Daiwa Scholars in Japanese Studies 2017
Three Daiwa Scholars in Japanese Studies have been selected in the programme’s third year. They were supported to complete degrees at SOAS, University of London, Waseda University and the University of Edinburgh.
You can see their updated profiles below and also via PDF link below (at time of selection):
Daiwa Scholars in Japanese Studies 2017, with photos, at time of applying, PDFAbout the scholars
Harriet Cooke
Harriet Cooke was awarded a BA (Hons, first class) in Japanese Studies by the University of Sheffield in 2016. Her interest in Japan began at a young age through anime and literature. As part of her degree she spent a year abroad at Kyushu University during the 2014/2015 academic year.
Harriet completed her two-year MA in International Relations at Waseda University in September 2018. Her dissertation fell under the umbrella of Japan’s demographic changes; specifically, women who choose not to have children, their reasons for doing so, and the historical context of this phenomenon. She returned to London in September 2018 and trained in the Strategy and Corporate Development Team at Hitachi Europe in London. Since 2020 she has been working as Corporate Development Analyst at Hitachi Rail.
Kendra Evans
Kendra Evans was awarded a BA (Hons, first class) in Japanese Studies by the University of Cambridge in 2016. She spent her 2014/2015 year abroad at Doshisha University. Since August 2016 Kendra was a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme in the Yamanashi Prefectural Government Tourism Department, working as a translator and interpreter and also arranging educational and business exchanges. While in Japan Kendra took calligraphy classes and reached 5th kyu. In September 2018, Kendra completed her MA in History with a dissertation in Japanese Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. Her dissertation explored Japanese reporting on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. After working as a Personal Assistant in the Political Section at the Embassy of Japan in London, in March 2021 she took up a post as Localisation Manager at The Pokemon Company.
Karen Kong
Karen Kong completed an MA (Hons) in Japanese at the University of Edinburgh in 2017. As part of her degree she spent a year abroad at Kwansei Gakuin during the 2015/16 academic year. In autumn 2017, Karen began an MSc by Research in Japanese Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Her research focussed on the transition of Yamato from regional power to centralised bureaucracy. Karen is interested in portraiture and manga drawing, and plans to enter manga competitions in Japan. Her long-term aim is to work in academia following a PhD, mainly focussing on Japan’s ancient history. She is currently working as a QA analyst at a game company in Edinburgh.