As a Japanese citizen who has spent the majority of my life away from Japan, I was drawn to the hybridism of the FLA, populated by students who attended international schools in Japan, by kikokushijō returning to the country they can’t quite call “home,” and foreign students intrigued by Japan and its culture. The FLA allows all of us to come together, study together and have fun together in a community that recognizes the uniqueness that comes from being global in a country that celebrates homogeneity. I would never have experienced this unless I’d attended the FLA.

Tokyo has all that a college student needs: safety, convenience, culture and entertainment. Other perks of Tokyo include the ability to make a smooth transition from college to the workplace and the opportunity to forge strong connections with a variety of students, international businessmen, and even celebrities, both inside and outside Sophia. I have been able to parlay many such connections into internships, jobs and friendships.