RADIO BERRY FM Tochigi On the broadcast of the radio program “IZ*ONE Honda Hitomi and World Get You” (last Thursday 21:30-21:45) on Thursday, August 27, 2020.
The experience of “Yoshikun(葉姿君)”, a Taiwanese student studying in Japan, was introduced.
He also talked about his study and living situation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Honda Hitomi: Today, we will be talking to Yosikun, a Taiwanese student.
Thank you for your time. Let me introduce Yosikun’s profile.
What prompted him to study abroad and what he felt in Japan
Honda Hitomi: Yosikun, who decided to study abroad because he has relatives in Japan, is studying at a university and a Japanese language school while working part-time at an izakaya.
Before studying abroad, he was excited, thinking that “studying and playing would be fresh,” just like traveling, but when he actually came, he felt that “traveling” and “living in a foreign country” are quite different.
Using his experience from part-time work, Hashimoto’s dream is to open a restaurant in Taiwan, and his favorite Japanese foods are sushi and sashimi…
Wow. You and I have the same favorite foods. I love sushi and sashimi. Me too (lol).
Traveling and living are different… I’ve certainly felt that way since I started living in Korea.
I think the biggest difference is the “feelings.” When I’m traveling, I’m really excited, well… I guess I can put it another way, I feel like I’m “floating,” but when it comes to “living,” I feel like I’ve become more prepared, or prepared myself, for the rest of my life.
Good things about Japan and bad things about it
Hashimoto: The good thing about Japan is that you can drink unpasteurized water. It’s very cold and delicious.
The bad thing about Japan is that the hierarchical relationships in the workplace are strict.
Hierarchical relationships in Taiwan aren’t that strict. There are a lot of relationships like friends.
Honda Hitomi: Hmm, I see. Being able to drink tap water is certainly a given in Japan, but it’s not the case overseas in many places. It’s said that there are only about 15 countries in the world where you can drink tap water. I’ve had the opportunity to go overseas quite a few times through my work with IZ*ONE, and there were quite a few places where you couldn’t drink the tap water. When I think about it, I feel like being able to turn on the tap and drink water is a very happy thing.
Also, there was the issue of strict hierarchical relationships, but after entering junior high and high school, many people started club activities, so I had quite a few friends who called each other “seniors.” I didn’t do much club activities, so I didn’t have that kind of thing.
But after I started working…after I joined AKB, I felt that there was quite a lot of “senior-junior relationships.”
Still, I think that a certain degree of hierarchical relationships is necessary.
There’s a lot to learn from your seniors, so I think it’s good to become close as friends, but I think a hierarchical relationship is necessary to separate work from private life.
About the current situation
Hagatama-kun: Right now, it’s summer vacation at university… all classes in the first semester were online, so I haven’t seen my university friends at all. I’m basically at home a lot now. I read novels, study, and watch dramas at home. At night, I work part-time to make a living.
Honda Hitomi: You can’t go to university and study during your precious study abroad period… Wow… that’s really unfortunate. Because you have a limited time to live overseas, but you have to stay at home all the time. But you can’t quit your part-time job to make a living… that’s the situation. If I were in Hagatama-kun’s position, I’d feel really frustrated because I can’t do what I want to do the way I want to.
I don’t think there are any listeners who would say that nothing has changed, but what kind of changes have there been?
Future dreams and messages to family
Hagatani-kun: I want to become a person who is considerate and true to myself. I want to become a person who can help people in trouble and understand other people’s feelings.
To my beloved family.
Right now, I can’t go home because of the coronavirus… I’m lonely not being able to see everyone, but I’ll do my best while I’m in Japan.
Please stay healthy.
Honda Hitomi: Ah! Me too. I wonder when I last went back to Japan… I think it was January? Right now, I’m in exactly the same position as Hagatani-kun… I can really empathize with this feeling.
I think it’s lonely not being able to see your beloved family, and it’s difficult because you’re restricted in what you want to do now, but I want you to look back on this study abroad period as “good”… Let’s continue to work hard together. I think part-time work is hard too, but do your best!