Tomoko Ichikawa

After a one-year stint at Flinders University in Adelaide, Tomoko Ichikawa calls Australia her second home.

And she puts her love of Australia to very good use, working as a Business Development Manager for Austrade in the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, helping Aussie companies to enter the Japanese market.

“My clients are mainly from the education and entertainment industries, and my daily work involves identifying and introducing potential partners in Japan,” she says.

“I hope to continue to develop my knowledge and experience in my current position so I can assist more Australian businesses to succeed in Japan.”

Tomoko says she first heard about Adelaide from a senior student at her university in Tokyo.

“She had studied there for a year, and hearing how much she had enjoyed her time there made me want to study at Adelaide too,” she says.

“I also wanted to study Asian studies then, and heard about the extensive program Flinders University offered, which lead me to choose to study there.

“For the first semester I lived at the Uni Hall on campus. It was a great way to get used to the campus life and make new friends. From the second semester I lived at Clarence Park (about 20 minutes from the campus) and shared a house with two other Flinders students. I enjoyed the independence of living in a shared house and enjoyed having house parties with my house mates from time to time.”

Like many international graduates, Tomoko says the best things about living and studying in Adelaide were the friendly people and the “very comfortable lifestyle”.

“I enjoyed going to the Murray River with my university friends for a weekend of camping and water skiing. I also enjoyed going to the beaches nearby for sunset walks or fish and chip dinner! My favourite beach was Henley Beach.

“Through the student service, I was able to find a house cleaning position close to my house. Also during the holiday period I worked part-time at a craft shop where I was a regular customer. I had a chance to help out with their kids’ workshops.”

Tomoko says she initially struggled with the different learning style in Australia, but was helped by special care offered by a tutor at Flinders.

“My tutor gave me extra help after classes and encouraged me to explore and express my ideas,” she says.

Looking back, she says her Adelaide study experience broadened her horizons in many ways.

“Academically, it gave me a chance to learn about other Asian cultures and business, and also developed my interest in the area of international marketing,” she says.

“My studies in Adelaide lead me to pursue work in the area of marketing back in Japan. My first employer was with a multi-national education service company, who highly valued my English skills and knowledge of marketing which I gained through my study in Adelaide. And now, of course, I am working in the Australian Embassy.”

Tomoko says there’s only one thing that would be better than working for Australia in Japan.

“I hope someday I will have a chance to work in Australia – the country I now call my second home.”