Profile
From China
First-year student,
Division of Architecture and Urban Studies,
Faculty of Urban Environmental Sciences
Q1.Why did you decide to major in architecture?
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake occurred when I was a junior high school student, and I went to the affected areas to take part in volunteer activities. What I saw there was mostly collapsed buildings and houses flattened to the ground. While Japan is also a country with frequent earthquakes, after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, there was an increase in the number of quake-resistant buildings, which prevented the severe destruction of buildings during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake as compared to the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Japan has sophisticated technologies in the field of architecture and that’s why I decided to come to Japan to study architecture so I could build secure buildings in China.
Q2.Why did you choose TMU?
TMU is ranked as one of the top universities in Japan and gained worldwide acclaim for its high number of cited papers on a global basis. I also heard that TMU boasts a high number of notable professors and teachers. I accordingly did some research and found that TMU is a university where four universities merged to become one university and originally has a long history. In addition, when I came here on a campus tour, I thought that the campus was spacious with great scenery and was equipped with a quiet library that offers a perfect environment for students to focus on studying.
Q3.How did you prepare for the entrance exam for TMU?
After graduating from a high school in China, I came to Japan and spent a year and a half studying the Japanese language at a Japanese language school. Additionally, I went to a cram school for Chinese students to get into a university in Japan, and there, I enthusiastically studied past exam questions to pass the entrance exam. Since I could pass the entrance exam for TMU, I am now a teacher for that cram school.
Q4.How are you currently taking classes at TMU?
As a freshman in the architecture major, I mostly take basic science classes besides two to three other specialized courses. I also take Japanese classes twice a week. During the math and physics classes, the first half of the class is a lecture and the latter half is focused on solving a variety of problems. Whenever I run into a difficult problem, my Japanese classmates take time and explain in detail how to solve the problem, which is very helpful. I also made friends with many Japanese students. I am excited about my sophomore year because I will be able to take more specialized courses.
Q5.How do you usually spend your day?
I wake up at eight in the morning when I have a class in the first period, but if I don’t, I wake up at nine and take a shower. I change clothes and head to school and then eat breakfast in the cafeteria. I take a class from 10:30 a.m., and after class, I go to the cafeteria to have lunch with my friends. In the afternoon, I usually have classes until fourth period. After class, I go to the library and study mainly what I could not understand during class. Around 5:30 p.m., I eat dinner in the cafeteria and then go home. I don’t cook for myself at all, so I go to the cafeteria for my three meals because the food is tasty and affordable. My favorite menu now is a sundubu jjigae and chicken topped with a grated daikon radish sauce. When I get home, I spend the rest of the day relaxing unless I have an exam coming up. I enjoy chatting on the Internet with friends in China, talking to friends in Japan through Line, and watching dramas.
Q6.Advice for international students looking to study at TMU.
Although some people have not heard of TMU, in my opinion, TMU has a great capacity to grow larger. All professors are very helpful to international students. It is quite difficult to enter TMU as an undergraduate student, though you would be just fine if you properly understand the previous exam questions and make an effort. Good luck!
- This content is at the time of the interview.