Japanese Studies is an interdisciplinary field that includes the study of the language, culture, literature, and arts of Japan. Knowledge of Japanese culture and language is important in fields and academic disciplines such as philosophy, history, technology and news media, the arts, business, international cuisine, and tourism.
Our language courses are designed not only to develop language skills, but also to increase understanding of Japanese culture while enhancing communication skills. First-year and second-year courses aim at developing basic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills as well as cultural awareness. The third-and fourth-year Japanese courses focus more on the development of communicative and intercultural competence.
What Japanese Studies Did for Me?
Gideon is on the left of Oyamakuma, the mascot of Oyama city.
“I am Gideon Terry and I was born half Japanese half American and grew up in the United States my entire life. As a child, I actually didn’t have much interest in Japan. This was mostly because I struggled with the Japanese language. The only phrases I really knew were いただきます and ありがとう.
It wasn’t until high school that I began to reconnect with my heritage by learning Japanese. That experience completely changed my life. I fell in love with the language, the culture, and Japan as a whole, the very thing I hated as a child. I knew then that I wanted to study Japanese in college.
I pursued a double major in Japanese and International Studies. Those four years were truly transformative. One of the most impactful experiences was studying abroad in 2023. That half-year in Tochigi Prefecture, was one of the best times of my life. All the hard work I had put into studying finally paid off, and I truly felt like my strengths and personality flourished.
Thanks to the Japanese curriculum, I was able to connect with friends from all over the world. That experience solidified my decision to make Japan my home. As I write this, I’m currently living in Chiba Prefecture, working as an English teacher!
What did Japanese studies do for me? A better question is what didn’t it do? I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the journey I’m on now, none of it would’ve been possible if not for Japanese studies program.”
– Gideon Terry, Japanese Studies IMP and Global and International Studies BA, 2024
