Born and raised in America but of Korean descent, Ashley wanted to connect with her roots, leading her to study in South Korea for her undergraduate degree. Finding herself in a “unique position” as a Korean American, Ashley engaged in activities that supported international students’ daily needs, where her bicultural perspective played a pivotal role. But it also made her feel that she did not have the “real international student experience”, especially with family nearby. Through these experiences, Ashley’s interest in researching international students and being one herself deepened. This led Ashley to pursue her master’s degree at the University of Tokyo’s Global Society Program, where she is now a first-year student. (Interview by Stanley Guevarra)
Similar to other graduate students, research occupies the majority of Ashley’s academic life. Her work compares the experiences of international students in Japan and Korea in work-related contexts. While Ashley is still in the early stages of her research, she hopes it will help “enhance the job-search” experience for international students and provide reasons for companies in Japan and Korea to utilize the “global talents” that international students possess.
Ashley meets her seminar class (known as “zemi” in Japan) once a week. A unique feature of graduate schools in Japan, the seminars are conducted by advisors and attended by their students to workshop their research projects and discuss topics of relevance to the class. Through her seminar, Ashley has found a welcoming community that allows her to feel integrated in the university, with senior students who provide advice and a supportive advisor who creates an intellectually engaging atmosphere.
Outside of her seminar, Ashley presents her research to the faculty and students of the Global Society Program. She recalls having to prepare a research proposal during her first semester, which she will develop into a manuscript ready for submission in less than two years. In fact, this “research-oriented” curriculum is a common feature in most graduate schools in Japan. For Ashley, whose field is in the social sciences, this means conducting interviews, networking, and writing her thesis.
Ashley, who studied Japanese to a high level, attends classes and job hunts in Japanese. While her experience may be different to other international students, she can imagine how less fluent speakers might have difficulties in their daily life in Japan, like accessing Japanese resources and services. Similar to her experience in Korea, Ashley bridges this gap by working as a tutor for the Globalization Office, where international students can consult her and other tutors on a range of topics, such as paying bills and receiving homework assistance for Japanese language classes.
Ashley lives in a student dormitory for international students called Komaba Lodge, which is a seven-minute walk from the Komaba campus. Through the dorm, Ashley has made friends with students from around the world, and together they learn about each other’s cultures by visiting restaurants that serve food from their home countries. Ashley also routinely goes to a Korean Japanese church, where she can meet Koreans with similarly diverse backgrounds, such as those with roots from Japan and China.
Drawing from her experiences, Ashley emphasizes the passion and dedication that international students demonstrate. She says that “international students are here because they really want to be here” and that “they’re working really hard and are enthusiastic about having the full study abroad experience.” To Ashley, this zeal for learning and crossing cultures should not go unnoticed by local students. Even simply “opening up” or “being their friend” can go a long way.
The post Ashley Min (GPEAK GSP): Living and Researching the International Student Experience first appeared on 東大新聞オンライン.
Ashley Min (GPEAK GSP): Living and Researching the International Student Experience 2026 IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2025 2026-06-15 10:10:48
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