Sudhish Thapa – Language and Culture Studies Student Spotlight

Sudhish Thapa
Japanese Studies Major
Presidents Fellow, Language & Culture Studies

If you had told my childhood self that I would major in Japanese Studies in college, I would find it extremely difficult to believe. However, that is the reality of my undergraduate journey, and I have enjoyed every second of it. 初めまして (Hajimemashite)、my name is Sudhish Bikram Thapa and I am an international student from Nepal. Growing up in Nepal, I had felt that my academic progress was plateauing because of various external factors such as an academic system that was reliant on rote learning and restricting personal expression. I felt that my efforts were never reflected in the grades that I received, which was the only factor that seemed to determine your reputation as a student. This is what drove me to apply to UWC ISAK Japan, a boarding school in a town called Karuizawa in the Nagano Prefecture. UWC ISAK Japan focused more on holistic development and assessing student success through life-relevant metrics which is why I am grateful that I was able to study there.

While I could attribute the start of my Japanese learning to my high school classes, my appreciation for the language goes further back. One of my long-time interests has been watching anime, particularly the 少年 (Shonen) genre. An anime named ‘Bleach’ was one of the first shows that I had watched. The show had the premise of soul reapers protecting humans from evil spirits which was quite silly but entertaining. One of the reasons why I remember this show is because it was my first experience consuming Japanese media. Growing up, I primarily spoke Nepali and was highly exposed to Hindi, but there were specific aspects within ‘Bleach’ that stuck out to me. From the cool one liner dialogue like 卍解(Bankai), to the first opening song called ‘Asterisk’ by ORANGE RANGE, the language has always been a part of my life whether I was cognizant of it or not. This appreciation only grew when I had the great opportunity to travel and spend time in Tokyo, Osaka, and Karuizawa, where learning the language turned from an option to a necessity. Little moments such as ordering at a restaurant, being able to read signs at a train station, or asking questions at shops strengthened my bond with the language beyond just consuming Japanese media. I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I was able to hear and respond in another language besides English or Hindi. Thus, when I arrived at Trinity College, it was no brainer to continue to learn a language that I appreciated and had been around.

Studying Japanese in Trinity College with the help of Professor Izumi and Professor Miyzaki has shaped my academic growth a lot. This is because every time I learn and practice a new grammar form or phrase, it always makes me push out of the habit of relying on things I already know. The language’s ability to push me beyond what I know is why learning Japanese in an academic setting feels extremely rewarding. After graduation, I will begin my career as an Analyst at Nomura’s New York office, contributing to one of Japan’s most prominent global investment banks. Despite my career being in the financial services industry, I do not intend to slow down on my Japanese learning. I plan to continue studying Japanese in my free time and keep raising my abilities long term.