Department of Japanese Studies

About the Course

Study Japanese as a foreign language.

If someone were to ask you the difference between "kikimashita ka" and "kiita n desu ka," would you be able to answer? At the Department of Japanese Studies, we look at Japanese from an objective point of view, analyzing it and discovering the rules that guide the language. You will learn how to communicate your message using correct Japanese.

In our classes, 1 out of every 4 students is an international student.

The Department of Japanese Studies provides an invaluable environment where Japanese students specializing in their native language come together to learn with international students studying Japanese as a foreign language. As a result, Japanese students and international students have many chances to interact, and students naturally become more internationally-minded and develop multicultural understanding.

Develop the ability to communicate Japanese culture.

By gaining an intimate knowledge of both traditional and modern Japanese culture, you will be able to explore Japanese culture more deeply and on a greater level to understand the new values and ideas being formed within. You will also gain the ability to communicate that culture both in and out of Japan, and will be able to spark innovation drawing from that culture.

Classes

Seminar: Japanese Culture Ⅰ・Ⅱ

Students will carefully select a topic from among the wide variety of issues related to Japanese culture and then go on to research this topic. They will present their findings to the class, where discussion between the professors and students will lead to a deeper understanding of the issues, eventually leading to preparation for their graduation thesis. At the same time, students will explore culture resulting from consumer behavior in a market economy from a marketing point of view (thinking about developing products that customers truly desire and sales strategies to effectively get those products into consumer hands). Students will hone in on the essence of Japanese culture.

Introduction to Japanese Language Teaching Practice 1

Students participate in mock lessons for Japanese language beginners, with the class being divided into teacher, beginner-level Japanese student, and observational roles. In order to develop the ability to teach using Japanese only, intermediary languages like English will not be used. Students will learn to employ various techniques, like making use of cards with illustrations on them. Students will also evaluate each other's roles in the mock lessons, leading to greater leadership capacity.

Special Lecture on Japanese Literature Ⅰ・Ⅱ

Within Japanese literature, there are numerous works set in Kyoto. With an emphasis on classics like Ryunosuke Akutagawa's Rashomon, you will make your way through these works set in Kyoto, examining them deeply from a variety of angles. Components of Kyoto culture that appear in these works, like the Gion Matsuri Festival and Nishijin-ori fabric, will be examined and you will consider how these elements affect those works.