Faculty of Letters

Department of Japanese Language and Literature

Overview

The Department of Japanese Language and Literature covers three main areas of studies: Japanese Literature, Japanese Linguistics, and Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language. It aims to help students develop a better understanding of cultures and people through the study of Japanese literature and language. It offers courses in literature covering classical to modern periods, and in language from ancient to contemporary. The Department provides a systematic curriculum to develop the ability to read and analyze Japanese literature and language, taking account of the importance of historical and cultural background knowledge. The third-year and fourth-year classes consist of around five students and each student engages in specialized studies based on his or her interests.

There are five courses: Japanese Linguistics, Japanese Literature, Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language, Studies in Local Area Cultures, and Liberal Arts Studies.

A Selection of Courses

Japanese Linguistics

• Introduction to Japanese Linguistics
• History of the Japanese Language
• Japanese Grammar
• Japanese Linguistics Seminar
• Special Research Topics in Japanese Linguistics

Japanese Literature

• Introduction to Japanese Philology
• History of Japanese Literature (Medieval, Edo, and Modern Periods)
• Readings of Japanese Literature (Medieval, Edo, and Modern Periods)
• Seminar in Japanese Literature (Medieval, Edo, and Modern Periods)
• Special Research Topics in Japanese Literature (Medieval, Edo, and Modern Periods)
• Study of Culture in Local Areas

Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language

• Methodology of Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language
• Seminar in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language
• Special Research Topics in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language

Humanities (Interdepartmental courses)

• Introduction to Humanities
• Chinese Culture
• Lectures in Psychology
• Lectures in Education
• Cultures of French Language Regions
• Contemporary Thought
• Linguistics Seminar
• Lectures in Comparative Literature