Personal Statement - Japanese Studies

Why do you want to study this course or subject?

It was during my first visit to Tokyo at the age of 12 that the foundations of my interest in Japan were laid. What struck me first about the city was how distinctly unique it is. Each building seems increasingly more elaborate and individual than its neighbour, tightly crammed next to each other to save space. Vending machines line every street corner, selling anything from hot coffee to worn underwear. A teenage girl walking her pet dog in a pink pram was talking to a woman holding the leashes of her two pet guinea pigs.

I was intrigued by what I saw: the undeniably eccentric lifestyle was initially alien to me, yet I was drawn to it by a strong sense of familiarity, likely because I was raised in Hong Kong. I found myself wondering what it would be like to live and work in such a fantastic place. I believe it was the fascinating culture of the Japanese that led me to feel this way, especially the question as to how a society so rooted in tradition offers such blatant diversity, a feature that I wish to study in depth at tertiary level.

To this day, I remember my 12-year-old self standing in the middle of the urban jungle called Tokyo, heart throbbing in longing as I fleetingly wondered what it would be like to live in such a miraculous place. Now, 5 years later, that one wishful thought is just beyond my grasp. As Danny Choo once said, "Life is not just about being comfortable - it's about living your passion". With this mantra in mind, I intend to embrace my passion for Japanese Studies with all I have.

How have your qualifications and studies helped you to prepare for this course or subject?

I started to immerse myself in Japanese culture in 2007. This began as an enthusiasm for anime and manga, but I soon found myself listening to Japanese music, as well as being drawn to the language. As I have an interest for feudal weaponry, I was attracted to Kyudo and Bushido. This led me to learn Kendo, which reinitiated my interest in Taekwondo, a sport I have been practising for eight years. By reading materials such as 'The Japanese Today' by Edwin Reischauer and Danny Choo's blog, I am constantly expanding my knowledge of Japanese lifestyle and culture. In fact, Danny Choo is one of the people I respect most: it was through his love for all things Japanese that encouraged me to follow my passion and apply for Japanese Studies.

I first started learning hiragana by transcribing a song into romaji, then matching the phonetic sounds to their respective characters while I memorised the lyrics. To increase my proficiency, I was tutored in the basics of grammar and achieved a moderate fluency in hiragana and katakana. At this point, I had already learnt some basic words from watching subtitled anime and reading non-translated manga, so I was prepared for my fourth visit to Japan in 2009. While I still could not express myself beyond simple phrases such as 'ikura desu ka' and 'arigatou gozaimasu', it was extremely rewarding to be able to read simple signs and understand snippets of conversations. My next step was to begin learning the Kyouiku kanji in order to increase my vocabulary. As I study A Level Mandarin, I am capable of recognising most of the characters, which is very encouraging. Living in Hong Kong with the ability to speak Cantonese also provides me with many opportunities to experience Japanese culture first-hand: Hong Kong fashion, food and pop culture, among many other factors, are heavily influenced by Japanese tastes.

I enjoy reading fantasy novels, which enhances my creativity and aids my analytical skills in English Language while also increasing my appreciation of the development of language in English Literature. I also study Geography as I have an interest in natural processes.

What else have you done to prepare outside of education, and why are these experiences useful?

Through playing basketball for my school team for five years, I have developed my teamwork and coordination skills, which have been reinforced by my Taekwondo exercises. Participating in a Habitat for Humanity project in China for a week was also valuable life experience.

Universities applied to:

• University of Sheffield
• University of Leeds
• School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
• University of Manchester
• Oxford Brookes University

Grades achieved:

• A in English Literature (A2)
• C in Geography (A2)
• B in Mandarin Chinese (A2)
• A in English Language (AS)

How personal statements have changed?

The current personal statement format, with three 'scaffolding' questions, was introduced by Ucas in September 2025. This personal statement was submitted before then, using the old essay-style format. It has been carefully edited into the three-question format, with all of the original wording kept.

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