I will be able to make use of my research, as I believe there are many things to refer to from the experiences of developed countries.
How did you know our Graduate School? And what kind of research do you conduct now?
I am researching the current and historical evolution of nursing care technology in Japan. Among nursing care technologies, I am particularly interested in bathing assistance, and currently sorting out bathing assistance in nursing care facilities and in the home based on previous research. Among the series of bathing care, the transfer of the person requiring care is the most common and requires the caregiver’s strength. Therefore, the focus of our research is on transfer and bathing. For transfers, we are mainly studying lifts and handrails, and for bathing, we are studying showering and mist saunas. In the future, we plan to clarify the changes in bathing care techniques and the historical and cultural background that led the Japanese to place such importance on bathing.
Why did you decide to study at our Graduate School?
Japan is a developed country and has achieved excellent results in many aspects. In addition, I found Japanese society and culture interesting. Therefore, I decided to study in Japan in order to experience the Japanese lifestyle and further my education.
Since studying in Japan, I have learned that the population is aging and that there is a great deal of policy and technological development in the field of elderly care. In my daily life, I could see cars that pick up the elderly, and I could get into a car with a wheelchair. This made me feel that the elderly care services in Japan are well developed. In addition, I learned that the bathing habits in Japan are different from other countries and that people take a bath every day. Through surveying previous studies, I found that this bathing practice is also maintained in the care of the elderly. Therefore, I chose this research because I am interested in how the bathing problem is solved in the nursing care field, and I want to clarify the problems that exist in the nursing care field.
What were you worried about when you decided to study in Japan (at our graduate school), and what did you do then? Please tell us if there were any “good” or “better” preparations you made.
When I came to Japan to study, I was worried because my Japanese was not good enough. After arriving in Japan, I had to study Japanese, solve my living problems, and find a place to go to school. I think it would have been better if I had had Japanese language skills up to the level of being able to live in daily life at that time. That way, I would have less anxiety and worries. After arriving in Japan, I studied Japanese at a Japanese language school and participated in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Japanese language scores.
I was also worried about whether or not I would be able to do well enough to enter the graduate school. However, with the guidance of my professors, I was able to make a plan and do what I needed to do, and my research went smoothly.
What is the appeal of your campus life?
Since my research is in the humanities, I need to read a lot of literature. When surveying previous research, I use the Internet or borrow books from the library. I find it easier to do research because I can order books from the library when the literature I need is not there.
Currently, due to the Corona epidemic, classes are mainly conducted online. This format is something that I have never experienced before. The beauty of online classes is that you can participate from anywhere as long as you have internet access. You can use the time you spend at school for other things. For example, you can go for a jog in the morning and then attend class or read a book. I know that there will be some difficulties in Corona, but I believe that this will be a good opportunity for me to improve my ability to be independent. I think this is a valuable ability that I can use in my future life.
I have a part-time job in my spare time. I can use my Japanese at my part-time job and practice my Japanese. Also, through working part-time, I can experience Japanese culture more deeply.
Did you experience any confusion in your life in Japan due to the changes and differences in the environment from your country? And if so, how did you solve them? Please tell us about any people or departments that helped you.
There are many differences between the Japanese lifestyle and that of China. For example, a utility bill is delivered to your house. You pay it at a convenience store or post office. Such details in daily life are different. My seniors and teachers taught me this when I was in trouble. They also taught me manners in Japanese society. I felt relieved because they helped me in this way.
There is a course to study Japanese at Okayama University. My Japanese language skills were not good enough, so I had to study Japanese while doing my research. By participating in the course, I was able to make friends who were doing research in other fields. The teachers of the Japanese language course also taught me a lot about Okayama. It was very helpful for me to become familiar with Okayama.
How do you think about your future career path?
I think I will finish my Master’s program in one year. After that, I would like to go on to the doctoral course. I believe that the aging of society will become a social problem not only in Japan but also in other countries around the world. For this reason, I would like to conduct in-depth research on problems in the nursing care field and discover problems in nursing care through my own research. As for my future career, I would like to work in a job related to nursing care. I would like to pursue my research as a researcher.
My home country is China, and there is a possibility that I will be involved in the problems of an aging society in the future as well. Therefore, I will be able to make use of my current research at that time, as I believe there are many things to refer to from the experiences of developed countries.