Incoming Positive Psychology and Wellbeing student Asami spoke to us about life in Japan and how some important soul-searching took her to Mount Kilimanjaro and beyond.

By Ruby Wrankmore

Name: Asami

University: Liverpool John Moores University

Course: MSc Positive Psychology and Wellbeing

Hometown: Tokyo

What is your favourite thing about Tokyo?: My favorite thing about Tokyo is that it is full of modern culture and history from the Edo period. There are so many attractive places in Tokyo. For example, Asakusa, a district in Tokyo, is famous for historic architecture such as Senso-ji temple and Kaminari-mon gate. One of my favourite things is ‘Yakata-bune’, which is a traditional Japanese boat where you can enjoy popular Japanese food while watching firework displays.

Hokkaido to Sendai, Sendai to Tokyo

“I was born in Hokkaido, the north of Japan. I studied at university there, majoring in Pharmacology. Since graduating I have been working at a pharmaceutical company as a medical representative for the last 12 years. I lived in Sendai for 7 years, where I experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. After the earthquake, there was a power outage and we did not receive any information at all, so we did not know the extent of the tsunami damage until a little while later. I also remember that it was cold and snowy at night, even though it was March.”

“Fortunately, I lived in the centre of the city, so I was not affected by the tsunami. However, there were many people I knew who were affected by the earthquake and lost their families. From this experience, I realised that I should try my best to live each day without regrets because nobody knows when something might happen.”

“After that, I was transferred to Tokyo and I have been working there for the past 5 years. I have been studying for a Masters in Psychology, which I finished in March. In August, I will leave my job and move to Liverpool to start my studies at LJMU!”

Honest realisations that led to choosing her LJMU course

“When I turned 30, I faced an identity crisis due to a series of big life events: a promotion, a job transfer and relocation. Whilst my peers were going through the ‘normal’ stages of life - marriage, children - I felt like I was being left behind. I began to do some soul-searching and I travelled alone to Tanzania, where I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. With the support of my Tanzanian guides to help me reach the summit, I had the opportunity to improve my self-reliance and reaffirm my emotional connection with nature.

“When I returned to my daily life in Tokyo, the loneliness I had been feeling disappeared and I was able to live my life mindfully and with purpose. This experience inspired me to investigate the psychological effects of mountain hiking.”

“I was researching the relationship between spirituality, mindfulness and well-being among mountain hikers in my Masters course. My interest in positive psychology is tied to my day job. This inside view of the pharmaceutical industry and the over-reliance on drugs has pushed me in the direction of preventative lifestyles. I am eager to further learn about community-based approaches and lifestyle choices for preventing chronic diseases.”

“From a scientific perspective, I want to explore the psychological effects of mountain hiking. To do this, I will need a profound understanding of positive psychology, mindfulness and meditation. The best way to achieve this is to do research at an internationally renowned university, with a focus on not only positive psychology but also practice-based mindfulness meditation. That’s how I came to choose the course at LJMU!”

With a little help from my friends...

“Through CampusConnect, I’ve made friends with a Korean student who joined the same pre-sessional course as me. We’ve been able to help and encourage each other through it. Even though I’m in Tokyo, I have been able to get so much important information, like accommodation and visa applications, with the app. I feel more confident knowing what I should do next and how to do it. It’s really useful!”

“I’m most excited to learn with a variety of people with different values. I believe it will be a good opportunity for me to reevaluate my own values and look at Japan objectively. Footpaths are also very famous in the UK, and since my hobby is trekking, I’m looking forward to trying new walks.”

“Back when I was having trouble thinking about my future, I listened to Let It Be by The Beatles and it really encouraged me to live my own life. I can’t wait to be in Liverpool, the place associated with The Beatles, as it will definitely have a great impact on my life.”

If you would like to keep up with Asami, connect on LinkedIn.