Michael Seiichiro Tsutagawa
Since August 2024, with the generous support of Friends of UTokyo, Inc., and ITO FOUNDATION U.S.A., I have been studying abroad at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Krieger School of Arts and Sciences. As a Medicine major at the University of Tokyo, I have primarily focused on Biology coursework and gained firsthand exposure to the U.S. medical field through clinical shadowing and academic research. Additionally, I’ve taken the opportunity to explore new academic interests—namely, Linguistics and Language Learning—which I hadn’t been able to pursue at UTokyo.
Over the course of the year, I completed three Biology courses: General Biology, Cell Biology, and AIDS. These courses provided a layered and enriching educational experience. General Biology, an introductory course designed for first-year students, offered a comprehensive overview of biological disciplines and introduced essential English terminology. This foundational knowledge supported my success in more advanced courses during the second semester. Cell Biology delved deeply into cellular structures and mechanisms, building upon my previous studies at UTokyo. Meanwhile, the AIDS course introduced specialized content in immunology and pharmacology, equipping me with a nuanced understanding of HIV/AIDS treatment and its biological underpinnings. Taken together, these courses complemented each other well in terms of content difficulty and specialization, significantly enhancing both my academic growth and intellectual curiosity.
Perhaps the most ambitious academic endeavor I undertook during this exchange was joining a research lab at JHU—one of the world’s leading research universities. Since the start of the spring semester, I have been actively engaged in research at Dr. Hungoo Lee’s lab in the Department of Genetic Medicine. The lab investigates Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a leading monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder, as well as other repeat expansion disorders. The research focuses on uncovering the epigenetic mechanisms behind these conditions and exploring pharmacological interventions. I’ve committed over 15 hours per week to research, conducting experiments involving iPSC culture and participating in several independent projects. This experience has been transformative. Before this exchange, I had little exposure to or interest in research and had only envisioned a future as a practicing physician. However, working at the forefront of medical science at JHU has broadened my perspective—I am now seriously considering a career path that combines clinical practice and research, such as pursuing an MD-PhD or becoming a clinician-researcher. This shift in aspiration would not have been possible without the opportunity to immerse myself in real-world academic research.
In addition to lab work, I also had the chance to shadow Dr. Sonia Dalal in the Internal Medicine department at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Observing patient care across diverse racial and age demographics gave me a clearer picture of the American healthcare system and helped me envision what a medical career in the U.S. might look like.
Another major goal of my exchange year was to step outside the sciences and engage with new academic fields, particularly Linguistics and Language Learning. I enrolled in year-long Korean and French courses, and one semester of Spanish. Through these, I gained both language proficiency and cultural insight, especially into Latin American and Francophone societies. By the end of the academic year, I had reached a CEFR level of C1 in Korean and A2 in French. I also audited a Neurolinguistics course that explored the relationship between brain anatomy and language processing—an interdisciplinary area that bridged my interests in Medicine and Linguistics.
Beyond the classroom, I made the most of my time in the U.S. by traveling to cities such as Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston. Exploring historical landmarks and sharing these experiences with fellow exchange students helped deepen our friendships. I also joined the Johns Hopkins University Debating Council (JHUDC), continuing my passion for English parliamentary debate. Throughout the year, I represented JHU in competitions at Harvard and Princeton, as well as at the North American Championships in Kingston, Canada. Representing UTokyo, I also competed in the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) in Panama. These events offered intellectually stimulating experiences and allowed me to connect with peers from universities around the world.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Friends of UTokyo, Inc., for their generous support. This invaluable opportunity has been a significant highlight of my academic journey, and it would not have been possible without their assistance.
