Japan has always fascinated me as a country. From its rich history and culture, to the delicious cuisine, as well as its massive, bustling cities, visiting has always been a dream of mine. When the opportunity to spend the summer in Tokyo taking part in a research program came up, I eagerly applied. I believe studying at a university abroad is an amazing way to experience living in a new country. The chance to spend a few months in a new city, meet students the same age, and have people you can ask for help or advice is invaluable.
I was especially interested in Hoshi University as it specialises in pharmaceutical sciences, which would be a great chance to meet lots of new people studying in a similar field as me. I thoroughly enjoyed carrying out research-focused modules at my university at home, and wanted to apply these skills elsewhere. Finally, I have heard great things from fellow RCSI students who took part in this program in the past, which encouraged me to pursue this opportunity.
I carried out my research program in the Pharmacology Department here at Hoshi University, led by Professor Narita, alongside Professor Kuzumaki, Professor Hamada, and Professor Suda. The Pharmacology Department carries out research in many areas, mainly in cancer and neuroscience, as well as the link between the two.
One of my main reasons for choosing the pharmacology department was to expand my understanding of these research areas, as I didn’t have lots of experience in them. I was very fortunate to get the chance to observe a wide variety of experiments during my time here. From studies into cancer cachexia, sleep deprivation, and chronic stress, I have learnt so much about these complex topics, as well as the research methods used to investigate them in detail.
I would usually spend the morning reading into techniques that I had not seen before, as well as reviewing some papers. In the afternoon, I would join the students to carry out laboratory work. From Western Blots, to PCR and flow cytometry, I got to see lots of experiments that helped me learn more about lab techniques and skills. The students in the pharmacology department are very independent, and also taught me lots about cell culture and the mice work they carry out.
I also got to visit the National Cancer Center Research Institute, as Professor Narita is involved in the Cancer Pathophysiology Department there. It was an amazing chance to learn more about cancer research in Japan, an opportunity I’m very grateful for!
Eating Habits
I knew going to Japan that I loved many Japanese dishes, but I was still blown away by the food here. There was such variety and so many amazing resturants to try. I found eating out in Japan to be affordable, with a typical lunch or dinner costing roughly 1000-1500 yen (€5-8). I made sure to try many types of food, from sushi and tempura, to tonkatsu and unagi. The canteen at the university always had a great selection, and the students also brought me to various restaurants around the university to try, including probably my favourite meal I’ve had here, tsukemen ramen (dipping ramen). The convenience stores located on every street had amazing snacks, and I’ll miss having mochi ice cream or an onigiri whenever I wanted something quick! The grocery stores are also good value and I often bought my dinner or some fresh fruit and yogurt for breakfast there. Japanese food is something I’ll miss a lot from my time here, everything I tried was delicious!
Places to Stay
I stayed in Sakura House, an apartment complex just fifteen-minute walk from Hoshi University. I shared an apartment with two others, which was a great way to meet new people who were also spending the summer in Tokyo.
Being right beside a supermarket, only a five-minute walk from Togoshi Ginza (the local shopping street), and close to three train stations, Sakura House was a great place to stay. There are so many shops and restaurants nearby, I was spoilt for choice. It only took roughly 25-30 minutes to get to the famous areas of Tokyo such as Shibuya or Ginza, great places to spend an evening after a day at university!
Climate
I had heard lots about the rainy season in June and the humid summers of July and August, but I found the weather in Japan quite manageable. From June till around mid-July the weather was usually overcast and around 22-25 degrees, which I found perfect for exploring Tokyo and the surrounding areas. There were one or two very rainy days (including a day with two typhoons at once!), but coming from Ireland, I’m used to the rain! In late July the weather definitely got warmer, sometimes around 35 degrees and quite humid. I found however that people in Japan prepare well for hot days, and with a UV umbrella and handheld fan, (alongside all buildings having great air conditioning), the warmer weather is completely fine!
Public Safety
Wherever I went in Japan I always felt very safe. Tokyo is such a busy city that no matter what time there are always lots of other people out and about. Public transport was very efficient and easy to navigate thanks to Google Maps, and with the embarrassingly little Japanese I have, I appreciated how all signs are also translated in English at every station. As well as this, Japanese people are very kind and always willing to help, so I never felt unsafe during my time here.
How to Spend Holidays
After finishing in the lab at around 5:30-6:00pm, I often got the train into areas such as Shibuya, Harajuku or Ginza for some dinner, shopping or even just a coffee. Weekends were a great chance to explore Tokyo and learn more about Japanese history, whether it be at famous temples such as Senso-ji in Asakusa, or through the many museums in Ueno Park. Some of my favourite neighbourhoods were Shimokitozawa, known for its second-hand shops, Daikanyama, with its modern architecture, and Odaiba for its beautiful views of Tokyo Bay. With the great public transport system, I took many day trips from Tokyo, and loved visiting Nikko, Kawagoe, Kamakura and Enoshima Island. My visit to Hakone was definitely a highlight of my trip. I really enjoyed its beautiful Open-Air Museum, and trying the famous black eggs from Owakudani (that supposedly add seven years to your life!). I also had the chance to visit Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Miyajima Island, and got to experience each place’s unique atmosphere, history, sights, and local food.
Carrying out this program at Hoshi University has helped me grow in confidence in so many aspects of my life. Travelling to Japan for two months felt daunting at first, but once I started at the university any worries quickly went away. All the staff and students were so kind and helpful, and I got to learn so much more about Japan through them. It really helped me make the most out of my time in Tokyo, as I felt more comfortable exploring the city, experiencing Japanese culture and embracing new experiences.
Alongside this, my research skills have improved massively thanks to my time here. I’ve learnt so much about such a wide variety of laboratory techniques, as well as analysing results and presenting data. The research carried out in the Pharmacology Department is incredibly interesting, and I know that what I’ve learnt about cancer, stress, Parkinson’s and more will benefit my future career in many ways.
I hope to apply the knowledge and skills I gained throughout the program to both my future academic studies and career. Having gained such a comprehensive insight into the future of cancer and neuroscience research, I hope to continue keeping up to date with developments in these exciting areas, as they will undoubtedly play an important role in the future of clinical practice.
This experience has also highlighted the importance of international collaboration in pharmaceutical science and healthcare. It has shown me the value of learning from different perspectives and working alongside people from different backgrounds, which is something I hope to actively seek out throughout my future academic and professional career.
My summer spent at Hoshi University has been such an incredible experience, and one I’m incredibly grateful for. I’d like to thank Toshiyuki Ami in Hoshi University for all his help, as well as Professor Narita and all staff and students in the Pharmacology Department for the kindness they’ve shown me throughout my time in Tokyo. I’d also like to thank Professor Fiona O’Brien, Professor John Waddington and all in RCSI who helped make this research program possible. Japan has been such an amazing country that I look forward to visiting again in the future, and I cannot recommend this experience enough!
I choose this research opportunity as it combined several of my personal and academic goals such as studying abroad, strengthen my lab skills and of course visiting Japan. Ever since I was little I have always been fascinated with Japanese culture and traditions and have always wished to see them for myself. I studied Japanese for my leaving cert which gave me a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture both modern and traditional. During my studies I also had the opportunity to speak with the Japanese ambassador to Ireland who told me about Japan’s large pharmaceutical industry and vast research opportunities which only fueled my desire to study here.
I had initially heard about the opportunity to study in Hoshi University when I was in first year and from that moment I made it one of my goals to study here. I have always been passionate about pharmaceuticals and improving patient outcomes which made Hoshi the perfect opportunity for me. When looking into Hoshi university I was amazed by all of the cutting-edge research and facilities which made it an ideal environment for research. This opportunity not only allowed me to strengthen my lab and research skills but also challenged my perseverance in a new environment and broadened my horizons.
During my two month placement in Hoshi University, I worked in the physical chemistry lab under Dr Inoue. I was mainly working on formation of cocrystals using high-speed granulation. One of the other undergraduate students in the lab, Yuko, taught me how to make the cocrystals and how to use all of the machines. Firstly I started making cocrystals using theophylline and nicotinamide using liquid assisted grinding which was very fun. Then, after researching different papers I was able to make my own cocrystals using theophylline and 4-aminobenzoic acid.
After proving that I was able to form these cocrystals we started to change the solvents and additives to see how they would affect the cocrystal formation. To monitor the cocrystals I used Low-Frequency Raman Spectroscopy (LFR), it was really interesting to learn how to use LFR and see how the cocrystal structures changed using different additives or solvents. One of my favorite techniques that I used was the powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) to check the cocrystal structure. It was so fascinating to get to use such a massive machine as part of my research, although the machine was only in Japanese so I had a lot of help from my fellow student Yuko.
During my time at Hoshi university I also had the opportunity to tour other labs and facilities, including the epigenetics lab and pharmacology lab which gave me further insight into the vast research being conducted here. At the end of my placement I was able to present my findings to the rest of my lab, I am so thankful for all of the support I received from my professor and fellow students during my time at Hoshi University.
Eating Habits
I was very excited for all of the food when I arrived in Japan, since I already loved Japanese cuisine especially ramen and sushi. I was surprised by how affordable it is to eat out in Tokyo especially compared to Dublin so most nights I would have my dinner in a new restaurant. Early during my stay some of the students introduced me to Kura Sushi which is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant, I instantly fell in love with their tempura shrimp sushi so I returned often. I was impressed by the range of sushi options and wanted to try all of them, although my favorite is still classic tuna or salmon nigiri. Of course I also had to see what Japanese fast food restaurants were like too, in my opinion Japanese KFC is much better than Ireland, even though the menu was smaller all of the food was delicious. I also tried Moss burger a Japanese fast food chain and sampled their iconic shrimp burger which was surprisingly really good too. There were so many convenience stores on every street like seven eleven and family mart, they were very handy to get some late night ice cream or some fried chicken, I miss them so much. The food in the university cafeteria was also really good and affordable, I would highly recommend the curry rice and fried chicken. I really loved all of the food that I tried in Japan and now I really miss all of the sushi!!
Places to Stay
I stayed in Sakura House in Togoshi Ginza, only a 15 minute walk to Hoshi University. It was very convenient and I’m glad that I never had to take the train during rush hour as I had heard from the other students how crowded it can get. I shared my apartment with two roommates who were really kind but mostly kept to themselves. My room was tatami style which definitely took some time to get used to, but I found it surprisingly comfortable to sleep on a futon. The room was very comfortable and clean with plenty of space, and even a little balcony that I would dry my clothes on during the day. The apartment was only a 5 minute walk to the subway to get to Asakusa or about a 15 minute walk to the train station where I could easily travel to Shibuya or Shinjuku within 20 minutes. There was also a grocery store only 5 minutes away which was very convenient as well.
Climate
I arrived in Japan in late May which is the start of rainy season, although the rain was never too bad. It was also very hot and humid which was very difficult for me. Some days the humidity was over 70% and the daily temperature would usually be above 30 degrees too. I always carried a UV umbrella with me not only to combat the sun but the occasional rain shower as well. The end of July was particularly hot, since it was no longer rainy season the summer heat became intense. I was so grateful that every building has air conditioning. I also always carried a rechargeable handheld fan which came in very handy when I was outside and exploring the cities.
Public safety
I always felt very safe while travelling alone in Japan. I never felt unsafe even when walking home at night from the train station. The Japanese people are always very polite and helpful so I always knew that I could ask for help if needed. During my stay we experienced several earthquakes and typhoons but I never had to worry as I would receive alerts on my phone and used the NHK app to stay informed about any weather warnings. The first earthquake I experienced had scared me a little bit but I was reassured by my roommates that Japanese buildings are very safe and are able to withstand the earthquakes and typhoons that were common in Tokyo.
How to Spend day off
On my days off I liked to go visit different neighborhoods in Tokyo, such as Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Ginza. One of my favorite places was Asakusa, where I got to wear a kimono and experience a Japanese tea ceremony. I also learned how to make matcha and got to try traditional Japanese sweets. Also in Asakusa I attended workshops to make my own chopsticks and rings. One of the highlights of my trip was doing a kimono photoshoot near Sensoji temple in Asakusa, my photographer was very knowledgeable and also taught me about the history of the temple. Shibuya was also one of my favorite places to visit after university I loved all of the shopping especially Don Quijote and Shibuya 109. When I was in Ginza I got to see a sumo match which was really fun too, it was really interesting to learn about the history of the sport and how much training the sumo wrestlers do every day.
I also took several day trips with Rachel to see different areas of Japan. We went to Nikko which had so many beautiful temples and amazing scenery. My favorite place we visited was Kamakura and Enoshima Island. The beach views were incredible and we even got a glimpse of Mt Fuji! Having matcha in a bamboo forest was truly an unforgettable experience too. Enoshima Island had some beautiful shrines and such beautiful scenery I didn’t want to leave.
When I first arrived in Japan I went to Tokyo Disney land and Disney sea with my family, we had so much fun there and I would highly recommend visiting even if you’re going solo all of the theming and rides were incredible. I also visited Akihabara and Shinjuku with my family and the shops in these areas were so good especially for anime fans I would highly recommend checking them out!!
I wish I had more time to explore the rest of Japan, I will definitely return in the future to see Kyoto and Osaka, I would also love to go skiing Hokkaido someday.
Participating in this opportunity has allowed me to grow not only academically but also personally. I have gained so much confidence in my lab skills and learned so much in my short time here that I will definitely carry with me in my future career. I learned so many new lab techniques and skills such as LFR, liquid assisted grinding, and PXRD. I also was able to work on my presentation and public speaking as I presented my findings to the rest of the lab on my last day. On a personal level travelling to Japan truly pushed me to become more independent and confident in myself. Living on my own in Tokyo pushed me to do so many things and made me realize that I am a lot more resilient than I thought I was. This programme gave me the opportunity for me to truly experience Japanese culture and I will be forever grateful for all of the wonderful and kind people that I met during my time here, from the professors and students to kind strangers who helped me navigate the trains and translate menus. Overall I feel like I have grown not only as a student but on a personal level as well.
I want to make the most of this experience by applying the knowledge and skills I received during my placement in my future career in pharmaceutical research. Working in Hoshi only strengthened my desire to continue to work in academia and research in the future. I’m very grateful for all of the connections I have made here not only on a professional level but I have made so many amazing friendships here which I hope will last a long time. I can’t wait to come back to Japan and visit my friends again. I also hope to implement aspects of Japanese life that I have learned about in my personal life such as working hard, building friendships and appreciating nature.
I am also grateful for all of the support I received from my professor and fellow students during my time here in Hoshi, I want to continue research in the field of physical chemistry and I intend to apply many of the skills and techniques that I learned over the past two months. Coming to Hoshi University has encouraged me to pursue other international opportunities as well and consider returning to Japan for a masters or PHD programme in the future.
I am forever grateful to have been given this opportunity to come to Hoshi University and work in the physical chemistry lab. I would like to sincerely thank Mr. Ami from Hoshi University and Fiona from RSCI for all of the support in organizing this exchange. I would also like to thank Dr Inoue for all of the support and allowing me to work in the physical chemistry lab. And finally I want to thank Yuko and all of the other students in the lab for not only helping me with my research but also showing me such kindness and patience with our language barrier and teaching me about Japanese culture.
This has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I feel so fortunate to have been able to spend my summer in a place I only ever dreamed of visiting. I had such an amazing time in Japan, especially thanks to all of the kind people I met while I was here. I can’t wait to come back to explore more of Japan and visit my friends again.
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