When expectations are too high, it is easy to feel disappointed when reality cannot match them. I feel lucky to share that experiencing a whole academic year in Japan has truly been the best experience of my life. Hitotsubashi University, which celebrated its 150th anniversary this year, is a highly prestigious institution in Japan and offers students a top-notch education. The School of International and Public Policy (IPP) allows students to engage with international affairs from an Asian, and especially a Japanese, point of view, broadening both your academic and personal horizon. Studying on its historic campus alongside students from across Asia and the world, frequently attending political discussions and debates with high-level UN officials and researchers, and simply enjoying student life in Japan is an experience I feel truly grateful to have had. I especially want to emphasize the quality of the Japanese language classes. If your goal is to substantially improve your Japanese and become proficient in the language of Sōseki and Dazai, Hitotsubashi University is an excellent choice.

Beyond travel, my time at IPP decisively shaped my master's research and helped me secure an internship in the field of international politics here in Tokyo. The program also gave me the opportunity to build precious friendships and meaningful relationships with Japanese students and international peers alike, connections I intend to maintain for the rest of my life. Since visiting Japan for the first time, I fell in love with its sophisticated culture and the country's remarkable beauty, and coming here had long been a dream of mine. These months have given me experiences I could not have anticipated: conversing with a Japanese princess, sharing coffee with a diplomat and hearing his views on current and future global developments, or, after taking a wrong turn in the Japanese countryside, ending up in the garden of a local family who then drove us to and showed us the nearby castle ruins. Studying in Japan has fundamentally changed and inspired me to keep working hard and pursuing my ambitions.

I would, however, strongly encourage anyone considering this path to properly research the country, its culture, and its customs beforehand. Read about cultural differences, engage with them openly and optimistically, and you will have a wonderful time. You will be met with great curiosity. Most Japanese people are extraordinarily polite, educated, kind, and, in my experience, genuinely good-hearted

お世話になりました。