I’ve been having a great experience both academically and outside of school life. I made many friends around the world at Hitotsubashi University and the international residency.

I have a bachelor's degree in law from the University of Strasbourg in France, and then joined Sciences Po Strasbourg, which is a school of international relations, politics, and sociology, as I was very motivated to learn the complexities of global governance and international relations. Another aspect of learning international relations is the possibility of working outside of France and also working in a bigger system in the field of global governance, such as the UN, the International Court of Justice, etc. 

I applied for the double degree program at IPP, as the global governance program at IPP is closely related to the one at SPS. I also wanted to study abroad, especially in Japan as I have been influenced by Japanese culture. Also, it’s important to have travel experience in another nation’s culture when studying international relations.

 In “International Relations and Domestic Policy”, we learn about international security using game theory and more. I’ve never learned game theory, but the teacher taught us according to the level of each student, as it was a very small class. And it was really knowledgeable. 

“Japan Foreign Policy Making Ⅱ” was a course where many international guest speakers came from outside of Hitotsubashi. Each speaker gave presentations on topics related to their area of expertise, offering valuable insights from their diverse backgrounds. It was really interesting because we had the opportunity to learn directly from professionals working in NGOs, large corporations, and other fields.

Here at IPP, teachers and students have very diverse backgrounds and cultures. Some students work in the National Central Bank or an international organization. There is a highly collaborative atmosphere at IPP where students willingly support each other.  I learn a lot through academic discussions or casual conversations with them. We sometimes disagree on some key political issues and have real debates. I’ve learned that despite political tensions, people from different cultures can build strong, respectful relationships.

One of the greatest assets I’ve gained is the genuine connections, not just surface-level networking. Now I know people from across the globe, and there are also individuals in important governmental positions. Because of the genuine connections I've built here, if there is something I want to know, or if there's anything I need help with in the future, I can always reach out to them without hesitation.

I've been enjoying everything about Japan, from traveling to the food and architecture. The residence hall is well-organized, and people set up a WhatsApp group where you can find out about various activities. I've quickly made friends from around the world and enjoy connecting with them both inside and outside the classroom.

Living in Japan and studying at IPP has boosted my confidence in living and working in another country and interacting with people from different backgrounds. It also broadened chances to work for international organizations, which I have been dreaming of.