My Time in Kyoto
2024/1/24
Posing in front of Koyasu Pagoda
By Pavel Martinez, MEXT Japanese Studies Student
Nice to meet you, everyone! My name is Pavel Martinez from the University of California, Davis, and during the 2022–2023 school year, I learned Japanese at an intensive program as part of Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, through the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship for Japanese studies.
Nice to meet you, everyone! My name is Pavel Martinez from the University of California, Davis, and during the 2022–2023 school year, I learned Japanese at an intensive program as part of Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, through the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship for Japanese studies.
Onlooking Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto
Doshisha University Imadegawa Campus at night during Christmas
Where did I study?
Part of the admission process is being selected by a Japanese university with a dedicated Japanese program. I was chosen by the incredible Center for Japanese Language and Culture at Doshisha University. Doshisha University has two campuses, one in central Kyoto, the Imadegawa Campus, and another one in southern Kyoto, the Kyotanabe campus. My campus of study was the Imadegawa campus, which is just four train stops from downtown Kyoto.
Part of the admission process is being selected by a Japanese university with a dedicated Japanese program. I was chosen by the incredible Center for Japanese Language and Culture at Doshisha University. Doshisha University has two campuses, one in central Kyoto, the Imadegawa Campus, and another one in southern Kyoto, the Kyotanabe campus. My campus of study was the Imadegawa campus, which is just four train stops from downtown Kyoto.
Todai-ji Daibutsuden (Great Buddha Hall)
Fushimi Inari Shrine torii pathway at night
Why Kyoto?
When students think of pursuing studies in Japan, they often think of Tokyo right away. Kyoto, on the other hand, is a rather quiet town with not as many people as a more metropolitan city like Osaka or Tokyo. Because I prefer a quieter environment to live in, Kyoto was the perfect place to call my home for 12 months. I would encourage everyone to pursue a university in the Kansai Region, which includes big cities like Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Kobe, all filled with beautiful natural landscapes. Kyoto and Nara house a few of the most beautiful temples in Japan, such as the Toda-ji Daibutsuden (the Great Buddha Hall) in Nara and Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. However, the best part of visiting shrines in the Kansai Region is doing it with friends. During New Year in Japan, I participated in the “First shrine visit of the year” tradition with my dorm mates, where we prayed for a good new year.
When students think of pursuing studies in Japan, they often think of Tokyo right away. Kyoto, on the other hand, is a rather quiet town with not as many people as a more metropolitan city like Osaka or Tokyo. Because I prefer a quieter environment to live in, Kyoto was the perfect place to call my home for 12 months. I would encourage everyone to pursue a university in the Kansai Region, which includes big cities like Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Kobe, all filled with beautiful natural landscapes. Kyoto and Nara house a few of the most beautiful temples in Japan, such as the Toda-ji Daibutsuden (the Great Buddha Hall) in Nara and Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto. However, the best part of visiting shrines in the Kansai Region is doing it with friends. During New Year in Japan, I participated in the “First shrine visit of the year” tradition with my dorm mates, where we prayed for a good new year.
My classmates from the Center of Japanese Language and Culture
Keishiryo dormmates getting ready to attend Gion Festival
Japanese and Elective Courses
At Doshisha University, Japanese courses are divided into 9 levels. I was placed in level 5 for my first semester after completing the placement test. Given I had only studied Japanese for two years prior to that, I think level 5 was the best intermediate level for me. Compulsory Japanese courses were every day from 9 am to 12 pm. Every week you learn many new kanji and grammar patterns; every day, you’ll have one writing class, two oral Japanese classes, and two reading classes. It may seem like a lot of classes at first, but I urge anyone who really wants to bring their Japanese proficiency to the next level to choose a Japanese program that offers an intensive program like Doshisha University has. After a year at Doshisha University, I felt more than capable enough to have conversations with Japanese friends on topics like history and sociology.
After 12 pm every day, students are allowed to take elective courses in topics such as, but not limited to, education in Japan, Japanese literature, Japanese society, world history, and many others. The elective courses you are allowed to take will depend on your assigned Japanese level. For example, there was a course in Japanese Literature for levels 4, 5, 6, and 7. Since I was in level 5, I was allowed to take that elective course.
Friends and the University Dorm
I would say the highlight of my time at Doshisha University was living in the experimental dorm of Keishiryo, 5 minutes walking distance from the Imadegawa Campus. The purpose of the dorm is to encourage friendships among Japanese and exchange students, which is why the dorm tries to maintain a ratio of 66% Japanese students and 33% exchange students. While living there, I was overwhelmed by the kindness my Japanese floormates welcomed me with. Since the dorm is rather small, you can really get to know your floormates on a more intimate level. As time passes, you start becoming more reliant on each other, which creates a sense of family in the dorm. The dorm also houses people from all over the world, so by the end of your program, you will have connections in every corner of the world. If you come to Doshisha, I highly encourage you to apply to Keishiryo.
At Doshisha University, Japanese courses are divided into 9 levels. I was placed in level 5 for my first semester after completing the placement test. Given I had only studied Japanese for two years prior to that, I think level 5 was the best intermediate level for me. Compulsory Japanese courses were every day from 9 am to 12 pm. Every week you learn many new kanji and grammar patterns; every day, you’ll have one writing class, two oral Japanese classes, and two reading classes. It may seem like a lot of classes at first, but I urge anyone who really wants to bring their Japanese proficiency to the next level to choose a Japanese program that offers an intensive program like Doshisha University has. After a year at Doshisha University, I felt more than capable enough to have conversations with Japanese friends on topics like history and sociology.
After 12 pm every day, students are allowed to take elective courses in topics such as, but not limited to, education in Japan, Japanese literature, Japanese society, world history, and many others. The elective courses you are allowed to take will depend on your assigned Japanese level. For example, there was a course in Japanese Literature for levels 4, 5, 6, and 7. Since I was in level 5, I was allowed to take that elective course.
Friends and the University Dorm
I would say the highlight of my time at Doshisha University was living in the experimental dorm of Keishiryo, 5 minutes walking distance from the Imadegawa Campus. The purpose of the dorm is to encourage friendships among Japanese and exchange students, which is why the dorm tries to maintain a ratio of 66% Japanese students and 33% exchange students. While living there, I was overwhelmed by the kindness my Japanese floormates welcomed me with. Since the dorm is rather small, you can really get to know your floormates on a more intimate level. As time passes, you start becoming more reliant on each other, which creates a sense of family in the dorm. The dorm also houses people from all over the world, so by the end of your program, you will have connections in every corner of the world. If you come to Doshisha, I highly encourage you to apply to Keishiryo.
Dance stage performance of “21st Century Girl” by BTS
Winter in Takeda, Fukui
Clubs and Activities at Doshisha University
I participated in two activities while at Doshisha University. The first one was a K-pop dance club. Here, I experienced the famous all-night practice, or ōru renshū. Depending on whether the extracurricular is referred to as a “club” or “circle,” the intensity of the club varies. My dance club was a significant commitment, but it was worth it because I was able to immerse myself in Japanese conversations, being the only foreigner in the club. I concluded my participation in the club by performing my first K-pop dance at a professional stage back in February 2023.
The second activity I took part in was as a volunteer at a revitalization project that aims to bring tourism to the small but enchanting town of Takeda in Fukui. I would go to the town once a month and have talks with the locals to organize town events. One of the events I helped organize was a soba-making workshop where we brought a number of exchange students to the local high school. The purpose of that event was to have foreign exchange students mingle with local high school students. In Takeda, I also got to stay in a traditional Japanese home every time I volunteered, and I got to witness the beautiful winter snowy mountain scenery.
I participated in two activities while at Doshisha University. The first one was a K-pop dance club. Here, I experienced the famous all-night practice, or ōru renshū. Depending on whether the extracurricular is referred to as a “club” or “circle,” the intensity of the club varies. My dance club was a significant commitment, but it was worth it because I was able to immerse myself in Japanese conversations, being the only foreigner in the club. I concluded my participation in the club by performing my first K-pop dance at a professional stage back in February 2023.
The second activity I took part in was as a volunteer at a revitalization project that aims to bring tourism to the small but enchanting town of Takeda in Fukui. I would go to the town once a month and have talks with the locals to organize town events. One of the events I helped organize was a soba-making workshop where we brought a number of exchange students to the local high school. The purpose of that event was to have foreign exchange students mingle with local high school students. In Takeda, I also got to stay in a traditional Japanese home every time I volunteered, and I got to witness the beautiful winter snowy mountain scenery.