The First Japanese Exchange Student at HSBI Combines Business and Football in a Special Way

Bielefeld (HSBI). Bielefeld? “I immediately thought of the football club Arminia Bielefeld,” says Takaaki Hagiwara, beaming. “My idol played here: the Japanese international Ritsu Dōan.” When his lecturer in Japan raved about HSBI, the student knew where he wanted to spend his year abroad: “In Bielefeld!”

Takaaki Hagiwara arrived in East Westphalia in September and started the semester at HSBI’s Bielefeld School of Business. This was made possible by a new cooperation. “The topic of Japan has become increasingly popular among our students, both in the study programmes and in the language centre,” Nermin Karaoglu observed. The lawyer is responsible for coordinating international activities and programmes at Bielefeld School of Business. “So we started looking for a cooperation partner in Japan.” And found it with Niigata University. The state university founded in 1949 has a total of just under 13,000 students at nine faculties, spread over two locations in Niigata. The city is located on the main island of Honshū and is one of the largest harbour cities on the Japanese Sea.

First Cooperation between HSBI and a Japanese University

“At Bielefeld School of Business, our request was met with open arms and we encountered particularly open-minded employees,” says Karaoglu. It did not take long before the cooperation agreement was concluded. “For HSBI this is the first cooperation agreement with a Japanese university.” The cooperation focuses on exchange at the academic level, but above all at the student level: The first HSBI exchange student already went to Niigata University in this year’s summer semester. Takaaki Hagiwara is now the first Japanese exchange student at HSBI to make another premiere.

Europe, however, is not a first for the student. Hagiwara has accompanied his mother on business trips to various European countries and lived in Barcelona for one year. “I'm a bit familiar with European culture and way of life,” he says. But that doesn’t mean there are no surprises for him. “In my first seminar, I first thought I was in the wrong room. Almost no one was there just before the start.” Hagiwara smiles at the memory. “In Japan, all students are seated at least five minutes before the start.” The German language is also a challenge: “Above all, the pronunciation!” says Hagiwara with feigned despair, trying to “write the letters with the two dots.”

Takaaki Hagiwara’s Special Field: Sports Economics – and Fan Culture!

However, for his studies he does not necessarily need the umlauted letters a, o and u. “At Bielefeld School of Business we offer many courses in English and also an English-taught programme, the master’s degree study International Business Management,” Nermin Karaoglu explains. This is a strong basis for Takaaki Hagiwara’s international special field: sports economics. “I am particularly interested in the economic structures behind professional football and their links with local communities. Studying this and also experiencing football culture is my big target for my exchange year.” With this, he sets off for a photo shoot in the Schüco Arena.

At Melanchthonstraße, Hagiwara first disappears into the fan shop. He comes back out wearing a cup hoodie and a big smile – he wants to experience football culture on his own. “German football is very different from Japanese football, not only in terms of playing style, but also in its spirit,” explains Hagiwara, climbing the stairs to the south stand and stopping almost awestruck at the view of the empty circle and the wide lawn. “What makes a stadium such a special place?” he asks, stroking over the Local Crew Ultras stickers that plaster the standing terraces. “Why do people dedicate themselves to an association? I am fascinated by fan culture, which is also unique in Germany. As here in Bielefeld, clubs are very much rooted in the city and the region, which I like.” It is clearly not only the economic side of football that interests Hagiwara. “My business degree programme in Japan has an interdisciplinary focus and the cultural or social circumstances also play a role.” He thinks for a moment, then laughs. “I would love to become a professor of football studies and explore all aspects of this sport.”

Bundesliga Skills Impress Arminia’s Coach Mitch Kniat

This also includes the trainer’s perspective. Takaaki Hagiwara tries the comfortable substitutes’ bench, almost at eye level with the lawn. “I also love playing football myself,” he says and changes perspective. The lift takes us up to the stadium roof. As we look out over the city, the weather is at its best, at least by Bielefeld and OWL standards. “The climate here reminds me of home,” says Hagiwara, sighing. “The only thing missing is a hot ramen. But it is really hard to find a good one outside Japan.” However, the soup is quickly forgotten when Mitch Kniat happens to turn the corner on the skywalk high above the lawn. “The head coach!” Hagiwara’s eyes begin to shine. When Kniat starts chatting with him cheerfully and interested, his fan side comes to the fore despite all his academic interest in football. Hagiwara knows Arminia inside out, provides match analyses and scores with his detailed knowledge about German football. Kniat is thrilled: “It is remarkable, he has everything ready down to the fourth league!” And a few transfer tips on top about Japanese players who would “fit well with Arminia.” When Kniat looks skeptically, Hagiwara adds: “Unknown, but cheap.” He cannot completely ignore the economic aspect.

Then the head coach is called to his next appointment and Takaaki Hagiwara heads towards the university again. His next seminar is about to start and the Japanese student wants to be on time. “Be there five minutes early,” he says with a wink.

For more photo material, please contact presse@hsbi.de.