An East Asian Studying About East Asia Outside East Asia

Yuko Takahashi, Japan

It´s been five months since I came here, Sheffield. I thought I would write this article to tell you of my impression of Sheffield University.

I guess you have already found much general information about what university life is like, how attractive this city is, how international this university is, how wonderful it is to live in a university hall and that kind of things. (I´ll leave it to you to judge if those opinions are really true though…) So instead I´m going to talk about my unique degree.

I´m doing a dual honours degree, Music and East Asian Studies. Doesn´t it sound unique? Firstly, the fact that you can combine two major subjects is what you can do BECAUSE you study in the UK. You cannot do that in Japan, can you? Moreover, the extremely unique combination of Music and East Asian Studies is not what you can expect at any other university even within the UK. (Oops! Apart from SOAS. But still, there can you study only "Japanese" music, not what is called "classical" or "Western" music.) It is indeed a very unique combination, and in fact I´m the first student who is doing that!

Among the two subjects, I would like to write about East Asian Studies in particular. First of all, why I thought to study this subject not in Japan but here, in the UK, is that I expected to be able to see my country and region from different, various viewpoints. I agree with the Japanese saying, "I no naka no kawazu, taikai wo shirazu." (A frog in a well doesn´t know the ocean, translated by me!) You cannot really see what your country is like, unless you step outside the nation. Do you see what I mean? Studying in the UK instead of Japan, I expected that I would be able to deepen my understanding about my homeland and, at the same time, to acquire other views which I would be unlikely to obtain if I stay in Japan.

My expectation was right. My daily life here is full of new ideas. Whenever I read books, attend lectures or have group discussions, I find new perspectives about Japan. I can refresh my conventional ways of thinking and look at Japan as an outsider. I can even criticise those views (including my owns) and rethink "Japan in the world." It is very interesting, always inspiring me with intellectual curiosity and, I emphasise, this is the very thing I have been eager to have.

It doesn´t matter what you are doing studying, I would say. You can still expect a similar experience to mine as you´ll have loads of opportunities to meet people who are interested in East Asia (or Japan) both from inside and outside East Asian Studies. For instance, living in a hall, going to some international events, and so on… This kind of experience is definitely required in today´s world. As the stream of globalisation is spreading out more and more, day by day, we (especially the young generation) must have much wider and more global views and, more than anything, sufficient understanding of yourself and your country, Japan. Sheffield University, where there are many international students and which has a good, strong reputation for East Asian Studies is, I reckon, one of the best places to have such experiences. Ok, this is the end of my article. But hi, what do you think? Can you miss such a great opportunity?

Yuko Takahashi, Japan