Tokyo resident
Khamida Malianchinova, 26, hails from Kyrgyzstan. The eldest of seven siblings, she moved to Japan in 2019 after receiving a MEXT scholarship to conduct research at the University of Tokyo, where she’s a proud member of the “Potsuai” aikido club. Last year, she co-founded a video podcast, “Tokyo State of Mind,” which focuses on helping international residents find community and combat loneliness.
1. What first brought you to Japan? When I was 14, I watched my first anime show and decided that one day I would go to Japan, not as a tourist, but to live. I remember at that time everyone thought I was a freak because I was the only one who liked anime. People from Kyrgyzstan rarely come here, as there are very limited opportunities to come to Japan on a Kyrgyz passport.
low costs, especially compared with private apartment rental
ease of finding and moving into a comfortable and supportive living environment
a relaxed atmosphere in which to rest and recharge
interaction with fellow sci-tech students from diverse fields and backgrounds
easy access to campus
a convenient base from which to explore all that Tokyo has to offer
With more than 13 dormitories including three new dormitories opened near campus in the last two years Tokyo Tech students have a wide range of housing options beyond private homes and apartments.
According to data provided by Tokyo Tech s Student Support Division, as of May 2018, about 6.3% of the student body lives in a dormitory, and approximately 61% of dormitory residents are from overseas.