Most MEXT stories you hear are from people who got in. This one is useful because Dishant Baghel didn't — not the first time, and not the second. He applied for Japan's Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship through the embassy-recommended route three years in a row, was rejected twice, and was finally selected on the third attempt. He's now in Tokyo studying Manga & Illustration at a specialized training college, Toyo Institute of Art and Design.
Watch Episode 3, Part 1 of the Komichi Podcast — Dishant walks host Pranav Kappal (himself a MEXT scholar, at Shibaura Institute of Technology) through all three attempts: what went wrong, what he changed, and the posted letter that changed his life.
The dream behind the application
Dishant wanted to be a comic artist — a path that, as he puts it, tends to fade "the way it's perceived in India." Anime pulled him toward manga, and manga pulled him toward Japan. MEXT, Japan's government scholarship, was the route that could make studying it real: tuition covered, a monthly stipend, and travel — without paying an agent. (For how the scholarship works end to end, see our complete MEXT guide for Indians.)
Between attempts he kept himself going: he worked as a video editor at an influencer company and studied psychology on the side. Three application cycles meant roughly three years.
How the embassy route works (in brief)
On the embassy-recommended route, you apply through the Embassy of Japan around spring, submit documents, sit a written exam, and then face an interview. After that comes a long wait — months of silence — with results around December, and arrival in Japan the following April. For Dishant, it also meant being the first in his family to leave the country.
Attempt 1: going in blind
The first year, by his own account, he was clueless. Of roughly 150–200 applicants, only about 45 reached the written exam. The maths was hard — he came from a commerce background — and he over-prepared the wrong thing: he rehearsed his interview until it was stiff and unnatural. The rejection came by email in December.
Lesson: don't memorise your interview. They can tell. Be natural.
Attempt 2: doing it properly — and still losing
The second year he actually studied how MEXT selects, reading the guidelines and comparing notes in applicant Discord groups. His one-line summary is worth pinning up:
"MEXT is a quarter what you want, and three-quarters how you link what you want to MEXT's goals."
He learned that the essays carry real weight — especially how you'll contribute to both countries — that you can attach extra pages and a portfolio, and that the maths section is there to judge ability, not to be skipped. He applied far better than the year before. And he was rejected again.
That's when he learned the quiet signal: rejected applicants get an email; selected ones get a posted letter. No letter came.
Attempt 3: all in
The third year he committed fully — a three-month routine of 10–12 hours a day, with a study partner in another timezone keeping him honest at 5 a.m. The exam itself had changed: the Japanese paper moved from 300 points across three levels to 100 points, and from intermediate toward advanced — a reminder that formats change between years. The interview was in person this time, with a portfolio (and a Hunter × Hunter-inspired suit).
Then, in late December, a postal letter arrived. He showed his family at 5 in the morning. After two rejections, that envelope was the whole story in one object.
Leaving India
Getting in isn't the finish line. His first month in Japan came before his scholarship money did, so he borrowed about ¥70,000 to bridge it — a detail worth planning for, since the stipend doesn't always land the moment you arrive. His visa was issued the very morning of his flight, with his mother at the airport.
What he's building now
Dishant wants to make manga that links Japan and India, and talks about "an unspoken responsibility to give back" after being funded by another country. On getting through three years of rejection, he leans on a simple idea: focus on the work, not the result.
"I wouldn't have been worthy of it if I'd got it on the first try."
Part 2 — "Life in Japan as a MEXT student: Japanese, jobs & money" — is out next. We'll link it here when it's live.
The seven lessons from three attempts
- Understand how MEXT actually works before you apply — the route, the stages, the wait.
- Link your goals to MEXT's goals, not just to what you want.
- Answer the essays properly — especially how you'll help both countries.
- You can attach extra pages and a portfolio — use them.
- Don't skip the maths — it's there to weigh your ability.
- Don't memorise your interview — be natural.
- Expect format changes, and be patient (remember: email = rejected, letter = selected).
FAQ
Is this the only way to get MEXT?
No. Dishant took the embassy-recommended route. There's also a university-recommended route — hear Pranav's story in Episode 1, and read the differences in our MEXT guide.
Does getting rejected hurt your chances next time?
Dishant reapplied and was selected on his third attempt. Reapplying is common; treat each cycle as a fresh, stronger application.
Do I need to already speak Japanese?
There's a Japanese section in the exam, and it can change year to year. You don't need to be fluent to apply, but language matters — see our JFT-Basic and Japanese-level-per-visa guides, and the free JLPT mock tests.
How much does MEXT pay, and does it cover tuition?
MEXT covers tuition and pays a monthly stipend that varies by study level; amounts and conditions change. See the current figures in our MEXT guide rather than relying on any single year's numbers.
Where to go next
Note: This article is a personal account of one applicant's experience of the MEXT embassy-recommended route in 2022–2024. Selection criteria, exam formats, stipend amounts and procedures change year to year and vary by study level and category. Always confirm the current rules with the Embassy of Japan in India before you apply. This is general information, not an endorsement or a guarantee of selection.