Learning Japanese and studying Japanese culture can open up a number of career opportunities for students. Japan has the third-largest economy in the world following the U.S. and China. U.S-Japan economic and diplomatic relations remain very strong. Indiana has many well-established cultural and economic connections with Japan. According to Japanese Direct Investment in 10 Midwest States, published by the Chicago Consulate General of Japan, there are 324 Japanese-owned businesses in Indiana providing approximately 67,750 local jobs.
“I started taking Japanese classes in High School and then enrolled at IU Indianapolis in 2015 and took classes there. All my professors have been helpful and provided the tools to help me advance in my career. My favorite course was Japan: The Living Tradition. This class one of the best classes when it comes to illustrating the importance of Japanese culture, and it has helped me with my current career. I took six semesters of Japanese language classes.
I work for Ryobi Die Casting as an Expat Coordinator and Japanese Translator. I am a liaison for the company. Some of the engineers and machine maintenance employees who come from the Hiroshima and Shizuoka “Ryobi” plant, come to work at the Shelbyville, Indiana “Ryobi” Plant. During this time majority of the workers are accompanied by their families. I work with apartment companies while they provide housing for the expatriates. I schedule and attend doctor, dentist, and parent/teacher appointments. Over the past 10 years, Japanese studies have had a huge influence in my life. I want to thank IU Indianapolis for its Japanese programs. If you love the Japanese language and culture as much as I do, I highly recommend majoring or minoring in Japanese studies. If you are an Indiana native like I am, the demand for Japanese speakers is high.”
— Aimee Mangrum
Aimee graduated in 2020 with a B.A. in Visual Communications and studied Japanese language and culture at IU Indianapolis. She is currently earning her B.A. in East Asian Studies with a focus in Japanese Studies at IU.
The Individualized Major in Japanese provides you with an immersive learning experience that contextualizes the Japanese language in diverse cultural settings. You will design a major in Japanese Studies through the Individualized Major Program which requires a minimum of 34 credit hours.
The faculty in Japanese Studies will work with you to help navigate your course of study. Under the supervision of your primary advisor, you will prepare a proposal for an individualized major. You will be accepted for admission to the major when this proposal is approved by the advisor and your faculty committee.
Japanese students having tea.
Complete the School of Liberal Arts online declaration form.
Contact Rosa Tezanos-Pinto, Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
