Japanese Research Venture

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to ask for a bit of advice on a current opportunity that I am looking into.
I'm currently a senior at my university and I will graduate in Spring 2015. I am a Biology
major and I do look to attend medical school, but I would like to take a year off before
doing so. During that year, I would like to do research in Japan for a year. The problem
is is that it is very difficult to get in contact with Japanese professors. I have emailed at least 25 professors, but only a few got back to me. The few that responded either said they had
no vacancy, that they were retiring, or I would need a scholarship before I could become
a part of their team (but I think I have to be admitted into the program before I can get
a scholarship, and then choose to join that lab). I was wondering if anyone could help
me in understanding how to effectively communicate with these professors. Also, if
anyone knows of a good research program at a university in Tokyo or Kyoto that
would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Did you write them in Japanese?

At first, I wrote them almost entirely in english, while using Japanese to address the professors, talk about the Japanese University I attended to study Japanese, and to close my message. But later I wrote my introduction in Japanese and then the rest of my email was in English (except my closing). I don't know that either worked better in getting the attention of these professors.

Hi Chinelo,

Are you finishing your undergraduate degree? Do you know about the MEXT research student scholarship? (http://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/e_web/mext.htm)

Most of the research programs I can see for labs require you to be either in graduate school or are post-doctoral research. It might be difficult to get a visa if you're not officially enrolled. Check this site for more info about visas and Japanese higher education in general: http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj_stope.html

(I don't have a science background so forgive me if this is slightly incoherent.)

Yes, I am finishing my undergraduate degree and I know about the MEXT scholarship. By the time I would enter these schools, I will have my Bachelor's. Yes, for the programs that I am applying for or have seen, I would be viewed as a graduate student (though I am not taking any classes or receiving any credit). The thing is, the universities that I am applying to(most of them) ask for me to contact professors who work in the labs that I would like to work in. This is to gain their approval of me working in their lab. After that, I can start filling out applications.

It sounds like you're getting a pretty good response rate already. When I was in Taiwan and trying to contact universities, the overall feedback was that a mail in English actually had a better chance of getting a reply because it stood out from the crowd. For some people, repyling in English as an opportunity to show off, so it's welcome.

That said, for others it will be a bit scary, so I think you're right to at least have an introduction in Japanese and to state clearly that you're keen to study their languauge and will be happy to receive a reply in Japanese too.

Basically, what you're doing now is marketing. Marketers rely on large numbers - you have to contact a lot more people to find the one that can help you. But it sounds like you're going the right way about it.