We will develop human resources who understand the essence of Japanese culture and release to the world ?
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There is currently growing interest in Japanese culture around the world, including society, Japanese language thought, art, religious culture, popular culture, modern and contemporary literature, thought, history, manga, anime, and fashion. In Department of Japanese Cultures, we approach the essence of Japanese culture from multiple angles through the guidance of faculty members well versed in a variety of cultures and a unique curriculum. We cultivate talented people with a wide range of knowledge about Japanese culture, advanced Japanese language skills, and an international perspective that allows them to convey culture to the world.
Department of Japanese Cultures Close-UP
Learn about changing words and analyze Japanese culture The barking of dogs, "One One," was often described by people in the past as "Byoubyou." "History of Japanese" is the class that explores the history of Japanese and Japanese culture, triggered by the transition of familiar words, teen slang, and dialects. You will understand that the words you use unconsciously have deep meanings that lead to the analysis of Japanese culture, and acquire the ability to think and explain using the knowledge you have learned.
カリキュラム
In the 1st and 2nd year, students will develop presentation, expression, and communication skills through small-group education, as well as acquire basic content and a wide variety of knowledge about Japanese culture. In the 3rd and 4th year years, they will proactively and actively pursue research and work on their graduation thesis. Thier future paths are various, such as teachers (national language, society, geography and history or calligraphy), museum curators, librarians, publishing or the media.
Japanese Culture Exercise Japanese Studies "Contemporary Japanese analysis (grammar, meaning, abbreviations, translations, foreign words)", "Dialogue", "Japanese analysis in the past (using Kyogen script, Christian materials or Edo language materials)", "Words and letters that Manga and anime characters use", "Oiran words", "naming" and "effective presentation". These are a part of the themes actually presented by the students in class. In class, you will observe Japanese from various perspectives and present one's research. In the first semester, you will learn how to study languages while using the language materials of each era. In the second half, you will proceed with analysis on themes that you are interested in.
Japanese Culture Seminar Classical Literature Students will closely read classical literary works from ancient times to the early modern period, along with old annotations from various eras. They will learn basic reading and research skills, such as how to use bibliographical research, dictionaries, annotations, and reference materials, and will discuss the works with their peers through the students' own questions. By considering the "layers of knowledge" from various eras, along with the old annotations, in conjunction with the expressions and knowledge of each era, students will acquire a wide range of knowledge and methods for research, and gain a wide range of problem-solving skills that can be applied in society.
Traditional Culture Research (Edo Culture) 200 years ago, at what age did people get married, how many children did they have, and what were their thoughts as they lived? Most of what remains in history are records of famous people, and there is little information about ordinary people. In this class, we will focus on the lives of ordinary people who lived in the Edo period using materials such as "Shogunate Demographic Statistics" and "Religious Census Registers." We will carefully decipher their true faces from records, such as their marriages, childbirths, and family structures. Learning about their lives can also provide clues for reexamining the present day. Why not explore "ordinary lives" in history?
Modern Japanese culture research Using the distinctive zodiac animals (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and boar) as a guide, this class examines modern Japanese culture from multiple perspectives, along with the folk and religious traditions of the Japanese archipelago and traditional stories, and teaches about cultural inheritance, discontinuation, and transformation. Students will come into contact with deep and diverse topics and knowledge about modernity, tradition, and stories, and will discover that Japanese culture is carried on not only by people, but also by nature and living things. Students will also discover that the zodiac not only represents the year, but also the time and space of the year, month, day, time, and direction, and that this is a common worldview in East Asia.
Japanese Cultural Studies (Publishing) This class studies literature from the Meiji to Showa periods in relation to magazine and newspaper media. It is important to understand literary research not only from a contemporary perspective, but also in the context of the era in which it was written, circulated, and read. In this class, we look at and focus on actual magazines and newspapers that were in circulation, and consider the significance of the literary content, such as the works and literary figures published in them, and the media of the time from a historical, social, and cultural context. We also aim to improve research and fieldwork skills that can be used in writing graduation theses and in other classes.
Japanese Cultural Studies (Modern Thought) Some things that we take for granted in modern times were actually created in the last 150 years or so. For example, Japan's school system of elementary, middle, high school, and university was created and established after the modern era (Meiji period). In this class, you will learn how Japanese people from the Meiji to Showa periods tried to understand this turbulent time and how this has influenced us today. Through this class, you will develop the ability to explore things independently.
Grading Criteria
Grading Criteria
About our GPA System
The intent behind our implementation of a GPA (Grade Point Average) system is to (1) create a unified standard for the campus, (2) have it function as an impartial standard, and (3) have it function as an internationally accepted standard. Our GPA system involves the assessment learning achievements using an objective numerical value called GPA. Additionally, this system generally conforms with the grade assessment systems adopted by universities in the West, and can be used overseas as an index used to certify a student’s academic ability when studying abroad, when going on to graduate school overseas, when finding employment at a non-Japanese companies operating in Japan, and so on.
Display of Grades and Assessment Criteria
Classification
Grading Criteria
GPA
Grading Criteria
Details of Assessment
Description of English
Pass
S.
4.0
90 percent or higher
Represents particularly excellent grades.
Excellent
A
3.0
80 percent
Represents excellent grades
Good
B.
2.0
70 percent
Represents grades recognized as adequate.
Satisfactory
C.
1.0
60 percent
Represents the minimum grade acceptable as a pass.
Pass
Fail
D.
0.0
Less than 60 percent
This means that the student has not reached the minimum grade acceptable as a pass. It also includes the lack of class attendance, the fact that the exams for the class have not been taken, and so on.
Failure
Not applicable
N
-
-
Indicates that course credit acquired another university or other institution during a study-abroad program or prior to a transfer to our university, has been certified as course credit for our university (courses where credit has been certified).
Credits Transferred
GPA Calculation Method
To earn credits
Register for classes. Use CampusSquare to register for classes online and have your classes properly confirmed. You will need to do this for both the first and second semesters.
Students attend classes. There are 15 class in both the first and second semesters. Normally, 2-credit courses consist of attendance at each class (90 minutes) and preparation and review (about 2 hours each). In order to earn the credits, students must attend all classes (from the first to the 15th) as a matter of course, and also deepen their understanding through preparation and review.
Depending on subjects, students are required to take exam or submit reports (accreditation methods vary from lecturers).
Grades of S, A, B or C mean that students have passed the course and earned the credit. Grade of D means that students has failed the course and not earned any credit. If students receive a grade of D for a compulsory subject, they require to take it again the following year or later. Courses which students have already earned credit cannot be retaken.
About Academic Grades
Academic grades are assessed based on final examinations at the end of the semester (written exams, oral exams, practical exams, or reports). However, depending on courses, mini tests, reports, attendance, and academic progress during class may be evaluated as regular points, or assessments may be carried out based on the regular points only.
Academic grades are issued on the transcript with only the evaluation.
Courses which students have passed once cannot be erased or retaken.
Grades will be published on Campus Square every semester.
If you have questions about your grades, such as not receiving a grade despite taking an exam (submitting a report) after the results have been announced, please come to school at the beginning of the next semester (in principle, by the first week of classes) and ask your teacher directly. If your teacher has left the school and you are unable to make inquiries, please notify the Academic Affairs Office.
Minimum number of credits required for graduation (Students entering in 2025)
Subject classification
Examples of compulsory and elective courses
Required number of units
Co., Ltd. Common Teaching Education Department eye *4
education Educational subjects
Humanities-related fields
Optional compulsory
2 or more
8 or more
30※1
Social Sciences
2 or more
Natural Sciences
2 or more
Interdisciplinary fields
Elective
－
First year Educational subjects
Life Design Seminar I & II
Compulsory
2
Career-related courses
Optional compulsory
2
Information Education Subjects
Optional compulsory
2
foreign language Educational subjects
English I / II / III / IV
Compulsory
4
Specialized subjects *4
Compulsory
24
74※3
choice Required *2
Exercise A
4
Exercise B
4
Elective
42
Free Choice
74 extra credits in specialized subjects ?30 credits in excess of General Education ?Open course credits ?Minor program credits ?Credits accredited at other universities
Elective
20
Total
124
*1 You must earn 30 credits for General Education after meeting the required number of credits for each course. In addition, excess credits earned in General Education will be counted as elective credits.
*2 Excess credits earned in required elective subjects will be counted towards elective subject credits.
*3 Excess credits earned in specialized subjects will be counted as elective credits.
*4 Some of the credits for teaching and curatorial course subjects are included in the credits for specialized subjects or General Education.
