Characteristics of specialized education

One of the pillars of this department's specialized education is foreign language education. Students will continuously study one of the following languages—English, Chinese, or Korean—for three years to develop practical skills. Other specialized subjects are divided into three categories. Category 1, "Language and Multicultural Coexistence," involves understanding Japanese language and culture relatively through comparisons of languages and cultures, and considering the relationship between language and society, as well as multicultural coexistence. Category 2, "East Asian Studies," involves learning about the paths taken by China, Korean, and Japan in their relationships with one another, as well as the problems they currently face. Category 3, "Global Studies," involves learning about the problems that have been dealt with in the construction of international relations and in the field of international business. Students can choose which category to focus on according to their interests, and for areas of particular interest, they can study them in detail in small-group seminars in their third year and deepen their research in their fourth year. In addition, there are courses offered in English in all categories, so those aiming for advanced English proficiency can take on the challenge.

Introduction to Faculty and Research Areas

Faculty members belonging to the "Language and Multicultural Coexistence" field conduct research primarily related to English, including English language education, Japanese language education, Korean language studies, and Japanese-English translation and gender issues. In addition, they also conduct research related to culture and society, such as the characteristics of Japanese society and culture, multilingual and multicultural coexistence in Japan, and language policies in multilingual regions.

Faculty members belonging to the "East Asian Studies" program research the realities and backgrounds of the complex relationships that exist between Japan, China, and Korea, including the characteristics of modern and contemporary Chinese-speaking cultures, the history of interstate contact in East Asia, the modern and contemporary history of the Korean Peninsula, and discrimination and coexistence in Japan-Korea relations.

Faculty members belonging to the "Global Studies" program research various issues arising from globalization from the perspective of their respective fields of expertise. For example, they study disparities between developed and developing countries (political science), increasing xenophobia due to globalization (sociology), the current state of multicultural societies (international relations), and the impact of disasters on corporate management (management studies).

The faculty members who gather in this department from across national borders come from incredibly diverse backgrounds. Some have studied and gained experience abroad, while others have come from overseas out of a genuine interest in Japan and East Asia. Furthermore, some have changed their nationality after living abroad for extended periods, and others were born and raised in Japan but constantly aware of their international connections. Through their stories, we hope you will gain a firsthand understanding of what it means to live in a global society.