Hello!
My name is Mariana and I graduated from Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Law in September 2022.
While I was an undergraduate student in Brazil, I participated in internships and did pro bono work in my hometown city, which consisted of collaborative efforts to give free legal assistance to the deprived population. I also worked as a teaching assistant for the General Theory of State and Political Science course, participated in a legal research project about immigration and sovereignty, and participated in the Brazilian Arbitration Moot.
After I graduated, I worked as a litigation lawyer for 4 years in São Paulo before coming to Japan to further my studies. I was granted the MEXT scholarship and came to Nagoya to pursue a Master of Laws degree under the supervision of Prof. Masabumi Suzuki. My life at Nagoya University was not a very “normal” one, as most of my time here was during the coronavirus outbreak. In the semester I arrived in Japan, classes were exclusively online, but in the following semesters, the GSL moved into hybrid classes (online and in-person), which allowed me to finally meet some of my classmates whom I only knew via a screen. Despite the inconveniences caused by the pandemic, I believe my experience at Nagoya University was a very fruitful one. Classes were very interesting to me because I had not had much opportunity to learn about Asian law prior to moving to Japan. It was fun – and sometimes challenging – to understand different law systems and compare them to Brazil’s. I also had the opportunity to take some classes at the Graduate School of International Development, which also helped me broaden my views on different topics. My classmates were from many different countries, especially from Asia, so their input and perspectives were always very valuable to me. The staff at GSL was also brilliant. They would always go out of their way to help me whenever I needed them. I also had a great opportunity for networking as I was able to go to dinners with professors and colleagues and go to a fireworks festival with my classmates organized by one of the staff members at GSL.
I learned a lot during the Master of Laws program, and I was excited to be invited to continue working as a researcher on my supervisor’s projects. I decided to stay a little longer in Japan and help with the projects. I am very grateful to my supervisor and the University’s staff for welcoming and supporting me over these past few years.
I am a civil servant of the General Administration of Sport of China. I just graduated from Nagoya University, Graduate School of Law in September 2022. The JDS China project jointly carried out by the government of China and the government of Japan has provided me with an extremely precious opportunity to study.
During my two years at GSL, I have had the privilege of learning from some very talented professors, one of the outstanding representatives of them is my supervisor, Professor Inaba Kazumasa, his insightful feedback pushed me to sharpen my thinking and brought my work to a new level. In GSL, you could be improved or even recreated if you want to, including the attitude to challenge difficulties, the ability of critical thinking, the passion to communicate with people who have different values, and the professional literacy to write logical articles.
If I have the honor to give a message to those of you who are studying or are going to graduate school of law, that is to be open，and collaborative, because the life in GSL isn’t only about finding yourself, the life in GSL is about creating yourself. Just like Bruce Lee said, be water, my friend.
Hi, everyone! I hope this message finds you well. I am Nursultan Umurgazin, alumni of both LL.M. (2017-2019) and LL.D. (2019-2022) courses at Nagoya University, Graduate School of Law.
My journey in Japan as a student was filled with numerous discoveries and personal growth. First, under the supervision of Professor Akira Fujimoto, I got plentiful of opportunities to participate in various conferences related to my sociology of law research both in Japan and other countries around the world – Australia, Thailand, the USA, Taiwan etc. Furthermore, responsive staff at GSL, assisted me with internships at profound Japanese law firms to enrich an empirical background of my research.
Second, during my studies I got plenty of occasions to travel and make new connections, which gave me a lot of personal growth. Over 5 years, I managed to visit almost all the prefectures and made many friends from around the globe. This, in turn, gave me a strong determination of my future path. Finally, due to my studies at one of the Japanese top universities and kind support of the job-hunting staff of the Nagoya University, I managed to get an offer from one of the leading Japanese firms, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, to pursue my future career. Thus, 5 years of studies at Nagoya University, Graduate School of Law, gave me many wonderful memories and friends, enhanced my expertise, and cleared me with my career path.
So, for everyone who is reading this message, if you want to enrich your personal and educational background, my strong suggestion is to choose Nagoya University, Graduate School of Law as a place to realize your ambitions.
Good luck and have a wonderful day!
I am a German attorney specializing in litigation, with a particular focus on intellectual property disputes. In my work, I frequently draw on skills I acquired or improved during my studies at Nagoya University. I fondly remember my time in Nagoya.
I first came to Nagoya University as a NUPACE exchange student in 2009. This was my first stay in Japan and instantly I felt warmly welcomed. Nagoya University is not just one of the top Japanese universities, it also has a well deserved reputation of being particularly friendly to international students. After I had finished my legal studies in Germany, I decided to return to Nagoya University for a master’ s degree. While a (further) master’ s degree is not necessary in Germany to move on to a professional career in law, many law graduates pursue an Master of Laws (LLM) degree to better their language skills and to gather experience abroad. Due to its excellent LLM program, Nagoya University was the logical choice for me.
From my application to the program to finishing my master’ s thesis, I was fortunate enough to receive continuous encouragement and support from my supervising professor, Professor Masabumi Suzuki, without whom my studies would not have been as successful. One highlight of my time in Nagoya was being allowed to represent the University in international moot court competitions as part of a diverse team of students.
Overall, Nagoya University is probably unique in how many international students study there. These students can take courses in English as well as in Japanese, and will benefit both from the University’ s support to international students and from actual immersion into Japanese daily life and culture. For those who are thinking about a study abroad in Japan, I heartily recommend choosing Nagoya University.
2021/11/11
As a proud alumni of the PhD Program at Nagoya University School of Law, I think of the program with genuine appreciation.
They say “many can teach but only few can inspire” and I have been very fortunate to have an advisor, Professor Masabumi Suzuki, who has not only taught me but also inspired in many ways. As an advisor, he gave me the freedom to explore on my own but at the same time the guidance to recover when my steps wavered. I would not have come this far without the great support I received from my advisor Professor Suzuki, and I am immensely grateful for his insights and patience.
Studying abroad is one of the most enriching life experience that one can have. My personal experience in Japan had been admittedly very challenging but at the same time fascinating. Here I will try to summarize in few paragraphs. Especially, during your first year you will be juggling many new experiences: new friends, new living arrangements, new activities, new classes and an absolute new culture. The good news is that the faculty and the administrators are fully invested in helping you succeed. I truly appreciate all the support I received from everyone in the department.
During my tenure at Nagoya University, I realized how the life you lead outside of the classroom is just as vital to your graduate school experience as your coursework. Nagoya University offers a vibrant campus life experience with many recreational facilities and wellness programs. I was able to swim four days a week and the availability of the tennis courts helped me to improve my tennis skills and techniques. In addition, there are various cultural activities offered in campus that can give you a chance to fully immerse yourself in Japanese culture. In fact, the activities such as Ikebana (art of flower arrangement), Sadō (the art of tea/ Japanese tea ceremony), Shodō (Japanese calligraphy) and Origami (the art of paper folding) lessons from distinguished instructors are part of the fondest memories of the great time I had in Japan. I should also note that Nagoya’s location is an additional bonus if you would like to travel across the country. You can easily travel to other cities for recreational purposes.
Also, the University offers the flexibility to enroll classes from different departments such as classes from the Graduate School of Development and Economy, which can help you broaden your perspectives. Particularly, I benefited a lot from the conferences and seminars that were organized by the law school, which brought together eminent professors around the world. The conferences helped me to keep up with the latest developments and gave me the opportunity to meet with renowned scholars specializing in Intellectual Property Law.
I dearly miss Japan and will remain grateful for the kindness and generosity that I received during my tenure as a PhD student.
In retrospect, the biggest gain I had from my experiences in Japan was to appreciate how important to give your best effort in your work (as they say in one word “Ganbaru” in Japanese). Japanese culture profoundly impressed me in many ways, most important one perhaps is the level of dedication that cannot be compared in anywhere in the world. The faculty were supportive but also pushed us to do our best work in the classroom and on campus. I would like to end my words by suggesting that if you are striving to improve yourself and grow as a professional, this program is the one for you.
2021/11/11
Hi there! I am from Argentina and graduated from Nagoya University Graduate School of Law in 2010 (Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) scholarship). My master thesis concerned the interphase between Intellectual Property and Antitrust Law in the context of Technology Transfer and my head thesis advisor was Professor Suzuki Masabumi. Throughout my studies at Nagoya University, I was able to take Japanese language courses, choose different legal courses, attend subject matter seminars on multiple topics, and take a university provided internship at the legal department Toyota Industries Corporation. In the seminars I could present about my topic but also learn from the research studies of other students both in English and Japanese.
Also, this wonderful experience gave the chance to make friends from different countries, get an insight of how the legal department of a Japanese company works, develop long lasting relationships with such friends and professors, practice some Aikido, travel across Japan and other countries, and learn about the Japanese culture. Professor Suzuki and all other professors treated me very well and provided valuable lessons that helped me in my career. For example, after I returned from Japan I passed the national Intellectual Property Agent bar exam, co-authored a book (in Spanish) on Intellectual Property and Antitrust sponsored by the University of Buenos Aires, and found a job in a global technology & consulting filrm. I am deeply grateful to the MEXT, Nagoya University and Professor Suzuki for this wonderful experience and I wish current and prospective students all the best in their studies at Nagoya University.
2021/10/21
Hello, everyone. I hope you are all doing well. My name is Aruan Monastier, and I am a Brazilian graduate from Nagoya University Graduate School of Law. I obtained my Master of Laws Degree in Comparative Law under the guidance of Professor Nishii and Professor Suzuki, in 2020, and my studies were mainly focused on Intellectual Property (namely, the Doctrine of Equivalents in the patent field).
I imagine that, if you are visiting this webpage, you are probably a student who is interested in advancing your academic future and is considering Nagoya University for this endeavor. To you, my message is very clear: go for it. Academically, Nagoya University Graduate School of Law will not only provide you with the orientation and instruments needed to develop signlficative research of your own; but it will also allow you to partake into higher levels of discussion with frequent seminars, conferences, invited Lecturers from renowned universities around the world, as well as the guidance of Faculty Members who are references in their respective fields.
Professionally, besides the knowledge and skills developed during your time as a student, you will also get to know different people from different sectors, which provides great opportunities and insights should you choose to remain in the academia or decide to work in either the public or private sector.
Additionally, your time in Nagoya University has the potential to be one of the most significant experiences of your life. It was for me. I made solid friendships that have not been lost despite the long distance; I expanded my understanding of other cultures and realized how diverse in customs and thoughts the world can really be; and I faced difficulties that challenged me and helped me grow as a person, despite all my flaws. It was a valuable experience, and I am very glad I had the opportunity to have it.
I hope this message helps you in deciding this important moment of your life.
Thank you for your time and attention.
2021/10/15
