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Message for my supporters from Aurelie

October 17,2025

【Message for my supporters from Aurelie】

2025Sep25TUFS_aurerie1.png2025.9.27~2026.7.30
University of yaunde Ⅰ［Republic of Cameroon］

Hello, my name is Mpesse Messina Grace Aurelie, I come from Cameroon which is known by its name "Afrique en Miniature ". I am a graduate student at the University of Yaounde 1, where I study Anthropology as a whole and Development Anthropology as my specialization. I always value culture and its relationship, the role it plays to the development of a given society, and the relationship between that (culture) and the modern world of today.

HOW some developed countries and developing countries keep the link between their cultural heritage and the rapid growth of modernization in the world of today? This particular question is what develops my curiosity to study in Japan, more precisely at TUFS where its campus construction was made up following the sustainable architecture which falls under one of the theories in Development Anthropology "Sustainable Development".

Japan is known as the number one country that tries to maintain its cultural heritage, customs, and traditions even under pressure of globalization and modernization in developing the country economically, politically, and socially.

I am so grateful that this student exchange programme has given me an opportunity to experience a place full of a mixture of modernism, tradition, and heritage. In addition to my academic interests, I have always wanted to learn more about Japanese manga anime. I want to explore more about them as I came to the home country where they were created, but I am surprised that not all Japanese people (with whom I had exchanges so far) are not too interested in them, it may be because I stay far from the core cities such as Metropolitan Tokyo and Kyoto.

I really enjoy my time and experience in Japan. I am grateful to my home University, African Studies Center at TUFS, Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), which supported my stay in Japan financially, and all the African students and Japanese students majoring in African studies.