University of Guam graduate student Chris Cabrera recently won the Japanese Government Scholarship for Research Students to study at Nagoya University.

The scholarship waives all tuition for a two-year study abroad, research program and provides a $1,400 monthly stipend to the student recipient.

Cabrera—who received a bachelor or arts in linguistics and Japanese studies in 2013 and is now pursuing a master’s in English—said his interest in Japanese culture stems from familial roots. His grandmother is from Okinawa, so throughout the course of his life, Cabrera has been exposed to Japanese food, language, and culture he said.

Dr. Toyoko Kang, professor of Japanese at UOG, recommended Cabrera for the scholarship, noting Cabrera’s fluency in the Japanese language, previous study abroad at Okayama University, and his passion for sharing the Japanese culture with his fellow classmates.

“He showed a Japanese movie on campus every other Thursday while he was an undergraduate student,” Kang said. “He is not only passionate about watching Japanese movies, but also he loved to share those movies with other students.”

The scholarship, which allows the recipient to study for one year at a Japanese university starting this October, not only exposes students to Japanese culture and language but requires them to conduct research in the same or a related field as their undergraduate studies.

“This will give me a chance to better my Japanese [language skills],” Cabrera said. “It's also interesting to think about the school system there and how it will be different. It would be an entirely new perspective on research and writing than I am used to, as well as new professors and students. I would be leaving my comfort zone at UOG, where I have been for so long, but it will be rewarding to be exposed to new ways of learning and professors who can give me insight into my studies.”