Student Interview with Jiang Xincheng | ISI Japanese Language School

Jiang Xincheng

From China
Tokyo-Shinjuku Campus

College of Gastronomy Management, Ritsumeikan University
Admitted

Hello! Could you please introduce yourself?: Hello, everyone! I’m from Shanghai, China. Having grown up in a fast-paced and highly competitive urban environment, I developed an outgoing personality and enjoy actively taking on new challenges. In my free time, I enjoy building models such as Gundam kits.
I came to Japan in July 2024, and that's when I began focusing on preparing for the university entrance examinations. Until then, I had received almost no systematic education in the humanities and had also been away from school for quite some time. As a result, after arriving in Japan, I had to build my knowledge from almost scratch, taking things one step at a time. My exam preparation lasted for about a year, during which I balanced language school, cram school, and self-study, gradually finding a study pace that worked best for me.
What made you decide to study in Japan?: Above all, I wanted to change the direction of my life, step away from a relatively predictable lifestyle, and explore a wider range of possibilities for my future.

In China, I attended a junior college, and after graduation, my career path had already been decided. I would take a job I did not want, earn just enough to get by, and live a life whose future was easy to predict. That was not the life I wanted. At the time, I discussed it with my family and decided to study abroad.
Why did you choose ISI and JUQ at the time?: I chose ISI because I had heard that its classes were relatively flexible and that the school did not impose rules such as confiscating students’ phones. I had also heard that it offered a well-equipped learning environment. In fact, I did not even know that cram schools existed until I enrolled at ISI. Shortly after the new semester began, a teacher introduced ISI’s cram school during the orientation. I decided to try JUQ class just to see what it was like, and found that the teacher’s teaching style suited me very well. I also felt that JUQ’s overall teaching style was a perfect fit for me. The teacher who assisted me was very kind as well, and I immediately thought, “This is the place,” and signed up.
Could you tell us how you prepared for the entrance examinations?: Throughout that year of entrance exam preparation, I studied Japanese at language school during the day and attended EJU classes at a cram school in the evening.
At language school, I joined the advanced university preparatory class. This class is designed for students with strong Japanese skills who aim to enter higher education, and students must pass an exam to join. The class was extremely helpful to me.
At the cram school, I mainly took EJU classes while also preparing my personal statement and interview. The teacher who left the strongest impression on me was Instructor Sun, who taught social studies. The classes were incredibly engaging, as the instructor often explained complex concepts in economics and history by connecting them to real life examples, creating a relaxed and enjoyable learning environment. Whenever a topic sparked further discussion, everyone naturally joined the conversation, and the class became much more than memorization or exam preparation—it turned into an interactive learning experience. Thanks to those classes, I gradually developed a genuine interest in social studies and felt that both my understanding of the subject and my ability to express my ideas improved significantly.
I am not the type of person who studies nonstop. I sometimes play games between classes. However, I make it a rule to listen carefully and stay fully focused during lessons. Honestly, I believe that as long as you thoroughly understand what the teacher is explaining and keep up with the pace of the class, getting into a good university should not be a problem.
How did you plan your choice of universities? Did you have a particular strategy?: My strategy was to build on my strengths while making up for my weaknesses—in other words, to prioritize and make strategic choices. Since I had graduated from a junior college, I had never studied the humanities in a systematic way and was starting the EJU material almost entirely from scratch. Compared with students who had just graduated from high school, I needed to invest much more time, so it was impossible to cover every subject. I therefore decided to focus on Japanese and the Japan and the Comprehensive Humanities section, while putting mathematics and English aside for the time being.

When applying to universities, I focused on schools that placed greater emphasis on Japanese proficiency and the Comprehensive Humanities subjects. I also met with my language school and cram school instructors to develop a detailed plan for my university applications. During those discussions, one of my language school teachers recommended the College of Gastronomy Management at Ritsumeikan University. After looking into the program, I realized it aligned perfectly with my interests. In addition to food culture itself, the curriculum covers areas such as business management, market analysis, and regional branding, making it an ideal match for my goal of promoting food culture in both Japan and China. That is why I decided to apply.
Was the Ritsumeikan University entrance examination difficult?: In addition to submitting documents such as EJU scores and a statement of purpose, Ritsumeikan University also requires an interview.

Two professors interviewed me. They asked almost no questions about my past background and focused mainly on why I had chosen the university and major, the content of my statement of purpose, and my own understanding and views on food culture. For example, because I had written that I was interested in soba noodles, the professors asked what specifically attracted me to soba and how I would recommend it to Chinese people. They also asked about my plans after graduation. I answered by discussing my own experiences with food culture, my interest in promoting local food cultures, and my desire to work on cross-cultural food promotion in the future. The professors appeared interested in my answers.

I practiced the interview repeatedly with my teacher in advance and also reviewed my interview script. I practiced outside class using AI software as well, so I was very thoroughly prepared.
Do you have any advice for younger students who hope to change the direction of their lives through studying abroad?: ① Build a solid foundation in the language

Many students tend to rush into practice books and mock exams, but I believe language ability is the foundation for understanding every subject. The stronger your Japanese foundation is, the less difficulty you will have with the Japan and Comprehensive Humanities section and interviews.

② Choose in-person classes whenever possible

Private cram school courses can be taken either online or in person. However, I am the type who cannot concentrate well in online classes, so I always attended in person on time, whether it was windy, rainy, or otherwise bad weather. I strongly recommend taking face-to-face classes whenever possible because they are more efficient and make it easier to resolve questions immediately.

③ Set priorities and do not try to do everything

If your foundation is not yet strong enough, rather than trying to take on everything at once, you should choose the subjects you want to focus on and make a breakthrough in those areas. By concentrating on Japanese and Comprehensive Humanities subjects and allocating my time strategically, I was actually able to make remarkable progress.

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