Studying in Hiroshima
Upper-Level Student Voices
Vargas Villalobos Rony Jose
Country of origin: Costa Rica
Study abroad school: Hiroshima University
Please introduce yourself.
My name is Rony and I'm from Costa Rica, Central America.
I have been living in Japan for more than 3 years.
I have admired Japan since I was a child and I always dreamed with living in this country.
I think that everything started because of my love for the Japanese anime, and posteriorly I started to read more and more about this country.
Japan was devastated during the World War II, but especially because of the efforts of its people, currently it is one of the most important developed countries.
For me, that is simply incredible.
Previously I studied a master program at Utsunomiya University and now I’m studying at the Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University.
I have multiple interests and hobbies. One of my favorites is watching anime.
I also enjoy travelling, mountains and volcanoes (nature, in general), culture, ruins, museums, temples and shrines.
Moreover, I love history and visiting historical places. Additionally, I love reading, international exchange and listening to music.
Finally, I think my favorite hobby is speaking with people.
I have been living in Japan for more than 3 years.
I have admired Japan since I was a child and I always dreamed with living in this country.
I think that everything started because of my love for the Japanese anime, and posteriorly I started to read more and more about this country.
Japan was devastated during the World War II, but especially because of the efforts of its people, currently it is one of the most important developed countries.
For me, that is simply incredible.
Previously I studied a master program at Utsunomiya University and now I’m studying at the Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University.
I have multiple interests and hobbies. One of my favorites is watching anime.
I also enjoy travelling, mountains and volcanoes (nature, in general), culture, ruins, museums, temples and shrines.
Moreover, I love history and visiting historical places. Additionally, I love reading, international exchange and listening to music.
Finally, I think my favorite hobby is speaking with people.
Why did you choose to study abroad in Hiroshima?
I investigated about this University before coming to Japan because I was interested in its course of studies in Peace and Coexistence.
This was four years ago, but on that time, I was scared because of everything I knew about the atomic bomb.
I hear very good comments on Hiroshima when I was living in Utsunomiya, so at the end, I decided to apply to this University.
As I wanted to research about peace, I consider that to study here in one of the most symbolic cities for the peace of the world, is a real privilege.
It is possible to study about that field in different places in Japan, but I think that Hiroshima is the most interesting place to do it.
Finally, I fulfilled one of my dreams!
This was four years ago, but on that time, I was scared because of everything I knew about the atomic bomb.
I hear very good comments on Hiroshima when I was living in Utsunomiya, so at the end, I decided to apply to this University.
As I wanted to research about peace, I consider that to study here in one of the most symbolic cities for the peace of the world, is a real privilege.
It is possible to study about that field in different places in Japan, but I think that Hiroshima is the most interesting place to do it.
Finally, I fulfilled one of my dreams!
What do you like about Hiroshima?
When I came to apply for the admission to this university, I also visited places as Hiroshima city and Onomichi.
In that travel I met many people, so I thought that in this prefecture I could find friendly and interesting folk.
Here there are a lot of nature. The territory of Utsunomiya city is very flat, but here there are a lot of mountains and parks very close.
In contrast to Utsunomiya, in Hiroshima many old houses are intact. This gives this place a very "Japanese" feeling.
I also like the awareness on peace that everyone has in this prefecture.
In that travel I met many people, so I thought that in this prefecture I could find friendly and interesting folk.
Here there are a lot of nature. The territory of Utsunomiya city is very flat, but here there are a lot of mountains and parks very close.
In contrast to Utsunomiya, in Hiroshima many old houses are intact. This gives this place a very "Japanese" feeling.
I also like the awareness on peace that everyone has in this prefecture.
Please provide a message to those considering to study abroad in Japan.
At the beginning, my image of Hiroshima was based practically just only in the atomic bomb.
Indeed, the risks are much lower than I thought.
Also, Hiroshima University is one of the best Japanese universities and you could have the opportunity to study many different fields.
As Costa Rica is a peaceful country and there is no army, I am very happy to live in a prefecture where peace is so actively promoted.
In this moment, approximately 1400 foreigners are studying in Hiroshima University.
Here you will have a big opportunity of meet interesting people and experience different cultures.
