Department of Japanese Language and Literature | Fuji Women's University_沙巴体育平台

Department OverviewExploring "Japan" from the Past to the Present

What is "Japan" as we experience it today? The Department of Japanese Language and Literature explores this question by focusing on how Japan is represented through language and culture. Our research covers Japanese language, literature, and culture from ancient times through the medieval and early modern periods to the present day. Contemporary Japanese culture, including manga and anime, is also a popular area of study. Some students, inspired by their interest in calligraphy, expand their studies to include classical Chinese literature and traditional Japanese poetry, such as Waka.

In our department, we not only enhance specialized knowledge leading to graduation research, but we also place great importance on building a broad and solid academic foundation. Foundational courses are offered in all fields, with small class sizes ensuring personalized and attentive instruction. A key feature of our department is that our full-time faculty members specialize in a wide variety of historical periods, from ancient times to the present.

This comprehensive expertise allows us to connect different eras of "Japan" as a continuous narrative rather than isolated points, thereby enabling a curriculum that provides a holistic understanding of Japan’s linguistic and cultural evolution. Many people may feel uncertain about the future of the world, including Japan. To shape the future ahead, why not start by exploring the fundamental question: What is "Japan" in the first place?

Specialization

Our department offers two specializations: “Japanese Language and Literature” and “Japanese Culture”. Students can deepen their expertise by choosing a specialization that aligns with their interests.

Japanese Language and Literature Specialization: This specialization is ideal for those who enjoy reading Japanese stories and novels or have an interest in the Japanese language. Students can study Japanese literature from the Nara period to the present, as well as explore the Japanese language from classical to modern times.

Japanese Culture Specialization: This specialization is ideal for those with a broad interest in Japanese culture, including popular forms of culture like manga and film.
Students can also study classical Chinese literature and Asian cultures with a focus on Japanese culture. Additionally, students have the option to specialize in calligraphy.

Admission Policy

Goals of the Department

We perceive, think, imagine, create, and communicate through the Japanese language in our daily lives. By pausing to reflect on this fundamental truth, we can explore how the Japanese language has shaped literature and culture across various fields, such as politics, economics, history, and religion. Our department is dedicated to pursuing this exploration.

Developing a keen sensitivity, analytical ability, and rich expressive skills in the Japanese language we use daily serves as a fundamental strength for living as independent individuals in an information-driven society, enabling objective judgment and decision-making.
Moreover, these abilities will serve as a guiding compass for navigating our modern world, which is undergoing significant change and is far from tranquil.

Our department seeks individuals who share these goals and are eager to pursue them together. Specifically, we welcome those who have interests such as:

Exploring the evolution of the Japanese language across different eras and regions, as well as the thoughts and perspectives of those who use it.
Investigating classical and modern Japanese literature from a comprehensive perspective, including political, economic, historical, and philosophical contexts.
Examining how Japanese culture has interacted with East Asian and Western cultures, how it has shaped its own identity, and how it may continue to evolve in the future.

Strengths and features of the department

Guidance by Experienced Faculty and Small Class Sizes: Our faculty members are specialists covering the entire spectrum of Japanese language, literature, and culture from ancient times to the present. This allows for a multifaceted approach to texts and motifs, which fosters a deeper understanding. Moreover, with a low student-to-faculty ratio, each student receives personalized and attentive instruction.
Learning from the basics: "I'm interested in Japanese language, literature, and culture, but there are areas where I'm weak, such as composition and classical Japanese." No need to worry! Our department offers introductory courses that allow you to learn and master the basics. Through these courses, you can discover new aspects of each field. What you find challenging now is simply an opportunity for improvement and growth.
Expertise and Future Prospects: In our department, students can obtain teaching licenses for "Japanese Language" and "Calligraphy." Notably, our university is the only institution in the Sapporo area where a calligraphy teaching license can be obtained. Developing the ability to analyze texts beyond their function as mere "teaching materials" will serve as a strong foundation for a future career in education. Additionally, the knowledge gained in this program can be applied to earning qualifications for a career as a librarian, school librarian, and certified Japanese language instructor.

Learning Points

A Comprehensive Curriculum from Fundamentals to Specialization

In the Department of Japanese Language and Literature, our diploma policy (degree conferral guidelines) emphasizes the following:

The ability to gather, comprehend, and analyze information
Logical yet flexible thinking skills
The ability to express one’s views persuasively and effectively to a wide audience
Expertise in Japanese language, literature, and culture

Our curriculum is designed to ensure that students fully acquire these skills and competencies by the time they graduate.

The core of our department's curriculum consists of five research areas:

Japanese Linguistics
Classical Literature
Modern and Contemporary Literature
Japanese Culture
Chinese Literature

Students enhance their expertise in these fields through "Foundational Lecture Courses I," "Seminar I," and "Seminar II." Ultimately, after completing the "Graduation Research Seminar," students compile their findings into a graduation thesis on a chosen theme. Pursuing a specialized field does not mean being limited to that field alone. Through the experience of mastering a specialization, we aim to equip students with the ability to approach diverse areas of knowledge and skills they will encounter in their careers and daily lives. Our curriculum fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential in the information society, helping students develop a lifelong ability to identify and resolve issues autonomously.

Specialized Resources to Support Learning

Since the establishment of the Japanese Language Department at Fuji Women's College in 1947, the Fuji Women's University Main Library has systematically collected and accumulated materials in the field of Japanese language and literature. Its extensive collection ranges from valuable pre-war publications, like Kaizō, Fujin no Tomo, and Hanashi, to modern cultural works, including anime DVDs. In addition to general books and periodicals, the library is actively expanding its collection of microform materials, online databases, and e-books. Essential resources for Japanese language and literature research, such as Shin Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei, Kokka Taikan, and Kokushi Taikei, are also accessible online.

The library serves as a reliable academic resource for students studying Japanese language and literature. In the 2023 academic year alone, students from the department used the library a total of 10,022 times, with an average of 15.3 books borrowed per student annually. This data highlights not only the richness of the collection but also its active utilization by students.

An Environment for Mutual Growth and Improvement

As mentioned in "Learning Point 2," students in the Department of Japanese Language and Literature actively utilize the library to deepen their studies. One of the greatest attractions of this department is the opportunity to meet passionate and motivated peers who inspire each other.

Additionally, the Japanese Language and Literature Society, one of the most prestigious and well-established academic societies in Hokkaido, consists of students, alumni, and faculty members from our department. Students play a key role in its operations, including organizing faculty research presentations and publishing the Journal of Japanese Literature. Student members of the Society also expand their knowledge through study groups and visits to literary museums. Any student in the department can become a Society member, so we encourage you to participate!