Moore Evan Taylor
International Business Administration Program (i-BA) : M2 2023-
The Reason Why You Chose GSM
Prior to enrolling in GSM I had just graduated from University of California San Diego (UCSD) in my home country, the United States, for an undergraduate degree in economics and a minor in Japanese studies. It was always a dream of mine to study abroad in Japan, as I have been studying the language for almost half my life and I wanted to grow from the challenges associated with experiencing a foreign culture first-hand.
By the time I graduated, I still had a strong desire to stay in school and pursue higher education, and while my background in economics left me with a strong academic foundation, I thought the practical knowledge of an MBA might be the perfect complement.
What was particularly appealing about GSM was the emphasis on an international education, where I could meet and learn from peers from all over the world, who would almost certainly have interesting career and life experiences to share.
What is the attractiveness of GSM?
It goes without saying that the name “Kyoto University” has massive value, and an education from there would be a massive boon for finding a job not just in Japan, but in any country.
Additionally, Kyoto is a recognized cultural capital of the world, and has a lot for anyone to explore regardless of their background. Whether you want to experience traditional or modern Japanese culture, Kyoto is almost indisputably the best city to see both. Ultimately, I pretty firmly believe that just about anyone can fall in love with this city if given the chance.
Finally, I think the greatest appeal of GSM as a place for education is the diversity of the student body. During my time in the i-BA program, I have had the opportunity to network and mingle with people from a wide variety of backgrounds, which has been by far the most rewarding part of my time in Japan. While the classes meet my expectations for a top-class university, the opportunity to hear a wide array of opinions and experiences in class is truly invaluable to me.
The Visions of Your Future
Despite my work inexperience, I am confident that I have a lot of potential because of my educational background and extracurriculars. My current plan is to work at a Japanese company in the video game industry, because I have always been passionate about video games and entertainment.
My goal is to put my economic and management knowledge that I gained at GSM to use, to contribute to the video game in a positive and significant way. A far-fetched and distant future dream of mine is to start my own video game company, but I will have to wait and see what the future has in store for me.
Your Recommended Subjects
There are many courses that I could easily recommend, but I will share some highlights that immediately come to mind (in no particular order):
Business Negotiation by Prof. William B. Baber – A perfect example of a course that balances academic rigor with practical experience through negotiation simulations, analysis, and reflection.
Consumer Culture by Professor Michelle I.C. Yang – I will admit that marketing was a topic I had minimal interest in coming into GSM, but this course absolutely changed that. The course leverages what I believe to be the greatest strength of GSM, through ample opportunity for peer discussion, while also diving into exceedingly interesting and relatable topics in lecture.
Resilient Hospitality Management by Professor Hara Yoshinori and Professor Ikenobo Senko – This is the exact type of class that I was hoping for when I chose to study in Kyoto. The class rotates between lectures and field trips to culturally significant businesses, temples, Japanese inns and other sites that have been around for hundreds of years. It was truly a privilege to hear from real managers who run various businesses that emphasize and preserve Japanese culture.
Schedule of Your Day
9:30: wake up and prepare for the day
10:30 - 12:00: Attend classes
12:00 – 13:15: Lunch
13:15 – 18:15: Attend classes or finish assignments
18:30 – 19:30: Dinner
19:30 – 24:00: Extra work time or recreation (hang out with friends, play video games, go for hikes / walks around Kyoto, sports, etc.)
24:00 – 9:30: Sleep
Schedule of Your Week
Otherwise, I will spend any extra time after my work on weekdays or weekends by:
•Keeping in touch with my family and friends back home
•Playing sports with friends by the river
•Going for hikes in any of the amazing spots in Kyoto and exploring temples and shrines
•Hopping on a bus or train and exploring somewhere new (highly recommend “Amanohashidate”)
•Going to Universal Studio Japan (in Osaka, only ~1.5 hours by train)
•Playing video games to relax
•Studying Japanese
Message for Applicants
If you are interested in experiencing both traditional and modern Japanese culture, all while achieving a first-rate education, I really do not think there is a better place than Kyoto University.
GSM has offered me with the opportunity to make meaningful connections with people from all over the world, and a place for me to grow and find my passion. The variety of classes you can choose to take, and the faculty here really do enable you to learn and grow as a person, and I think in that sense it succeeds as a place for higher education.
One thing a professor told me in my first semester here that I think any incoming student or applicant should know, is that the most important and valuable part of this program is the people. Whether it is the professors, administration, or students sitting next to you in class, the connections and network you can build here really are something special.