天美影视

-What do you think is attractive about GSC now that you've spent four years there?

I think the biggest attraction is undergraduate study abroad. Of course, learning the language is important, but the significance of studying abroad is to learn things, objects, and people that you don't know. I think that living in Japan makes it difficult to think critically because we are bound by common sense and stereotypes. GSC offers programs that focus on Asia. I feel that the intention is for students to develop critical thinking skills and acquire the adaptability to accept different cultures.

- I'd like to ask you more specifically about the undergraduate study abroad program, which is the main pillar of your department. Please tell us the name of the university you studied at and why you chose that university. Also, what did you want to learn and acquire through your study abroad experience? Please also tell us about the areas in which you feel you have grown.

Study abroad location: Thammasat University (Thailand)

The reason I chose Thammasat University was because it has a large campus in Rangsit and I wanted to interact with local students. The school has a faculty of architecture, so it was the ideal environment for me, who wanted to learn basic knowledge of architecture in English. At the end of the semester, we held a joint presentation with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and our group was awarded. It made me realize that hard work pays off, and it encouraged me to continue on. I was able to grow in the areas of improved communication skills and the toughness to adapt to different environments.

-Please tell us your motivation and circumstances for applying to graduate school, and what research topic you plan to explore there.

When I was deciding on a seminar in my second year, I told Professor Atsuyuki Okabe that I wanted to work in the architecture field in the future, and he suggested that I go to graduate school in the United States. Until then, I had never even considered going to graduate school, so I was confused, but my horizons were greatly broadened. At my university, I will be researching disaster-resistant building design using GIS (geographic information system). After graduation, I would like to work for an international organization and design cheap and safe buildings for people in developing countries who suffer from disasters. I would like to return to Japan someday and contribute to society by creating buildings that can flexibly respond to all kinds of natural disasters, not just earthquakes and tsunamis.

-Looking back on your four years of learning at GSC and your own growth, please write about the areas in which you felt (or were able to) grow during your first through fourth years and why.

▼ First year
I was especially impressed by the Academic English class, which met six times a week. I was exposed to English every day, so I could really feel my progress, and I was also able to build relationships with my classmates where we could encourage each other.

▼2nd year
I was interested in lectures that dealt with spatial matters, so I focused on spatial information studies, such as "Applied Spatial Information Studies" and "Spatial Analysis." As my career path became clearer, I considered what I should study to achieve my goal and took these courses.

▼Third year
Through studying abroad, I was able to clarify my goals. Presenting a poster at the 2017 Geographic Information Systems Association is a fond memory.

▼ 4th year
The seminar got into full swing, and during the seminar camp in August, the bonds between my classmates became even stronger. When the long process of preparing for graduate school came to an end and I received the results, I strongly felt that all my efforts had not been in vain.