Aug 21, 2026
A Semester Abroad in the Land of the Rising Sun - Lisa Jurack
On September 23, 2025, my trip to Japan began at Frankfurt Airport. Fifteen hours later, I arrived in Tokyo, the capital of Japan, and took the express train to Sendai, where I planned to study at Tohoku University for the next five months.
I was able to choose my own courses. I opted for a Japanese language course, a Japanese culture course, and a project on community design. In addition to the courses, participating in a research group is also part of the JYPE exchange program. In the group I chose, I conducted research on the use of ultrasound to measure accumulations of red blood cells. There, I was able to expand my knowledge of ultrasound
and learn about research practices in another country.
The research group welcomed me very warmly and introduced me to their research step by step. It was common for us to spend time together outside of work as well. For example, we cooked together in the office. This allowed me to get to know the other students and my professor better and learn more about life in Japan.
Tohoku University and the city of Sendai have many groups that organize events for international students. There were language exchanges, parties, cultural nights, and field trips around Sendai. At one cultural night, I had the opportunity to present German culture together with exchange students from Heidelberg and Chemnitz.
One of the field trips took us to a Buddhist temple, where we tried zazen (meditation) and learned more about the monks’ reforestation efforts. I enjoyed learning more about Sendai and the Miyagi region on these field trips. Through the language exchanges and celebrations, I was able not only to improve my language skills but also to meet people from all over the world and
make some friends.
Through this semester abroad, I gained insights into a different culture, expanded my knowledge, and made international friends. I would like to thank the Society of Friends and Supporters of TUD, as their financial support made this semester abroad possible for me. The funding came from donations.