Kansai Gaidai: Where It All Began

Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit my alma mater, Kansai Gaidai University (KGU) — the place where my Japan life began. Although the original campus I attended, near Keihan Makino Station, is no longer there, the beautiful Hirakata City campus is truly a sight to see.

My sincere thanks to Dean of the Asian Studies Program and Professor, Stephen Zurcher, as well as to Director Reiko Hiromoto and Naomi Nakawa of the Center for International Education, for meeting with me. A special thank-you as well to my thoughtful campus tour guide, Saiya Matsuoka.

KGU kindly invited me to share an alumni testimonial about my time at Gaidai for their 2026–2027 brochure. Writing it was a wonderful walk down memory lane. My year as a study abroad student at Kansai Gaidai was long ago, but its impact remains deeply present in my life — shaping who I am both personally and professionally.

That foundation ultimately led me to where I am today — running my own consulting business supporting Japanese global companies in communications and cross-cultural engagement. I am grateful that the experiences that began at Gaidai continue to be a key part of my work today.

Kansai Gaidai’s stellar reputation is well earned and well deserved, as they continue to lead and innovate in Asian Studies and foreign language education. I’m deeply grateful for the experiences and connections that started there — and I look forward to visiting again soon. Oh, to be a student again!