Students Voice
Adam Nordin (Umea University, Sweden)
Study period: Fall 2025
Tohoku University was a wonderful University, mainly due to it being very accommodating and welcoming. I really liked that the classes where centered around practic rather then only theory. I fostered many amazing friendships and made many found memories. I really recommend for foreigners that is thinking of doing an exchange, to do it! They have amazing culture of doing weekly gatherings, for example field trips or movie night etc. All and all I have grown as a person and had so much fun during my time at Tohoku University.
Study period: Fall 2025
Tohoku University was a wonderful University, mainly due to it being very accommodating and welcoming. I really liked that the classes where centered around practic rather then only theory. I fostered many amazing friendships and made many found memories. I really recommend for foreigners that is thinking of doing an exchange, to do it! They have amazing culture of doing weekly gatherings, for example field trips or movie night etc. All and all I have grown as a person and had so much fun during my time at Tohoku University.
Moussi Nawael (Universite Rennes 2, France)
Study period: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
During my first Tohoku University semester, I got to experience many different things, meet a lot of different people and learn not just about Japanese culture but also about various countries.
In addition, I got to learn more about myself and how well I am doing in an unknown environment and surrouned by complete strangers. I feel I understood better the importance of a nourrishing social circle. Living a university exchange experience comes with a lot of adjustements, one that is being far from all loved ones. Making friends who can relate to you and live this unusual life with you is essential. It was very interesting to connect with people so quickly and in such circumptances, having all the free time in the world to get to know them. In a way it is clumsy and sincere the way we get deeply attached to our friends in a small amount of time like this one, knowing it might be the only time in our lives we will be sharing a daily life with them. I also discovered how third place spaces were fundamental to healthy socialization. Places like the University House Sanjo's lounge, or the Kawauchi campus lounge in the B building are neutral and free spaces for people to meet and share.
These relationships during our time away replace family and back home longterm friendships, within them we can find a new sense of intimacy. I am very grateful to have been granted the opportunity to build relationships like that with people from all around the world.
No photos
Study period: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
During my first Tohoku University semester, I got to experience many different things, meet a lot of different people and learn not just about Japanese culture but also about various countries.
In addition, I got to learn more about myself and how well I am doing in an unknown environment and surrouned by complete strangers. I feel I understood better the importance of a nourrishing social circle. Living a university exchange experience comes with a lot of adjustements, one that is being far from all loved ones. Making friends who can relate to you and live this unusual life with you is essential. It was very interesting to connect with people so quickly and in such circumptances, having all the free time in the world to get to know them. In a way it is clumsy and sincere the way we get deeply attached to our friends in a small amount of time like this one, knowing it might be the only time in our lives we will be sharing a daily life with them. I also discovered how third place spaces were fundamental to healthy socialization. Places like the University House Sanjo's lounge, or the Kawauchi campus lounge in the B building are neutral and free spaces for people to meet and share.
These relationships during our time away replace family and back home longterm friendships, within them we can find a new sense of intimacy. I am very grateful to have been granted the opportunity to build relationships like that with people from all around the world.
Malonga Wendy (University of Strasbourg, France)
Study period: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
As the first semester of this year as an exchange student in Tohoku University comes to its end, I can’t express enough my gratitude to all the people I met, including my tutor, classmates ( domestic students and exchange students), teachers and staff members. All of them fostered my integration and eased my life in Sendai. Before arriving in Japan, I must admit that a part of me was scared of not being able to adapt to this very big change of lifestyle and not being able to even find friends I could share this very unique experience with. But as soon as I arrived, I met my tutor, the first person I met arriving in Sendai, and from the first day, she offered me support and friendship which eased my mind. Hence my gratitude for this tutor system created by the university. As I reflect about this semester, I think about all the events I participated in, where I could not only discover more about Japanese lifestyle and traditional culture, but also share my own culture. For example, I held the French Global Cafe which was a fun and very entertaining way to talk and teach both exchange students and Japanese students more about France. The Iplanet program always fostered communication between international students and domestic students through events and classes. Thanks to that, I could easily exchange with others and learn from everyone. The simple fact that the teachers only speak Japanese during Japanese classes was very useful for me to develop my Japanese skills. I also highly recommend the host family experience! I allowed myself to go out of the university context for a day and learned a lot from a family in Sendai. I look forward to learning more and more during next semester !
Study period: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
As the first semester of this year as an exchange student in Tohoku University comes to its end, I can’t express enough my gratitude to all the people I met, including my tutor, classmates ( domestic students and exchange students), teachers and staff members. All of them fostered my integration and eased my life in Sendai. Before arriving in Japan, I must admit that a part of me was scared of not being able to adapt to this very big change of lifestyle and not being able to even find friends I could share this very unique experience with. But as soon as I arrived, I met my tutor, the first person I met arriving in Sendai, and from the first day, she offered me support and friendship which eased my mind. Hence my gratitude for this tutor system created by the university. As I reflect about this semester, I think about all the events I participated in, where I could not only discover more about Japanese lifestyle and traditional culture, but also share my own culture. For example, I held the French Global Cafe which was a fun and very entertaining way to talk and teach both exchange students and Japanese students more about France. The Iplanet program always fostered communication between international students and domestic students through events and classes. Thanks to that, I could easily exchange with others and learn from everyone. The simple fact that the teachers only speak Japanese during Japanese classes was very useful for me to develop my Japanese skills. I also highly recommend the host family experience! I allowed myself to go out of the university context for a day and learned a lot from a family in Sendai. I look forward to learning more and more during next semester !
Antoine Mourrain (Universite de Rennes 1, France)
Study period: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
The IPLA program at Tohoku University was very good for me. I learned many things. I took classes in English, like economics, Japanese culture, and Japanese linguistics. I was even able to work with a Japanese company through the ICL PBL class, which was very interesting and something I was not expecting to do. I also studied the Japanese language, and now I can understand even more of it. Speaking and listening in daily life has also helped me improve.
I met many students from different countries. We talked a lot and shared our cultures. The Japanese students in IPLANET helped us a lot. They made events like parties and cultural activities, which made the experience more fun and helped me make new friends. I enjoyed these moments very much.
One special memory is the trip to the mountains and Matsushima. The place was very beautiful, with many small islands and temples. We took a boat and passed by the other islands which was an incredible view. We walked a lot during that day, but it was definitely worth it.
IPLA was a great experience. I learned new things, made good friends, and discovered Japanese culture. I am very happy I joined this program and I can't wait for the 2nd semester to start.
No photos
Study period: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
The IPLA program at Tohoku University was very good for me. I learned many things. I took classes in English, like economics, Japanese culture, and Japanese linguistics. I was even able to work with a Japanese company through the ICL PBL class, which was very interesting and something I was not expecting to do. I also studied the Japanese language, and now I can understand even more of it. Speaking and listening in daily life has also helped me improve.
I met many students from different countries. We talked a lot and shared our cultures. The Japanese students in IPLANET helped us a lot. They made events like parties and cultural activities, which made the experience more fun and helped me make new friends. I enjoyed these moments very much.
One special memory is the trip to the mountains and Matsushima. The place was very beautiful, with many small islands and temples. We took a boat and passed by the other islands which was an incredible view. We walked a lot during that day, but it was definitely worth it.
IPLA was a great experience. I learned new things, made good friends, and discovered Japanese culture. I am very happy I joined this program and I can't wait for the 2nd semester to start.
LONT BORIS MARCUS (Radboud University, Netherland)
Study period: Fall 2024
Going on exchange to Japan has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. In the semester that I've spent there, I've met countless nice people, tried countless different foods, and visited countless different places.
The IPLA courses I took were a really nice breath of fresh air from my home universities curriculum. I especially enjoyed the Japanese comedy course. For this course, we had to make a 4 minute Japanese style comedy video. This course really forced me out of my comfort zone, and I feel like this course helped me grow as a person a lot. I also enjoyed the human rights course, as it allowed me to learn about all the messed up stuff that is going on in the home countries of my fellow students.
I also want to dedicate some words to the Japanese food. Bad food seemingly doesn't exist in Japan. I enjoyed trying all the different restaurants surrounding my dorm. The cafeteria food was also really enjoyable, although sometimes there were questionable things on the menu (risotto isn't supposed to look that soupy).
Aside from coursework, I also went on plenty of trips to all kinds of different places, ranging from an all you can eat strawberry farm, to the snowy lands of Hokkaido. There is honestly so much fun stuff to discover around Japan.
Lastly, I think what really made my exchange was the people I've met. All of the Japanese people - both professors and students - were all super kind. Also, meeting so many people from around the world was a nice experience. I hope to visit some of them in the future.
If you decide to go to Japan to do an exchange, I can guarantee you will have an amazing time too.
Study period: Fall 2024
Going on exchange to Japan has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. In the semester that I've spent there, I've met countless nice people, tried countless different foods, and visited countless different places. The IPLA courses I took were a really nice breath of fresh air from my home universities curriculum. I especially enjoyed the Japanese comedy course. For this course, we had to make a 4 minute Japanese style comedy video. This course really forced me out of my comfort zone, and I feel like this course helped me grow as a person a lot. I also enjoyed the human rights course, as it allowed me to learn about all the messed up stuff that is going on in the home countries of my fellow students. I also want to dedicate some words to the Japanese food. Bad food seemingly doesn't exist in Japan. I enjoyed trying all the different restaurants surrounding my dorm. The cafeteria food was also really enjoyable, although sometimes there were questionable things on the menu (risotto isn't supposed to look that soupy). Aside from coursework, I also went on plenty of trips to all kinds of different places, ranging from an all you can eat strawberry farm, to the snowy lands of Hokkaido. There is honestly so much fun stuff to discover around Japan. Lastly, I think what really made my exchange was the people I've met. All of the Japanese people - both professors and students - were all super kind. Also, meeting so many people from around the world was a nice experience. I hope to visit some of them in the future. If you decide to go to Japan to do an exchange, I can guarantee you will have an amazing time too.
Wang Yuan Lun (National Taipei University of Technology, Taiwan)
Study period: Fall 2024
This semester, I had the opportunity to participate in the IPLA program, where I took various courses that enriched my Japanese language skills and cultural understanding. I enrolled in Business Japanese, where I learned keigo (formal Japanese), practiced business conversations, and participated in mock interviews. Additionally, my Japanese Speaking & Writing classes helped me improve through multiple presentations and writing exercises, including an article on “my recommendation” and a presentation about “sense of distance with Japanese people.
Beyond language learning, I took International Exchange classes, where I introduced my home university and discussed international issues with students from different countries. The most enjoyable courses were Performance and Comedy, where I participated in a model show and performed a Japanese owarai show, making the learning experience both fun and interactive.
For my Entrepreneurship project, my team developed a business idea focused on ginkgo trees in Kotodai Park, aiming to collect and recycle the nuts before they crack to prevent unpleasant odors. Our innovative idea won first place and an Amazon gift card.
Above all, what I cherish most are the social experiences and friendships I have gained. This semester has been transformative, and I am grateful for everyone who contributed to my growth.
Study period: Fall 2024
This semester, I had the opportunity to participate in the IPLA program, where I took various courses that enriched my Japanese language skills and cultural understanding. I enrolled in Business Japanese, where I learned keigo (formal Japanese), practiced business conversations, and participated in mock interviews. Additionally, my Japanese Speaking & Writing classes helped me improve through multiple presentations and writing exercises, including an article on “my recommendation” and a presentation about “sense of distance with Japanese people.
Beyond language learning, I took International Exchange classes, where I introduced my home university and discussed international issues with students from different countries. The most enjoyable courses were Performance and Comedy, where I participated in a model show and performed a Japanese owarai show, making the learning experience both fun and interactive.
For my Entrepreneurship project, my team developed a business idea focused on ginkgo trees in Kotodai Park, aiming to collect and recycle the nuts before they crack to prevent unpleasant odors. Our innovative idea won first place and an Amazon gift card.
Above all, what I cherish most are the social experiences and friendships I have gained. This semester has been transformative, and I am grateful for everyone who contributed to my growth.
LI JIAQIAN (Yangzhou University ,China)
Study period: Fall 2024
The five months’ life in Tohoku University is an excellent experience. I meet lots of friends who come from various countries in IPLA and even JYPE. All of them are very kind and humorous. In the Japanese class, we practice our Japanese abilities together and communicate the difference among different countries. After class, we go out to play and travel. Sendai is literally a beautiful city. The green plants here indicate the eco-friendly living style and the good environment here which is totally different from the description of my country’s media. IPLA offers me my first chance to meet so many foreigners and practice my English and Japanese language abilities. I learned how to successfully communicate under multicultural background with people from different countries. This experience truly broaden my horizon. Simple learning from textbooks is not enough at all. We need to practice what we learned before in real life. This is the meaning of learning which is also the reason why I recommend IPLA. Here has the most free atmosphere for you to learn and grow up. None of us want to leave. But the happy time always flies quickly. It’s time to say goodbye. But I think our friendship will never end. And our serendipity with Sendai and Japan just starts.
No photos
Study period: Fall 2024
The five months’ life in Tohoku University is an excellent experience. I meet lots of friends who come from various countries in IPLA and even JYPE. All of them are very kind and humorous. In the Japanese class, we practice our Japanese abilities together and communicate the difference among different countries. After class, we go out to play and travel. Sendai is literally a beautiful city. The green plants here indicate the eco-friendly living style and the good environment here which is totally different from the description of my country’s media. IPLA offers me my first chance to meet so many foreigners and practice my English and Japanese language abilities. I learned how to successfully communicate under multicultural background with people from different countries. This experience truly broaden my horizon. Simple learning from textbooks is not enough at all. We need to practice what we learned before in real life. This is the meaning of learning which is also the reason why I recommend IPLA. Here has the most free atmosphere for you to learn and grow up. None of us want to leave. But the happy time always flies quickly. It’s time to say goodbye. But I think our friendship will never end. And our serendipity with Sendai and Japan just starts.
Clara Jane Hickey (University of Groningen, Netherlands)
Study period: Fall 2024
The IPLA (International Program in Liberal Arts) at Tohoku University provided me with a deep and nuanced understanding of Japanese culture and teamwork. Through engaging coursework, cultural immersion, and group projects, I gained insight into Japan’s social values, traditions, and communication styles. The program emphasized the importance of harmony (wa) in Japanese society, which is reflected in teamwork dynamics. Unlike Western approaches that often prioritize individual initiative, Japanese teamwork places significant emphasis on consensus-building, patience, and non-verbal communication.
Participating in collaborative projects with Japanese students helped me appreciate these cultural nuances firsthand. I learned how decisions are made collectively, often through indirect communication and careful consideration of group harmony. This experience challenged my own expectations of efficiency and leadership, teaching me the value of adaptability and mutual respect.
Additionally, cultural activities, such as tea ceremonies and shrine visits, deepened my appreciation for Japan’s historical and spiritual traditions. Understanding concepts like omotenashi (hospitality) and tatemae-honne (the contrast between public and private expression) allowed me to navigate social interactions more effectively.
Overall, IPLA broadened my perspective, not only on Japanese culture but also on cross-cultural teamwork, fostering skills that will be invaluable in future academic and professional settings.
No photos
Study period: Fall 2024
The IPLA (International Program in Liberal Arts) at Tohoku University provided me with a deep and nuanced understanding of Japanese culture and teamwork. Through engaging coursework, cultural immersion, and group projects, I gained insight into Japan’s social values, traditions, and communication styles. The program emphasized the importance of harmony (wa) in Japanese society, which is reflected in teamwork dynamics. Unlike Western approaches that often prioritize individual initiative, Japanese teamwork places significant emphasis on consensus-building, patience, and non-verbal communication.
Participating in collaborative projects with Japanese students helped me appreciate these cultural nuances firsthand. I learned how decisions are made collectively, often through indirect communication and careful consideration of group harmony. This experience challenged my own expectations of efficiency and leadership, teaching me the value of adaptability and mutual respect.
Additionally, cultural activities, such as tea ceremonies and shrine visits, deepened my appreciation for Japan’s historical and spiritual traditions. Understanding concepts like omotenashi (hospitality) and tatemae-honne (the contrast between public and private expression) allowed me to navigate social interactions more effectively.
Overall, IPLA broadened my perspective, not only on Japanese culture but also on cross-cultural teamwork, fostering skills that will be invaluable in future academic and professional settings.
WANG FEIYANG (Southwest University, China)
Study period: Fall 2023
I have really learnt and experienced a lot during this term. I am very grateful to Tohoku University for providing us with opportunities for cultural exchange, not only have I been exposed to Japanese culture in the classroom, but I have also had the opportunity to interact with students from different cultural backgrounds, and I have met very kind students here, for example, I lost my wallet twice both times it went smoothly and I received an email from the school immediately ten minutes after I lost it! I will always remember this trip to Japan~!
No photos
Study period: Fall 2023
I have really learnt and experienced a lot during this term. I am very grateful to Tohoku University for providing us with opportunities for cultural exchange, not only have I been exposed to Japanese culture in the classroom, but I have also had the opportunity to interact with students from different cultural backgrounds, and I have met very kind students here, for example, I lost my wallet twice both times it went smoothly and I received an email from the school immediately ten minutes after I lost it! I will always remember this trip to Japan~!
MUNSUKSANG NATCHA (Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology, Thailand)
Study period: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
Hi! I’m Yam from Thailand. Before I joined IPLA program in Tohoku University, I did a little bit of research for studying and living here, Sendai. There are just two reasons, first: the environment in Sendai is quite quiet among nature, so that the cost of living here isn’t expensive compared to the capital. But there are more convenient facilities than I expected. Second: Tohoku university is the first Japanese University that accepts foreign students, So I am sure that they will provide a system to support international students. And it did! Due to that point, the program’s environment is very international than I expected. There are many people from more than 10 countries in an IPLA program, so I have experienced making new friends from different countries and it was such a great memorable life abroad!
In terms of classes, the IPLA program provided many interesting classes with limitless qualification. Even though my major is in the international business department, I was able to take classes about sea politics law, the PBL class which collaborated with Sendai local companies and other classes that have a high chance to talk to Japanese people. It taught me how to do a business in Japanese and also the way of thinking from people around the world. Those help me to understand and practice how to work with the international environment condition and various attitudes by less conflict.
And who expects whether the Japanese skill will improve or not, I appreciated that my Japanese skill reached a certain level of being able to communicate with not only friends but normal people in daily life or news after joining an exchange program. Hence, It inspires me to cooperate with more Japanese companies or agencies in any aspect in the near future.
If you have any problem about living in Sendai or studying or even making some new friends, I recommend you to contact the professor adviser and your tutor who will be matched before the semester starts. Don’t worry that you will be alone, IPLAnet—a domestic student’s circle—who will hold activities to help you connect new people as well!
Study period: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
Hi! I’m Yam from Thailand. Before I joined IPLA program in Tohoku University, I did a little bit of research for studying and living here, Sendai. There are just two reasons, first: the environment in Sendai is quite quiet among nature, so that the cost of living here isn’t expensive compared to the capital. But there are more convenient facilities than I expected. Second: Tohoku university is the first Japanese University that accepts foreign students, So I am sure that they will provide a system to support international students. And it did! Due to that point, the program’s environment is very international than I expected. There are many people from more than 10 countries in an IPLA program, so I have experienced making new friends from different countries and it was such a great memorable life abroad!
In terms of classes, the IPLA program provided many interesting classes with limitless qualification. Even though my major is in the international business department, I was able to take classes about sea politics law, the PBL class which collaborated with Sendai local companies and other classes that have a high chance to talk to Japanese people. It taught me how to do a business in Japanese and also the way of thinking from people around the world. Those help me to understand and practice how to work with the international environment condition and various attitudes by less conflict.
And who expects whether the Japanese skill will improve or not, I appreciated that my Japanese skill reached a certain level of being able to communicate with not only friends but normal people in daily life or news after joining an exchange program. Hence, It inspires me to cooperate with more Japanese companies or agencies in any aspect in the near future.
If you have any problem about living in Sendai or studying or even making some new friends, I recommend you to contact the professor adviser and your tutor who will be matched before the semester starts. Don’t worry that you will be alone, IPLAnet—a domestic student’s circle—who will hold activities to help you connect new people as well!
Daniele Micocci (University of Florence, Italy)
Study period: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
Hi! My name is Daniele Micocci from Italy. This one-year experience in Japan has been intense in various ways. Even though the pandemic hardly affected our lives in the past years, IPLA allowed us to experience the exchange program at its fullest since our arrival at Tohoku University. I had the chance to attend lots of interesting classes in which I could deepen my knowledge of Japanese Culture and Intercultural Communication. The most interesting things from an academic point of view are the ICL classes, that is to say, classes made to boost the interactions between local and foreign students. Thanks to the IPLANET, I had the chance to experience lots of traditions of Miyagi prefecture (e.g. Imoni-kai) and to make beautiful friendships easily. IPLA helped me to understand better what I would like to do in my future career as well, with the active support of the professors, since I want to continue my research about fictional male homosexual works in Japanese Pop Culture and Literature.
To future IPLA students, I would suggest not being afraid and enjoying this experience at its fullest by attending classes and partaking in extra-curricular activities organized by IPLANET or by circles/clubs. Time flies and even a ""one-year exchange"" may not be as long as you think when its end will come near.
Study period: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023
Hi! My name is Daniele Micocci from Italy. This one-year experience in Japan has been intense in various ways. Even though the pandemic hardly affected our lives in the past years, IPLA allowed us to experience the exchange program at its fullest since our arrival at Tohoku University. I had the chance to attend lots of interesting classes in which I could deepen my knowledge of Japanese Culture and Intercultural Communication. The most interesting things from an academic point of view are the ICL classes, that is to say, classes made to boost the interactions between local and foreign students. Thanks to the IPLANET, I had the chance to experience lots of traditions of Miyagi prefecture (e.g. Imoni-kai) and to make beautiful friendships easily. IPLA helped me to understand better what I would like to do in my future career as well, with the active support of the professors, since I want to continue my research about fictional male homosexual works in Japanese Pop Culture and Literature.
To future IPLA students, I would suggest not being afraid and enjoying this experience at its fullest by attending classes and partaking in extra-curricular activities organized by IPLANET or by circles/clubs. Time flies and even a ""one-year exchange"" may not be as long as you think when its end will come near.
Ewann Lotz (Université Grenoble-Alpes, France)
Study period: Fall 2020 - Spring 2021
Hello everyone, I'm Ewann Lotz and I’m studying at Tohoku University as an IPLA student for the 2020 Fall and 2021 Spring semester. I had a lot of fun in this exchange program with all the classes, like International Project, and also during IPLANET events like the onsen event where I had the opportunity to learn more about Japanese and other countries’ cultures.
This program will help me in my professional career since I want to work in the international trade sector and I think that understanding other cultures is really important to succeed.
To all the future IPLA students, enjoy this experience and take some time to discuss with other students, as you'll learn a lot from this. You are not alone and you will always find someone to help you!
Study period: Fall 2020 - Spring 2021
Hello everyone, I'm Ewann Lotz and I’m studying at Tohoku University as an IPLA student for the 2020 Fall and 2021 Spring semester. I had a lot of fun in this exchange program with all the classes, like International Project, and also during IPLANET events like the onsen event where I had the opportunity to learn more about Japanese and other countries’ cultures.
This program will help me in my professional career since I want to work in the international trade sector and I think that understanding other cultures is really important to succeed.
To all the future IPLA students, enjoy this experience and take some time to discuss with other students, as you'll learn a lot from this. You are not alone and you will always find someone to help you!
Gregory Quist (University at Albany, State University of New York)
Study period: Fall 2017 – Spring 2018
Current affiliation: Operations Analyst at Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management
Participating in IPLA is my most fond memory from undergraduate studies. This program afforded me the opportunity to make lifelong friendships and connections with people from every continent and diverse backgrounds. This is of course experienced in tandem with the world class curriculum offered through IPLA. The coursework is both engaging and relevant to anyone seriously considering a global career.
I will never forget carrying the “mikoshi” along with my classmates for a town in northern Miyagi prefecture. This town had seen a migration of young people leave since the 3.11 earthquake, but they opened their hearts and homes to us and we all celebrated their holiday.
IPLA showed me that a global career is possible. But most importantly it taught me to embrace new surroundings and outlooks, which are skills important for any career path.
Study period: Fall 2017 – Spring 2018
Current affiliation: Operations Analyst at Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management
Participating in IPLA is my most fond memory from undergraduate studies. This program afforded me the opportunity to make lifelong friendships and connections with people from every continent and diverse backgrounds. This is of course experienced in tandem with the world class curriculum offered through IPLA. The coursework is both engaging and relevant to anyone seriously considering a global career.
I will never forget carrying the “mikoshi” along with my classmates for a town in northern Miyagi prefecture. This town had seen a migration of young people leave since the 3.11 earthquake, but they opened their hearts and homes to us and we all celebrated their holiday.
IPLA showed me that a global career is possible. But most importantly it taught me to embrace new surroundings and outlooks, which are skills important for any career path.
Winatcha Peerapattanapokin (Cat), Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Study period: Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
IPLA is a program that has changed my life forever. If you are looking for world-class education in Liberal Arts, this program is for you. As an alumni, I find the program structure highly well-constructed, and it has served my career purposes to understand Japanese corporate culture and the Japanese language. The faculty is fantastically supportive from the start of your education and will continue to be so even after you graduate. The staff and the teachers are simply amazing. IPLA has a student support group called IPLANET, which is made of local students who would love to learn about your culture and would be happy to support and be with you along the journey.
Being a proud alumni, I highly recommend this program to you. Personally, I have made countless friends from literally all over the world and we continue to contact each other today. We have studied together, partied together, helped each other out during challenging times, and visited each other in our home countries since the program has ended. I still remember one day when my Japanese, German, Austrian, Dutch, and Turkish friends came to my dormitory so we could share our home cooked meals. The IPLA program allows us to have such experiences.
Apart from its hospitality, Tohoku is highly recognized for its education. It is ranked the 79th top school in the world by QS Global World Rankings 2021. You will have access to world-class libraries, dormitories, and student support. You will be surrounded by peers that encourage you to be a better person than you already are when you first arrive here, and I can tell you Tohoku University will open up doors for you in the future.
No matter your reason for attending here —your studies, research, amazing trips in Japan, or a change in your life— IPLA is one of the finest programs out there. The only thing you need to remember is this program will provide you with opportunities to meet hundreds of people who are different from you in terms of culture and race, so please be respectful, learn new perspectives, and have fun!
Study period: Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
IPLA is a program that has changed my life forever. If you are looking for world-class education in Liberal Arts, this program is for you. As an alumni, I find the program structure highly well-constructed, and it has served my career purposes to understand Japanese corporate culture and the Japanese language. The faculty is fantastically supportive from the start of your education and will continue to be so even after you graduate. The staff and the teachers are simply amazing. IPLA has a student support group called IPLANET, which is made of local students who would love to learn about your culture and would be happy to support and be with you along the journey.
Being a proud alumni, I highly recommend this program to you. Personally, I have made countless friends from literally all over the world and we continue to contact each other today. We have studied together, partied together, helped each other out during challenging times, and visited each other in our home countries since the program has ended. I still remember one day when my Japanese, German, Austrian, Dutch, and Turkish friends came to my dormitory so we could share our home cooked meals. The IPLA program allows us to have such experiences.
Apart from its hospitality, Tohoku is highly recognized for its education. It is ranked the 79th top school in the world by QS Global World Rankings 2021. You will have access to world-class libraries, dormitories, and student support. You will be surrounded by peers that encourage you to be a better person than you already are when you first arrive here, and I can tell you Tohoku University will open up doors for you in the future.
No matter your reason for attending here —your studies, research, amazing trips in Japan, or a change in your life— IPLA is one of the finest programs out there. The only thing you need to remember is this program will provide you with opportunities to meet hundreds of people who are different from you in terms of culture and race, so please be respectful, learn new perspectives, and have fun!
Minkyun Bong (Kookmin University, South Korea)
Before I came to Japan, I could only say greetings and basic Japanese even though my major is Japanese studies. Living abroad is totally different from how you lived before. At first, I had many difficulties but thanks to the IPLA program, I could improve my Japanese skill to the intermediate/advanced level and experience a lot of things!
First, for academic achievement, Tohoku University has many global, international courses. Throughout the courses I could learn communication skills, and studied deeply about Japanese business and contemporary culture. Japan has a great history and traditional culture. I participated Aoba Matsuri as a Suzume dancer! I also went on an organized volunteer tour in Onagawa town, and felt the local community in an area devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Exchange student life can give you wonderful opportunities to experience Japanese culture.
Also I taught Korean language and culture at the Global Café, where I interacted with various people from all around the world and now we became close friends!
You will have unforgettable memories if you spend time in Japan. Just come and enjoy the life here, in Sendai, Japan.
Kathrin Knaup (Paderborn University, Germany)
Studying in Japan has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. To be honest, before I came to Japan I was kind of anxious, I didn’t have much knowledge about Japanese culture, and I couldn’t speak Japanese.
My fears were unfounded. The IPLA program at Tohoku University is a hugely supportive program that gave me a unique opportunity to experience Japan and get to know new people. I’ve met so many international friends who’ve made my life in Japan special. They helped me see the world in a different and more open-minded perspective. Having Japanese classes together, speaking English to each other and meeting the Japanese students from IPLANET made my time at Tohoku University unforgettable and astonishing.
Being an exchange student at Tohoku University was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I recommend it to everyone who is currently considering studying abroad.
Dariia Serikova (Moscow State University, Russia)
My name is Dariia（ダリア）and I am studying at Moscow State University, majoring in International Relations. I have always been interested in foreign countries, their languages and cultures. Especially I have always admired Japan and Japanese society at large, that is why now being able to study at Tohoku University is indeed a dream come true for me! Thanks to IPLA I had an amazing opportunity to see with my own eyes this wonderful country and experience everything Japan can offer. And I can say for sure, that it definitely has a lot to offer.
In my opinion, Japan is a unique country because it preserves traditions and important customs from the past, and at the same time it adopts innovations which the modern era offers, adapting those innovations to Japanese society and its needs. And as for society, I would really like to mention that Japanese people are friendly and cooperative to the greatest extent. Everyone, I met during my stay here was nothing but kind and extremely supportive. Never have I ever here in Sendai felt homesick thanks to the serene and, at the same time, exhilarating atmosphere, which is a part and parcel of Japanese lifestyle, as it seemed to me at least.
To sum it up, I would like to say that I am thankful that I had a chance to become an IPLA student which enabled me to learn something new, both professional and personal experience wise. Not only have I been able to gain a better understating of aspects relevant to my research, but I also managed to make some really good friends who are amazing personalities. I have definitely created memories for a lifetime, and at the end of the day, isn’t it the most important thing in life? To actually make it count!
Jakob Weickmann (University of Vienna, Austria)
We live in times of rapid change. At our fingertips lie the possibilities of connecting with people from anywhere in the world. I believe that our generation has the tools to bring about fundamental improvements, everywhere. It is the first time in history where we are peacefully exchanging with people from other countries, other cultures, or other religions on a global scale. This is a huge chance to gain a modern understanding of ourselves, to see a bigger perspective, and to work together for something great.
However, there is only a fine line between bringing different people together in peace and understanding, and breaking them apart in fear. In IPLA we walked the tightrope together, learning from each other, communicating about ourselves and our cultures, and holding each other when we started to falter. IPLA offers much more than just the chance to take classes in a foreign country. It presents a unique opportunity to get much needed skills in intercultural communication and to truly connect with students from other countries. Together we can come closer to realizing what kind of world we want to shape. Personally, it also gave me a more optimistic outlook on life as a whole, and an experience of real friendship. When you have just entered IPLA it may still be hard to believe, but trust me, you will meet some of your best friends here. And let us be honest, we were having a lot of fun in the city of trees.
Andhika Putra Sudarman (University of Indonesia)
Have you tried eating 300 cherries in less than 2 hours? Imagined yourself running in winter throwing snowballs with your friends? Living with cool people from more than 20 countries? Or simply seen someone so drunk that he started to tell all his secrets in his broken Japanese and Thai?
Now making a simple decision could change those into reality.
I believe you have heard that Japan is a fascinating place. In my case, I was told that Japan was one of the best places on Earth – the people are kind, the foods are delicious, the places are beautiful, the festivals are amazing, and of course, it is where all the legendary animes/mangas plus real hi-tech tools exist. And guess what? Those are real.
Not convinced yet?
327 out of 327 exchange students who studied in Tohoku University (including me) said they have learned so much and have had the most amazing year in their life. Everyone thinks that this year was just like a dream. Tohoku University gave us so many opportunities. Visiting shrines, temples, and museums in fall, snowboarding in winter, seeing Sakura and picking cherries in spring, and having a picnic by the river in summer. Going to Tohoku University is definitely one of the best decisions in my life. I totally recommend Tohoku University to everyone.
Sivaporn Suranetinai (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand)
My one year exchange experience in IPLA was a blast! I have experienced so many things that will surely benefit my entire life. I made lots of international friends which made me see the world differently from before. I learned how to adapt myself to people with various backgrounds in order to understand and be friends with them. Spending one year here has proved to me that despite the fact that we all came from different parts of the world, we have a lot of things in common.
I can truly say that this one-year experience as an exchange student has changed my life forever. All the amazing people from all over the world, the IPLANET members who are always there for you, and the beautiful learning environment of Tohoku University all made my time at this university so memorable.
In IPLA, we communicate in both English and Japanese (and other languages). We take classes and enjoy many activities together. And the most important thing is 'Little by little, we grow up together'.
Being an exchange student in IPLA will not only help you learn about other languages and cultures but it will also make you understand more about your own self which in my opinion is one of the many good things that this program can provide you.
Do not miss the chance of a lifetime!
