Current Scholars 2023 – College Women’s Association of Japan

CWAJ is proud to present our 2023 Scholars

For scholar profiles PDF, please contact CWAJ

CWAJ Cartier Scholarship

ISHIKAWA, Rin

Education: BS, Agriculture, Food and Environmental Economics, Kyoto University, Japan
Study Program: Master of Business Administration, University of Oxford Saïd Business School, UK

Having experienced food shortages following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Ms. Ishikawa became committed to solving food security issues and traveled to agricultural sites around the world. Currently, she works at a social enterprise that operates a farm-to-consumer e-commerce platform, collaborating with local governments and larger corporations to develop sustainable food systems by changing consumer behavior.

CWAJ Cultural Exchange Graduate Scholarship for
Japanese Women to Study Abroad (SA)

Supported by the Japan Foundation

NIOUSHA, Rose

Education: BE, Computer Science and Communications Engineering, Waseda University, Japan
Study Program: Doctoral Course, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Ms. Niousha founded the first Google Developer Student Club at Waseda University, a community where students explored their technical interests without being confined by external factors or stereotypes. As an undergraduate, she conducted research to promote gender equality in Computer Science Education (CSE) and presented at international conferences. Ms. Niousha plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence concepts into her research and make an impact on the field of CSE.

CWAJ Graduate Scholarship for Japanese Women to Study Abroad (SA)

MITSUKADO, Maika

Education: BA, Div. of Forest & Environmental Symbiosis Sciences, Shinshu University, Japan
Study Program: Master of Science in European Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, Finland

Ms. Mitsukado studies forest resource information using remote sensing equipment such as drones and mobile laser scanning. Her undergraduate thesis used forest data to determine tree trunk curves and log volumes. Forest data can be used for proper forest management and to improve timber supply chains. She would like to continue to develop technology to detect forest resource information, use forest data to make the forest healthier, and build bridges between human life and the forest.

CWAJ Graduate Scholarship for Non-Japanese Women to Study in Japan (NJG)

MOHAMED, Ola Mamoun Ahmed

Education: BSc, Civil Engineering, University of Khartoum, Sudan
Certificate program on Nature Conservation and Master’s Program in Environmental Sciences, the University of Tsukuba, Japan

Study Program: Doctoral Course, Civil and Environmental Engineering Program, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Japan

Ms. Mohamed is a founding member of the national organization Sudan Youth Parliament for Water, which works to advance the achievement of sustainable development goal 6: access to water and sanitation. She aims to help solving water system resilience issues in Sudan and to close the gap between academics and policymakers.

CWAJ Cultural Exchange Graduate Scholarship for
Non-Japanese Women to Study in Japan (NJG)

Supported by the Japan Foundation

GAMARRA, Elizabeth

Education: MA, Peace Studies, International Christian University (ICU), Japan

Study Program: PhD International Relations, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, ICU, Japan

Ms. Gamarra has a background in mental health, human rights and analysis of peace/conflict. Under the philosophy that “Words have a magical power. They can either bring the greatest happiness or the deepest despair,” her research aims to analyze to what extent refugees are securitized in the UN News. Her findings will contribute to rethinking ways that labels and references of people on the move can be more intentional and in line with given international humanitarian organizational goals.

CWAJ Scholarship for the Visually Impaired to Study in Japan (SVI-SJ)

KANAZAWA, Haruto

Study Program: 4th year, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, Japa

During his third year in college, Mr. Kanazawa participated in a research project conducted by the Japan Federation of the Blind into the establishment of an early consultation and support system for the visually impaired. He was interested in this topic from his own experience: he became visually impaired when he was a freshman in high school and when he was diagnosed, he felt a gap between the medical and social care services. A lot of people with vision impairment find it difficult to access the services they need and feel isolated from society, leading them to become mentally unstable and depressed. In addition, in the future he would like to promote a greater understanding of disabilities.

Kikuchi, Momoi

Study Program: 4th year, Faculty of Law, Tohoku University, Japan

Ms. Kikuchi is studying law, political science and international relations. In the program there is great flexibility and students can study many fields. Ms. Kikuchi came to be interested in public policy, especially social welfare policy. She plans to enter the graduate school of public policy and deepen her knowledge. She wants to work at a think tank, or in the public sector consulting company and concern herself with making policy recommendations. Her goal is contributing to realization of a society that everyone can live easily by utilizing her experiences as a visually handicapped person.

CWAJ Pandemic Response Scholarship for Nursing Students (NS)

ESHIMA, Tsubasa

Study Program: 4^th year, St. Luke’s International University, College of Nursing

From an early age, Ms. Eshima grew up watching her grandparents and mother who were always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need, and she dreamed of becoming like them. Although she once went out into the world to pursue a different career path, she has now decided to become a nurse because she wanted to provide health care to others. Through practical training and service learning, she felt the difficulty of being close to each patient as she worked to alleviate their anxiety. As a result, she joined various communities to learn how she can help patients effectively

KIKUCHI, Akari

Study Program: 4^th year, Fukushima Medical University, School of Nursing

Ms. Kikuchi experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake when she was in elementary school, and as she grew up, she felt the weight of people’s thoughts and feelings as they recounted their experiences. She decided to become a public health nurse involved in protecting, supporting, and improving the health of local residents. In addition, she became more interested in community-based integrated care systems when she met patients during practical training and heard their concerns about life after discharge from the hospital. She would like to continue to broaden and deepen her own view of nursing through lectures and practical training, and become a public health nurse who is trusted by her patients

SAWADA, Kotomi

Study Program: 4^th year, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, School of Nursing

Ms. Sawada became passionate about becoming a nurse after hearing about the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in junior high school. Although her university’s overseas training program was cancelled due to COVID-19, she actively participated in an online international exchange program, gaining exposure to diverse values and cultures. Ms. Sawada wants to become a nurse who can approach and respect every patient as an individual, regardless of language, customs, and culture. She hopes to gain international experience and become a nurse who can work globally, not just in Japan.

SOENO, Ayakaasa

Study Program: 4^th year, St. Luke’s International University, College of Nursing

At her previous university, Ms. Soeno did fieldwork in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. She thought that the doors of healthcare were open to all, but was shocked to learn that there were people who could not reach those doors. She wanted to be someone who could provide healthcare while respecting the cultures and values of others, and so decided to become a nurse. Currently, she is interested in infectious disease nursing and public health.

TANAKA, Hana

Study Program: 4^th year, St. Luke’s International University, College of Nursing

Ms. Tanaka became interested in nursing and public health because of her desire to promote public health in Brazil, where she lived until she was five years old. She would like to work on various health issues at the international and national levels, not only from a nursing perspective, but also from the perspective of society and the environment, and work on systems and policies to maintain and improve the health of the population.