KOINUMA Yoshimune

The reason why I participated in this EAA program stems from the experience that I waved over a couple of choices when I was about to choose my major. I currently study at the Faculty of Engineering, however, the Department of Liberal Arts was also quite fascinating to me. But now I feel satisfied to learn not only my major of engineering but the EAA curriculum. EAA provides us with opportunities to listen to lectures in several realms and take part in field trips, through which we can learn vast varieties of things. In mingling with other U-Tokyo EAA youths and students at PKU, you are able to broaden your horizons and I figure that it is so meaningful. At Summer Institute last summer, we did a group presentation on the topic of “Nihilism” by Leo Strauss and “Passion, Intimacy and Harmony” by Fourier. It was quite challenging for me to learn about these topics in English, but at the same time, I could learn a lot of skills and knowledge as well through the discussion-based learning method.
I am currently studying at PKU as an exchange student since February 2024, I selected a lecture on psychology, a lecture on mathematical philosophy and a lecture about the research of Asian regions, which allowed me to immerse myself in a wide range of academic disciplines. Since I am in China, I only chose lectures taught in Chinese. At the beginning, I did not understand what the lecturer was talking about, but through group presentations and so on, I gradually collected scattered pieces one by one to consummate a full image of the lectures at last. This experience certainly gave me a strong sense of achievement. What I regard as commendable about Yuan Pei College is its freedom. You can register for your courses in accordance with your pure curiosity and the original curriculum of Yuan Pei is also one of the remarkable points, which I love most. I register for a Cantonese class in this curriculum in which the distance between students and the teacher is so close that you can learn about the topics more efficiently. I sang a Cantonese song as a final examination, which was so fun.
Moreover, the most remarkable point of this exchange should be life in the dorm. Most of the other exchange students live in a dorm with a private room called “Zhong Guan Xin Yuan”. On the other hand, we live in another dorm with mainland Chinese students in a room for 4 people. This was my first time living with other people; thus I was quite nervous at first. However, it led me to improve my lifestyle rhythm and to learn about self-discipline and cooperativeness and allowed me to mingle with a lot of Chinese students at PKU, which, I feel, means a lot to me.
Last but not least, EAA is a community where you can obtain not only knowledge in philosophical fields but also in various kinds of disciplinary fields. It is a perfect program for those who want to learn as a sub-major, who want to broaden their views and who are willing to actively explore the world. I hope more and more students feel interested in this program in the future.

KOMATSU Saki

The EAA is, for me, an entity where I can connect with others through  pursuing liberal arts. In the academy, individuals with entirely different backgrounds,  majors, and native languages come together. It feels like a community united by learning.
Professors leading various events and courses, TAs navigating the academic world, and inspiring EAA Youth from diverse fields of study all contribute to the dynamic atmosphere. Distinguished graduates excel in their respective new paths, and the students from Peking University we meet through exchange programs and the Summer Institute are exceptionally talented.
This richly diverse environment offers opportunities to learn in Japanese, English, and Chinese as official languages.
One professor noted,”This class primarily is held in English, but in this room, there are students who understand English, Chinese, and Japanese. Let’s discuss freely in ‘EAA-glish.'” Another professor emphasized the importance of self-expression, stating that it doesn’t matter if you aren’t proficient in a particular language.
During EAA activities,I often find myself admiring the brilliance of my peers. I also, from time to  time, lose confidence ,overwhelmed by their excellence. Even so, it is a place where I can relish deep contemplation and engaging discussions.

TANI Shiori

In the EAA program, we can always enjoy challenging experiences. EAA provides students with a lot of courses and activities using Japanese, Chinese and English, one of which is the core course of this program “East Asia Liberal Arts.”

In university life, we can easily put ourselves in easy circumstances which put less stress but are less meaningful instead. To be sure, these courses and activities are sometimes not easy, but they can stimulate and motivate us to learn more and to be better. Since most of my one-and-a-half year after entering university was spent to the study for the bar exam, only when taking courses in EAA did I start learning philosophy and literature. The questions posed in EAA courses are difficult and do not have specific answers, but we can think freely and unlimitedly, which is totally different from what I had ever studied. EAA students and professors accept diverse opinions. We can enjoy the experience of thinking independently, not just memorizing, or making ourselves reach some supposed answers.

The members of EAA are from various majors and study fields, so we can share the experiences or perspectives which are different from our own. Since I usually spend most time in university with students in the same major, who have relatively similar interests and backgrounds to mine, my mind may be easily fixed solidly according to what other students think. Communicating with EAA members helps to free my mind from being fixed and narrow.

Now, I am studying at Pecking University as an EAA exchange student. Generally, exchange students in PKU are supposed to live in dormitories for exchange students only, but the EAA exchange program provides students with dormitories where they can live with local Chinese students. Living with local people deepened and clarified my understanding of China.

Supported by a lot of EAA members, I got a great experience in this program. What I learn in EAA will also be a great advantage in my academic life after graduation.