Real Voice in Japan #001
This time, we interviewed “Kaya” (nickname), an international student from China who is studying at a university in Japan while working part-time at an izakaya in Tokyo.
Profile
- Nickname: Kaya
- Age: 19
- Place of Origin: Xi’an, China
- Started Living in Japan: April 2024
- Residence Status: Student (Student Visa)
- Affiliation: University in Japan (Art-related field), Manga Major
“I Want to Study Japanese More”
Kaya began studying Japanese during her third year of high school in China.
She studied Japanese for about six months at a private language cram school.
“There are many schools in China where you can study Japanese and other foreign languages. People study for different reasons—hobbies, studying abroad, work, or exams.”
She then took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2. She narrowly missed passing on her first attempt, but after coming to Japan and studying at a Japanese language school for one year, she passed on her second try.
After that, she entered a Japanese university.
“I want to challenge the N1 level next. I still want to keep studying Japanese.”
Wanting to Be Deeply Involved with Manga
Kaya is currently majoring in manga at a Japanese university. She was inspired by Japanese manga and came to Japan to study it.
She explained that there are not many universities in Japan where manga can be studied as a specialized major, so the options were limited.
“At first, I chose this major because I wanted to draw manga. But after entering university, I realized there are many other possibilities, such as editing and producing manga-related goods.”
In the future, she hopes to support manga artists as an editor and to be involved in producing anime and manga merchandise or organizing events.
Enjoying Her Part-Time Job – A Supportive Workplace
Kaya has previously worked part-time at a discount store.
She is currently working at an izakaya.
“I really enjoy my current part-time job. The owner and staff are very kind, and they teach me many things.”
She mainly helps with food preparation and works in the dining area.
She also spoke honestly about having experienced power harassment and sexual harassment at a previous workplace.
“I don’t think this is only a problem in Japan. It’s not about nationality—it’s about people.”
Her words reflect her kindness and maturity.
At present, she says she has no problems or concerns at work.
Things That Surprised Her – Differences Between Japan and China
Overall, Kaya says she has experienced very few difficulties living in Japan.
However, at first, she was confused by the complexity of Japan’s train system.
“Even when I checked Google Maps, I often made mistakes at first.”
She also noticed differences in administrative procedures and medical systems between Japan and China.
- Applications and procedures take time
- Hospitals often require reservations and have closing days
- Rental apartments usually come without furniture or appliances
- Rent systems, including deposits and key money, are expensive and hard to understand
“In China, it’s normal for apartments to come fully furnished, so Japanese apartments surprised me at first.”
“I Really Like Japan”
On the other hand, Kaya feels that life in Japan suits her very well.
“I think Japan is a good country for living alone. The distance between people feels just right for me.”
She also mentioned the convenience of daily life, such as convenience stores and online services.
She enjoys fashion and often goes shopping in areas like Harajuku. She is also interested in Lolita fashion and enjoys expressing herself through her hairstyle and clothing.
Her Future Dreams
Although she says she is still exploring her future path, Kaya has one strong aspiration.
“The thing I want to do most is to protect animals.”
After raising a cat during high school, her feelings toward animals grew stronger. Many of the manga she has created so far feature animals as central themes.
“Manga is a form of expression that can reach many people. I want to share the importance of caring for animals with the world.”
While living in China, she participated in volunteer activities related to animal protection, support for the elderly, and LGBT communities.
She hopes to expand her volunteer activities in Japan as well.
Toward a World with Better Understanding
Kaya shared her thoughts about Japan, China, and the world.
“Every country has good sides and bad sides. What matters is not the country, but the people.”
In the future, she would like to live not only in Japan, but also in Europe and other parts of Asia.
She wants to see the world with her own eyes and help reduce misunderstandings between countries.
“I hope we can create a world where people can understand each other better, beyond national borders.”
At just 19 years old, Kaya already has a strong sense of purpose and enjoys her life in Japan with a positive attitude.
We are very much looking forward to seeing what the future holds for her.
By Hajime Saito
X: @hajimesaitoYJC