Graduate Student Affiliates
Adam Parker, 1st Year Masters of Global Affairs
"I have always been interested in Japanese history, art and fashion. I also believe that Japan has an important opportunity to take a leadership role among liberal democracies in East Asia. As China seeks to increasingly assert its interests among its neighbouring nations, Japan’s economic, military and soft power will be critical to maintaining peace and prosperity in the region."
Ben Faust, 1st Year Master of Global Affairs
"I wanted to become a student affiliate of the Centre for the Study of Global Japan because I have a keen interest in understanding factional politics—of which Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the country’s long-term ruling party, stands as one of the foremost examples among major nations. I am also deeply interested in global security issues, particularly Japan’s evolving role in the Indo-Pacific and its shifting defence posture, as well as how these developments shape its relationship with Canada. As part of the CSGJ, I hope to continue following these dynamics while gaining deeper insight into Japanese politics and society. I am also eager to continue to engage with Japanese experts and officials to help foster meaningful, person-to-person connections that strengthen the relationship between our two countries."
Gary Tetreault, 2nd Year Master of Global Affairs and Public Policy
"I have lived in Japan over roughly 3 years, 1 year studying and 2 years as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT)."
Thomas Yue, 1st Year Masters in Public Policy
"I wanted to join CSGJ because Japan has very special modernisation experiences, and I am passionate about the culture and history that it has. I am looking forward to attending CSGJ events!"
Madomi Kusano, 1st Year Masters of Global Affairs
"I wanted to join the CSGJ to deepen my academic engagement with Japan and contribute to a community dedicated to nuanced scholarship on contemporary Japan. As a Master of Global Affairs student with research interests in Japan’s innovation landscape and the intersection of technology, society, and policy, I see the CSGJ as a space to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, contribute to ongoing research, and learn from scholars and practitioners, while further developing my focus on Japan within global affairs."
Rebecca Maria Serano, 1st Year Masters of Urban Innovation
"My interest in Japan grew slowly and naturally, through moments: a first homestay in Nagasaki, everyday life in Tokyo, long walks through the city, and 5 months of studying at Waseda University. Japan challenged the way I see cities, community, and even myself, showing me how complexity can coexist with care, and intensity with quiet order. Being part of the CSGJ community feels like a way to stay connected to a place that has shaped me deeply, to keep asking questions, learning, and sharing that curiosity with others who are drawn to Japan for similar reasons."
Undergraduate Student Affiliates
Sakura Armstrong, 4th Year International Relations, Book and Media Studies, & Creative Expression and Society Minor
"Being from Japan but raised mostly in the States, I have always been interested in learning more about Japan. After moving back to Tokyo for my senior year of high school I took a course on Japanese contemporary society and it inspired me to further study Japan and join CSGJ. As an affiliate I hope to supplement my learning in International Relations and meet people with similar goals and interests!"
Rie Aiyama, 3rd Year International Relations, Contemporary Asian Studies, & Political Science
"My interest in Japan stems from my identity as a third-culture kid, being fully Japanese by nationality but having never lived there in my life. As a CSGJ Student Affiliate, I hope to expand my existing understanding of Japanese culture, history, and its contemporary politics, while providing a regional focus for my academic pursuits in international relations."
Sarah Padwal, 3rd Year International Relations & Contemporary Asian Studies
"Since I was a kid, I have always been fascinated by Japanese culture. After taking a Japanese language course in high school and working for a cultural exchange company, I became even more interested in Japan. As a student affiliate, I hope to expand my knowledge about Japan through events and conversations with academic scholars, and I look forward to meeting other students who share my interests!"
Sophia Lenkov, 4th Year Political Science
"I've always been interested in and had an appreciation for Japanese politics and culture. As a Japanese Canadian Political Science student, I had the opportunity to take a course on Japanese politics and immediately was drawn to further study the rich political history of Japan. I wanted to become involved with the CSGJ as a student affiliate to further expand my understanding of Japanese affairs."
Jack Orr, 2nd Year History & Political Science
"I wanted to become a CSGJ student affiliate because of my interest in East Asian politics and history, specifically in post-World War II Japan. My personal research and work with a Johns Hopkins historian furthered my interests in contemporary Japan in high school, and as an affiliate, I want to further develop these interests with other like-minded individuals."
Esther Sicat, 4th Year Sociology, Political Science, & Religion
Why did you join the Student Affiliate Program?
"I took POL307 with Professor Lipscy and found the course fascinating as I learned more about Japan’s unique political system and its position in the global community. Japan’s technological innovation, economic influence, and impact on pop culture demonstrates the crucial role Japan plays in shaping contemporary society and influencing global trends across many spheres. I’m interested in learning more about Japan’s rich culture and history in greater depth, as well as how Japan has become a leading nation and maintains a positive reputation worldwide."
Maya Tran, 2nd Year International Relations, Contemporary Asian Studies, & Economics
"I wanted to become a CSGJ student affiliate because of my interest in contemporary Japanese politics and culture. In my first year I was able to take a politics course on East Asia that discussed some history of Japan. Additionally, I’ve been able to take some courses that delve into Japanese politics in contemporary Asia. I hope that through the student affiliate program I can learn more about Japan and get to know people with a shared interest!"
Max Wong, 4th Year Political Science
"I wanted to become a CSGJ Student Affiliate because of both my academic and personal interests in contemporary Japanese politics; particularly, the role of soft power and influence in the broader context of International Relations. CSGJ's mission to understand Japan as an idea and actor in the world aligns with the perspective I want to cultivate in my academic goals and journey."
Garance Folie-Desjardins, 4th Year Exchange Student from Jean Moulin University Lyon 3
"I want to become a CSGJ student affiliate because I think it is a great opportunity to learn more about Japan and Japanese politics—a topic I am really interested in—and to meet new people who share the same interests. I also found CSGJ events very interesting as they address a variety of topics and issues related to Japan, presented by experts."
Miranda Uribe Naves, 3rd Year Political Science & East Asian Studies
"I wanted to become part of the CSGJ student affiliate because I have a passion for international affairs with a focus in Cultural, Environmental, Technological, Immigration and Equality Policies regarding East Asia with an emphasis in Japan. My passion with Japanese studies in high school thanks to my Japanese professor at the time, who encouraged me to learn the language. Thanks to that, I was able to be part of the 2023 Kakehashi Program, where I had a strong sense of global policy and unity."
Mikayel (Michael) Hovsepyan, 4th Year Political Science & English
"I wanted to become a CSGJ student affiliate because I have always been interested in both the culture and the politics of Japan. Especially in these recent years, there is something new happening every week, to the point that it is becoming hard to keep track of. I hope to gain further experience and knowledge in this field, attend events concerning topics that relate to Japanese politics and get to meet both professionals and fellow like-minded students."
Jonathan Yeung, 3rd Year Political Science
"My interest in Japan comes from having spent a few years of my childhood at a Japanese primary school in Hong Kong. Plus, seeing clips of Tokyo mayoral elections and taking POL307 with Professor Lipscy showed me how interesting Japanese politics can be. I want to become a CSGJ student affiliate to be able to learn more and meet others with similar interest."
Qinyi Huang, 4th Year Political Science & International Relations
"My academic interests lie in East Asian politics and international relations, and studying Japanese politics this year has deepened my curiosity about Japan’s role in regional and global governance. I hope to further develop this interest by engaging with the CSGJ community, attending events, and learning from the research at the Centre."
Hoda Sadek, 4th Year Political Science, Philosophy & History
"I have always been interested in studying the politics and history of different regions, which is why I enrolled in a Japanese politics class. The class inspired me to learn more about its history and politics."
Deepak Menon, 3rd Year Political Science
"I am deeply interested in Japanese politics and global relations, especially because the Asia Pacific region plays a prominent role in global affairs. Staying informed and having opportunities to learn from leading experts is also essential for understanding current issues. I also enjoy Japanese pop culture, including music and manga, so I find it fascinating to explore how political developments influence these creative fields. However, one of the largest reasons was that I enjoyed Pol307 and wanted to learn more past the class."
William Wang, 4th Year Peace Conflict and Justice, Philosophy & Political Science
"Throughout my undergraduate degree, I've spent many hours studying Asia at the Munk School; Japan, however, has never been an actor I've dedicated much time to analysing. I want to be become a CSGJ student affiliate because I want to deepen my understanding of Japan, its domestic politics and conditions, and it's actions as a global player. Additionally, I hope to do this alongside peers with similar interests to share ideas, perspectives, and organise events aimed at fostering an environment conducive to learning and cross-cultural exchanges."
Amy Shin, 3rd Year Peace Conflict and Justice & Political Science
"My interest in Japan was inspired by POL307 with Professor Lipscy. Understanding the history of Japanese politics as well as their current role in the international order is not only crucial, but incredibly interesting."
Jacob Fowler, 3rd Year Political Science & Criminology
"I wanted to become a student affiliate mainly due to my interest in Japanese politics, as well as Japanese culture, as Japan is a country with a very unique way of doing things."
Min Seo Ki, 4th Year Political Science
"My interest in Japan stems from a homestay opportunity I took part in during high school in rural Kunisaki. Since then, I've visited Japan two more times and have developed a greater appreciation for its rich and diverse culture. Taking Professor Lipscy's class has also fostered my interest in Japan's political significance within East Asia and beyond. Many of Japan's experiences and the challenges it faces today reflect broader trends in other liberal democracies. I am eager to bridge my appreciation for Japan's culture with a deeper understanding of the ways it intends to navigate new frontiers in technology, demographic changes, the environment, among other pressing global issues. And as a student affiliate, CSGJ affords me the best opportunity to do so!"