In 1942 Kuo tested into the musical composition program at Nihon University's College of Art, but because war had broken out between Japan and the US, the university's normal curriculum was suspended. It now offered only military training and labor service programs.
1942 年，郭芝苑考取日本大學藝術學部音樂作曲科，卻因美日戰爭爆發，學校正式課程大都停開，只安排軍事訓練或勞動服務。