[MUSIC] My name is Farnaz Khatibi. I'm from Iran. >> My name's AJ Ohiwerei, I'm from America. >> I'm Lucy Zhou, I'm from Sydney, Australia. [MUSIC] >> I think my interest in Japan goes pretty far back. When I was 12 years old, I started watching Naruto, [LAUGH] and I got really into it. So ever since then, I've been watching anime. And once I entered university, I started studying Japanese. So for me, I guess, Japan just kind of seemed like the logical choice as to where to study abroad. So at the moment, I'm a third year student. And I've been studying Japanese for three years. So I haven't really been to Japan before or talked to many Japanese people, because I'm from America on the East coast. There aren't many Japanese people. So I thought this would be a great opportunity to actually interact and use the language on a daily basis. >> I started watching anime as well, but I stared young at five, four or five. But then by that time, I didn't know that it was anime, so there was like Pokemon, Card Captor Sakura, but they were all dubbed. But then I really liked it. So I think Naruto was the first one, like anime, to be in Japanese for me. And, what else, in year seven and eight in Australia, so in New South Wales, we have to compulsory learn second languages. So my school offered Italian, French, and Japanese, so we had to do all of them. And then my mom said, you look Asian, so you should choose an Asian language. [LAUGH] >> [LAUGH] >> It's more useful, especially because Australia and Japan have such close business ties. So being fluent in another language, especially Chinese and Japanese will be really helpful in the future. So I continued choosing Japanese elective until high school graduation. In university, I don't do Japanese, actually, but I continue to watch anime, read manga, and yes, I chose Japan, because I've studied Japanese for seven years now. And I want to continue, at least get to a level of conversation. So I came here for one year of exchange. [MUSIC] >> My major, because in civil engineering discipline and in Tokyo, the ranking of the University of Tokyo of the civil engineering discipline is pretty high in the world. So I'm choosing the choice when I [LAUGH] choosing the list of the exchange schools. >> I think there's also other reasons to, you know? [LAUGH] >> Yeah, and then I chose Japan for my first choices. And the second reason would be the culture. >> The culture? >> Because in Hong Kong, you know, maybe the J-Pop, the anime? >> Japanese culture is popular in Hong Kong? >> Yeah, it's pretty popular. Maybe the TV series or the cosmic. >> The comics, you mean? >> Yeah. And then I know more about Japan from their soft and then I show up and come to Japan. And I think it's easier for me to stay in Japan, because we know kanji, right? And then. >> Yeah, I think so. [LAUGH] >> So I would choose Japan. And also, after I arrived Japan, the living environment is pretty good compared to Hong Kong. And the houses larger than Hong Kong. And also [CROSSTALK] Even though the land price is pretty similar, but the condition is pretty better, so I chose Japan. Also, I love the food in Japan, maybe the sushi and the ramen. Yeah, I like the sushi, so I chose Japan for my exchange life here. >> I like ramen, but I don't quite like sushi, because it's raw food. >> And it's hard to digest for me. >> True, true, true. >> Yeah. >> But I did not choose the raw. I would choose the cooked. >> The cooked one? >> Yeah, and- >> There are lots of many choices. >> Yes. [LAUGH] >> Okay. >> [LAUGH] [MUSIC] >> Yeah. >> because you chose specifically. >> Yeah. >> [LAUGH] >> Well, I choose Japan because in my field of chemistry, like, they're pretty good. There are lots of researchers doing organics chemistry. And they've been quite famous for a long time. Because they've been able to do what other countries cannot do. And I always wanted to go to Japan, because I love the culture, the country, the landscapes, the food. I love the food. >> [LAUGH] >> And yeah, it was just a way for me to come to a country that I like and also to work on something interesting. It's quite unique what you can do in chemistry in Japan. So, yeah, I think it's a good way to mix the two of these qualities in Japan. >> So you have been to Japan before you chose to? >> No, this is the first time. >> Okay. >> But I think everyone has expectation about everything. >> And do the expectations fit what you're experiencing here? Or is it different? >> Well, some do, some don't. I guess I expected more people to speak English. >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah, I felt kind of naive about that. But about most of the things, I guess it's quite like what you heard of Japan. I mean, there's a lot of, how can I say that, a lot of ambient respect. Like, no one's yelling in the train. Everyone is calm and peaceful, so that's quite great. There's security in Japan, also. >> Yeah. You get everything back. >> Yeah, that's insane. >> I keep losing my wallet and my bag, and I think, I've got the habit of losing things. [LAUGH] >> Yeah. >> Okay, one week ago I went to Nikko. And on the way there, in the train, I forgot my camera, and it was a pretty expensive one. And when I came back from Nikko, like, it was in the station, like someone just dropped it in the station. And I was like, mm, I love you, Japan. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> That's a relief. >> I think people factor is a really big reason for many people to choose to come to Japan. Because when I was in high school, I applied to a wide range of schools in North America and Japan. Well, I always fascinated by the academic quality in America. And it was really a difficult decision which way to come. But then I also got fascinated about the culture of Japan. Like, not only the pop culture, like everyone knows, but also the people because I've had some Japanese friends, and they're really nice, they're really polite and respectful of others. And they have a really strong self-motivation to work or to do things that I don't get if I- >> [LAUGH] >> So that's what I really learned a lot when I came here. So that lived up to expectation. But of course, there are things that also, then the next question is, why do I, well, I chose to come to Japan, right? But then the next question is, why do I choose to stay in Japan, because I've been here for a while. And then I think it has to do with how I see it match with my plan in life, so what I want to do in the future or how I want to work, business or the kind of social network I have in Japan. So those are really important things. [MUSIC]
