Daiwa Scholars Blogs

Welcome to the official Daiwa Scholars Blogs!

 Daiwa Scholars 2025

The 2025 Daiwa Scholars arrived in Tokyo on 2 September 2025. They are currently undertaking Japanese language studies at Waseda University.

You can learn more about the Daiwa Scholars 2025 here.

We will continue to add blog posts from the Scholars as the year goes on so stay tuned!

DAIGAN REID’S BLOG – ON KNOWING JAPAN, AND THEN HAVING TO LIVE IN IT

 Daiwa Scholars 2024

The 2024 Daiwa Scholars arrived in Tokyo early in September 2024.

Following a year of language study, they are currently undertaking their work placements in Japan.

You can learn more about the Daiwa Scholars 2024 here.

We will continue to add blog posts from the Scholars as the year goes on so stay tuned!

ZAChary FAIRBROTHER’S BLOG – ON LIFE AT WASEDA AND FEELING LIKE AN OUTSIDER, JUNE 2025

 Daiwa Scholars 2023

The 2023 Daiwa Scholars completed their Japanese language studies at Waseda University, their homestays across various parts of Japan, and their work placements. They completed the programme on 31 March 2025.

You can learn more about the Daiwa Scholars 2023 here.

RHI HUNT’S BLOG – SCIENCE IN A DISTANT LAND, MAR 2025

SHANA PAGANO LOHREY’S BLOG –  WORK PLACEMENT, JAN 2025 

OLIVIA KEHOE’S BLOG – LESSONS IN JAPANESE, Jul 2024

OWAIN COOKE’S BLOG – HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS, mar 2024

JAKE BARRACLOUGH’S BLOG – ARRIVAL IN JAPAN, NOV 2023

 Daiwa Scholars 2020/21/22

Due to Covid-related immigration restrictions, travel to Japan by the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Daiwa Scholars was substantially delayed. The 19 Scholars from all three year groups finally made it to Tokyo by mid-September 2022 and completed the programme in March 2024.

Learn more about the Scholars here: Daiwa Scholars 2020, Daiwa Scholars 2021, Daiwa Scholars 2022.

KATHERINE STACHAN’S BLOG – the POSTCARDS ON MY WALL, FEB 2024

RACHEL VENN’S BLOG – LIVING & WORKING IN JAPAN, FEB 2024

GABY MANCEY-JONES’S BLOG – A LETTER TO MY HOMESTAY FAMILY, DEC 2023

JACK YOUNG’S BLOG – SADOGASHIMA homestay, OCT 2023

AMY SMITH’S BLOG – SHIMANE HOMESTAY, OCT 2023

GARETH MATTEY’S BLOG – A SUMMER IN THE THEATRE, SEPT 2023

HANNAH WU’S BLOG – YEAR IN REVIEW, AUG 2023

GENIE HARRISON’S BLOG – LIFE IN JAPAN, JUNE 2023

CHRIS GORING’S BLOG – LIFE AT WASEDA, MAY 2023

VEER GALA’S BLOG – LIFE IN TOKYO, MAY 2023

JULIAN HANTON’S BLOG – LIFE IN TOKYO – VENDING MACHINES, APRIL 2023

HANNAH DICKSON’S BLOG – CHRISTMAS  + WINTER IN JAPAN, FEB 2023

CARLOS DAVEY’S BLOG – SETTLING IN, JAN 2023

VICTORIA BENNETT’S BLOG – SETTLING IN, NOVEMBER 2022

ELLIOT BYFORD’S BLOG – ARRIVAL IN JAPAN, NOV 2022

KATIE CROFT’S BLOG POST: ARRIVAL IN JAPAN, OCT 2022

 Daiwa Scholars 2019 

Following the success and popularity of the Daiwa Scholars 2018 blogs, we have kept up the tradition for the 2019 Scholars: click here to find out more about their experiences in Japan.

Sophie's blog post Kathleen's blog post Dea's blog post Isabelle's blog post Fergus's blog post Dan's blog post

 Daiwa Scholars 2018

2018 saw a change in the programme, with the Scholars studying Japanese at Waseda University. As the programme was changing, we thought it would be great to find out how the Scholars are getting on, leading to the creation of this blog. So grab a cup of tea and click here to read about what the 2018 Scholars have been up to.

Aileen's blog post Enzo's blog post Vikram's blog post Alba's blog post Joe's blog post Busayo's blog post