solidified my desire to work in environmental protection. Additionally, I explored San Francisco, San Diego, and Las Vegas, each city possessing its own distinct charm, for which I felt very grateful to have experienced firsthand. Los Angeles itself was a dynamic melting pot of cultures. Even in the short time I was there, I learned so much about the world and the diverse people who inhabit it. This experience has truly inspired me to continue exploring and meeting new individuals, so I can keep learning more about the world.In just six weeks, I felt I was able to grow not only as a student but also as a person. This transformative experience will serve as a foundation for many of my future endeavors. None of this would have been possible without the generous grant provided by Friends of UTokyo Inc., to whom I owe my heartfelt gratitude for all that I learned and experienced this past summer. Thank you for your support and generosity!
Visiting Scholar at Georgia Institute of Technology
By Ryo Minematsu 東京大学 工学系研究科 航空宇宙工学専攻 博士課程に在学する，峯松 涼と申します．私は2024年4月からVisiting ScholarとしてGeorgia Institute of Technologyに滞在しています．10月までの滞在予定で，本レポートでは最初の3か月についてご報告します． 研究面について 私は人工衛星の推進機に関する研究を東大でもそしてGeorgia Techでも行っている．研究対象の推進機は電気推進機という分野で，プラズマを放出することで推力を得る．推進機の性能改善に向け，日本では実験によるプラズマ物理解明に取り組んできた．Georgia Techでは別のアプローチとして，シミュレーションを用いた研究を行っている．異なるアプローチをとることでよりプラズマの挙動を深く理解することができるとともに，今まで気が付かなかったプラズマに対するものの見方を獲得することができている．今後Georgia Techで実験を行い，シミュレーションのバリデーションもとる予定である．本研究成果は今年の秋にアメリカで開催される学会で発表する予定である． 写真は我々の研究室が所有する実験室や学生居室のある建物である．航空宇宙専攻にしては珍しく非常に新しい建物であり，建物内部は快適である．学生居室は他の研究室と同じ空間にあり，非常にオープンな雰囲気がある． 休日の過ごし方 写真はラボメイトとアトランタにあるストーンマウンテンという山に登ったときの様子である．大学近くは高層ビルが立ち並び都市の雰囲気が強いが，車ですぐのところには雄大な自然があり，暮らしていて飽きない．ただ，公共交通機関の治安はあまりよくなく，自家用車での移動が通常である．私は車を持っていないので，車を持つ友人に頼んでいろいろと連れて行ってもらっている． アトランタは韓国出身の方が多く，たくさんの知り合いができた．お互いがお互いの文化（日本でいう漫画，韓国で言うK-pop）をよく知っていることもあり，一緒にいて過ごしやすい．一方で日本人の学生も大学に一定数おり，先日は日本人プレーヤーを応援しにメジャーリーグ観戦に一緒に行った．写真はその時の様子．試合開始1時間前に行くも，サインをもらうことはできなかった．9月には大谷翔平がアトランタに来る予定なので，ぜひまたみんなで観戦に行きたい． 謝辞 Ito Foundation USA，Hsun Kwei & Aiko Takizawa ChouならびにFriends of UTokyo, Inc. には，本滞在を支援していただき，心より感謝申し上げます．
Final Spring Report
By Yechan Park As the spring of 2024 concludes, I am delighted to share the final reflections on my first year at Harvard as a predoctoral research fellow. This transformative journey, generously supported by FUTI, has been an enriching blend of academic advancement and personal growth. Life in Cambridge Life in Cambridge has been a remarkable experience. The winter was exceptionally cold, but the central heating systems ensured I could stay comfortably indoors. Over time, I adapted to the local cuisine, finding a new appreciation for Mexican food, which has become one of my favorites despite initial reservations. Although the cost of housing, food, and other necessities is high, FUTI’s support has been instrumental in helping me manage these expenses and thrive throughout the year. Research Endeavors My research during this period has been both challenging and rewarding. I contributed to a collaborative project that leverages econometric tools to predict long-term outcomes based on short-term indicators. We submitted our findings to a reputable journal, received generally positive feedback, and are currently preparing for resubmission. Additionally, I dedicated significant time to my individual research, refining my senior thesis and developing it into individual papers. This process has been intellectually stimulating and has significantly enhanced my analytical skills. Future Directions Looking ahead, I plan to continue my journey at Harvard for another year as a predoctoral research fellow. This past year has been incredibly fruitful, and I am eager to further my research, build valuable connections, gain more research experience, and enjoy the vibrant academic community here. Advice to Aspiring Economists in Japan To students in Japan interested in pursuing research in economics, I highly recommend considering a predoctoral research fellowship as a postgraduate option. This path, though relatively new in Japan, offers an excellent opportunity to gain top-tier experience working with leading scholars. It opens up various dimensions for academic and professional growth and helps improve English skills, which is a common challenge for many in Japan. Final Words Lastly, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to FUTI for making my experience at Harvard so holistic and enjoyable. I look forward to staying connected and participating in alumni events whenever possible.
Swarthmore
By Masaki Fujishiro The one year of studying abroad at Swarthmore was such a fulfilling and unforgettable experience. The past two semesters flew by at the fastest speed I have ever felt in my life; I still cannot believe it is already over. Despite thousands of regrets during this journey, overall, I doubt I could have had a better experience. I feel this way because not only did I check all the boxes I prepared last year, but also I tackled new, more challenging goals I set along the way. Initially, I had two big goals for this exchange program. The first goal was to gain research experience in the U.S. As I am inclined to pursue a career in basic research in the field of medicine, I was keen to enrich my research experience, especially in the U.S., which is the leading country in the field. With this in mind, I emailed several professors at Swarthmore and decided to join the Fera lab in the Biochemistry department, which proved to be an excellent decision. Since September, I have been laying the groundwork for studying the structure of an immune protein called Lyn for over one year in the lab. I learned many methodologies that I had been unfamiliar with and enjoyed working with lovely lab mates. Besides bench work, I was fortunate to present my research at a couple of conferences outside the college. Among them, the Intercollegiate Student Chemists Convention (ISCC) was the most memorable. Over 50 undergraduate students from colleges in Pennsylvania gathered in ISCC and gave a presentation about their own research. To my surprise, I was awarded the best presentation in the Biochemistry division. This prize boosted my confidence and assured me that what I had done thus far was not wrong and that I could be competitive even among students in the U.S. In addition to a one-year long project at Swarthmore, I got a research volunteer position in Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston during the winter break. I joined the Liss lab, which primarily focuses on pancreatic cancer, the deadliest cancer ever. Although I knew little about pancreatic cancer, I eagerly dived into the opportunity to explore a new field. The project I was given was to develop a system to quantitatively compare the state of cells with varying resistance levels. I successfully established a method to quantify a specific parameter of the cells, for which the lab members praised me, saying it was a breakthrough. I was so glad that I was able to make a small, yet meaningful contribution to the lab in such a short term and establish a good connection at one of the best hospitals in the U.S. When I participated in Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in May, a huge conference that more than 10,000 doctors and researchers attended, I saw Dr. Liss for the first time in four months. I caught up with Dr. Liss and talked about my experiences at Swarthmore and their research progress. I hope this connection will last for long, and I dream of seeing him again in ten years, by which time I will have hopefully matured even more. Now, one week after the end of the spring semester at Swarthmore, I work as a temporally research staff member in the Betts lab in the Microbiology department at the University of Pennsylvania. My research topic is the epigenetics of latent HIV, a serious public health challenge that the entire globe has being facing for a long time. While my journey in the U.S. continues until the end of August, I am grateful for all the research opportunities I have fortunately had during this study abroad period. I appreciate the great mentorship and support from Dr. Fera, Dr. Liss, and Dr. Betts, as well as the wonderful lab members in all the three labs. When I return to the University of Tokyo, I am keen to apply everything I have learned from this experience, and narrow down my research interests to pave my own way for the future researcher. The second goal was to experience small, discussion-based classes at Swarthmore. Swarthmore is famous for its small student size, with only 400 students per year. I intentionally chose one of the smallest courses to build immediate relationships with professors and peers and to enhance my discussion skills. Since I was used to lecture-style classes with a big class size, I initially felt puzzled and nervous. I worked hard to adapt to the environment and keep up with class, until I felt comfortable speaking up and actively engaging with the teacher. I barely managed to get through the fall semester with good grades, earning A+ or A in all four courses I took. This motivated me to challenge myself further in the spring semester. At Swarthmore, students typically take four courses per semester, which I did in the fall. In the spring, I decided to take five courses plus a lab credit, totaling 10 credits during the year, which is the maximum number of credits a student can take per year. Even though this seemed daunting at first, I was optimistic because I knew the credits I would take at Swarthmore cannot be transferred to University of Tokyo. The five courses were Advanced Experimental Chemistry, Neurotoxicology Seminar, Fluid Mechanics, Math Modeling, and Ethics and AI, all in different departments. In the chemistry course, I learned a lot of techniques that are currently being used in biomedical research such as NMR, crystallography, and quantum dots. With only four students, one professor, and one lab assistant, I received immediate mentorship and detailed feedback on my weekly lab reports, which were usually about twenty pages long. The neurotoxicology seminar was a typical seminar style I already experienced in the fall semester. There, while I learned how to dissect academic papers and critically analyze them, I honed my presentation skills and discussion skills. I am sure that these constant trainings in this seminar and the two seminars I
FUTI final report
By Fumiya Uchikoshi I submitted my interim report in January. Since then, I submitted my dissertation, applied for an OPT (optional practical training) for my postdoc at Harvard, graduated, and moved. The dissertation process was straightforward. It was partly because I had completed two of my three chapters, one of which had already been published. The last third chapter was halfway through at the beginning of this year, but I had clear ideas about what I should write. I submitted my dissertation in April and then had a final public oral in early May. The final oral defense was a sort of emotional experience, where my friends and colleagues came and asked questions. Perhaps different departments held the defense in various ways, but the way Princeton’s sociology department did made me feel I owe many people, intellectually as well as emotionally. Meanwhile, I also applied for an OPT, which allows me to work in the United States as an extension of my F-1 visa. I had heard that it would take three months or more, so I started preparation quite early (thanks to the earlier offer made by Harvard). I was able to submit an application 90 days before the program end date (which is May 28), so I submitted the application on February 27. It turned out that my application was rejected because I submitted it a day earlier. I completely misunderstand what “90 days before the end date.” I re-submitted the application in early April. Assuming it would take 3 months, I could still get my employment authorization document by the end of July. I needed to receive it because my position was supposed to start in August. Unfortunately, the EAD card was not delivered by July. The delay affected my employment. Since Harvard needs an EAD to issue an account, mine was not issued for a while. My application was approved and I finally received the EAD card a week ago. I am still waiting for the Harvard account. Hopefully, I can start my postdoc shortly. I graduated in May, and then moved back to Japan and stayed there for two months. During my stay, I visited Osaka University, taught at Sophia University, gave multiple talks, and did some research. But most importantly, I spent two months on vacation. The six years of PhD were full of uncertainty and stress. I needed a break. I spent time with family and friends in Tokyo, Osaka, and my hometown. I recently moved to Cambridge, MA. The moving process was not comfortable, but I made it. So far, life in Cambridge has been great. My apartment is just a few minutes away from Porter Square. There are multiple groceries within walking distance. It takes 20 minutes to walk to the campus. I hope to spend productive two years here to move my research forward so that my scholarship can contribute to both public and academic understanding of demographic change and gender inequality in Japan and East Asia. Lastly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Hsun Kwei & Aiko Takizawa Chou and the Friends of UTokyo, Inc. for supporting my study at Princeton.
UTRIP
By Maria Lewis Hello! My name is Maria Lewis and I’m a junior at Johns Hopkins University studying neuroscience and psychology on the pre-med path. I’m originally from St. Paul, MN in the US, but thanks to the gracious support of the Friends of UTokyo, I had the privilege this summer of being a part of UTRIP and interning in the lab of Professor Goda-san studying aging cells. I first became interested in age-related research last summer when I had the privilege to conduct research at Yale University in the lab of Dr. Rong Fan. This was my first research experience and since that moment I’ve been fascinated by age-related research and cellular senescence. Cellular senescence is when cells stop dividing typically in response to DNA damage. In Goda Lab, I was privileged enough to continue my work with cellular senescence, but from a different perspective than what I’ve worked with before. This sounded like an incredible opportunity for me to expand on my overall knowledge of this topic that is still beginning to be discussed more widely. This summer, I worked with groundbreaking technology developed in the lab of Professor Goda- san, such as VIFFI and IACS. VIFFI virtually freezes the motion of flowing cells, which allows for the imaging of fine morphological and structural features of single cells. Similarly, IACS sorts cells with different chemical, spatial, and morphological traits. I have basic experience with coding and using technology for research, but I’m still fairly new at this topic, so I loved being able to expand on my skills and learn more about the benefit technology can have in regards to cellular research. The first, smaller, goal of my project was to find the ideal concentration of etoposide, a chemotherapy drug, that onsets senescence in HaCaT cells. Overall though, the main goal was to determine the effect certain drug treatments have on cellular senescence and translate it to the effect on humans. I was able to use confocal microscopy, VIFFI, and IACS to detect these senescent cells through a biomarker of senescence, SA-beta GAL. Because of UTRIP and the FUTI Scholarship, I’ve made connections with people all over the world now in Tokyo, the UK, Mongolia, and many other places. However, this is not just connections that I’ve made, but also friends. I’ve had the privilege to build this international network where I can share my ideas with others talk about our different research endeavors. Everyday after I finished my research, I enjoyed being able to talk with the other interns about our different research topics and explore these new ideas and concepts that are so fascinating to me and so groundbreaking for the research world. Outside of my research, I’ve loved the cultural exploration I’ve been able to do both on my own and supported by the UTRIP field trips. I’ve had the privilege to learn a bit of Japanese and participate in a Japanese tea ceremony, wear a Yukata, practice calligraphy, and visit numerous museums and shrines to truly immerse myself in Japanese culture. I’ve loved every minute of my time in Japan. The culture here is so rich and defined and I love that I’ve had the opportunity to be welcomed into it. I’ve also been able to physically explore Japan like Kyoto where I bought too much matcha, the beauty of Kamakura, and the numerous areas in Tokyo such as Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and many other places. I often joke with the interns when I’ll be back to Japan after this internship and it’s looking like it will be soon because I don’t think I can wait long to come back to a place so beautiful and special to me now. This opportunity has been truly unforgettable and I’m so grateful for the friends I’ve made and the research I’ve had a privilege to be a part of.
UTRIP
By Jeremiah Hugo Four years ago, I started learning Japanese. It was fun to have a new activity aside from schoolwork, but I had to put it on hold, as college was imminent. And it didn’t help that the world wasn’t going to open up anytime soon, so when was I ever going to use all the Japanese I had learned? Fast forward to March: I checked my email on a normal Sunday night, and I saw that I had been accepted into the UTRIP program. I sighed in relief; I finally had an internship for the summer. Not only did I have an opportunity to go to Japan – the country I’d wanted to visit since high school – dangling right in front of me, but I also had a chance to pursue cosmology by dabbling in particle physics. Within an hour, I had accepted the offer. Typically, when I go to new places, I like to know exactly what I’m getting into. However, I didn’t feel the need to do so at the time. From day one, I thought: “I’m already comfortable here. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” But, I already felt the clock ticking. Six weeks was going to feel like the blink of an eye, so I knew that I’d have to make the most of my time in Japan. And I did. During the week, I learned about various topics, ranging from the passage of particles through matter to the Diffuse Supernova Neutrino Background to neutral current quasi-elastic interactions. In addition to these topics, I struggled with Geant4 to simulate particle interactions with various material media, and I analyzed the data from the simulations with ROOT. This was only part of the preliminary exercises that Professor Nakajima had assigned me. Initially, I couldn’t grasp the point of these exercises because I didn’t get the direction in which I was working towards the SAMURAI proposal. After many days of tackling the preliminary exercises alone, seeking help from Mizuno-san (one of the graduate students in the Nakajima-Yokoyama laboratory), and clarifying with Prof. Nakajima, I became confident in navigating Geant4 and Root. At the end of my internship, I created a method to accurately reconstruct the excitation energy of N-15 during an O-16 (p, 2p) reaction via a Geant4 simulation. In other words, Phase 1a of the SAMURAI proposal had come to fruition. On the weekends, though, I focused less on physics and more on exploring Tokyo. Traveling around Tokyo required learning how to use the subway system, and I did so with ease by the end of my stay. By riding the trains, I was able to go to so many places in Tokyo: I found the staircase in the last scene of 君の名は。in Shinjuku; experienced the vibrant nightlife in Shibuya; explored every floor of Radio Kaikan and ate at a restaurant in Yodobashi-Akiba in Akihabara; hunted for books I could read in the bookstores that covered every block of Jimbocho; and passed through Shimokitazawa on my way to the Toudai karuta club’s practice match, during which I watched two Class A players duke it out. To conclude my sightseeing, I visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observatory and took in several breathtaking views of Tokyo. In summary, my UTRIP experience could be divided into two parts: (1) six weeks of overcoming challenges and learning; and (2) six weeks of pure joy. The difficulties I faced were resolved due to Prof. Nakajima and Mizuno-san’s patience. I knew that my computer science skills had improved since my last internship and that I wouldn’t understand some aspects of Geant4 simply by reading a manual or Googling the issues I encountered. This struggle was essential for my pursuit of cosmology. Now that I’ve learned more about particle physics, I’m going to retain the knowledge I’ve gained for the future. Because of Prof. Nakajima and Mizuno-san’s support, I’m one step closer to becoming a cosmologist. As for the other half of UTRIP, I could not experience everything that Japanese culture has to offer without FUTI. Because of FUTI, Japan is no longer a distant country on the map that my future self will travel to; rather, it is a country that has left an imprint on my mind after all the sightseeing and speaking with the locals. I also have Sugie-san, Jouno-san, and Ikeda-san from the UTRIP office to thank, as they were a core part of the UTRIP experience. I’d like to visit them if I ever return to Japan. In a nutshell, this summer was both an unparalleled experience that I am grateful for and an opportunity that’ll keep me moving forward towards the future that I desire.
Harvard Summer School
By Bingxi Hu Attending Harvard Summer School was an incredibly thrilling experience. Over the course of just three weeks, I gained knowledge and experiences that go far beyond what a typical classroom could offer. I was exposed to a diverse culture, made new friends from various countries, and expanded my worldview. I am deeply grateful for the support of the FUTI scholarship, which allowed me to participate fully in this exchange and immerse myself completely in both academic and social life at Harvard. During my time at Harvard Summer School, I had the opportunity to choose a three-week course. I selected the course “Negotiation and conflict resolution”. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the concept and types of negotiation, and allowed us to discuss different strategies of negotiation with an emphasis on an integrative, collaborative, win-win negotiation approach. The course was structured around two presentations, two negotiation simulations, and various assignments. The professor did an excellent job of blending theoretical learning with practical application, using real-world examples to help us better understand the concepts. On the first day, we participated in the “prisoner’s dilemma” stimulation game, which quickly broke the ice among classmates. Through this exercise, we began to experience firsthand the challenges and issues that can arise in negotiation, heightening our anticipation for the rest of the course. Almost every class was accompanied by a set of readings, which formed the foundation for the lectures. The lectures expanded on the reading material, offering deeper explanations and additional insights. For each group assignment, we were paired with different classmates. Therefore, by the end of the course, I had developed close relationships with almost everyone in the class. Even after the course ended, I have continued to stay in touch with many of them. The most interesting part of the course was the negotiation simulation at the end. In this stimulation, we were divided into groups to represent different countries, engaging in a realistic negotiation scenario. This simulation allowed us to apply the negotiation skills we had developed over the three weeks in a fun and interactive way, making the learning experience both engaging and memorable. Outside of the classroom, the summer school experience also allowed me to explore the city of Cambridge and Boston more deeply. Walking through the streets of Boston, I could feel the distinct contrast between its atmosphere and that of Japan. I visited the campuses of MIT and Harvard, went sailing on the Charles River with new friends, admired the works of Van Gogh, Monet, and Dalí at the Museum of Fine Arts, and took leisurely strolls in Boston Common. The three weeks flew by, and it was with a heavy heart that we said our goodbyes when the course ended. This summer school experience has left me with so much to reflect upon, and it will undoubtedly be one of the most cherished memories of my university life. Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the FUTI scholarship for making this amazing trip to Harvard possible. Nothing would have been possible without their kind assistance.
Dr. Yosuke Aoki’s Lab at the Earthquake Research Institute
By Joyce Goh Over this past summer, I had the honor of being a summer research intern under Dr. Yosuke Aoki’s mentorship at the Earthquake Research Institute. This experience was one of the most enriching undergraduate experiences I’ve had, not just because of the knowledge and technical skills I gained, but also the cultural exchange and all the experiences I had in Japan itself. During my time in the lab, I focused on analyzing slip partitioned regions in South America and Hokkaido to understand the underlying focal mechanisms of these under-studied earthquakes. Slip partitioning occurs when two plates converge obliquely, leading to shear stress both parallel and perpendicular to the trench axis. This leads to various fault movements along the fault, often that of thrust faulting closer to the trench and strike-slip faulting further inland. This brings with it high magnitude earthquakes, thus making them important to understand and predict. On top of looking at their focal mechanisms, I also analyzed GPS velocities to understand how these regions manifest in satellite imagery and data. This enabled me to better understand the spatial distributions and obliquity trends of slip partitioning in South America and Hokkaido, thus subsequently being able to improve modeling and prediction. I truly valued the structure of the program, providing me with just the right balance of support and space to experiment on my own. I appreciated having the freedom to develop my own approach to analyzing the data and writing code, providing me with the opportunity to improve my coding and analytical skills. At the same time, whenever I encountered challenges, Dr. Aoki was always available to provide support. He spent considerable time helping us navigate complex concepts and coding issues, making the process both educational and fulfilling. While research is never easy, the support of Dr. Aoki and his lab made the experience an educational and memorable journey. Outside of the lab, learning did not stop. I spent the weekends traveling with my friends to explore what Japan has to offer, learning more about day-to-day Japanese life and immersing myself in its culture. Despite visiting Japan before, I was never given the opportunity to live in Japan like a local, and truly enjoyed the slower pace of life I got to experience living in Tokiwadai, just outside Ikebukuro. Having the time to visit small towns such as Chichibu and Nikko were also the highlights of my trip! They allowed me to get a glimpse into life in Japan outside the big cities and interact with the locals who were living there (to the best of my ability). As an avid hiker, I was also captivated by Japan’s natural beauty, with memorable hikes up mountains such as Mount Fuji and Mount Buko. The experiences and friendships I have made over the six weeks will truly remain cherished memories of mine. I am deeply grateful to the University of Tokyo and the FUTI Scholarship for their support throughout this program, and for providing me with the opportunity to not only work alongside professionals in the field, but also experience and learn more about Japanese culture. I would love for the opportunity to return to UTokyo and Japan in the future:)
Summer at Harvard
by Kenji Takahashi はじめに 2024年の6月から7月にわたって、Friends of UTokyo, Inc.様、およびGLP-GEfIL様の支援のもと、ハーバードサマースクールにて中国政治の授業を受講する機会をいただきました。本レポートでは、サマースクールでの授業・居住環境・課外活動などについてご報告いたします。 動機 私がハーバードサマースクールに参加すること、および中国政治について学ぶことに決めた背景には、「中国共産党の政治指針について、日本以外の視点から学びたい」「コンフォートゾーンから抜け出して自らを鍛えたい」という２つの思いがありました。日本の大学で中国政治史を学ぶ中で、自らの視点に偏りがあること、大学生活に慣れる中で緊張感がなくなっていることに危機感を覚え、それらを解決すべくサマースクールに応募しました。 授業 私が受講したのは David Rezvani教授による “Power and Politics of Greater China”の授業。中国の対外・対内政治のポリシーの変遷について、予習として課された論文の理解、クラス内での発展的な議論を通じて学びを深めるというものでした。学生9人教員1人という小所帯ながら、様々なバックグラウンドを持つ学生が集まっており、中国の経済成長モデルや外交姿勢、社会信用システムに至るまで幅広いトピックについて活発な議論が繰り広げられていました。特に印象的だったのが、台湾併合についての議論。台湾人のfundamental rights として民主主義は守られるべきだという主張に対し、中国人の学生が「なぜ国際社会は中国の国内政治に介入するのか」という疑問を投げかける場面があり、視点の違いを肌で感じるとともに、国際的なクラスルームで学ぶ醍醐味を強く実感しました。 課題 一学期分の学習内容を3週間に落とし込んだカリキュラであるだけに、毎日課される論文通読のほか、Final Paperを含む定期的なアサインメント、中間考査に期末考査と、常に何かしらの締切に追われているような毎日でした。友人たちと自習室に篭ったり、共同でまとめノートを作ってテストを乗り越えたりしたことは、今振り返ってみると良い思い出です。 居住環境 私が割り当てられた部屋はClaverly Hallという130年以上の歴史を持つ寮の一人部屋でした。内装は2019年にリノベートされており、とても綺麗で快適な空間になっておりました。 食事は寮から徒歩8分ほどの場所にあるAnnenberg Hallという場所でビュッフェスタイルで提供されており、期間中食事に困ることは全くありませんでした。課外活動 勉強の合間を縫って、友人たちと独立記念日に花火を見に行ったほか、ボストン市内を観光したり、みんなで隣の州に足を伸ばして遊園地に行ったりしました。 最後に この度のサマースクールは、学習面その他において見聞を広め、さらに自らの現時点での実力を測ることができる素晴らしい経験となりました。このような貴重な経験をさせてくださったFriends of UTokyo, Inc. の皆様、GLP-GEfILの皆様方に、改めて心より感謝申し上げます。