Overview
   Welcome to Yamagata University Japan Studies Program

   The Japan Studies Program (JSP) is specifically designed for short-term exchange students who are enrolled full-time at our partner institutions overseas. JSP's general education mission is twofold: to offer Japanese cultural studies in English as well as Japanese language courses. Students enrolled in JSP have the opportunity to learn about Japanese history, culture, society and nature as well as Japanese language at all levels. Japanese cultural studies courses are also available on-line.

   We hope that learners around the world will enhance their understanding of Japan while enrolled in JSP for a semester or a year and that they will continue their studies on Japan after completing the program either in Japan or in their home country and utilize their learning internationally.

The following credit-bearing courses are offered during an academic year:

Japanese Cultural Studies courses

Comparative Culture: Japan and the U.S.
A History of Japanese Buddhism
Modern Japanese Literature from Kenji Miyazawa to Haruki Murakami
Japanese Management Systems
Culture and Thought in Meiji Japan
Budo: An Introduction to Japanese Martial Arts
Japanese culture
Medical Issues and Life Sciences in Japan
Aspects of Japanese Science and Technology
Agriculture in Japan


Japanese Language courses

Integrated courses Elementary to intermediate levels
Reading Elementary to upper advanced levels
Writing Elementary to upper advanced levels
Speaking Elementary, lower and upper advanced levels
Listening Elementary and lower advanced levels
Kanji Elementary to intermediate levels
Japanese culture All levels


While enrolled in JSP, you will have the opportunity to interact with Japanese students in JSP classes in order to enhance their cultural understanding. If you already have advanced skills of Japanese, you may take regular courses on Japanese cultural studies in Japanese in addition to those offered in the Japan Studies Program.

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