(December) Interview of the International Affair Office

す：Hello Mr. Akahane ! Thank you for your time today! Can you please introduce yourself to readers?

赤：Hello everyone! My name is Toru Akahane, and I work for the International Affairs Office. Oh, yes, I am Japanese from Nagano. HAHA!!

す：How long have you been working?

赤：I think it’s been about 11 years because I started working in October 2012.

す：Thank you! So when do you feel most rewarded working in the international Affairs office?

赤：Actually I was in charge of Japanese students studying abroad, but in 2016, I started to work as a support for international students. And it feels most rewarding when I talk with the students and solve problems.

す：Thank you for your support! I am wondering, when is your busiest time of the year?

赤：That is definitely March and September. Many students start their new life after graduation, and some will be freshmen. So we are pretty busy with the preparations but delighted at the same time HAHA!

す：Obviously, I remember it was pretty busy for everyone. For the next question, is there any goal you set for after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic?

赤：First of all, we’d like to make our office comfortable to come to even if there is a massive increase in the number of international students increases. And we also hope international students can come to our office freely to talk about anything, whatever it is.

す：One more question, as a super global university, is there any vision you set?

赤：We would like to improve our university to be more welcoming. And actually, it has been improving gradually, including translation services, but we want to change more for you to take more convenient services.

す：Thank you! I’m pretty sure many international students get help from your effort. And this is additional. Can you please let us know anything about the 2023 New Year party?

赤：Umm.. it will be face-to-face on the 4th of January, and participation will be only for 1st-year students and students living in the dorm. And lunch boxes will be given due to prevention of infection from Covid-19. But there will be special prizes like last year’s Kura sushi tickets!

す：I’M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT! (I cannot be a participant) Lastly, do you have something to say to international students?

赤：Actually, I also have been to England as an international student and had a hard time. So I’d like to introduce one comment from my seminar professor. [Be healthy and doing well. It is not essential whether you are doing a good job or not. The best thing is just enjoying your time and coming back in good health.] I got to feel really comfortable hearing this, and I could do my best. So please enjoy your Soka life without worrying so much!

す：Thank you for joining our interview today! And yoroshiku onegaishimasu from now too!