It has been several months since Mariia fled eastern Ukraine for Tokyo. In Japan, she has found physical safety and a daily routine, but emotional and mental well-being at times eludes her.
“It’s difficult to get used to the idea that my relatives in Ukraine have a different daily life than mine,” she says. “My worries now aren’t bombs or aircraft, and it’s difficult to switch to a normal life again.”
A young woman in her 20s, Mariia (who spoke on condition of being called only by her first name because of persecution issues relating to the war) attends a Japanese language school alongside another fellow Ukrainian student. Both are supported by Pathways Japan, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for refugees and evacuees to receive an education in Japan.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.