One year after Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, a Ukrainian international student from Saitama University who was evacuated to Japan said, "It's frustrating that I can't be with my family when it's hard. I want to," he said of his current thoughts.
Anna (22), from Odesa in southern Ukraine, studied Japanese language and culture at a university in Kyiv, the capital, but evacuated to Japan in March last year after the military invasion began.
Originally, I was scheduled to study abroad at Saitama University for five months from April to August of the following month, but due to the ongoing tension of the war, I had no choice but to extend my study abroad period by half a year.
Anna is worried about her remaining parents and sister in Odesa, and she keeps in touch with her frequently, but due to frequent power outages in the area, she refrains from talking on the phone and exchanges her messages. It means that there are many things that can be done alone.
Anna says that the prolonged military invasion has caused her family in Odesa to become accustomed to air defense sirens.
"I don't think anyone thought the war would last this long. I really want it to end soon. It's frustrating that I can't be with my family when they're having a hard time," she said. I'm here.
Today, Anna's emotional support is fulfilling her dream of becoming a Japanese teacher in her hometown of Odesa, and she says that studying Japanese every day is a source of encouragement.
However, a year later, with no end in sight to the military invasion, Anna decided to extend her study abroad period for another six months this month, partly at the recommendation of her family.
She said, "I have received various support from Japan, but I am worried about what will happen in the future. I want to return as soon as peace is restored."