Maya Bewley We’re rounding off the month with a special story from alum Masumi, who came to York in 2018 as an international student from Japan. While he didn’t know it at the time, his decision to join Derwent Basketball would change his life…
“I was an international student at York in 2018, coming from Tokyo Japan. I got lucky when I was welcomed to Derwent Basketball society, where I met my lifelong best friend Denis, who was captain of the Basketball team.
Though I was very nervous about getting settled into a British university alone, he repeatedly pushed me to mingle with British students and meet other international students, through which I came to understand the world better.
7 years later, we had both graduated and Denis was living in London. In November 2025, I held my wedding in Tokyo and casually asked him to fly, knowing it was a long shot given the distance and other guests, who were mostly Japanese.
However this crazy guy actually showed up, along with his wonderful friend. I still find it unbelievable. He made my days as a student at York some of the highlights of my life, and at my wedding, he did it again. Unreal!
I still find it unbelievable. He made my days as a student at York some of the highlights of my life, and at my wedding, he did it again. Unreal!
I took my wife on a trip back to campus last year (after our marriage was registered), where I introduced her to the beautiful campus and my Derwent alumni friends who are still living in York! The University of York feels like a place I can always come home to.
