Premium College (Part 2): Beyond the Classroom, Lifelong Leaning

What happens when lifelong learners return to campus? At Premium College, adults over 50 discover a vibrant community, fresh perspectives, and opportunities that reshape their lives. For some, it rekindles old passions; for others, it sparks new dreams. Here are stories of graduates whose journeys took unexpected turns—toward global careers, cultural exchange, and even archaeological research.

Welcoming the World at UN University Headquarters

From guiding overseas to welcoming visitors from around the world, Ms. Usahara Mayumi, 64, has built a career that bridges cultures. After two years at Premium College, her new journey began in 2022, at an international environment—the  United Nations University (UNU) Headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo. Today, three to four days a week, she is the hospitable face at the main reception desk, greeting guests and managing calls with professionalism.

_{(Photo courtesy of Usahara Mayumi)}

A Career Reimagined

English has always been central to her work, from guiding overseas tours to serving as a hotel receptionist in Japan and abroad. She also holds the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter qualification. Motivated by a desire to “learn more deeply about Tokyo,” she enrolled in Premium College in 2019.

“Becoming a university student again as an adult made me feel closer to the academic world. I even began to see universities as potential workplaces,” she recalls.

Where Global Conversations Begin

After completing the program, Ms. Usahara joined a building management company responsible for security and facilities at UNU Headquarters Building. The building hosts the university’s headquarters and the Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, where about 30 students pursue master’s and doctoral degrees. It also houses several UN agencies including UNICEF and ILO.

Her duties range from welcoming guests to supporting events. Despite the challenge of diverse English accents, she enjoys her work: “Even reading the event titles here expands my view of global issues.”

One Graduate Takes Flight

“I was ready to dive back into work.”

After a fulfilling year at Premium College, Ms. Seo Megumi, 57, decided her next step would be a return to the workforce. What sparked this determination? A classmate’s research presentation.

The findings from a 2016 report were striking: a woman who remains with the same company until retirement earns about ￥260 million (approximately $1.7 million) over her lifetime, whereas someone who leaves after childbirth and later returns part-time earns only ￥61 million (approximately $393,000). That revelation hit hard.

An International Outlook

Ms. Seo had always had a global perspective—she spent five years in Hong Kong during her school years because of her father’s overseas assignments. Her first career was as a flight attendant, traveling the world. At 42, after having two children, she left the job to focus on raising her family.

Building a New Career Beyond Borders

“I never felt I had truly finished my career,” she says. 

After graduating from Premium College, she was determined to find work connected to the world beyond Japan. She first worked at an English-language kindergarten in Tokyo, then in January 2025 registered with a Tokyo-based company specializing in overseas tours and earned her Certificate of Authorized Tour Conductor.

Starting with an 11-day trip to Turkey in April, she accompanied tours every month. By year’s end, she will have spent more than 100 days abroad, visiting destinations such as Australia, Egypt, and countries across Europe and the Americas.

Memories That Travel

Memories of Premium College often return in faraway places.

“I learned in Tokyo history class that many stones on the walls surrounding the moat of Edo Castle bear engraved marks,” Ms. Seo says. They indicate the feudal lords who contributed to its construction or the stonemasons responsible for the work.

(Photo courtesy of Seo Megumi)

“In France and Egypt, for instance, history is also carved into stone. When I see inscriptions of donors’ names, I think, ‘Just like Japan!’ My job now is so much fun, and without Premium College, I wouldn’t be enjoying it this much.”

When she visits ancient ruins, she smiles, recalling professors who spoke so passionately about excavation. “I imagine them digging in places like this,” she says.  

 

(Photo courtesy of Seo Megumi)

Empowering Language Education, One Connection at a Time

Since 2015, including her student year in FY 2019, Ms. Taketomi Yukiko, 58, has served as a regional coordinator for a company that dispatches foreign language instructors. 
Her work primarily takes place in Tokyo’s elementary and junior high schools, where she escorts instructors on their first day, attends meetings, and helps bridge communication between Japanese teachers and foreign instructors.

Beyond the Classroom

Her responsibilities extend far beyond the school setting. To ensure newly arrived instructors settle smoothly into life in Japan, she assists with apartment arrangements, municipal paperwork, and opening bank accounts. She even accompanies them to hospitals or helps renew driver’s licenses—supporting every aspect of daily life.

How Lifelong Learning Changed Her Approach

“Learning about social contribution and volunteer work at Premium College made me ask myself, ‘What can I do?’ My mindset and attitude toward work have changed,” she says.

“I try to add something extra—so that foreign instructors feel secure, and Japanese teachers and students enjoy their language classes. It’s all about small steps that make a positive difference.”

Her international outlook was shaped by living in the United States for a total of 11 years during two overseas assignments with her husband. “After returning to Japan, I wanted to find a job where I could use English,” she recalls.

Inspired by her college peers, she continues to study English and pursue certifications. 

“Everyone at Premium College was eager to learn. Their spirit of challenge motivated me to improve my English skills, which really helps in my work today.”

Even after graduation, she maintains ties with like-minded peers through fieldwork and seminar group activities.

Photo courtesy of Takayama Akihiko

From Global Business to Ancient Secrets

Mr. Suzuki Akihiko, 69, is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Kokugakuin University in Tokyo. His passion for archaeology began during his time at Premium College, where he spent three years deeply engaged in the study of Kofun (Japanese ancient burial mounds). That dedication eventually inspired him to embark on full-scale academic research.

A Career Spanning Continents

Previously, Mr. Suzuki worked for a major trading company, taking part in large-scale projects overseas such as building plants and transportation infrastructure. Over the course of three assignments in Saudi Arabia, he spent a total of seven years.

 (Photo courtesy of Suzuki Akihiko) 

Despite his extensive international experience, in recent years he has become firmly rooted in Japan. At Premium College, he discovered the world of archaeology through introductory courses and seminars led by professional researchers, building a solid foundation in discipline.

More Than Studies: Lifelong Friendship

Although Mr. Suzuki threw himself into his studies, when asked what stood out most about Premium College, he says, “The best part was gaining so many new friends.”

“In business, you meet countless people, but those relationships always involve some kind of constraint—sellers and buyers, bosses and subordinates. At Premium College, everyone could form genuine, mature connections, shaped by lives that had seen both triumphs and setbacks. Even after finishing the program, many of those friendships remain strong.”

(Photo courtesy of Morimoto Akira)

A Second Youth Through Shared Interests

One example is a club for archaeology and history enthusiasts, which he has been part of since his student days. This spring, together with six companions, he embarked on a three-day trip to the World Heritage Site of the Mozu-Furuichi Kofun Group and other places of interest in western Japan. 

Through trips and social gatherings, he has deepened friendships while enjoying intellectual stimulation—truly racing through a “second youth.”

The Power of Lifelong Learning

Premium College is more than a place to study—it’s a gateway to new possibilities. For these graduates, learning didn’t just add knowledge; it opened doors to careers, friendships, and adventures they never imagined. Their stories remind us that education has no age limit—and that curiosity can lead to a second youth filled with purpose and joy.