Our goal is to foster the able students who can contribute to the creation of a new age

Associate Professor Miyuki HIRA

Doshisha University Center for Japanese Language and Culture took its first small step in April, 1999, when we accepted six exchange students and eleven privately financed international students. So far nearly 500 students have studied at the Center and they are now playing an active part in the international society. Although the history of the Center for Japanese Language and Culture is quite short compared to the more than 100-year history of Doshisha University, I can recall a variety of invaluable experiences and precious memories during the past six years. I really appreciate that I have learned a lot through communications with each student.

It is said that whereas the keyword of the 20th century was “strength,” that of the 21st century is “weakness.” We, the faculty members of the Center, devote ourselves to the education of our students every day, wishing to send out able students into the international society, who use their abilities as conscience dictates and create the world of the 21st century where the strong and the weak can live together. We wish to foster broad-minded, capable students who can put the mind on “the things which are not seen” as well as acquiring Japanese language and culture. “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 CORINTHIANS, 4.18)

Let’s study together at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture. We are sincerely looking forward to meeting you.

Let’s meet at the Imadegawa Campus

Associate Professor Riko WAKITA

Hello, everybody. My name is Riko WAKITA. I am a faculty member of Doshisha University Center for Japanese Language and Culture. I joined Doshisha University in April 2004 and am teaching international students Japanese language. The Center for Japanese Language and Culture, formerly the Center for Japanese Language, was restructured in April 2007. The Center undertakes Japanese language education for the entire university such as undergraduate and graduate programs.

This year, Doshisha University celebrates the 132nd anniversary of its founding. It is one of the most renowned institutions for higher education in Japan with a long history and tradition. There are two campuses at Doshisha University: the Imadegawa Campus and the Kyotanabe Campus. The Center for Japanese Language and Culture is located in the Imadegawa Campus, which is situated right to the north of the Kyoto Imperial Palace in the heart of Kyoto City and has very good access to public transport facilities. The Kyotanabe Campus is in Kyotanabe City, located in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture. The rich natural environment of the campus enables students to pursue their study without being disturbed. At the campus, Japanese language classes for the first and second year students are offered.

At the Center for Japanese Language and Culture, exchange students from universities all around the world with which we have exchange agreements, and privately financed international students wishing to enroll at universities and graduate schools in Japan, study Japanese language together. The Japanese Language Courses are divided according to students’ varying Japanese abilities. For instance, 13 Japanese language classes in the seven different levels are offered in the 2007 Spring Semester. The Center offers the Japanese Language Courses in the morning, Monday through Friday. In the afternoon, the Center also offers elective subjects, such as the Japanese/English Language Seminars and the Lecture Courses in Japanese Studies, and so on.

In order to promote international exchanges, the Center organizes exchange get-together events for the international and Japanese students every semester. The events are filled with activities such as the introduction of student circles and groups, and Doshisha’s overseas partner institutions (introduction of home institution by exchange students), self-introduction game, and discussion. In addition, exchange events for volunteer faculty members and international students, international exchange camps and sports exchange events for international and Japanese students are organized.

Enjoy your student life to the full at Doshisha University. I look forward to meeting you on the campus.

Making the most of your time in Japan and at Doshisha

Associate Professor Bruce WHITE

Being in Japan offers us an important understanding of how Japanese history, culture and language contribute to the wider discourses and identities of the world. More than this, however, Japan offers us a window into our own cultural values―challenging us to think again about what kind of societies we ourselves are from, and the kind of norms and stereotypes we hold of other peoples, races, societies and value-sets.

I am foremost an anthropologist―a social scientist who studies cultures around the world. I studied anthropology in Britain, and came to Japan in 1997 as a graduate student in social anthropology. I spent many years living in a small village in rural Kyushu, conducting what we anthropologists call "participant observation", a research technique that can more simply be referred to as: living the life of the local people.

Today I conduct research on a variety of groups and issues in Japanese society. Recently, I have looked at Japanese reggae music, indigenous Ainu cultural movements, generational change and global identities, civil participation, the Buraku underclass, and the role that taxis play in spreading local information and identity around Kyoto city area. I have a wide interest in all aspects of identity formation and culture, both inside and outside Japan, and organize a variety of workshops at Doshisha where academics and students come together to discuss and present their research.

There are so many ways in which being in Japan can help one to discover new tools and resources with which to build oneself a sustainable sense of personal and cultural place in the world. We want to help you in your journey and to make the most of your time at Doshisha.

Value the moment I feel happy

Assistant Professor　Hiroko ISHIDA

Hello, everyone,
Moments I feel happy in my daily life is when I did well at work, I am having something delicious, taking a bath, chatting with someone, laughing at something, when I go to bed before the day I can sleep in, luckily enough to take a seat on the train going to work, seeing small children and animals, taking to my hobbies, and so on.
However, there is a moment I feel much happier.
My happiest moment is when I find a scene that students from various backgrounds enjoy talking in Japanese language, which is only a common language for them.
The students are different in many ways: hometown, first language, circumstances of their upbringing, way of thinking, value, motivation for study Japanese, reasons they study Japanese language, why they came to Japan, their student status privately-financed international students and exchange student, their future path and so on.
When I see such a scene, I really feel happy to have this job.
I truly hope that we keep seeing this peaceful scene at university.
Let's study Japanese language together at Doshisha University! I am looking forward to meeting you.

Let's make your dream come true with us

Assistant Professor　Nao TAKESHIMA

I believe students have various dreams, hopes and goals such as to develop my Japanese ability, to have a lot of experience through life in Japan, to go to university in Japan and to work in Japan.

Doshisha University is based in Kyoto which is the ancient capital of Japan and where much historical architecture still remains. In Kyoto, a lot of international students from all over the world are studying.
"Students of Center for Japanese Language and Culture" (called "Nichibun-sei") from around the world and privately-financed students who come to Japan to go to a higher school in Japan and/or develop their Japanese language ability are studying together at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture.
Classes of the Center for Japanese Language and Culture/Bekka program are conducted in such an environment which helps expanding each student's world and enables them to put things in perspective.

Besides Japanese language classes, the center offers the classes that students can experience Japanese culture which is held afternoon, and opportunities for international students to get to know Japanese students of the same age at Doshisha University. In addition, luckily for students, the famous festivals in Kyoto, for example, Aoi Festival, Gion Festival and Jidai Festival can be seen near the campus.

Purpose of studying in Japan depends on students, but why don't you take advantage of the environment you are in and study with people having different dreams and hopes and from different countries, communicate with Japanese students and learn Japanese language and culture from many teachers in the center?

I am looking forward to meeting you and spending time with you at Doshisha University.