Study city in Japan——Kyoto

1. Kyoto has become Japan’s fourth largest city for studying abroad

Leonie Lin from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, is deeply fascinated by Japanese culture. She didn’t know why, she just knew that she wanted to come to Japan to study and live. ?When I was 7 years old, I asked my father to buy me a Japanese dictionary,? Lin said, ?Since then, I have been learning Japanese by myself while watching Japanese anime. ?

At the age of going to college, Lin has developed a broad interest in Japanese history, culture and art. Ultimately, she chose to study abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, majoring in Japanese Studies and Global Culture.

?This makes me feel closer to the center of Japanese culture and history. ? said 20-year-old Lin. More and more international students, like Lin, choose to study in Kyoto, Japan, where there are historic temples and shrines, flourishing traditional handicrafts, and pleasant natural scenery.

According to data collected by the Kyoto Statistics Agency, although the overall number of international students in Japan has declined from a peak of 141,000 in 2010 to 135,000, the number of foreign students in Kyoto has increased, from The number of people increased from 5,157 in 2009 to 7,017 in 2013.

Another Japanese student support organization said that although Kyoto is a small city, since last year it has become the fourth largest city for studying abroad after Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka. International students said that the greatest charm of Kyoto lies in its geographical location and the unique position of this ancient city in Japanese culture, history and education.

Kyoto, with a population of 1.47 million, is a famous tourist destination. Famous attractions include ancient castles and palaces, top comic museums, and world-class video game companies such as Nintendo, Kyocera, and Omron are all gathered here. Here, the World Environmental Protection Conference was also held in Kyoto.

2. Kyoto is a good place to study

Kyoto is still a little-known university town. There are more than 50 universities in and around the city, which makes the city famous. It looks a bit like Boston in the United States. In fact, Kyoto and Boston have been sister cities for more than half a century. "Tokyo may be a suitable place to live, but Kyoto is the best place to study," said Shih Hsin, 25, from Vancouver, Canada, describing Kyoto.

Located in the Kansai region in the middle of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, Kyoto and the surrounding Osaka and Kobe*** together constitute the country’s second largest economic center after Tokyo, but they are densely populated with Tokyo. Unlike the compact and strictly defined boundary pattern, Kyoto is an irregularly expanded city.

? Kyoto takes into account the characteristics of both urban and rural areas. ? said Ivor Ducha Kiropoulou, a 28-year-old student from Thessaloniki, Greece, who studies Japanese film at Kyoto University of Art and Design. ?You can reach the mountainous area by riding a bicycle for 20 minutes from anywhere in the city. ? Kiropou said.

Grace Henahan, an American student studying at Doshisha University in her second year, also agrees with Kiropoulou’s point of view. "Tokyo is so big," Henahan said. "Kyoto is a more manageable city. It's quiet here. I really like the temples and shrines that are dotted around the corners of the city. You don't have to look for them, you just meet them around the corner." . ?

The city’s compact layout gives it unique academic advantages. ?In Tokyo, you can easily get distracted,? says Kenji Yago, an artist and professor at the University of Art and Design. His most recent works include a 7-meter-tall giant doll dressed in a metal robot suit. This is a series of works that reflect Japan’s dark nuclear history. ?Artists in Kyoto have more opportunities,? Kenji Yayan said, ?The competition among galleries in Tokyo is too fierce. ?

Zhang Hanyuan from China is a graduate student taught by Professor Xianzhi. He also believes that small cities can help promote learning. ?I was deeply shocked by his artistic creation.? Zhang Hanyuan said that under the influence of his teacher, he hoped to use sculpture to criticize the incorrect consumption concept and materialism that pervades Chinese society.

3. Kyoto has broad prospects for future development

Mr. Daisaku Kadokawa, the mayor of Kyoto City and the former head of the Kyoto City Education Committee, is working hard to promote Kyoto education and hopes that more foreign countries will Students come here to study and live. ?We have long been committed to continuous learning and in-depth research in culture, art, handicrafts and manufacturing. Kadokawa believes that it is meaningful for students from all over the world to study in this historic city. ?

To achieve this goal, Kyoto continues to introduce health insurance for international students, fully equipped houses, and also provides opportunities for international students to show their culture to local primary school students. ?International students may feel lonely in a foreign country, and we will try our best to help them overcome it. Kadokawa is very optimistic about the future study abroad market in Kyoto. Our plan is to increase the number of overseas students to 10,000 by 2017. ?

He also hopes that Kyoto will be on par with Boston. ?Boston is a great city, students make up 25% of the residents, this ratio is 10% in Kyoto? Although far lower than Boston, it still has the highest density compared to any Japanese city.

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The university itself is also doing its best to expand its international influence. Shiro Yamada, vice president of Doshisha University, said that almost all international students are receiving some form of scholarship. "This is a considerable financial burden," Yamada said, "but it can increase the diversity of international students and stimulate students' enthusiasm." ?

Excellent results have also brought Kyoto’s universities to the attention of the international community. Take Kyoto University as an example, it has produced five Nobel Prize winners. The school recently announced that it will hire its next president globally, an unprecedented move among Japanese universities.

Kadokawa said that one of the advantages of Kyoto education is the inter-school alliance, which allows students to choose courses across schools. ?You can be registered at one school but take classes at another? Another unique advantage is that Kyoto City University has a wide range of research, from traditional Japanese art, architecture, Buddhism to modern comics and animation.