Options?..Need some advice :)

Alright, I been lurking around this forum for some time but I never thought I would start a thread asking for help lol.

Anyways a little background about me. Live in Hawaii, going to be a Junior at University of Hawaii, studying Travel Industry Management, grades are average, and I would say I am pretty fluent in Japanese.

Ok, so this past summer I got a scholarship to Doshisha University(in Kyoto) for a summer program they had for 2 weeks. It was for foreign students who wanted to learn Japanese for the short time they were there and experience Japanese culture. Anyway I visit Japan about once a year because most of my family is there but this trip was probably the best one I had. I got to interact with the Japanese students at Doshisha and I became close to quite a few of them. This was the first time I really felt like I wanted to go to school in Japan. Of course my Japanese isn't on the level of Japanese university students but my speaking abilities are good but my kanji is a little rusty(enough to get by). I talked to some of the friends I made and they all thought it would be a great idea if I were to somehow enroll in a University in Japan to study and possibly work here.

So here is my dilemma, I was ALWAYS interested in a study abroad program that my school has but it is VERY limited and only people with the highest grades and professor recommendations are selected. And as I stated previously, my grades are... average haha.. It's not bad but.. yea..

But if I were to study in Japan, I want to stay there as long as possible, maybe until I graduate? I'm honestly not too sure how that works, that's why I made this thread hoping some people can give me advice on what I can possibly do to study in Japan.
Idk if this info is useful but I have dual citizenship for both the U.S. and Japan.

I recently heard about the MEXT scholarship? I read some info on it but I'm still quite unclear on what is really is?

So in conclusion, for the people that can help, what are the options I have in my current situation to be able to study/live in Japan?
I am still working on my Bachelors in Travel Industry Management so should I wait until I graduate if I were to go to Japan?

Anyways thanks for reading and sorry for so many questions. I just feel like I'm stuck and I'm not too sure what to do here in Hawaii, but I do know that my passion is to be in Japan, my homeland.

With citizenship you are pretty much free to come and go as you please and engage in whatever course of study or field of employment you can convince the people in charge of admissions or hiring to let you take a whack at. Congratulations; you are blessed.

I would suggest that it may be the wisest course of action to go ahead and finish up your present course of study. In the meantime, get your Japanese reading and writing skills up to speed as best you can.

I have just read the plight of another dual citizen, so take heed. He was unable to qualify for scholarships because he was Japanese. You may run into the same problem, especially if your name is Japanese.

Want to attend? Apply! No guarantees on getting in, tho.

As for being "pretty fluent", it sounds like you aren't.

One more very important point: your dual citizenship expires at 22 as far as Japan is concerned, and you may very well be asked to renounce one citizenship by then. The U.S. doesn't care about dual nationals, but Japan does. Many hide it and retain it throughout life here in Japan, but the operative word is "hide".

I am also a little confused about your "dream". Just how long do feel you want to remain here?

And, what do you imagine yourself doing in the work force?

As Glenski pointed out, your Japanese citizenship will prevent you from getting the MEXT scholarship. The MEXT scholarship is primarily for those students attending a Japanese University for all four years or their entire graduate school career, not for a single exchange year. I highly recommend applying for an exchange program, even if you feel your grades aren't good enough. Plenty of "average" students study abroad.

dan610 said:

But if I were to study in Japan, I want to stay there as long as possible, maybe until I graduate?

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That would depend on the program you applied for. The longest most programs last is one academic year. Besides, I doubt UH would let you graduate abroad.

If you want to attend graduate school in Japan, the procedure depends on whether you want to apply as a Japanese national or not. In the case of a Japanese national you'll have to visit the websites of universities you want to attend and check out their application procedures. Almost all of them require an entrance exam you'll have to take in Japan or through a proctor. If you want to apply through an international program (check out Global 30) where the courses are in English you'll either have to renounce your Japanese citizenship or hide it.

Or, as was pointed out, since you are a Japanese national you could simply move to Japan and try and find work. Unlike those of us who are legally required to have a valid reason to be in Japan, you do not and could live on the streets although that is not recommended .

@Mike Cash: Yea I'm definitely brushing up on my Japanese, it just kinda sucks that my only practice is school and speaking to my parents lol.

@Glenski: Thanks for the response! As for your question, I plan on staying in Japan until retirement? Or at least I want to. My parents are both born and raised in Japan so they are planning on moving back there soon, probably before I graduate college and I move like to stay close to my family f possible.

As for myself, I want to work in the travel industry? Or maybe manage a restaurant? Or whatever job that I can use my English with basically?
That would depend on the program you applied for. The longest most programs last is one academic year. Besides, I doubt UH would let you graduate abroad.

@Half-n-Half: Ah I see, the thing is it might be too late for me to do any exchange programs. I am already a junior so I think I will just try and graduate in time and try to get into a graduate school in japan.

Oh and for the Global 30, do they also offer scholarships? I think it would be best if I went as an international student, I don't think my kanji writing abilities are on the same level as a japanese university student lol. Oh and I used to live in Ohio too btw haha. Nice!

Since you want to stay here forever, consider these few points.

1) Your nationality will become a concern, as I mentioned above. Put some serious thought into whether you want to use J nationality as leverage and then later be forced to renounce U.S. citizenship. You are very close to the age deadline!

2) Whether you declare J or U.S. citizenship, I assume you outwardly look Japanese/Asian, so that people will automatically assume you are Japanese. That can be a little troublesome depending on your fluency in the language (spoken vs. written). Since you want to be here forever, study it hard.

3) You seem undecided on what you want to do for a career. The hiring rate for fresh Japanese college grads last year was something like 57% (College graduates' employment rate hits record-low - @JapanPress_wky). Many took jobs that weren't even in their majors. In Japan, it's not grades that determine where you work; it's the name of the school where you graduate, plus any inside information and contacts from your school advisor. Even so, the jobs just aren't out there. Wanting to work in the tourism industry will be slightly different for you, IMO, because of your English skills, but as I noticed, you aren't even sure if that's for you. Other jobs that require English will hold similar opportunities as long as employers feel you have gone to the right school with the right major. Rakuten and Uniqlo are hiring English speakers, but they are in the minority. Japanese Retailer's New Policy: 'English Spoken Here' - WSJ.com

Managing a restaurant IMO is a thankless job and one that gives you no rest. Businesses grow and fade away quickly.

Just counting on your English ability is not something I'd recommend. Foreigners need Japanese language skills for most non-teaching jobs, plus they also need to prove job skills that locals cannot offer. Your only edge at the moment is a (yet undetermined) status of citizenship. Work on something more.

Global 30 is basically a government plan to get more international students into Japan by encouraging universities to create English based programs. In that sense, Global 30 itself does not offer aid, but the Japanese government does by way of the MEXT scholarship. Individual universities may also offer scholarships for international students and there are also plenty of scholarships offered by private companies or local governments. Any university you apply for will have more information on scholarships, but most require foreign nationality.

Whereabouts in Ohio did you live? I only just moved here a couple years ago.