Inside the World of JICA Students (Part ⑮)

The Graduate Course Program Division in JICA Tokyo is currently hosting Japanese university and graduate students participating in the 2025 JICA Internship Program. This article features an interview conducted by one of the interns with an international student from a developing country.

Interviewer: GOMI Soma (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)

This time, we interviewed Mr. ELSISI Mohamed Osama Mohamed Ibrahem Aboualy (hereafter “Mohamed-san”), who is from Egypt and currently studying at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS). In Egypt, he worked as an energy engineer at the Electricity Regulatory Authority, where he engaged in technical assessments, licensing-related tasks, and more. We asked Mohamed about his life and studies in Japan, as well as his future aspirations.

Mohamed-san applied for the JICA Scholarship out of a strong desire to “learn from Japan’s advanced education and practical training and contribute to Egypt in the future.” While researching international training programs and scholarship opportunities, he learned about JICA’s GX (Green Transformation) Program and decided to apply.
Interestingly, Mohamed had been accepted into scholarship programs not only in Japan but also in Canada and China. However, he chose Japan because he felt that Japanese culture, people, and attitudes toward learning were the best match for his personality. His longtime admiration for Japanese culture, which he grew up with, also encouraged his decision.
(GX: An initiative aimed at transforming fossil fuel–dependent economies and societies into sustainable structures centered on clean energy.)

Mohamed-san’s research theme is promoting the introduction of solar power generation in Egypt’s industrial sector.
In his first year, he evaluated solar power projects from economic, environmental, and technical perspectives and developed policy proposals based on the results. Now, in his second year, he is conducting a comprehensive analysis using the TIS (Technological Innovation Systems) framework to explore how solar power can be expanded in the industrial field. By identifying challenges from technological, policy, and market perspectives, he aims to find effective ways to accelerate the spread of renewable energy in Egypt.

For Mohamed-san, living in Japan was his first experience abroad. The first challenge he faced upon arrival was the language barrier. While English is sufficient at the university, he often found himself confused in daily situations—especially when shopping, where only Japanese was spoken. A difficult encounter at a convenience store on his first day prompted him to begin studying Japanese immediately.
However, what impressed him even more than the difficulties was the kindness of the Japanese people. Even when he struggled with the language, many people helped him using gestures, and he felt that their politeness and thoughtfulness suited his own personality.
Among his experiences in Japan, visiting SADO Island in Niigata Prefecture through JICA’s study tour was particularly memorable. The historical depth of SADO Gold Mine, the Japanese onsen tradition, the sake brewing process at a brewery school, and participating in the SADO local festival all deepened his appreciation for Japanese culture and hospitality.
In daily life, he also experienced many new things: Japan’s cold winter, the quiet and comfortable environment of Nakano where he lives, and the challenges of finding halal food options.

At GRIPS, Mohamed-san studies a wide range of fields, including energy policy, economics, international relations, and security studies. He finds energy-related courses especially fascinating. Being able to learn directly from professors and experts with practical experience—both from Japan and abroad—has been a major source of inspiration.
He also highlighted GRIPS’s diverse and active international community. Discussions with classmates from different backgrounds have provided him with new perspectives and broadened his thinking. In addition to doing an internship at Niigata prefecture through JICA, in which he put his hands on the GX/DX technologies and businesses in Japan, plus conducting research in his country to find out opportunities in different sectors and how he can be benefited by Japanese investments, he did many site visits to get a unique experience in the Japanese manufacturing principles.

After completing the program, Mohamed-san aims to return to Egypt and contribute to the development of the renewable energy sector using the knowledge and experience he gained in Japan. In particular, he hopes to engage in energy sector development by applying GX principles, and to participate in international energy cooperation. If given the opportunity, he hopes to pursue doctoral studies in Japan, as he truly enjoys Japanese life, culture, and the people he has met. He strongly believes that these experiences will play an important role in shaping his future career.

Throughout the interview, what stood out most was Mohamed-san’s deep respect for Japan and his unwavering commitment to improving Egypt’s future. His determination to apply his experiences in Japan directly to Egypt’s energy sector and recommend policies that reflect a strong sense of responsibility and passion as a future leader. The warm and sincere smile he showed when saying he would love to return to Japan someday was especially memorable.
We look forward to Mohamed-san’s continued success as a bridge between Egypt and Japan.