What I Study

I'm currently pursuing my studies at the Graduate School for Innovation and Practice for Smart Society (SMASO). Our school is located on the edge of Hiroshima University campus in the IDEC building, an international hub filled with students from ASEAN countries and Africa who receive sponsorships from organizations like JICA and MEXT. While I attend classes at IDEC, my research lab is housed in the engineering building, specifically on the architects' floor.

Prior to coming to Japan, I worked with the German government agency GIZ, focusing on clean energy and circular economy initiatives in Vietnam. My interest in air conditioning and heat pump technologies brought me to Hiroshima University, where I'm fortunate to study under Professor Sayaka Kindaichi.

With my background in economics, I'm researching Germany's new municipality heat planning legislation and analyzing the purchasing decisions of HVAC technicians. Japan's expertise in air conditioning and heat pump technology provides an excellent environment to gain a Japanese perspective on these systems. I hope my master's degree will create opportunities for me to work as a bridge between Japan and Germany in the heat pump sector.

Graduate School in Japan

Having to apply for the master's with a research project makes everyday research much more focused. In Germany, we don't follow this approach. With my extensive work experience, I want to build on this foundation, and Hiroshima University encourages me to gather primary data. The Japanese academic system, with its 12-month courses divided into 4 terms plus 12 months dedicated to research, gives researchers ample opportunity to conduct experiments or distribute questionnaires.

Master's programs in Germany are often consecutive, spanning two years with only about 6 months allocated for research. Professors have limited availability, and students primarily study independently in libraries. If during my professional career I wanted to gain more engineering or technical expertise in Germany, I would need to start with another bachelor's degree due to the consecutive structure of most German master's programs. Japan, however, offers research student semesters to help candidates improve their Japanese and meet entrance requirements. I was able to skip this step, as my entrance exam consisted of an online presentation, and my program is taught in English.

My master's courses are conducted in English, though unfortunately about 40% of these English courses aren't of high quality. My Japanese skills aren't advanced enough to take classes in Japanese. To bridge this gap, my professors organize brown bag lunches in English to facilitate academic discussions between my Japanese lab mates who struggle with English and myself with my limited Japanese. Most professors speak English well and are always willing to help.

A Mix of Nature and City Life

Hiroshima University and Higashi-Hiroshima are wonderful places to study. Having worked in Hanoi before, living in the quiet Higashi-Hiroshima feels very wholesome. Hiroshima University has a beautiful park in the middle. Every day I cycle along the Kurose river. By night I walk to the well of the Saijo Sake breweries to get fresh tasty water. It is an hour to beautiful Onomichi or 40 minutes to Hiroshima downtown with its gorgeous rivers and plenty of shopping opportunities. In spring and autumn, I cycle with my bike over the mountains to Takehara or other towns at the Seto Inland Sea. Hiroshima also has a good connection to Kansai, Shikoku and Kyushu. For nature lovers, it is perfect to be here.

The Hiroshima Support Center for International Students has a lot of great resources for students, that helped me find private housing. A lot of housing in the rice fields around the university starts at 20,000 Yen/month. If you want walking distance to the university or you need one room more, you pay about 50,000 Yen. I often go shopping at the farmers market with very good food prices or at Hallows that is open 24/7. Within Higashi-Hiroshima I cycle everywhere I want to go; just thinking of the vast size and complicated cityscape and public transport in Tokyo or Kansai stresses me out. Plus the associated cost to get around every day in the big metropolitan areas. Higashi-Hiroshima is just very cheap to live in.

Challenges of Living in Japan

Japanese buildings are not insulated, which is a problem in winter and summer, when electricity bills are getting expensive (5,000 Yen for me, friends in older buildings 10,000 Yen) and living is a little bit uncomfortable. There are a lot of old, cheap plastic wall buildings with condensation or AC issues, so finding a good apartment is not easy, especially because most agencies do not speak English and do not rent to foreigners. My support student has been incredibly helpful, and I would not have made it without her! In Vietnam, where I lived before, apartments are furnished but can become pricey for foreigners. In Germany we have to furnish apartments also on our own. I bought most furniture second-hand or at Nitori. In Japan rent and furniture are much cheaper than in Germany, so in general I have a great experience but key money and deposit is expensive in Japan. Whereas in Germany, most students live in shared flats, it is not common in Japan. Living can therefore sometimes be a little bit lonely.

The university cafeteria in Japan is really unhealthy, not friendly to vegetarians, and a little bit pricey. I have a great kitchen, but most student apartments are tiny, so cooking and meal prepping in these tiny kitchens is very cumbersome. The street design in a lot of places in Japan is not made to accommodate cyclists, but the air is clean, and it takes a little bit of time to find wonderful cycling routes. In Japan, there is always a looming fear of natural disasters. Saijo is one of the safest places in Japan regarding earthquakes but flooding is a thing. Nothing has happened so far but we sometimes get warnings that we should stay home. As I am over 30 and Japan is my 5th country I’ve lived in, I know how to adapt to different living conditions.

How I Enjoy My Time in Japan

Every Monday from 2-6pm I learn Sado (tea ceremony). On Tuesdays and Sunday evenings, I do Aikido. As Japan will get lonely, it is key to find regular activities and always be on the lookout for workshops and meet-ups. The Hiroshima Support Center for International students and their Hiroshima Study Abroad Ambassadors that I joined can be a great first support.

With tea as a hobby I can always look for a tea ceremony in the small historic towns near by or enjoy pottery and tea sweets on my journeys. I love going to Onomichi, which is a short train ride away, and cycling around Hiroshima prefecture with my E-Bike. A lot of friends and family visit me in Japan. I went with them to Uji, Osaka, Ise, Naoshima, Kan-Onji Mt Fuji and Miyajima.The next trips are already coming to explore Tottori, Shimane and Kyushu.