In her 29 years of teaching Japanese language and culture, Jamila Mohd has seen the relationship between Malaysia and Japan mature from economic emulation to reciprocal study and exchange. Naturally, her journey began as a student.
At a time when many of her generation were studying in the U.S. or the U.K. after high school, Jamila wanted to try something different. Inspired by the Japanese TV drama “Oshin,” she decided on Japan. Her choice reflected the Look East Policy, launched in 1982 by Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to encourage Malaysia to learn from the industrialization, technology and work ethics of countries such as Japan and South Korea.
After two years of preparation, Jamila earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Tsukuba, Japan in 1996 and began working at the University of Malaya. While there, she pursued her master’s and Ph.D. at Nagoya University. She currently heads UM’s Malaysia-Japan Research Center and is a senior lecturer in the Asian and European languages department of the languages and linguistics faculty.
During her studies she was a wife and a mother, all while absorbing Japan’s language and culture. “I tried to live not as a foreigner, but as Japanese do,” she recalled.
Today, Mahathir’s policy is in its 44th year, and while Jamila acknowledges that much has changed, she believes the factors underpinning bilateral relations remain strong and receptive to investment. Amid accelerating change fueled by everything from advances in digital technology to rising geopolitical tensions, Jamila believes the path to deeper Malaysian-Japanese relations lies in creating new opportunities for mutual understanding through language education and cultural exchange.
“Above all, I still believe in the importance of human-to-human relations,” Jamila said. “This is the most important thing. To develop human resources, educating our young people and making them aware of the relationship between Malaysia and Japan is important.”
Jamila hopes the mutual interest between young people in both countries will rise above the level of pop culture to encompass a deeper understanding of the evolving needs and demographic changes on both sides of the relationship. “If we want to keep the peace, globally and in Asia, we need to involve our youngsters in more serious issues and promote exchange,” she said.
In a positive development, more Japanese students have been choosing to study in Malaysia. According to a 2025 survey by the Japan Association for Overseas Study Research Institute, Malaysia ranked third as a destination for Japanese students aiming for a degree, behind Australia and the U.S. In the meantime, Jamila’s alma mater, the University of Tsukuba, opened a branch in Kuala Lumpur in 2024, a first among Japanese public universities.
According to its website, the University of Tsukuba, Malaysia, is committed to higher education in the Japanese style, complete with its unique traditions, across multiple disciplines and based on problem-based learning. UTMY aims to produce well-rounded graduates who are grounded in the humanities and the natural and social sciences and can help Malaysia tackle the global challenges it faces. These students can then move on to work with organizations across multiple sectors to move the needle on global issues.
To highlight a few recent events, students set up a traditional Japanese fair booth at the UM Hanabi Taikai fireworks event on June 13, and students and faculty members formed teams to run in the Alumni Look East Policy Society relay race on June 20.
Jamila hails the opening of UTMY as a great example of the kind of exchange that can grow the Japanese-Malaysian relationship in the future. Whereas Look East began as an effort to learn from Japan’s success, “I think we are now in the stage of learning from each other,” she said.
For her efforts to strengthen Japan-Malaysia relations, Jamila was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation in May 2024. She continues to teach and gives the following advice to her students: “Life is short. Enjoy, go out and get to know each other, take on challenges, and stay true to yourself while respecting other people.”
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