Yuxuan Luo, 2nd year PhD student, Research Center for Landslide Disaster Risk Cognition and Reduction, Disaster Prevention Research Institute

Date of Interview: August, 2025

Before Coming to Kyoto University
I was born in Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, and as a survivor of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, I have been deeply motivated to focus my research on disaster mechanisms and mitigation. During my master's studies at Zhejiang University, I learned that the Disaster Prevention Research Institute of Kyoto University could provide stronger academic support for my research goals, which led me to come here.

Life at Kyoto University
Outside of research, life at Kyoto University has been fulfilling and enriching. I joined the Kendo club of Kyoto University and practiced alongside undergraduate students, eventually earning my second-dan rank in Kendo in Japan. The beautiful scenery and rich cultural atmosphere of Kyoto and Uji have also inspired and supported my academic journey.

-What were the biggest challenges you met?
I found that learning the language and adapting to the rules of Japanese society were among the biggest challenges for me. Although I passed the JLPT N1 several years ago, living in Japan made me realize that this was only the beginning — true language acquisition only starts when one is immersed in the environment. Additionally, I was somewhat unaccustomed to the fact that many shops in Kyoto close quite early.

-What did you work on to overcome the challenges?
I made efforts to communicate more frequently with Japanese students. Although they sometimes had difficulty understanding my expressions, repeated interactions significantly improved my Japanese — my communications with Japanese people became more fluent with fewer pauses. At the same time, the lack of nightlife in Kyoto encouraged me to develop an early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine, which turned out to be beneficial for both my daily life and academic work.

-Research at Kyoto University
I am currently conducting research at the Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI), focusing on the internal dynamics of landslides and rock avalanches. I feel very fortunate to work under the guidance of Professor Gonghui Wang. With his support and the assistance of other faculty members in the lab, my research has been progressing smoothly. Within just one year, I have participated in four academic conferences, and I am excited by the new phenomena I have discovered through my experiments.

What do you hope to do after graduating from Kyoto University?
After graduation, I hope to continue working in the field of disaster prevention and mitigation. My experience at Kyoto University will remain a valuable asset in my professional journey.

Message for Future International Students
Be present. Be aware. Be thoughtful. 聞いて、感じて、考えて。