Heidi Lee

Why did you choose Japanese Studies at CUHK Faculty of Arts?

I have been interested in Japanese popular culture since a young age, and I started travelling to Japan a few times a year since college, so it seemed like a natural step for me to study more about Japan after graduation from college.

What did you enjoy most at CUHK when studying Japanese Studies?

I enjoyed every aspect of the MA program, especially getting to read (or listen to) different perspectives of leading scholars, including our professors in CUHK, in the field on both historical and contemporary issues in Japan.

Can you tell us your most valuable memories of studying Japanese Studies?

In the MA program, there is a course titled “Independent Research,” where you can freely choose a topic about any issues in Japan, discuss regularly with your appointed advisor, and write a thesis on your own. I took this course in my third semester with Professor Wai-ming Ng and looked into different adaptations of manga in Japan. In hindsight, I think that is how and when I started coming into my own as an independent researcher and decided to pursue further studies in my current graduate school.

How your education prepared you for your career?

This MA programme really helped lay the foundations for what I want to become in academia. Besides learning about all the basics in academic research, I found my future directions and goals, in terms of specialized fields and study destinations, during the programme. Not long after graduation from the MA Programme, I started preparing for my applications for PhD programme in Japan.

What is your current role?

Currently, I am a third-year PhD student at the Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies, Waseda University. Waseda University, as one of the most internationalised universities in Japan, is well-known for its Arts and Humanities graduate programmes. For someone who wants to study visual culture in Japan, which is my current field, this perhaps is the most ideal choice.

What advice would you give to our current students?

If you are passionate about Japanese culture and history, this programme of the Department of Japanese Studies can definitely fulfil your desire to dig deeper into Japan. When you are a student, you might feel overwhelmed by many other voices and opinions that come your way. I think it is especially important to take time for yourself and not be afraid of taking on your self-discovery journey, in college or even after graduation. The two years of self-searching in the MA Programme led me to where I am right now.