Year

2018

Research Method

Literature review, surveys, and interviews

Keywords

kikokushijo / multicultural / identity / tcks / ccks

Abstract

The paper attempts to explain TCKs and TCCs struggles in the Japanese university system in regards to interaction with local students and a lacking choice of labels. Through survey questionnaires and interviews with university students and recent graduates in Japan, the paper aims to explain the problems TCKs and TCCs face and attempts to propose a possible solution to the universities. Generally in Japanese universities, international students are either labeled as kikokushijo or ryugakusei, and because of the lack of choices of words for their identity, they are often mislabeled and feel a sense of cultural ambiguity. Culture is a sensitive topic and international students should not be given only these two choices to form their identity. The paper makes use of first hand interviews to further develop and come to a conclusion on three main research questions. Each and one of the potential third culture kid students in greater Tokyo, who has answered the survey and interviewed, had different experiences living abroad but has a common issue regarding identity and cultures.

Final Report

Please feel free to reach out if you would like to view the full report.