Japanese man, 63, earns master’s degree in Vietnamese studies

Kato Mitsuru, aged 63, was one of the 36 postgraduate students to graduate this term, receiving his degree on July 21 at the university that belongs to the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

“I’m truly happy to hold the degree that I have worked hard for over the past two years,” he said.

According to the university representative, although there have been some foreign students pursuing this field, Mitsuru is a rare case as he studied the program entirely in Vietnamese, and is also the oldest student to have graduated the field with a master’s degree.

Previously, Mitsuru studied Arabic language at the School of Foreign Studies at Osaka University in Japan. After graduating, he worked primarily in the technology sector and has stayed in 25 countries to work for over 30 years.

He came to Vietnam more than seven years ago, working for an electronics components manufacturing company in the northern Hai Duong Province. His time working with Vietnamese people inspired him to study Vietnamese culture and geography.

“I was very impressed with the cultural similarities between the two countries [Vietnam and Japan]. I also often cycled to many places in Vietnam and saw many beautiful landscapes,” he said.

Describing himself as someone who likes to explore, Mitsuru decided to pursue a master’s degree in Vietnamese Studies. He chose Vietnam-Japan University because it has leading professors in the field of culture in both countries.

“At that time, I was 61 and had retired,” Mitsuru recalled.

“The decision faced opposition from my family. My wife and children preferred to go to Europe or America, but I was determined to return to Vietnam.”

Being the oldest in his class, Mitsuru first felt excited to study with young Vietnamese classmates. However, he soon encountered challenges in communication.

“People spoke too fast. I was lost because I couldn’t understand what the professor was saying in class, while I could only read and write at a basic level,” he said. “Vietnamese pronunciation is very different from Japanese, so many times I couldn’t articulate words clearly, which was very challenging.”

Therefore, he tried to talk more and more in class and participated more in class discussions.

He particularly remembered the Sustainability course where he worked in a group with six other students and was tasked with presenting in Vietnamese. Thanks to his constant practice, he eventually succeeded.

In his master’s thesis, Mitsuru researched the lives of Vietnamese interns and laborers in Japan. He collected data online and conducted in-depth interviews with Vietnamese guest workers in Japan.

“I struggled to read many Vietnamese documents,” he said.

Professor Vu Minh Giang, Chairman of the Council of Science and Training, said Mitsuru was a special and determined student because he pursued a master’s degree at an advanced age.

“His academic results show his love for Vietnam in general and his special affection for Vietnamese interns and laborers in Japan in particular,” Giang noted.

Professor Momoki Shiro, a global history expert at Vietnam-Japan University and Mitsuru’s thesis supervisor, praised his research capabilities.

“It’s exceptional for an elderly person to learn Vietnamese late in life and complete a thesis like this. Mitsuru is an exemplary figure in lifelong learning,” Shiro said.

Mitsuru plans to return to Japan to care for his family, then pursue a Ph.D. in Vietnamese Studies. He aims to establish a company to support Vietnamese laborers in Japan.

“I want to become a bridge between the two countries, making a modest contribution to ensuring a safe life for foreign workers,” he said.