Expectation: “I need to be fluent in Japanese to survive in the lab life.” Reality: Not at all! In our lab, the atmosphere is truly global. We have around 30 members, and it is a perfect 50/50 split between Japanese and international students. With people from 17 different countries, ranging from the US and Sweden […]
You see, three years ago, I was a different person altogether. My friends often joke about how they barely recognize me in pictures from back then. And, to be fair, there’s merit to their claim. In my first blog (The Umegaoka Dormitory Experience ), I briefly talked about my struggles in getting accustomed to the […]
Getting started Moving to Japan was the very first step of joining this program. GSEP students are offered accommodation at the Science Tokyo Dormitory near Fujigaoka Station, where we can stay until our second year. After arriving, I had to register my address and receive my residence card at the ward office, as well as […]
The Modern Student “Grind” Now that I’m a student myself, I see why. Modern academic life is exciting, but it’s also a lot to manage. We live in an era of “fast-paced culture” where being busy is treated like a personality trait. Between lab deadlines, high-stakes presentations, and the pressure to have a more engaging […]
I have spent a lot of time on both sides of the Institute. My first year as a research student was spent at the Ookayama campus, but in the latter two years of my master’s degree studies often bring me to the Yokohama campus. Because I move between both, I have had plenty of time […]
Centennial HallWhen you first arrive at Institute of Science Tokyo from Ookayama Station, it is impossible to miss the unique Centennial Hall building. The building itself is already such an attraction for visitors interested in architecture and campus history. This building was designed by Professor Kazuo Shinohara, the well-known architect and Institute alumnus, and is […]
I joined the Spring 2024 Cohort of the Japan Venture Academy (JVA), a student-run startup fellowship supported by Shibuya City that gives university students hands-on experience in entrepreneurship. Over the course of three months, we were challenged to do exactly what founders do: ideate, prototype, iterate, and pitch. Our goal was to build solutions to […]
If you’re coming from a Western background, or really anywhere outside of Asia, the social structure of a research group (研究室, kenkyūshitsu) might be a big surprise. It’s less like a loose collection of individual researchers and more like a tightly knit, highly structured mini-organization, often feeling like a small, specialized company. Before diving in, […]
Now Recruiting: Science Tokyo Student Ambassadors 2026
For students coming from abroad, life in Japan can feel both exciting and confusing at the same time. It’s one of the safest, cleanest, and most organized countries you’ll ever live in, but it also has its own silent rules and rhythms that take you time to understand. The first thing you’ll probably notice is […]
