MEXT Scholar Keane Edbert Walerian from Indonesia Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Bachelor's at the University of Hyogo, Japan

My name is Keane Edbert Walerian, and I am from Bogor, Indonesia. I come from an Indonesian-Chinese background, and I grew up with both Indonesian and English from an early age. Before starting university in Japan, I also spent part of my education in Italy.

I think I became aware quite early that staying in one place for too long can make your world feel smaller without you noticing it. The more I experienced different environments, the more I realized how much growth depends on where you place yourself and who you are surrounded by. When I applied abroad, I was not only looking for a degree. I was looking for a setting that would challenge me and widen my perspective.

Why Did You Choose This Degree and the University of Hyogo?

I chose Global Business because, at that stage, flexibility mattered more to me than specialization. I was still figuring out where I wanted to go long term, so I wanted a degree that would give me a broad foundation without forcing me too early into one path. Since I already had some confidence in economics from my time in Italy, the field felt like a natural fit.

I chose the University of Hyogo because it offered the combination I was looking for: an English-taught program in Japan, strong scholarship support, and a Kansai location that appealed to me more than a bigger city like Tokyo. More than prestige alone, I was looking for a place where I could study well and still have room to grow beyond class.

What Scholarship Did You Receive, and What Exactly Did It Cover?

I received the MEXT Scholarship through the University of Hyogo. It was a fully funded scholarship that covered my application fee, admission fee, full tuition, a monthly stipend of 120,000 yen, and round-trip international airfare. More than anything, it gave me the financial freedom to study abroad without placing that burden on my family.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships or Admissions Options?

I had some other offers and scholarship options from other universities, but the MEXT scholarship at my current university stood out because it was the most comprehensive. In the end, it offered the strongest overall support, which made it the clearest choice for me.

What Was Your Academic Background, and How Did It Help or Not Help Your Application?

My academic background was shaped by both local and international curriculums through my school years in Indonesia and Italy. I think that helped my application by giving me both academic discipline and the ability to adapt to different environments. Since junior high school, I had also been part of merit-based scholarship programs, which I think helped show a pattern of both results and responsibility.

How Did You Find the MEXT Scholarship, and How Did You Prepare for the Application?

I found the scholarship through the university’s official website. After that, I reached out to current seniors who had gone through the process and also looked for other people’s experiences online. I wanted to understand not only what the scholarship offered, but also what the university and the program were really like beyond the official promotion.

I think that part matters more than many applicants realize. A scholarship is not a one-way transaction. It is not only about what it gives you, but also about what the institution is looking for in return. Once I felt it was a good fit, I focused on preparing my documents carefully, including language proficiency certificates, academic records, and other supporting documents. In my case, that included a TOEFL iBT score, even though English was already a natural language for me. For many students here, Japanese proficiency tests such as the JLPT also become important, although I did not have one at the time. I also tried to understand what kind of student the program was really looking for.

What Did the MEXT Selection Process Actually Look Like From Your Side?

From what I remember, the process involved document screening, a math component, and a business idea presentation with Q&A. I presented a business idea for a plant-based bakery in Japan, and the interviewers pushed me on how realistic it was and how well I could justify it. They also looked at my academic record and asked me to explain weaker areas rather than simply ignore them. Since the scholarship had a GPA requirement, I think the process was also meant to see whether I was the kind of student who could keep up with the program consistently.

What Do People Misunderstand Most About Winning a Scholarship Like This?

I think people misunderstand scholarships in a few ways. First, they often see them as rewards, when in reality they are also bets. Institutions are not only looking at what you have done, but also whether you are likely to keep performing after selection.

Another misunderstanding is treating a scholarship as proof that someone is simply better. Selection is not purely objective. Fit, timing, and human judgment all play a role, so not getting one does not always mean someone was less capable.

Scholarships can also reduce urgency in ways people do not expect. Financial support can make studying easier, but once the goal becomes just staying above the minimum requirement, some students stop pushing themselves as hard as before.

What Surprised You Most After Arriving, Both Academically and Personally?

Academically, one thing that surprised me was that “English-taught” did not always mean the level of English fluency I had expected. Since many students and faculty members were also working in English as a second language, there were times when language itself became a limit on how far a discussion or explanation could go.

Personally, one of the biggest things I learned was that in Japan, coachability often matters more than confidence. I came from environments where confidence helped you stand out, but here I found that being receptive, respectful, and willing to adjust often gets you further. Living in the international dorm during my first year made that even clearer, because it gave me daily exposure to both Japanese and international students and taught me more about culture and language than a classroom ever could.

What Advice Would You Give Applicants Now, and What Would You Do Differently if You Had to Apply Again?

My biggest advice is not to look at a scholarship only as money. A lot of applicants see the funding first, but think less about what the scholarship expects in return or whether it really fits the kind of student life they want. The money helps, but what matters more is how you use the freedom that comes with it.

I would also tell applicants not to stop looking too early. In Japan, many students receive financial support not only before arriving, but also after enrollment through universities, foundations, and other institutions. A lot of people miss those chances because they assume the first result is the final one.

On a practical level, I would tell future students to be careful with money in the beginning. It is easy to spend too quickly after arriving, especially before you have a real feel for the cost of living in Japan. There are also many expenses people do not think about enough at first, such as insurance, utilities, housing-related costs, and unexpected medical needs.

If I were going through the process again, I would reach out to more current students and past scholars to understand the reality more clearly, not only the good parts, but also the difficult ones.

That being said, I chose to write this because I also want to play my part here, so feel free to reach out if this was helpful. I will try my best to help, and a message on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/keaneedbert/) would be the easiest way to contact me.