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Study Abroad - From the world to WASEDA -

From Tajikistan to Waseda

Nojima Nulmukhametva
2nd Year Student in the Master’s Program of the Graduate School of Commerce

Nojima Nulmukhametva worked in the Japanese Embassy in the capital, Dushanbe, and was in charge of cultural exchange operations and events. Starting with the planning of Japanese art exhibitions, she also managed an ikebana flower arranging class. She gained an interest in Japan through animation, movies and magazines she was familiar with. “Even now, not many people know of my home country, Tajikistan. I think there are only about 20 Tajiks living in Japan.”

She came to Japan and Waseda in April 2008. Not used to life in Japan, she says she had many surprising experiences, but soon acclimatized herself. “Tajikistan is situated in a mountainous region with an average elevation of over 800 meters. I even felt depressed in the humidity of Japan, especially in June when there is a lot of rain.” But what shocked her most was the “full trains” when travelling to university. “It was terribly crowded. I was surprised that I had to wait for a few trains before I could get on! Tajikistan doesn’t have trains like in Japan (laughs).”

Nojima is currently studying Japanese business and management. In the future she hopes to contribute to economic development in her home country. “After gaining independence, Tajikistan was ravaged by a long, 5-year civil war, and there are many rural villages in poverty which don’t have an education system. There are also so few jobs available that it is impossible to calculate the unemployment rate.” She says there are many restrictions on movement in and out of the country and that she even has difficulty in visiting her father in neighboring Uzbekistan.

Now she is learning from American, Canadian, and Japanese business models, using them as case studies. “There actually aren’t any successful businesses or industries in Tajikistan to learn from. If there is any field or study which can provide firm roots to business and industry, I want to seriously learn about it.”

After returning home, she wants to establish a consulting firm, and work to promote business chances in Tajikistan. “I want to present opportunities for many people to find employment. And of course, I must provide meaningful education to the children.” We would like to cheer on Nojima in her pursuit of providing a brighter future for Tajikistan.

(Offered by WASEDA WEEKLY)