<p>Todai is awesome. Some of my friends go to Todai, Kyodai and mostly to Waseda. I was thinking of applying to Todai and Waseda initially (advised by a notorious fansubber nicked Tofusensei) but since I can't even pay a $10000 per year towards my education I decided not to. They're not very keen about sponsoring you an undergrad level. I had better chances of getting a larger amount of funding in US schools so I applied. I grew up in Japan, speak Japanese, love anime (was loved by my Japanese associates too) so yeah it's very unfortunate I couldn't consider applying there. But those of you who can afford it, for me Japan is the best country in the world and Japanese are brilliant people so even if you see them engaging in a lot of activities it's just because they're an all-rounder who study harder than most as well.</p>
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Japanese are brilliant people
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<p>I've met some pretty dim Japanese in my time. Come down to Saga-ken, I'll give the tour.</p>
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even if you see them engaging in a lot of activities it's just because they're an all-rounder who study harder than most as well.
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<p>Most college students in Japan are going to be engaging in one primary activity: hedonism.</p>
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But I am also aware that most Asian universities now are very concern about internationalising their student population and this would effectively mean more advetrising and slacker entry standards for internationals.
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<p>Not really, no. Top Japanese universities will continue to demand that non-Japanese admits have a requisite level of Japanese ability. </p>
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I believe that the education at Todai is top-notch.
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<p>I tend to think that Kyoto University is a better research institution. However, for pure learning in undergrad, no Japanese university is at the level of a top 15 American university. Maybe even top 25. They're just set up differently. </p>
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1. Do you think Todai would lower the entrance requiremnts for internationals?
2. How much Japanese do I need to know? Are the lectures (eg. Business, mathematics...)
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<li> No.</li>
<li> Native-level. I've only met one non-native who went on to successfully graduate from a top national university. He's a Korean fellow who studied Japanese from a very early age.</li>
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<p>If you see what Japanese school students do... school not uni that is... especially in the mainlands, it's just amazing. They gain such a broad education. But academics is a lot of cramming and memorizing which isn't my style really. And yes there will be people who're dim but that doesn't make the Japanese average population any less brilliant. And yes Japanese top unis won't make the admission any easier.. they have no intention or interest in diversifying otherwise Japanese girls would be marrying western men.</p>
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If you see what Japanese school students do... school not uni that is... especially in the mainlands, it's just amazing.
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<p>I taught English in Japan, so I have a pretty good idea of what they do. It's very good in some areas, very very poor in others-- particularly language instruction. </p>
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And yes there will be people who're dim but that doesn't make the Japanese average population any less brilliant.
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<p>I don't know. These dim bulbs I met definitely brought down the population mean...</p>
<p>But seriously, Japanese people are just people. They're really not some special breed of uberpeople. The dude working at Family Mart is not some mental giant because he's Japanese. He's a dude working at Family Mart.</p>
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And yes Japanese top unis won't make the admission any easier.. they have no intention or interest in diversifying otherwise Japanese girls would be marrying western men.
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<p>I get the feeling that this is not something that has come up in any serious manner. It's probably closer to "we wish to maintain our high academic standards."</p>
<p>It really depends where you worked and lived in. Where you in Tokyo?</p>
<p>Tsubie-chan,</p>
<p>I've lived in Tokyo, I've lived in Tsukuba, and as I mentioned earlier, I lived in Saga-ken. I also know TODAI and WASEDA grads who've said that English instruction in Japan is, generally, quite poor. </p>
<p>But seriously, I know a few Todai grads. And you know what? They put their zubon on just like us-- one mortal leg at a time.</p>
<p>I seriously question how great a society is when 1/100 people won't leave their rooms and partake in it.</p>
<p>Haha, it's a well-known fact that English instruction in Japan is ugh. </p>
<p>Society? Can't say they have one...</p>
<p>They're robots :P What's funny is normally you'd expect them to be very sensitive and so will try to be careful with what you say and how you say it. My experience, on the other hand, was pretty good. I have been to Tsukuba as well. I've known people from Tsukubadai too. Most of my friends go to Waseda and some ex-gfs of others as well. Best way to describe them would be to say 'they need to chill' but the way Japan is now overally is a lot to do with the way the people have been leading their lives so far.</p>
<p>Well I am not a very social person myself so Japan suits me just fine. :D I'd rather watch my anime during free time or go to a bowling arena. I lived there throughout my elementary school life --- going to an int'l school hence a totally different environment --- and it was just awesome. If you're diplomats you just get special treatment. I guess life is a lot tougher and even boring at times for normal people who are there for work or study, or living there like a normal resident (married to a Japanese).</p>
<p>I think that "real life" and "diplomat life" are very different things.</p>
<p>My attitude with Japan is, and I think always will be, "Great place to visit, so-so place to live."</p>
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I'd rather watch my anime during free time or go to a bowling arena.
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<p>Adult anime fans are ostracized in Japan.</p>
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Adult anime fans are ostracized in Japan.
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<p>I have known that for a long time. Many people put a lot of effort, like fansubbers studying in Japan, to hide that fact, i.e that they're anime watchers. Not even their kids spend that much time on anime as an outside would think, and most anime fans seem to be outsiders too o_o. Regardless ;)... But when Japs still ask me these days how I managed to learn Japanese, I openly tell them it has nothing to do with living in Japan but to do with TV, 60% of which was anime. Then an outsider, that is someone who hasn't lived in Japan, would think Jap girls are cute and everything as they'd appear in animes (like how Lucky Star is about a group of four joshikousei, one of them Otaku, two normal, one an ojousama type). Both of us know that real life and anime is A LOT different and only similarity that can be drawn is the portraying of their culture.</p>
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<p>Not even their kids spend that much time on anime as an outside would think ---> their as in Jap kids</p>
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<p>But seriously, Japanese people are just people. They're really not some special breed of uberpeople. The dude working at Family Mart is not some mental giant because he's Japanese. He's a dude working at Family Mart.
But apparently the average maths and science ability of Japanese students are better than their US counterparts.</p>