Graduation ceremony & A message from Chee Yung
On September 22nd (Friday), the graduation ceremony for the graduate school was held at Hongo Campus. Krittanai and Chee Yung have successfully completed their master’s programs. Krittanai was also awarded the Nishino Akiyo Award, which is an award for the Japanese language class.
Krittanai will continue to stay in our lab after this October and pursue a doctoral degree. Chee Yung, on the other hand, will be leaving Japan upon graduation. Below is a message from Chee Yung (please refer to the English page for the original text):
Hi, I am Chee Yung. Time has flown by, and I now stand as a graduate of the University of Tokyo. The past two years have been an incredible journey filled with challenges, growth, and unforgettable memories.
During the first semester, because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, I had to attend classes and lab seminars through online platforms. While all professors and students were kind and willing to offer various forms of assistance, the absence of physical interaction presented a significant challenge. Thankfully, I was able to arrive in Japan during the second semester, which marked the beginning of a journey that allowed me to engage in-person with everyone in the UTokyo community. Despite the busy coursework and presentations, I found it enjoyable to meet with everyone at UTokyo and immerse myself in discovering Japanese customs.
As I conclude my time at UTokyo, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Prof. Fukuda. He has been an invaluable source of support throughout my journey at UTokyo, offering assistance not only in academic matters but also in my daily life and financial support, especially during the midst of the pandemic. Moreover, despite the fact that I made some mistakes during my time in Japan, his remarkable tolerance created a supportive environment in which I felt comfortable learning and growing. This significantly boosted my confidence in completing my research.
Furthermore, I was fortunate to become a member of LIIS. Due to my limited knowledge of Japanese customs and my poor proficiency in the Japanese language, I was somewhat uneasy and apprehensive when I first arrived in Japan. However, all the members of the LIIS were very welcoming and friendly. Through numerous drinking parties and various activities such as lab trips, hotpot parties, fireworks festivals, skiing, and watching baseball games, I gradually adapted to Japanese life, became more cheerful, and began to relish my time in Japan. More importantly, I have come to regard them as some of my closest friends in Japan, and I will undoubtedly cherish the memories of the days we spent together!
In terms of my research, I have developed a semi-dynamic link-based transit assignment model for predicting passenger volumes within the Tokyo Metropolitan Area’s railway network, taking into account time dynamic effects and various characteristics of the railway network, such as the presence of multiple railway companies, differing fare systems, and through services. While I have encountered several challenges and made some mistakes throughout my research journey, I now view these setbacks as natural parts of the process. In fact, these mistakes have provided me with valuable opportunities to enhance my study and fortify my research position. Therefore, I encourage all of us not to fear making mistakes but to remain steadfast, for, as the saying goes, “to err is human.”
To conclude, these two years have been full of challenges, both in my daily life and in my studies. However, I was fortunate to receive help and encouragement from many individuals during my stay in Japan. While I cannot thank each and every one of you individually in this article, please know that your collective support and kindness have left an unforgettable mark on my heart. Lastly, I wish everyone all the best, and I hope to see you all again in the near future!
