Voices of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Recipients: Anders Colding Egholm Sørensen

2021/11/29

Name	Anders Colding Egholm Sørensen
University and affiliated department	Doshisha University Japanese Studies Program
Study period in Japan	September 2019 – June 2020
Your last education in Denmark	Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies (Japanese) , University of Copenhagen

Q1 What made you interested in Japan and why did you want to study in Japan?

Initially, I was touched by Japanese Popular Culture – Anime and the like – which made me interested in learning more about the country and the language that was the foundation of my interests. I was accepted to KU’s Bachelor-programme for Japan Studies. Initially I felt a strong need to further my understanding of the language. However the more I stayed in Denmark, the more I felt disconnected to the culture and country, I was doing my best to fully grasp. And thus MEXT gave me a brilliant opportunity to explore the deeper cultural aspects of Japan through a 1-year exchange programme.

Q2 How was it like studying in Japan? What did you learn, What kind of research have you conducted?

My exchange through MEXT offered me a golden opportunity to see the Japanese society with a higher degree of objectivity. Since it was my second exchange (The first being a mandatory exchange through KU) I was less enchanted by the Japanese WOW-effect (haha) that I think many foreigners experience on their first trip, and thus I felt abled to look at the everyday Japan that can only be experienced by oneself. For example, I took a part-time job with a Japanese company, and through that way learned more about work-culture, rather than solely pop-culture that is usually experienced. My observations inspired me to focus my Bachelor’s assignment on kizukai, something I came across a lot, and found hard to understand as a foreigner.

Q3 About Japanese language: How do you desribe the level of your Japanese before and after studying in Japan? How much was it improved?

When I came to Japan for the MEXT-exchange, I felt like I was plateauing in terms of my progress. I found it hard to see my next goal and where to put my focus. But obviously simply living in Japan is a massive motivator to improve my skills, as well as being surrounded by Japanese friends and colleagues. Since I was already proficient in Japanese before arriving, I feel like the improvments, I made during my stay are hard to measure. But personally, I felt like my Japanese was polished greatly during the one year. (Also working there helped my Keigo, haha)

Q4 Any advice or tips for those who would like to improve their Japanese skills during their stay in Japan?

Get out of your comfort zone, and speak to Japanese people rather than other exchange students. We don’t get better at Japanese by speaking English! Hehe Also there seem to be a high number of Japanese people, who actively seek out exchange students to practice their English, so if you really want to improve your Japanese, try to find Japanese friends in unlikely places, where your purpose to meet is not that of a language-partner, but (for example) to do sports, or something similar.

Q5 What did you enjoy (are you enjoying) the most during your stay in Japan?

I found immense joy in going to Round1 to do activities (mainly bowling, haha) with friends. In general Japan features a huge variety of options for leisure that is almost limitless. Also in connection to that I was very interested and enjoyed, when Japanese people showed me ¨local¨ resturants, urban jewels and hidden tricks of their city and the like. Exploring places that I would never have found by my self was quite enjoyable.

Q6 How would like to use your experience of studying in Japan in the future?

Depending on how my Master’s Degree evolves, I would either use it to promote trade with Japan to Danish companies, or the other way around. I believe that the discoveries and observations I made during my stay, will make me an asset that is difficult for companies to otherwise obtain. Also generally, I think the stay has impacted the way I see people of different cultures. It has made me aware that my own (or that of the Danish culture) way of thinking is not necessarily universal or right.

Q7 Messages and advice for those who wants to study in Japan in the future? Any tips and advice on living in Japan, homesickness-cure, etc.?

Find a place in Japan where you practice a hobby or participate in activities that Japanese people do daily (for example, I joined a Gymnastics Club at my university – however this can also be a job or something else). In my opinion, this enables you to see beyond the usual exchange experience, and give depth to your understanding of Japan and its people. Diving into normal everyday that Japanese people have, I think, has given me a better understanding of the real Japan.

Q8 Anything you would like to share with readers (if any.)

Go to Okinawa if you can. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth!!!

Among friends at the dorm! (One of my most precious memories!)

More beautiful friends!

Izakaya with friends! (Go to Japan!)

Really the Sakura-season in Kyoto is immensely beautiful! (late March, Early April)

Hidden Pathway to an Okinawan Beach

The Hidden Beach in Okinawa!