We are pleased to share the personal experiences of Solomon Islands students who are currently studying at different universities in Japan on MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan) scholarships. Read the life experience story of Inesha Mazini, studying Engineering Mechanics & Energy at the University of Tsukuba (UT).
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Study & Learning Experience
My name is Inesha Mazini, and I’m from the Western part of the Solomon Islands (VonaVona lagoon) straight outta Buni village. I studied Engineering Mechanics & Energy at the University of Tsukuba (UT) in Japan. My major is Environmental fluid Engineering, we focused more on fluid dynamics (which I have literally no idea about), but the catch is coastal engineering. Accidently ended up in the Engineering department since my Professor is a coastal engineer and my research interest is on Coastal Remote Sensing. In the first few months of enrollment, I battled with the decisions of having to stay in the faculty or find the right department. Regardless, I stayed on and now I’m in my final semester of the programme (Glory be to God in the Highest Heavens!).
UT is an autonomous university, owned by the Japanese government, but with the president empowered to make key decisions for the institution.
The University is located about an hour by train from Tokyo, the capital of Japan. This proximity to the capital provides a peaceful, rural, and calm environment for study. With fewer attractions in the immediate area, fewer distractions, allowing more time for study and educational activities. In my free time, I joined leisure sports events and sightseeing.
The streets are safe for commuting and the dormitories are nearby making traveling to and from campus convenient.
I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet and conducive learning environment on campus. It was calm and peaceful, making it ideal for studying. The laboratories are accessible, allowing students the flexibility to work without pressure. The dormitories are just a 10-minute walk from campus, and biking is the main mode of transportation for students both on campus and within the city.
UT offers a wide range of activities for students, such as English conversation sessions with staff members eager to learn the language, and volunteer opportunities for sports events since UT is a top university in athletics. The university also hosts exchange program tours from other institutions, creating platforms for interaction with partner universities. Volunteering and promotional activities organized by the exchange division is another way to enrich the cultural experience and engage with the community. You can see from this link to one of the engaging activities I did as part of the University homecoming program 2022. Video at (34:45) https://www.youtube.com/live/otZBdIlN0Yo?si=QChknWgagv4wo1KF
The University of Tsukuba is home to a diverse student body from all over the world, making it easy to form friendships with international students. In no time, you’ll find yourself feeling like part of a family in Tsukuba. These activities and experiences greatly enriched my time in Japan. With Tsukuba just a 45-minute bus ride from Narita Airport and Tokyo, traveling is incredibly convenient. I highly recommend choosing the University of Tsukuba for your next academic journey. One more thing to note about choosing Tsukuba is that it is cheapest area out of the capital to live, cheaper rentals, affordable food prices and convenient to airports for your holiday trips, you will not regret.
Cultural/ Language Experience
Japanese culture differs significantly from that of the Solomon Islands, from the utensils used to the types of food enjoyed. I learned to eat with chopsticks for the first time and have now become quite skilled at it. Japanese meals are always well-balanced, with Miso soup being a staple. This healthy, warm soup is made from dashi (Japanese soup stock), miso (soybean paste), and various ingredients like breadcrumbs, wakame seaweed, or tofu. Initially, it wasn’t my favorite, but it quickly grew on me and is now something I really enjoy.
I’m not particularly fond of tofu, but I have discovered my favorite Japanese dishes: okonomiyaki & ramen. Okonomiyaki, which I like to call “barbecue noodles,” is cooked on a hot plate and often includes seafood like prawns and a mix of spices. Ramen, on the other hand, is a delightful dish of salty soup noodles typically served with beef or egg—one that you’re sure to love. There are also rich food types available so you can also cook your home basic meals too, like i used to get coconut tin milk and milkim rice and eat with Japan tuna (home recipe always the best) .
Although I’m not fluent in Japanese, basic communication is crucial in and around the city. I did my best to communicate using gestures with locals while learning a few sentences with friends at the University every day. While we weren’t initially familiar with the cultural background, we gradually learned some of the customs in Japan, like nodding and saying thank you in shops or when greeting someone at workplaces. To navigate daily interactions, learning basic Japanese words—especially key phrases—is essential. Even if I don’t understand an entire sentence, I can often pick out a word I recognize and work out what people are saying. Google Translate was a big help during challenging moments.
Your Experience in Technology Growth
When it comes to technology, Japan is truly impressive. The country offers various modes of transportation in and around the country, from bullet trains to local trains, shuttle and highway buses, taxis (quite expensive, recommend you take the bus), bicycles (very convenient in metropolitan areas), and private vehicles (get one if you are on MEXT scholarship and living out of Tokyo). Punctuality is paramount, with buses and trains departing precisely on schedule.
One thing I learned about transportation is that when you’re on an urgent trip, taking the train is much more efficient than buses or cars, due to traffic jams. Trains are automatic, so your schedule won’t be delayed unless there’s heavy snow or a natural disaster like an earthquake or typhoon, which can disrupt commuting. There are convenient bus and train cards you can use to tap on the machines when traveling for easy commuting without having to purchase tickets.
Google Maps is highly reliable, helping you navigate not just within cities but across the entire country. Traveling is made easy as you can check routes from one place to another, and Google Maps will show you which mode of transport to take and when. When I became familiar with reading Google Maps and understanding the transport system in Japan, life here became much easier. You can plan your bus trip spontaneously because buses follow a set schedule every day. If you miss one, you can simply catch the next bus.
Additionally, whether in rural towns or cities, Japan has convenient restrooms for everyone, including those with special needs, so you won’t have trouble while commuting. The public restrooms are equipped with automatic flush buttons and auto-wash features for your comfort. Online shopping delivery is also incredibly efficient and convenient. Long queues are rare, and services in offices are fast and streamlined.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned here is reflected in the Japanese proverb, “If it’s not yours, don’t take it.” From an early age, locals are taught this value, which contributes to Japan being such a safe country. If you forget a valuable belonging, like a wallet, phone, or electronics, there’s a 90% chance you can retrieve it because people have a strong sense of respect for others’ property. They will either return it to a nearby police station or a bus station close to where you left it. The remaining 10% of the time, they may not bring it to a station but will leave it where it was, meaning you’ll only find it if you remember where you left it.
Having to experience the four seasons in Japan is the best of all. Every season you get broke for changing your dress codes (hahaha), but truly the fun part is getting the gears for the snow season. During winter, snow trips are the best, except having to put on ten clothes before leaving your home (samui desu- its cold). Autumn is for colors and my favorite season is Spring, because it’s lukewarm (time to shine with get up and go gears). Summer however, is a whole new level of heat that is not fun at all, nobody is walking around campus when it’s 2pm of the day because you’ll get heatstroke or in extreme cases fainted along the campus square. You don’t joke with summers in Japan. But the good part is, there is what they called the aircon jackets (fan equipped clothes or kuchofuku), an even more advanced development of Japan technology that invented jackets with installed fans on the side poketos (pockets). Its funny you’ll see men working in farms wearing big jackets during summer thinking he’ll be drowning in heat, yet, the side pockets have fans that allow for vaporization of heat. Sugoi!! (Amazing).
Your advice to the future scholars who might come to study in Japan in the years to come
My advice to future scholars: choose a calm and peaceful environment like Tsukuba for your studies. It’s a great place to focus without the distractions of a busy city. Obtaining a driver’s license is also beneficial (if you live in the suburbs, not Tokyo), as it allows you to explore the city and go shopping on weekends. Learning basic Nihongo (Japanese) will greatly enhance your experience, enabling you to interact more with the locals. They are very friendly, though often shy due to limited English. The more you can communicate in Japanese, the easier and more enjoyable your stay will be.
Beyond my studies, I engage in various activities such as traveling and sightseeing in different prefectures in Japan, including Okinawa, Oita, and Shizuoka, where Mount Fuji is located. I also participate in an international student program focused on English education for Japanese high school students. In this program, we interact with students in elementary and high schools across Japan, serving as English leaders and helping them develop their language skills.
This experience offers a rich cultural exchange, as we share aspects of our own countries while learning about Japan through the students’ perspectives. The most exciting part is that these programs are often held in different locations around Japan, allowing us to travel and explore new places during our free times. You can enjoy these experiences on your next trip.
And finally, thank you to the MEXT government for the wonderful three years of being in Tsukuba, Arigato Gozaimasu. Above all, to my wonderful God, I said I will take you here with me to Japan, but you have already waited for me here, and you have done well for me! Be thou exalted YhWh!
