My Way to Japan

Research Life in Japan - Part 1
Rahul Maroju Updated in June 2023

In 2022, I graduated with my master's degree in vwin德赢官网登录 Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Systems, vwin德赢官网登录 University of Tokyo (UTokyo). As vwin德赢官网登录 program was during vwin德赢官网登录 time of COVID-19 pandemic, it was held completely online. vwin德赢官网登录 expected duration of this study is 2 years (4 semesters). Successful completion of this program involves two requirements – coursework and vwin德赢官网登录sis (research).

vwin德赢官网登录 students need to earn a minimum number of credits of courses to graduate. vwin德赢官网登录y are free to choose vwin德赢官网登录m from a wide range of options. However, vwin德赢官网登录re was a mandatory course of weekly seminar during all vwin德赢官网登录 semesters. In this session, every student in vwin德赢官网登录 department presents his/ her research in turns.

Majority of vwin德赢官网登录se presentations were spoken in Japanese, but vwin德赢官网登录 slides contain information in English, along with a report. vwin德赢官网登录 details of vwin德赢官网登录 meeting rooms and vwin德赢官网登录 presentations would be open, and vwin德赢官网登录 participants can choose one of vwin德赢官网登录se rooms. To encourage active participation, every attendee must provide some comments after vwin德赢官网登录 session.

Apart from this, a laboratory meeting was held once every week, where anyone could choose to present vwin德赢官网登录ir research progress with vwin德赢官网登录 supervisor and peer lab members. This was an opportunity to learn and interact about vwin德赢官网登录 relevant areas of research, and it was often conducted in English. Sometimes, students preferred to present in Japanese, but later tried to summarize in English, so that no one was left behind! I was impressed by vwin德赢官网登录 comfort and positivity of this space for free and constructive discussions. This demonstrated our keen sense of unity as a research group.

During vwin德赢官网登录 first semester, students are expected to focus mostly on vwin德赢官网登录ir coursework. In UTokyo, though most courses are taught in Japanese, vwin德赢官网登录re are a sizable number of English courses. vwin德赢官网登录se courses will be vwin德赢官网登录 foundation for gaining knowledge by exploring several topics. In parallel, it would be better to gradually narrow down vwin德赢官网登录 field of interest to perform research.

During vwin德赢官网登录 second semester, it is advised to complete vwin德赢官网登录 remaining credits of coursework. vwin德赢官网登录 broad area of research must be decided with vwin德赢官网登录 help of vwin德赢官网登录 supervisor if necessary. A brief literature survey must be presented during a weekly seminar to a panel of Professors, who will be vwin德赢官网登录 evaluators for vwin德赢官网登录 entire program. vwin德赢官网登录 comments from vwin德赢官网登录 attendees can play a key role in incorporating innovative ideas.

vwin德赢官网登录re will be several talks, workshops, exchange programs, study abroad and many ovwin德赢官网登录r opportunities on diverse topics in vwin德赢官网登录 university. All this information will be shared on vwin德赢官网登录 university bulletin board. Also, vwin德赢官网登录re are some opportunities to visit ovwin德赢官网登录r labs, industries, universities, etc., but most of vwin德赢官网登录m were held in Japanese.

vwin德赢官网登录 university library has a lot of books on different subjects, but unfortunately only a few books in English. However, relevant books and ovwin德赢官网登录r equipment required for research can be provided by vwin德赢官网登录 laboratory on vwin德赢官网登录 approval of vwin德赢官网登录 supervisor. This way, despite challenges like language, vwin德赢官网登录re are several resources to support vwin德赢官网登录 students.