Pathways Japan has admitted a total of 21 new students from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine in Japan this fiscal year.
＊About this year’s admission activity, please see this
Despite the civil war and political oppression in their home countries, all of these students have never given up hope for the future and have remained strong, and have placed their hopes in Japan. They are determined to develop their abilities while studying in Japan and to contribute to Japanese society and their home countries.
To introduce the students’ thoughts, we would like to share with you the speeches given by the six representatives at the welcome party.
Kannas（Syria）
*Speeches in Japanese for the first half and in English for the second half
I was born and raised in Syria. However, the Syrian Civil War changed my life forever. The city was full of danger and it was difficult to even go out due to indiscriminate bombings. Also, the Internet was not working, and basic infrastructure such as electricity and water were unstable, making it impossible for me to learn. Nevertheless, I believed that education was the key to unlocking the future, and I was determined to continue my studies and never give up.
For this reason, I chose to study in Japan. Japan is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world and a place where hard work is valued in a disciplined society. Japan is also an environment that respects people with talent and skills and allows them to make the most of their abilities. It is here that I hope to deepen my knowledge, hone my skills, and develop my ability to build a better future.
My goal is to obtain a high degree in computer engineering and contribute to the world.
I also aim to be able to speak seven languages fluently by the time I’m 30.
I believe that learning languages allows me to understand different cultures and connect with more people.
Now I have the opportunity to study in Japan. This was made possible by the support of many people. I will not waste this precious opportunity, but will work hard every day and do my best so that one day I can contribute to society by utilizing my knowledge and skills.
Thank you very much for your time today.
Emma（Syria）
*Only self-introduction was in Japanese, and after that she spoke in English.
Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for being here. My name is Emma, and it truly means the world to me to stand before you today. First, I want to express my deepest gratitude to Pathways Japan and to everyone who made this scholarship possible. Your support isn’t just changing my life—it’s creating opportunities for entire communities, for young people like me who are determined to rebuild what was lost.
How Conflict Affected Me
I wasn’t born in Syria, but I have lived the war in every way. Because where I come from, war isn’t just about destruction—it’s something that takes root in the mind long before it reaches the streets.
It’s a war where fear spreads faster than fire, where silence can feel heavier than violence.
People around the world don’t hear about Syria as much anymore. Some believe the war is over. But for us—the youth—it’s far from over. The real battle has just begun. Schools have shut down, dreams have been put on hold, and an entire generation is left wondering what comes next.
But we don’t give up. We don’t fight with weapons—we fight to survive.
We fight to learn, to grow, and to build something better.
Why I Chose to Study in Japan
Japan has always been a symbol of resilience. It has faced challenges, rebuilt, and emerged stronger every time. That’s what inspires me the most. I believe Syria has that same potential, but we need the right tools to move forward.
came to Japan because I want to learn from this country’s strength—its ability to rebuild, to innovate, and to create a future where peace and progress go hand in hand.
But I’m not just here for myself. I’m here for the thousands of young people in Syria who dream of a better future but don’t have this opportunity.
My Goals for the Future
My dream is simple, but powerful: I want to create opportunities for young people—especially girls—so they can access education, even in the most difficult circumstances. Because when we invest in education, we invest in peace. In stability. In the future of nations.
This scholarship is my first step toward that dream. And I promise, I won’t take it for granted. I will work hard, I will learn, and one day, I will give back—not just to my country, but to the world, just as Japan has given so much to others.
Once again, thank you—Pathways Japan, the sponsors, and everyone who believes in the power of education. You are not just changing my life. You are helping to rebuild hope where it was once lost.
Olesia（Ukraine）
＊spoke in Japanese at the beginning and in English afterwards.
Nice to meet you.
My name is Olesia. I am from Ukraine and I am 24 years old.
I came to Japan from Ukraine this week. I graduated from Liviv National Technical University this year.
I have been studying Japanese since January 2024.
I plan to continue studying architecture in Japan. And I want to work as an architect.
First of all, I want to share how the war has affected me. In Ukraine, depending on the region where you live, war may affect you differently. If you are interested in deepening your understanding of the war, you can talk to other participants of this program from Ukraine to get a broader picture.
As for me, the war greatly affected such an important aspect of my life as the opportunity to get education. I was able to complete my master’s degree in Ukraine, but most of my studies were conducted online with significant power outages due to shelling of infrastructure. For an architect, education plays a significant role in obtaining a level of qualification. For that reason my plan is to continue my studies in Japan as an architect to become confident in my skills. Japan is a country with progressive architectural methods, in particular, the design of buildings for various emergency situations, which is and will be relevant in Ukraine as well. There are many outstanding architects in Japan, including The Pritzker Architecture Prize laureates. In particular, I am very inspired by Shigeru Ban with his social projects to help people in emergency situations. I was very lucky to get to know his ideas firsthand in Ukraine when he visited a local urban forum.
Architecture is not the only reason for my interest in Japan. I have been fascinated by the Japanese language since childhood and have tried to learn it myself and in language clubs at the university. Learning Japanese is a dream that follows me through life. Since last year I have been studying it constantly with a teacher. Also, it so happens that I have hobbies in the fields that are very developed in Japan. These are bouldering (Japanese climbing is one of the best in the world, as are Japanese gyms). And fashion (cosplay events, festivals in Harajuku and Tokyo Fashion Week are my big dreams). I hope I can see this side of Japan too – with hiking in the mountains and the street fashion of Tokyo.
I am sincerely grateful that the Pathways Japan opens up the opportunity for me to achieve what I have long dreamed of and what I continue to admire. Therefore, I will make every effort to learn Japanese well. So that later I can study architecture at leading Japanese schools and develop as a specialist in this field.
Thank you very much for listening.
Marharyta（Ukraine）
*Speaks in Japanese and some English.
Hello everyone.
My name is Marharyta, I am 21 years old and I am from Ukraine.
Today I would like to talk about the war that happened in my country Ukraine and how it affected my life.
Before the war, I had already studied Japanese for a year at Kiev University.
I became interested in the Japanese language and culture because I had been watching anime and other things since I was a child.
However, when war broke out in Ukraine, I was always worried about the war and could no longer study like a normal student.
Even though the situation was bad and I had concerns, I wanted to learn, so I learned more than before.
It was then that my passion for Japan was recognized and I was given the chance to study abroad. Thanks to this opportunity, I was able to study in Japan for six months.
The past six months have been truly wonderful. I have met so many people and learned so many new things. The Japanese people were very kind and helpful. It was because of this experience that I decided to definitely return to Japan. I am majoring in Japanese and I can think of no better place to learn about Japan and the Japanese language than Japan.
My goal now is to study so that I can work to connect people through language. In particular, I would like to deepen the relationship between Ukraine and Japan.
I am able to continue my studies in this way thanks to the support of many people, and I am truly grateful to Pathways Japan and the many people who have given me their warm support. Thanks to all of you, I am able to continue my dream in Japan.
Thank you very much for your kind attention. I will cherish this opportunity and continue to do my best.
Amena（Afghanistan）
*Only self-introduction was in Japanese, and after that she spoke in English.
Hello everyone
My name is Amena, and I am from Afghanistan. It is truly an honor to stand before you this evening and share my story. I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this opportunity possible.
In my country, a girl’s pursuit of education is like chasing the light in endless darkness. I, too, lived an ordinary life filled with daily struggles—facing gender discrimination, poverty, and the constant threat of school bombings. Yet, despite these challenges, I held onto a dream, fueled by the belief that education would empower me to contribute to the society I longed to see.
Then, in August 2021, everything changed. In an instant, the world I knew collapsed, and I found myself in complete darkness. The light that once guided me—the hope for a better future—vanished. The courage and confidence I had nurtured through years of resilience faded as my dreams slipped beyond reach.
With the Taliban’s takeover, the doors to education slammed shut. Schools and universities were banned for girls, and my freedom was reduced to the walls of my home. But when I thought things could not get any worse, more restrictions followed. Women were prohibited from traveling alone, walking in parks, and simply existing in public spaces. Today, as we gather here, millions of Afghan girls live this reality—where dreams have turned to nightmares, and fear has replaced courage.
But I consider myself incredibly fortunate. Pathways Japan has not only granted me the education that was stolen from me but has also restored the courage and confidence I had lost. Under the Taliban’s rule, I feared an uncertain future, unsure of what would become of me. But now, thanks to Japan and Pathways Japan, I no longer fear getting lost. I have regained the strength to dream again, to envision a brighter future, and to work towards becoming the person I aspire to be.
When the Taliban seized control of Kabul, they sought to erase women from society—stripping them of their rights, silencing their voices in the media, banning them from schools and workplaces, and confining them to their homes. They tried to reduce us to nothing.
But we are not nothing. We are resilient and strong. We will continue to fight for the education, freedom, and future that every girl deserves.
Thank you.
Sliman（Afghanistan）
*He spoke Japanese at the beginning and the end, and English for the rest.
Hello everyone.
My name is Sliman.
We are from Afghanistan.
I am very happy to come to Japan.
We are a group of Afghan students who have come to Japan with hope, determination, and a strong desire to build a better future.
For all of us, the journey to this moment has been long and difficult.
I finally got to see the cherry blossoms in Japan. I’m so happy. It’s like a dream.
Spring in Japan is beautiful and peaceful.
On the other hand, there is a lot of sad news about Afghanistan.
What do you imagine when you hear the word “Afghanistan”?
Afghanistan is a country with a deep history and rich culture.
However, for many years, our lives have been at the mercy of conflict.
War has taken away opportunities from our people—especially women.
Education, work, and even basic freedoms have become difficult to access. Many of us grew up in a time when survival was the priority, and dreams felt far away. The light of hope was hard to see. But, we didn’t give up.
We want to change our lives, our families’ lives, and our country’s future! What should we do?” I thought that with the power of education we could do that. Right now, girls in Afghanistan can’t study at school.
We are very lucky to be able to study.
It is a place where we can learn, grow, and prepare for the future.
We want to gain knowledge, experience, and skills that will help us contribute to society.
Each of us has a different dream—some want to work in technology, some in business, and some in education. But, we have the same goal. We want to use what we learn here to make a difference.
We know the road ahead will not be easy.
Learning a new language, adapting to a new culture and being far from home are the challenges we will have to face.
But we are ready to work hard.
Even when life is difficult, we keep moving forward.
Even small steps can create a big change.
We are here because we believe in a better future.
Not just for ourselves, but for Afghanistan. One day, we hope to take what we learn and help rebuild our country—creating opportunities for those who have none.
To Pathways Japan, to our teachers, to the people of Japan, and to everyone who has supported us on this journey.
Without your kindness and generosity, we would not be here today.
We will move forward from here.
For your dreams!
For our family!
And one day, for Afghanistan!
Thank you very much for the opportunity.
For the next two years, the students will study Japanese language at Japanese language schools in Miyagi, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Shimane, Kumamoto, Okinawa, varied locations in Japan, while expanding their connnections with Japanese society through part-time jobs and local community activities. Then, they will acquire Japanese language skills and grow through a variety of experiences in order to advance to higher education or find employment.
Pathways Japan will accompany students as they overcome various difficulties in Japan and help them find and realize their career goals in Japan.
