TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Ono Keiichi, led the release ceremony of 61 Indonesian students winning Monbukagakusho or MEXT Japanese Government scholarship at the Japanese Embassy Jakarta office. Students will leave for Japan in April.

According to Keiichi, the scholarship recipients are the nation’s ambassadors, and so they are expected to be a bridge between Indonesia and Japan.

“I hope you can fight hard, both in terms of learning and doing research. Don't forget to find as many friends as possible. Learn about Japan from Japanese people and teach them about Indonesia. All of you are ambassadors of the nation,” Keiichi said.

On that occasion, Keiichi also called on students not to be afraid while in the country of rising sun and be ready to face challenges ahead.

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One of the scholarship recipients, Himawan Pratama (33) who is a lecturer in University of Indonesia expressed his gratitude for earning the scholarship after four times applying for his doctorate study at the University of Tokyo.

"I chose Japan because it is my specific field from my undergraduate and a master degree on Japanese studies and I hope this will make it easier for me with the object of my research which is Japanese society, culture, and language," said Himawan to Tempo at the Japanese Embassy Jakarta office.

Himawan planned to continue being a lecturer at UI after returning from Japan and committed to dedicating himself to a better and equal Indonesian-Japanese ties.

Monbukagakusho or MEXT is an academic scholarship offered by the Japanese government for research students. This fully funded scholarship is one of those that most sought after by Indonesian students.

MUHAMMAD HALWI