This blog post introduces methods for effectively writing about your personal experiences and genuine feelings in a Japanese Studies self-introduction.
Writing About Academic Experiences and Reflections
“Japanese Taught Me That Studying Can Be Fun”
Until middle school, I was deeply involved in sports, playing on the school soccer team. Recognized for my skill, I nurtured dreams of becoming a soccer player. However, an unexpected injury severely damaged my leg, forcing me to abandon that dream. Faced with this sudden setback, I became discouraged. Even after entering high school, I struggled to focus on my studies, unable to regain my motivation. Then, I chose Japanese as my second foreign language subject, and this choice became a crucial turning point in my school life.
My Japanese teacher always approached class with a bright and cheerful demeanor. Having studied in Japan, she would share stories about Japanese culture during lessons or liven up the atmosphere with unique costumes she prepared herself, capturing our interest. Honestly, at first, I was drawn more to that bright, positive energy than to Japanese itself. I started studying with the mindset of ‘wanting to impress the teacher.’ But gradually, I discovered the charm of learning Japanese. As my interest grew, I experienced for the first time how enjoyable studying could be. Especially when the teacher used Japanese music lyrics in class. We interpreted the Japanese version of Yoonha’s ‘Comet,’ memorizing words, learning conjunctions, and even studying kanji simultaneously. Since many Japanese kanji overlap with commonly used Korean characters, this approach had the added benefit of improving my Korean kanji grades—killing two birds with one stone.
After learning vocabulary, I focused on memorizing entire sentences and studying grammar for reading comprehension. When studying felt tedious or I hit a wall, I maintained my interest by watching Japanese anime, movies, and reading novels recommended by my teacher. Keigo Higashino’s “The Devotion of Suspect X” and director Shunji Iwai’s “Love Letter” left a particularly deep impression on me. Both works are representative Japanese cultural content based on novels, sharing the common theme of devoted love. Appreciating them not only helped me naturally learn Japanese grammar and sentence structure but also positively influenced my attitude toward life and values.
Ultimately, studying Japanese became more than just a subject for me. During a period when I had lost my dreams and was wandering aimlessly, it gave me strength and courage, reigniting my passion for studying. I regained the confidence to approach not only Japanese but other subjects diligently, gaining a new realization: ‘Studying can actually be this enjoyable.’ Looking back now, Japanese was not just a language; it was a precious connection that lifted me back up in life.
Major School Activities and Reflections
“Discovering My Future Path Through the Japanese Culture Exploration Club”
My first encounter with Japanese language in my freshman year marked a major turning point in my academic journey. As I learned the language, I naturally became interested in the country’s culture and wanted to understand it more deeply, leading me to join the ‘Japanese Culture Exploration Club’. True to its name, it was a club where we learned about, shared, discussed, and directly experienced Japan’s diverse cultures together. We especially had the opportunity to exchange with students from Sagakita High School, a local Japanese school. Coincidentally, that school also ran a Korean Culture Exploration Club, making the exchange even more meaningful. Beyond learning about traditional Japanese literature and modern cultural content, we also shared our cultures through pen pal exchanges with the local students.
The very first activity we undertook in the club’s early days was experiencing traditional Japanese culture. Among these, the most memorable activities were trying natto and wearing yukata. We chose natto, one of Japan’s representative foods, because it frequently appears in Japanese movies and manga yet remains somewhat unfamiliar to us. We purchased locally made natto sold in Japan from an international grocery store, prepared ingredients for the number of participants, and decided to make Korean-style natto ourselves for comparison. Japanese-style natto, as seen in videos, was sticky and mucilaginous beans, similar to cheonggukjang (Korean fermented soybean paste) but with a slightly bitter taste. In contrast, Korean-style natto, containing egg, was less bitter and had a stronger soybean paste flavor. Comparing these tastes directly made me realize how our food cultures naturally interact – just as Japanese food adapts to Korea, our own foods like bulgogi or kimchi can be transformed and consumed in Japan.
However, the activity that left the deepest impression on me was undoubtedly ‘pen pals’. For me, who had never traveled to Japan or met Japanese students, the experience of exchanging letters with a foreign friend was truly a whole new world. I introduced Korean culture to my pen pal, sending photos from our club’s yukata experience during club time. My friend also shared letters about their club activities and interests. As time passed, we became close friends sharing school life and personal stories. Occasionally, we’d get surprise gifts—Japanese snacks or greetings from our homeroom teacher—which brought us joy.
By my second year, we ran a club booth at the school festival. One side displayed letters and photos exchanged with my pen pals, open for other classmates to see. Seeing my memories hung in an exhibition space made me feel like the proud owner of a small international embassy. We also set up a corner selling Japanese dishes I’d cooked myself. We showcased various dishes like okonomiyaki, takoyaki, and natto rice. Though my cooking skills were lacking, my friends smiled and said it was delicious. Thanks to that, we even achieved second place in the ‘Food Culture Parade’ judging.
My experience in the Japanese Culture Exploration Club went beyond simple club activities; it significantly influenced my career path. I personally felt how deeply language and culture are intertwined, and especially realized the immense power of exchange that connects people. I want to continue improving my Japanese skills and serve as a bridge connecting diverse cultures and people. The memories from this club are a precious starting point in my life and will be a steadfast compass guiding my future path.
Examples of Consideration, Sharing, and Cooperation and My Reflections
“Participating as a Volunteer at the Korea-Japan Cultural Festival”
My Japanese language teacher was the first person to introduce me to the joys of Japanese culture and language. She personally participated in the annual Korea-Japan Cultural Festival held at COEX, even serving as an interpreter. One day, she suggested to our club members, “Why not participate in external festivals as well as school activities to gain bigger and more rewarding experiences?” So, as an extension of our club activities, we joined the festival. On-site, we assisted as event helpers, handling various tasks from preparation to cleanup.
During the preparation period, I frequently visited COEX to help set up booths and clean. Setting up stages and preparing the venue was all new and fascinating to me. While it might have seemed like simple labor, I felt this process was another valuable learning experience. We adjusted stage positions for those preparing rehearsals, marked pathways on the performance floor, and installed signage and maps near the entrance. We also placed Japanese-style dragon decorations near the entrance to draw visitors’ attention. The decorations were large and heavy, requiring many hands to move them. We joined forces with the performance preparers, on-site staff, and our fellow students to transport them. During this process, we exchanged greetings with local officials and had brief conversations in simple Japanese, quickly becoming friendly.
Finally, on the day of the festival, the performance hall was packed not only with spectators but also with students who had traveled all the way from Japan and event organizers. Though our part was small, it was the day we presented the stage we had prepared for so long, and everyone was united in feeling both nervous and excited. The lineup featured diverse acts: Japan’s Kijin-retsuden performance troupe, singers from Japan, and Korean singer Yoonha, offering a rich array of sights and entertainment. Notably, students from Shikata High School, who were on a school trip, visited the festival. Among them was my pen pal, whom I had only corresponded with by letter until then. We happily greeted each other in person, took photos together, and shared a joyful time.
My experience at this Korea-Japan Cultural Festival meant more than just volunteering or helping run the event. I felt the value of cooperation, working together with friends to create something. I was able to embrace different cultures with an open mind and forge new connections. This festival was a precious time that allowed me to personally realize how consideration, sharing, and cooperation bring people closer and broaden the world.
Motivation for Application and Career Plans
“Delivering Korean Wave Culture Content to Japan”
My deepest interest and affection for Japanese culture and language are the primary reasons I applied to the Japanese Language and Literature Department at ○○ University. Throughout high school, I focused intensely on Japanese language courses, dedicating significant effort to developing my linguistic abilities. I am confident I have built a solid foundation—including understanding kanji, vocabulary, and grammar, as well as conversational and writing skills—sufficient to continue advanced study at university. Particularly, by engaging with diverse cultural content like Japanese novels, films, and haiku for my studies, I cultivated a deep understanding and appreciation for Japanese literature and culture as a whole.
In my first year of high school, I was simply motivated by a desire to excel in Japanese class because I enjoyed it. However, as time passed, my interests broadened, and I became captivated by Japanese literature and culture as a whole. This led me to join the Japanese Culture Exploration Club, where I actively participated, interacting with local students and gaining experience planning and running festivals together. Through this process, I developed an open attitude toward communicating with people from different cultures and learned to approach new cultures with both curiosity and respect. Just as learning Japanese culture broadened my horizons and helped me grow, I now aspire to become someone who introduces our culture to Japan and conveys the appeal of Korean Wave (Hallyu) content.
Specifically, I plan to research Korea’s traditional food, traditional culture, and K-pop content—which enjoys global popularity—and creatively develop and introduce these to Japan. Recently, institutions like the Korea Culture Content Agency, dedicated to researching and developing Hallyu content, have been steadily increasing. I want to create opportunities to demonstrate my expertise within this growing field. My ability to deeply understand the cultures of both countries is a particular strength. Successfully developing Hallyu cultural content requires both a thorough understanding of Korea’s unique appeal and the insight to accurately identify what the core target audience—Japanese people—truly wants to enjoy. To achieve this, I aim to meticulously understand Japanese sensibilities and cultural codes, and apply planning skills tailored to them.
The specialized knowledge and cultural understanding I will gain in the Japanese Language and Literature program will form a solid foundation for achieving these goals. My ultimate dream is to grow into a professional who serves as a bridge connecting Korean Wave and Japanese culture through deep study of language and culture. And in that process, I want the content I create to be loved locally in Japan, contributing to enriching cultural exchange between our two countries.
