MEXT Scholars Association

Scholars Voices

My Quarantine Experience

Hello everyone. I am Arief Anthonius Purnama, from Indonesia. I arrived in Japan in June 2021. I am going to study at Shimane University. I am going to share my…

Scholars Voices

Making Study Abroad a Little Less Daunting for Africans

The Study Abroad Research Institute African students remain a rare breed in contemporary Japan, despite the rapid internationalization of the country’s population. Japanese government data show that as of May…

Howto Resources

Going in Cashless in Japan: a Starter’s Guide to Several Options

Despite a large number of banks and other financial services providers pushing people to use electronic payments, Japan remains very much a cash-centered society. As of the second quarter of…

Howto Resources

Three Ways to Travel Cheaply Within Japan

The days of intercity vacations, at least within Japan, appear to be back. The “Go To Travel” campaign, a voucher system under which the government subsidizes up to USD 90…

Howto Resources

Managing Your Money the Local Way: Introduction to Financial Investments in Japan

For foreigners looking to live and work in Japan in the long term, simply finding ways to save money on day-to-day life may not be sufficient to reach certain long-term…

Howto Resources

Three Ways to Save Money While Living in Japan

Big cities in Japan, where many foreigners study or work, can be some of the most expensive places to live in. Rough estimates show that, in central Tokyo, even tiny…

Howto Resources

Four Essential Items to Help You Survive a Japanese Winter

Japanese winters can be cold, brutally cold. Data from the Japan Meteorological Agency shows that in 2021, the coldest month of January saw the temperature in Tokyo dip to as…

Alumni Voices

Alumni Voices: Nondo-Jacob Sikazwe, Finding a Personal Niche by Connecting the Dots

Nondo graduated from Chiba University with a master’s degree in engineering under the MEXT Scholarship program. Currently, he is working at design consultancy A.C.O. Inc., where, as a user experience…

Uncategorized

Profiles of MEXT Scholars Applying for Financial Aid

This is a collection of stories from some of the applicants for MSA’s Giving Back Initiative. Many of these applicants are struggling due to the heavy burden of the quarantine…

Announcements

MEXT Scholars Giving Back Initiative – Crowdfunding to Support new MEXT Scholars (2020-2021) with Quarantine Fees

MSA has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support MEXT scholars entering Japan in 2021 and who have to pay for their own quarantine fees. We are calling for donations from…