“I want to immerse myself in everyday life in Japan”

Dr Luise Stoltenberg is 34 and holds a scholarship on the Language and Practical Experience in Japan programme run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The programme combines an intensive language course with a work placement in Japan. Luise has been attending a language school in Japan since October 2022, and will soon start her work placement at a tourism company in Tokyo. In an interview she talks about what interests her about Japan, what she has enjoyed about her stay so far and what has surprised her about life in Japan.

Why are you taking part in this programme?

I first went to Japan on holiday in 2015, and I’ve been under its spell ever since. There are many parallels with Germany. For example, Japan is a democratic country and has a similar sociological structure to Germany. However, despite these similarities the two countries are also fundamentally different in many aspects. At that time I was studying for my master’s degree in sociology and I was particularly interested in Japanese society, its social infrastructures, defining norms and values. Language is a key pillar and expression of culture, so I looked for opportunities to learn Japanese. At the same time, I dreamed of spending more time in Japan so I could immerse myself in everyday life there. By doing that, I wanted my own genuine experiences to expand upon the theoretical knowledge which I had gained from academic texts, documents and novels by Japanese authors. While I was looking for opportunities to take a language course and spend time in Japan, I came across the DAAD scholarship and applied immediately.

Tell us about your academic background

My PhD is in sociology and I have professional experience as a project manager for urban planning, so I do not fit with the typical scholarship holders on the DAAD’s Japan programme. Previously it has been aimed at students on courses in IT, the sciences, engineering, law, politics and economics. The scholarship has now been opened up more widely so I am all the more grateful that I can get funding with my training in the humanities. Given that the aim is to train people as experts on Japan, I feel that my background in sociology is particularly valuable.

You are currently taking an intensive language course in Tokyo before starting your work placement. How’s that going?

Even before my first day at the Naganuma language school in October 2022 it was clear to me that learning Japanese wasn’t going to be easy. When I came to Tokyo I couldn’t speak any Japanese so I had to start from the very basics, learning the phonetic Hiragana and Katakana scrips, and how to form simple sentences. The workload at the language school is heavy and very intense. We get homework, vocabulary and grammar tests and they always expect us to revise what we have learned and prepare for future lessons. But for as much as this is demanding, I was just as quickly able to start making progress with my learning and make myself understood in day-to-day situations. Our teachers teach with great engagement and motivation, and they always make their lessons varied and interesting. They support us individually and we can also go to them with questions about life in Japan. That’s why I like the Naganuma school so much. But it hasn’t just been at school where there’s been a lot to learn. Particularly during my first few days and weeks in Japan, everyday life held many moments where I learned something new. How do you do the laundry in Japan, for example! It honestly took me ages before I got used to the fact that the washing machines only wash on cold cycles. The washing powder often contains softener and/or bleach, and the laundry usually gets done on sunny days so the wet clothes can be air dried outside. All of a sudden I had to learn how to do the simplest things all over again. I love moments like that!

What does taking part in this programme mean to you?

I am well aware that it is a huge privilege to hold this scholarship, which means the DAAD is supporting and funding my life and learning in Japan for 15 months. I have already learned so much during my first eight months here – not just on a linguistic level, but also with regard to sociology. Discussions around equality between women and men or queerness are only just beginning to take hold among the wider public in Japan. In addition to this, a stay abroad like this teaches you so much about yourself, so I can say that I really am benefitting from this programme in a holistic way. It is an incredible time and I am very grateful for it.

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Language and Practical Experience in Japan programme

“It’s a bit of an outlier in the programmes offered by the German Academic Exchange Service,” says Axel Karpenstein when describing the Language and Practical Experience in Japan programme. Axel is head of the DAAD’s Tokyo regional office, and notes the programme’s emphasis on career-related training as opposed to academic networking. The programme combines intensive language lessons with a work placement in a Japanese or German business in Japan, and for the last 40 years it has been building bridges for bilateral relations. The programme has a strong emphasis on business and visits to companies give participants valuable insights into Japan’s industry and economy. For the DAAD and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research, the programme is an important contribution towards training up experts on Japan. Over 450 people have completed the programme since its inception and many now hold important positions in businesses in Germany and Japan.