Maria Braun was an intern at ISDP’s Japan Center during the spring of 2021. Ms. Braun recently graduated from her master’s degree in Society and Culture at the Asia Pacific University in Beppu, Japan. During her time in Japan, she immersed herself in the country’s culture and language as well as having the opportunity to travel to neighbouring countries and deepening her knowledge and understanding of issues and matters important to East Asia. Ms. Braun also possesses a bachelor’s degree in Far East Studies completed at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. Her main research interests lie in current social and political issues in Japan.