Mako Takai (‘24) crammed into the Japanese city of Sendai’s auditorium along with all the other Japanese freshmen, each one awaiting the orientation to begin, April 3. Sitting in that room, Takai said she could barely believe she had been admitted.
When applying for colleges, Takai only applied for schools in Japan, Tohoku University being her number one choice.
“I was so happy when I saw the word accepted; I couldn’t believe it,” Takai said. “During the entrance ceremony, I was a little nervous because I felt like a new thing was going to start, but I was also excited.”
Takai, born and raised in Japan, moved to America in April of 2017 due to her dad’s work. Takai was only in fifth grade when her family made the trip, but she said she adjusted well thanks to the friends she made.
“I could not speak English when I moved [to the U.S.], but I was excited,” Takai said. “In elementary school, many friends helped me, even though I didn’t understand English. Everything was different, the language, the culture.”
Takai said she had initially prepared herself to be ready to leave for Japan at any time shortly after arriving in America.
“The company decided that my dad could stay in the US, so we did not go back [to Japan],” Takai said. “But since I had that mindset that I would go back to Japan, I decided to go back for college. I also wanted to try to learn medicine in Japanese because I knew I could not do my best in English.”
Takai stayed in America for seven years and two months before moving back to Japan for college last June. During her first few years in America, Takai’s family was uncertain about how long they would stay, so she continued to study some of Japan’s curriculum.
“My family didn’t know when we would have to go back to Japan,” Takai said. “I stayed [in San Diego] for seven years, but it might have been three years or five years. Even in those early times, I kept studying Japanese math because I could have had to take the entrance exam for high school in Japan. Japanese math contains more stuff than the math we do in the U.S.”
When deciding what colleges to apply to, Takai looked for schools specializing in medicine , inspired by her dad’s profession.
“My dad is a [medical] researcher, so when I was in middle school or early high school, I was thinking ‘I’m going to be a researcher too,’” Takai said. “I realized that I really like to communicate with others, but I did not want to give up research. So, if I go to a school of medicine, I don’t have to decide if I want to be a clinical doctor or medical researcher before I join school.”
Takai moved back to Japan in June, but spent her first five months there studying at Yoyogi Seminar in Tokyo for her entrance exams. The school is specialized for Japanese returners from other countries, hosting around 100 students. Takai said there were only 16 students there studying for a STEM major and quickly bonded with them.
“It was very easy [to make friends],” Takai said. “[Now,] those friends are spread [across] Japan. I’m in the city called Sendai, another girl is in Fukushima, another one is in Koshi, and many of them are in Tokyo. We’re spread out, but we come back together, so I think that shows how we are good friends.”
After a month at Tohoku University, Takai said she has noticed differences between schools in Japan and America.
“In class, the teacher explains everything and we just sit and listen,” Takai said. “We [also] use a blackboard instead of a whiteboard. Yoyogi Seminar’s classes all [used] blackboards without computers, but for college classes, it depends on the teacher.”
“I joined choir,” Takai said. “I also joined a club where South Korean exchange students and Japanese students who are interested in Korean culture or language communicate and go to dinner together. It’s not only for Japanese students to learn Korean culture, but also for those South Korean exchange students to learn Japanese or Japanese culture too.”
Although Takai said she is busy with her schoolwork and extracurriculars, she takes every opportunity she can get to return to San Diego, her other home.
“I miss [San Diego] and friends and family,” Takai said. “Also, I love the weather of San Diego, so I miss that too. [But] I love the culture and food [in Japan.] Living in Japan allows me to get them easier, so I love that.”
