Please help me to my Japanese dream!!

Liam Shields Start Date: Dec 23, 2021 - End Date: Dec 22, 2022
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • Tokyo, Japan

My Travel Story

by: Liam Shields Start Date: Dec 23, 2021 - End Date: Dec 22, 2022
  • Professional Development
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
Since I was a child I have always been fascinated with three things, Japan, Video Games and Animation. 

These 3 things lead me in my teen years to developing the dream of becoming a voice actor which despite me being extremely passionate about the subject and country has always seemed rather unnattainable being from the UK. I instead pursued regular acting and joined Liverpool Media Academy and since starting my degree have been a part of multiple small productions and jobs on campus and off. I finish LMA in May of 2022 and had no idea where to go with my life afterwards.

I was lost and confused, unsure of if I even want to be an actor, besides I only started this because of games and cartoons which I still after 3 years feel a lifetime away from. But over the 2020 pandemic lockdowns I discovered something that may change my life...the Tokyo college of animè and e-sports! Putting aside your initial shock at the name of the institution if you delve into the content of their 2 year course it could genuinely set me up with the career i've always wanted in the country that this little anxious anime nerd has always wanted to live in!! For anyone interested i'll link the college website so you can see the state of the art facilities and also a few images and a video of a voice actress who is now working full time in Japan thanks to the college course! The only issue with this is...studying in Japan for a student from the UK is EXPENSIVE.

Even before I get to the country according to https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/academic-fees/ I will need to account for "(EJU／JLPT／TOEFL, etc.）Entrance examination fee, Physical examination fee, Application mailing costs, Airfare and lodging expenses, Passport application fee, VISA application fee, Admission fee / Tuition fee, Dormitory fee, Others" and after all that the average yearly cost of living for a Japanese student is around 1,308,000 yen or 8,580 GBP.

including tuition fees I could end up needing over £22,000 to cover the whole 2 years and, in all honesty when I crunched the numbers and reached this figure it broke my heart. Moving to Japan just seemed so impossible, now moreso than ever. However I have started saving up money nontheless and have just under £2,000, i'm currently applying for jobs in the uk and spoke to JSAN (Japan Study Abroad Network) who told me if I pass a JLPT language test at level 1 or 2 i'd have no trouble also securing part time work over there too to cover living expense. Despite all this though sadly I still must ask for help, I really don't want to do this I feel awful asking for handouts but to anyone reading, please, if you could help a lil 22 year old nerds dream come true, i'd be forever greatful!
  • Tokyo, Japan

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