Life before Hitotsubashi ICS

Before coming to ICS, I worked for First Advantage in Seoul for three years as a Researcher & Client Manager. This was the longest period that I stayed in the same country ever since I left Korea to study abroad at the age of thirteen.

There are several points to consider when you are applying for an MBA degree; your CV, finances, and demonstrating an academic aptitude, to name a few. One of the most challenging parts of applying for an MBA is writing a great application essay. Still, the good news is that thorough preparation will go a long way. When you are applying for a global MBA in Japan, there are specific advantages that obtaining this degree at this university will give you. Laying out these benefits and having a clear goal will help you convince the reader of the essay of your suitability for the program. Let’s have a look at the admission requirements for a global MBA in Japan, various reasons for aspiring to obtain this degree, and advice on how to process your reasons into an application essay.

An important question to ask yourself before pursuing any degree, let alone a degree abroad, is if it’s worth doing. This guide will show you a breakdown of the different areas where you can make the most out of your efforts towards an MBA in Japan.  

If you are on the lookout for an MBA program, you will naturally use different criteria to pick your top choices. Often, rankings become one of the important aspects that make universities stand out amongst each other. With rankings, you can quickly determine their reputation in a variety of areas. You can also compare them based on your individual needs and predict how satisfied you would be with their program.

Depending on what step you are in your journey, you may be feeling overwhelmed as you’re flooded with facts and figures on the admissions sites. Or maybe you have a clear picture of what you want and need a program that matches it. There are many Japanese universities to put into consideration and several other choices that should be kept in mind.

 Whether you have yet to begin your search or have already started, this guide can help steer you in the right direction.

On June 2021, during Term 4, as a part of the Entrepreneurial Management class led by Prof. Yasuhiro (Yasu) Yamakawa, Hitotsubashi ICS MBA students (Class of 2020) made their team rocket pitches as a part of the Thursday Gathering event hosted by Venture Cafe Tokyo at CIC Tokyo, one of the liveliest startup/innovation ecosystems/habitats in this city.

In this Byline ICS edition, MBA Shoko Gervais, tells us why she decided to pursuit an MBA at Hitotsubashi ICS, after several years of working in the banking industry and the across the globe journey that her family embarked on to pursue her dream.  

Student Board is a student-driven organization that represents and serves the cohort throughout the academic year. They raise funds, organize multiple events and become a bridge between the class and the school administration. As usual, this year's Student Board Election took place at the beginning of the academic year. As a result, ten board members were selected and started working together. 

Getting an MBA requires a significant investment of both your time and money. So, it is natural to analyze the added value of an MBA degree in general and specifically for you. The answer to that question will depend on your personal and professional background and, most importantly, on the motivation behind your application and your future career aspirations. 

At Hitotsubashi ICS, students are genuinely at the center of our activities. Every year we have a mid-year feedback session with students and have an open-door policy. For example, as a result of feedback from some of the MBA class of 2018 students, the MBA team and Career Services partnered up to develop Japanese Business Economics 2 and 3 (JBE 2 & 3) a 2-module 4-credit class that equipped students with practical Japanese business skills that they can apply when working at Japanese companies.

Among courses taught at Hitotsubashi ICS, JBE 2 & 3 offer students practical and immersive experiences. Specifically, JBE 3 integrates a one-week internship at an SME in the prefecture of Tokushima. Read about JBE3 MBA students' final presentations (AY 2020-2021), about their Tokushima internship here. 

Getting an MBA degree is an investment of money and time, no matter where you study. In the end, being an MBA grad will provide you with many opportunities for well-paid employment, so it is well worth the investment. But how about studying for an MBA in Japan?

Are you thinking about finding a job in Japan? Working in one of the world's most advanced economies can be a gratifying experience, and opportunities for highly skilled international professionals have been on the rise for years. However, before you move to another country to find a job, it is a good idea to learn a bit more about that country's culture and business environment to get an idea of what to expect of life in that country.

You should look into the work culture; Japan is known to have a conservative one. However, things have been gradually changing over the past decade.

Many prospective MBA students contemplate doing an MBA abroad to widen their horizons, with the US and Europe being the most popular destinations. However, if prospective students are from a non-English speaking country, doing their MBA in English adds to the degree's value if they aspire to boost their career in an international setting. 

Are you looking into furthering your education in Japan and advance your career afterward? Then obtaining an MBA in Japan could be an exciting option for you, not in the least because of the extraordinary ROI. In addition to developing your leadership skills, you will gain Japan-specific insights, regional expertise in Asia, and cross-cultural communication abilities to manage virtual teams. Furthermore, the lifelong network you will build at Business School might help enhance your post MBA career and throughout your professional life.