Curiousity draws Japanese students to China

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2018 marks 40 years since the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

While there has been political friction over the years – over troubled modern history and disputes over parts in the East China Sea – this has seemingly not trickled down to education exchanges between the two countries.

In 2016, there were 13,595 Japanese students who studied in China, accounting for 3.1 percent of China’s international student body.

Li E, vice president of the College of International Education under Minzu University of China said in the beginning, Japanese students came to China mainly to study the Chinese language.

Li E, vice president of the College of International Education under Minzu University of China, talks to CGTN. /CGTN Photo

“But in recent years, students have also opted to do their undergraduate and postgraduate studies here, including economics, management and even music,” Li said.

“While the two countries have had friction, I believe it has mostly been at a political level, due to differing viewpoints. But from an economic, education and cultural exchange standpoint, things haven't been affected that much.”

Only by going through the youth of both countries, Li said, to continuously seek communication, can the relations improve with better understanding of one another.

Language transcends differences

These Japanese students come here mostly to learn and improve their Chinese language skills. Ibuchi Akane, an intercollegiate exchange student at Minzu University of China, said what spurred her to travel to China – beyond studying the Chinese language – was to learn the Chinese way of thinking.

“I used to think that we are very different, because when Chinese people go to Japan for holiday, I feel they can be a bit loud and rude. But after coming here, I have found my Chinese friends to be kind-hearted and quite well-mannered. So the differences are actually not that huge,” Akane said.

Japanese students at Minzu University of China. /CGTN Photo

Ryuhei Kawano, another exchange student, said China’s growing influence in the world is what has driven him to learn the Chinese language.

“Before I came here, I thought the Chinese did not have a good impression of Japan, but now after making many friends here, this misunderstanding is gone. The youth today are different from the past,” Kawano said.

“I like my life here because in Japan, the pace of life can get a bit intense. I also like China’s character where they are upfront [in character]. They are also warm to us foreigners.”

Wada Haruka, an undergraduate student, said she first fell in love with the Chinese language after watching a Chinese history TV show.

“China and Japan are both Asian countries – their ways of thinking are similar but not entirely the same. Sometimes there can be misunderstandings between my Chinese friends and me, and it can feel awkward. But as I am now living in China, I respect their thinking,” Haruka said.

But there are some who believe the differences between China and Japan are still large.

Higuchi Miyuki, a foreign teacher who has been teaching Japanese language in China for over 10 years feels both countries still do not understand one another enough.

“We Japanese tend to pay attention to one another, and look at the other party’s responses before reacting our own. Whilst I feel the Chinese tend to give priority to one’s self,” Shiru said.

That said, Miyuki believes both countries are still neighbours and the most important thing going forward is to better understand one another.

As frictions continue to linger between the two countries, experts say the importance of people-to-people exchanges should not be undermined – in the pursuit of stronger bilateral relations.