From 2014 to 2019, JICUF hosted Global Link, a summer program for ICU undergraduate students. (The program was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and there are plans to reintroduce it in 2024.) With the purpose of helping students contemplate their future, Global Link provided the opportunity to explore a wide range of global careers. Students selected by JICUF spent the month of July in New York and Washington, D.C., participating in office visits, roundtables, volunteer activities and professional skills workshops with the cooperation of ICU alumni and other professionals.

We contacted Tomoaki Saito and Yukiko Takei, two former Global Link participants (in 2017 and 2019 respectively) , to reflect on their experience and how it impacted their paths after graduation.

■Tomoaki Saito, business consultant at PwC Japan

JICUF: Why did you decide to join Global Link?
Tomoaki: I thought it would be a good opportunity to think about my future career, and I was also attracted by the fact that JICUF covered half of the cost of staying in New York. It seemed like a great way to seriously consider my future and have fun at the same time, and a perfect way to spend my sophomore year summer.

JICUF: Was it your first time to visit the United States?
Tomoaki: When I was in high school, I traveled to New York with my family for about a week. Everyone in the city was energetic and outgoing, and for me, the energy was electrifying and appealing. I had the same impression when I revisited the city through Global Link, and felt happy throughout the program. What was different this time was that I was able to walk around by myself. I saw a new aspect of the city where all kinds of entertainment that I loved converged.

JICUF: Global Link offered many activities. What was the most memorable for you?
Tomoaki: One activity that stuck out was the visit to Sony. The office was beautiful, with many artworks from movies like Spiderman were displayed. I was surprised that there was an ICU alumna who worked there. The second activity that left an impression on me was the visit to an ICU alumna’s home near Central Park. I remember being shocked by the luxurious home, the friendliness of the alumni who gathered there, and my conversation with the chef who was preparing sushi for the group.

JICUF: How did Global Link affect your vision for the future?
Tomoaki: The greatest insight I gained was the gap between the rich and the poor in a capitalist society. I would not have seen it if I hadn’t stayed in NY for that long. The rich were extremely rich, and the poor lived in rough neighborhoods. I understood this in my head, but staying in New York and meeting all kinds of people there allowed me to see this as a reality. Seeing how capitalism impacts people made me question my stance toward life and plan my career accordingly.

JICUF: Is there anything else you would like to share about Global Link?
Tomoaki: I didn’t have many friends whom I could walk around with, so I spent most of my free time alone. I don’t mind being alone, so it wasn’t a problem, but I also envied the participants who came with friends and did things together. Maybe in the future, the program could have more free time and allow the participants to get to know each other better. 

JICUF: Finally, what do you wish to do in the future? Do you have any advice for current ICU students?
Tomoaki: I hope to contribute to expanding the content of entertainment, and making entertainment creators happy. I’d like to support the business aspect of the entertainment industry around the world. I love cities like New York where entertainment is all around, even on subway platforms! To current ICU students, I’d like to say that it’s really fun to take part in the programs that JICUF offers and spend a month in New York with other students. I highly recommend it! 

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■Yukiko Takei: Master’s student in Inequalities and Social Science at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Japan Outreach coordinator at UN University

JICUF: Why did you decide to join Global Link?
Yukiko: I studied for two weeks in New York and Iowa when I was a freshman in high school, and wanted to return to New York. I also started thinking about working outside Japan after I entered university, and thought that Global Link would allow me to expand my perspective through communication with professionals in New York and Washington, D.C.

JICUF: Do you remember anything about the application process?
Yukiko: I wanted to join the program so badly, and I remember conveying this to Professor Sasao, whom I asked for a recommendation letter. I asked multiple people to review my essay on why I wanted to join the program. I also remember giving a passionate speech to my parents, as they had to shoulder the cost.

JICUF: Global Link offered many activities. What was the most memorable for you?
Yukiko: For me, it was the visit to the Japan Foundation New York Office and the Washington branch of NHK. At the time I had a strong interest in cultural diplomacy, and found the Japan Foundation’s work promoting Japanese culture intriguing. At NHK, I felt the passion of the journalists and the directors, and remember how they explained the different roles of the Japan and US offices, as well as their sense of responsibility to journalism.

JICUF: How did Global Link impact the vision for your future?
Yukiko: As the saying goes, seeing is believing. We hear all the time how some Japanese people go abroad and succeed, but hearing from real people how they got to where they were helped me understand more clearly what steps one needs to take. The interactions with fellow participants also helped me see my future from different perspectives. I’d been convinced that I couldn’t go to graduate school overseas unless I spoke English like a native speaker, but the other participants and the alumni I met assured me that that wasn’t the case. This expanded my horizon and enabled me to pursue a master’s degree at LSE.

JICUF: Is there anything else you would like to share about Global Link?
Yukiko: There was plenty of free time and we could walk around New York and DC. However, the program fee was high, and if JICUF could offer financial aid, it would help alleviate the burden on students and may lead to more interest among students.

JICUF: Finally, what do you wish to do in the future? Do you have any advice for current ICU students?
Yukiko: In an environment like ICU where students enjoy freedom, it’s natural for students to consider the option of working abroad. But there aren’t many people who can learn about different ways of working through a global network and thinking about what the best way forward is for them, before attempting to work abroad. The first step is to meet many people, talk to them, and expand your knowledge. Global Link is the perfect program for this.