Nineteen Tokyo Tech students from twelve countries and regions were appointed as Student Ambassadors in academic year 2024.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Student Ambassadors initiative since its launch in 2020. As representatives of Tokyo Tech, Student Ambassadors share their experiences and impressions of campus life, studies, and research at the Institute by communicating with prospective international students and other readers through the Ambassadors' Blog. These current students also participate in Tokyo Tech's study abroad fairs, and contribute to other admissions and public relations activities while fostering stronger bonds between international students.
The ambassadors' activities commenced at a kick-off ceremony held on May 22 at Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza in the presence of Executive Vice President for Education Jun-ichi Imura and Professor Tomohiro Nozaki from the School of Engineering.
Seven of Tokyo Tech's newest Student Ambassadors share their thoughts below.
Kyle — Philippines
2nd-year master's student, Civil and Environmental Engineering
My family and I have always had a penchant for traveling and exploring different countries, and we fell deeply in love with Japan after my sister's short stay as an exchange student in Japan. That, as well as a desire to pursue further education in a country on the cutting edge of civil engineering, brought me here to Tokyo Tech. Currently, I'm a MEXT scholar and a master's student in the Next Generation Infrastructure Laboratory (Chijiwa Laboratory), where I am conducting research on the performance, maintenance, and repair of concrete structures. In my downtime, you will often find me buried in manga, taking strolls through nature, indulging in travel and food adventures, and enjoying gaming sessions with friends. Adjusting to life in Japan has been both challenging and fulfilling, and I hope to share my experiences to assist fellow students in navigating this beautiful country.
Jessica — Indonesia
1st-year master's student, Mathematical and Computing Science
Having spent my undergraduate life at this lovely university, Tokyo Tech has a special place in my heart. Over the past four years, it has become the best place for me to grow, both academically and socially. The Institute offers me an exceptional academic experience with generous opportunities and guidance in my computer science research. Additionally, my journey here as an international student has been enriched by memorable time spent with my friends, exploring Japanese culture, language, and much more. I would love to share my journey and explore many more things with you.
Selene — Italy
2nd-year master's student, Life Science and Technology
Ciao, I am Selene. I enrolled in the Earth–Life Science Institute (ELSI) program, an integrated master's and doctoral program, where I am researching the origin of life on Earth and beyond. I did my undergraduate in archaeology because I wanted to discover what the Earth could tell us about our past. Now, my research is in prebiotic chemistry, investigating what processes might have sparked the origin of life on Earth's ancient ocean hydrothermal vents. Outside academia, I am a rugby player and also have been in the university karate club since my first year. When I'm not studying or practicing, I like to travel, discover new foods, and hike.
Kei — Malaysia
2nd-year doctoral student, Life Science and Technology
I have been part of the Tokyo Tech community since my master's course began in 2020. Currently, I am in the second year of my doctoral course with my lab based at Ookayama Campus. Being an outgoing person, I enjoy connecting with people from diverse backgrounds because hearing their stories is like experiencing the world through their eyes. During my three years in Japan so far, I have ventured to the peaceful Tohoku region and historical Kyoto. Both left me with unforgettable memories! I am glad for the opportunity to study at Tokyo Tech, which allows me to delve into Japanese culture and grow as a scientist. I look forward to welcoming you and sharing my experiences at this wonderful university.
Jinnie — Thailand
3rd year, Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
I have just started my third year in the Global Scientists and Engineers Program (GSEP) under the Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering. It has already been two years since I first came to Japan, and it has been fun and full of experiences. I love to spend my free time trying new foods from different prefectures because cuisine is engraved with history and culture. But the most important thing is that Japanese foods are so delicious! I also love volunteering and meeting new people from different backgrounds, so I spend lots of my free time joining international student activities and camps. I am looking forward to sharing both my work and fun experiences with everyone as a Tokyo Tech Student Ambassador.
Parm — Thailand
3rd year, Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
I am from a city in the eastern region of Thailand called Rayong and currently a 3rd-year undergraduate student in GSEP, where I am studying topics from various fields of engineering. Other than studying, being an international student at Tokyo Tech gives me opportunities to gain life skills. I have found that the challenges I have faced in this beautiful country have helped me grow socially. In my free time, I love to travel around and visit landmarks as well as festivals in different prefectures. I am also a huge fan of Japanese food and I often try out new, and sometimes strange, dishes whenever I can. As a Student Ambassador, I hope that I can share my story and help make life in Japan an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Shambhava — India
2nd year, Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Originally from the bustling city of New Delhi, India, I came to Japan in pursuit of new adventures and to connect with people from all sorts of distinct backgrounds. As part of the GSEP program, I have been able to do just that. While adjusting to this unique environment was mostly smooth sailing, my greatest challenge was being able to procure food as a vegetarian. However, I made incredible friends here who helped me learn new ways of cooking and finding more accommodating restaurants, which significantly helped me overcome this struggle. My interests range from programming, graphic design, and visual effects to blogging and reading. Additionally, I love delving into strategic games such as chess and sudoku, and more recently, into music production.
