Love of popular culture leads to university studies

Claudia Chan Wai-yu, 23, a former arts stream student, was a fan of the Japanese comic Slam Dunk in Form Seven. She chose to major in Japanese studies at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to learn more about the culture.

Ms Chan said she was interested in languages and was glad to get grade B in Use of English at the A-levels.

She stayed in Osaka for a one- year programme.

'It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

'I lived with a host family and seeing their everyday lives deepened my understanding of the country,' she said.

Now doing a master's degree at HKU, Ms Chan hopes to be a Japanese interpreter or translator after graduation.