Next Generation Talent:
From Mongolia to Tokyo: Global Perspectives for International Students in Japan
Fascinated with Japan from a Young Age
Demberel grew up in a typical middle-class home in the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar, with his father working as an engineer and his mother as a stay-at-home mom. He attended a local school with his older brother and enjoyed a happy childhood in the city. Yet from a young age, he harbored dreams of one day exploring the world.
While he did study English at school in Mongolia, Demberel attributes his high level of fluency in the language to pop music. "I got really into the songs of the Black Eyed Peas, of all things," he laughs. "And after that, The Weeknd. Studying a language through textbooks and taking tests and everything is useful and necessary, of course, but I think it is also important to be interested in the culture behind the language. Learning a language is more than just memorizing words, after all."
It was this fascination with other cultures that first led Demberel on his initial steps toward Japan. "The Japanese anime Attack on Titan was really popular in Mongolia," he explains. "It did have Mongolian subtitles, but they usually took one or two days to become available. Since I wanted to watch it as soon as it was released and I could not understand Japanese back then, I watched it with English subtitles instead.
While anime initially sparked his curiosity about Japan, it was Tokyo itself that ultimately drew him in. Demberel first visited Tokyo in 2015 on a family trip. Given his age at the time, Tokyo Disneyland left the most immediate impression, but the vacation also planted the seeds of an idea in the young man's mind.
"What really stood out to me about Tokyo was its unique cultural blend," he says. "It's one of the few places where you can truly experience both Western and Eastern influences in a safe and dynamic environment. I started to think that maybe I could live somewhere like Tokyo one day. It took a while, though, to really believe that it could happen. With a decision as big as studying abroad, there will always be voices that say you can't do it. But in fact, you can."
A Pathway to Career Goals and Personal Development
This dream of living in Tokyo finally solidified into a concrete plan during Demberel's final year of high school. Demberel began to realize that Tokyo universities offer options to experience life in Japan while pursuing a degree that aligns with his educational and career goals.
Before enrolling in a university, Demberel moved to Tokyo in April 2023 to spend a full year immersed in an intensive Japanese language program. While modest about his Japanese abilities, Demberel successfully passed the N2 exam, the second-highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), within a single calendar year.
In September 2024, he embarked upon his undergraduate studies as a first-year student at Chuo University within the Faculty of Global Management (GLOMAC). Designed to develop leaders of tomorrow with the intelligence and initiative to play an active role in society, the GLOMAC's program equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected world.
Throughout the four-year study program, students participate in seminars where they are encouraged to speak their minds and engage with diverse perspectives. Language proficiency and international awareness are key elements ensuring graduates are prepared to thrive in global business environments. Students choose to major in either Global Management or Economics and are required to write an undergraduate thesis. In their third year, they gain valuable work experience by undertaking an internship that can be completed in Japan or abroad.
By combining academic learning with hands-on experience, GLOMAC fosters the next generation of internationally minded professionals—all within the dynamic setting of Tokyo. With a major in Business Management, Demberel sees Tokyo as the perfect place to broaden his understanding of international markets and cultural exchange. "Tokyo isn't just about tradition or pop culture. It's also a global business, innovation, and entertainment hub," he adds.
While he still has some time to think about his thesis, Demberel is already considering potential topics. "Mining is a major industry in Mongolia and one of the big global mining companies involved is Rio Tinto," he explains. With Mongolia's rich reserves of natural resources, mining is a key driver of its economy. As demand for critical minerals rises, the industry's impact on economic growth, environmental sustainability, and international trade is more relevant than ever. "It's just an idea right now, but mining is a topic that I'd like to research more thoroughly because it is so significant in my own country and the wider world."
One Teacher Can Make All the Difference
Impressed with the warm welcome that he and other international students have received at Chuo University, Demberel says with a smile, "I must admit that I had some misconceptions of what student life would be like in Japan. In Mongolia, we think of Japanese students as extremely hard-working and intense, doing nothing but studying all the time. But I've been pleasantly surprised by the excellent life-study balance here."
The small size of his class made his transition into university life more comfortable. These 20 international students hailed from a range of countries around the globe, including Vietnam, South Korea, Canada, the United States, China, and Ukraine. Making new friends from different parts of the world at Chuo University has helped Demberel gain a more nuanced perspective. "To be honest, as one example, China and Mongolia have a long and complicated history, so in Mongolia, we tend to have a certain view of our neighbors," he explains. "Getting to know one of my Chinese classmates this year helped me understand so much more about the place and the culture she comes from."
Demberel also praises the International Center at Chuo University for listening to the opinions of their international students. "Some of us were concerned that we were a bit too sealed off," he explains. "We wanted to have more interaction with the Japanese students too. Kunimatsu Maki (Director of the university's International Center) agreed and a pizza party was arranged including Japanese and international students. It was so much fun! The Japanese students were so excited to get to know us, to try out their English, and to ask us about the places we come from. And we felt the same. After that, there was much more interaction—I even surveyed the Japanese students at one point, and they were very helpful and enthusiastic."
This initiative aligns with Chuo Global-X, the university's internationalization strategy aimed at expanding opportunities for international students and fostering a more globally connected campus. Through efforts like improving student integration and enhancing the overall environment, Chuo University continues to strengthen its commitment to global engagement.
The teaching staff at Chuo University is also very international. In his first year alone, Demberel has had teachers from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States, and Canada. "They have all been so wonderful," he says. "But I want to single one teacher out. Daniel Heller, my business management teacher—he changed the whole way I look at the world. In class with him, we talked about how everyone begins at different points on the starting line of life. It really made me think about fairness, as well as different paths to success."
Japan and Mongolia
Demberel is excited that Japanese tourists are starting to discover Mongolia, particularly due to the popularity of the Mongolia-based Japanese TV drama VIVANT. He thinks many people around the world have misconceptions about his country. "Everyone imagines Genghis Khan and his men riding around on horses," he laughs. "But if you come to Ulaanbaatar—no horses! Just Toyotas."
He hopes that his time in Tokyo will help him to contribute to Mongolia's development, prosperity, and happiness. "We have so many talented people in Mongolia that have brought back expertise by studying abroad," he says. "I think management is needed to draw it all together—a sort of central nervous system if that makes sense. I hope my studies here will let me help with that."
During his spare time in Tokyo, Demberel teaches English to young children. This experience has sparked another lifetime goal. "I'd like to teach in a university in Mongolia one day," he says. "I want the next generation of Mongolian kids to believe that anything is possible."
Demberel Tselmeg
Photos by Fujishima Ryo