Diploma Policy
The Department of Japanese Literature aims to nurture people who will be able to proactively contribute to international society through the process of (i) identifying issues on their own in the fields of Japanese language and literature, Chinese literature and thought, library and information science, and Japanese language pedagogy, (ii) understanding and analyzing them based on academic knowledge and logical thinking, and (iii) solving them while collaborating with others. The objective of the program is to develop human resources who can proactively contribute to the international community. To this end, the educational objectives of the department are to acquire the following abilities.
- DP 1. Students will be able to acquire specialized knowledge and skills in Japanese language and literature, Chinese literature and thought, library and information science, and Japanese language pedagogy, and based on this acquire a multifaceted understanding of Japan and international society. [University DP 1]
- DP 2. Students will be able to acquire empirical analytical skills through analyzing primary sources and fieldwork, examine collected information from a critical perspective, and then logically construct their own opinions. [University DP 1, 2]
- DP 3. Students will be able to communicate their own ideas appropriately to others and understand diverse opinions using advanced language skills and ICT-based information gathering and dissemination skills. [University DP 2, 3, 4]
- DP 4. Students will be able to acquire the ability to identify issues on their own in the fields of Japanese language and literature, Chinese literature and thought, library and information science, and Japanese language pedagogy, and to solve them independently and systematically. [University DP 5]
- DP 5. Students will be able to use expertise and skills in Japanese language and literature, Chinese literature and thought, library and information science, and Japanese language pedagogy, in order to be proactively involved in the development of a sustainable society work while collaborating with others. [University DP3, 4, 5]
Curriculum Policy
Curriculum and Methodology
In the Department of Japanese Literature, the following basic subjects, general history, specialized subjects (lectures), specialized subjects (seminars), and subjects related to graduation theses and other related subjects are organized in a step-by-step and systematic manner. This will ensure that students acquire specialized knowledge in the fields of Japanese language and Japanese literature, Chinese literature and thought (Chinese classics), library and Information sciences, and Japanese language education, as well as the abilities indicated in the department's diploma policy. All students in the department take the basic subjects in their first year to acquire the basic skills related to the learning outcomes indicated in the diploma policy. In addition, while taking general history subjects and specialized subjects (lectures) throughout their first through fourth years, students will achieve the learning outcomes of the diploma policy through course completion of specialized subjects (seminars) from their second year, and increase their level of achievement. In the third year, students can take the “Pre-seminar for Graduation Thesis.” In the fourth year, all students can take the “Seminar for Graduation Thesis” to compile a graduation thesis as the culmination of their four years of study in the department. According to their interests, students may also take other related subjects.
The subjects offered by the department are as follows:
Basic subjects
These are a group of subjects designed to provide students with the basics of Japanese literature and Japanese language studies. In the "Seminar on Japanese Classical Kana Script,” and " Basic seminar on Japanese Language and Literature," students acquire the ability to read and understand classical works of literature using primary sources in a small-group, active learning format. In the “Japanese Composition,” students will acquire basic literacy for writing reports, articles and practical texts.
General history
Students will systematically study Japanese literature from the ancient to the modern times and the historical transition of the Japanese language. Students will also be able to study the history of Chinese literature and Chinese thought, which are closely related to Japanese language and literature.
Specialized subjects (lectures)
According to their own interests, students will learn about Japanese literature from the ancient to the modern times and various fields of Japanese language studies including phonology, grammar, dialects, etc. and will deepen their own expertise. Students will also be able to study representative Chinese literary works, which are closely related to Japanese language and literature.
Specialized subjects (seminars)
Students will learn about Japanese literature from the ancient to the modern times, various fields of Japanese language studies including phonology, grammar, dialects, etc., and Chinese literature and thought, and Chinese classics in a small-group, active learning format. Through these subjects, students will acquire skills to clearly communicate problems they have identified and the process of solving them to others through presentations, etc.
For example, in the “Seminar on Classic Japanese,” students will acquire the ability to analyze primary sources by utilizing the skills they acquired in the first year in reading Japanese classical Kana script. In the "Seminar on the Japanese Language Seminar,” students will learn the basics of data science through the use of corpuses and other resources, which can be applied to traditional research methods. In the “Information Retrieval Techniques. Dep artment of Japanese,” students will be able to acquire advanced information retrieval techniques using ICT.
Subjects related to graduation theses
From the third year, students can select one of the “Pre-seminars for Graduation Thesis” according to their own interests, in preparation for writing their graduation thesis. Elective fields of study are: Ancient Japanese literature, Early medieval Japanese literature, Medieval Japanese literature, Premodern Japanese literature, Modern Japanese literature, Japanese language, Chinese literature and thought, Teaching Japanese as a second language, and Library and information science. In the fourth year, all students belong to the “Seminar for Graduation Thesis,” where they deepen their research through presentations, discussions with other seminar students, and individual guidance by supervisors and compile the results into a graduation thesis.
Other related subjects
In addition, students will hone their expressive ability and information literacy through practical classes taught by active writers and journalists in "Creative Writing" and the "Lectures on the Mass Media.” In "Methodology of Teaching Japanese as a Second Language," a compulsory subject for the Japanese Language Teacher Training Course, students will learn the transition of the theoretical background of the methodology of teaching Japanese as a second language and how to use teaching materials in an active learning format. In "Bibliography," students will learn about the knowledge and handling of classical books handwritten before the Edo period (1603-1868) in a practical manner, using those in the department's collection. Students can also obtain a teaching license for junior high and high school (Japanese), librarian, Japanese language teacher, or museum curator.
Subjects for the achievement of learning outcomes
- DP 1. Basic subjects, general history, specialized subjects (lectures), specialized subjects (seminars), and other related subjects
- DP 2. Accumulation of practical application in various specialized subjects (seminars) based on the skills acquired in the "Seminar on Japanese Classical Kana Script,” "Basic seminar on Japanese Language and Literature" "Introduction to the Japanese Languages," and other subjects in the first year.
- DP 3. Discussions and presentations in class in the specialized subjects (seminars) from the second year and the “Pre-seminars for Graduation Thesis” in the third year, and in the “Seminar for Graduation Thesis” in the fourth year.
- DP 4. Graduation thesis written through the “Pre-seminars for Graduation Thesis” in the third year and the “Seminar for Graduation Thesis” in the fourth year.
- DP 5. Various efforts and learning, including activities in basic subjects, general history, specialized subjects (lectures), specialized subjects (seminars), subjects related to graduation theses and other related subjects, as well as the activities in the Association for the Study of Japanese Language and Literature, in which all students participate.
Admission Policy
At the Department of Japanese Literature students learn about Japanese literature, Japanese language studies and related fields (Chinese literature and thought, Japanese language pedagogy, and library and information science). The department aims to nurture students’ logical thinking ability through specialized studies, and cultivate people who will be able to play an active role in society by utilizing their expertise and logical thinking ability.
The department seeks the following types of students.
The types of students the department is seeking
- Students who have a strong interest in Japanese literature and Japanese language studies and a volition to study them in depth.
- Students who also have an interest in and a volition to learn about Chinese literature and thought, Japanese language pedagogy and library and information science, which are related fields to Japanese literature and Japanese language studies.
- Students who have an intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness, and a volition to work on study and research independently.
- Students who have a volition to learn about what it means to be a human through language, literature, culture, and history.
- Students who have a volition to think about their own way of life and achieve self-realization through literature and cultural and historical heritage.
Academic skills to be mastered by the high school level
- Appropriate command of Japanese and English (foreign language)
- Sufficient knowledge of Japanese or world history.
- Basic ability to research materials on a certain topic, consider them, and express opinions in their own words.
Based on the following basic policy, an entrance examination is conducted to judge whether applicants have acquired the above academic skills.
- General entrance examination
In the general entrance examination, it will be judged whether applicants have acquired basic knowledge in the subjects required for each entrance examination category, taking into account their logical thinking and expressive abilities.
- General entrance examination (individual examination)
In a written examination, it will be judged whether applicants have acquired basic knowledge of (i) Japanese, (ii) Foreign Language (English) and (iii) either Geography/History (Japanese or World History) taking into account their logical thinking and expressive abilities. - General entrance examination (using an external English examination)
The English external examination is used to judge whether applicants have a well-balanced and sufficient mastery of the four skills of English. In a written examination, it will also be judged whether applicants have acquired basic knowledge of (i) Japanese and (ii) either Geography/History (Japanese or World History), taking into account their logical thinking and expressive abilities. - General entrance examination (1st round examination (three-subject type or four-subject type) using the Common Test for University Admissions).
Using the results of the Common Test for University Admissions ((i) Japanese, (ii) Foreign Language and (iii) ONE subject from Geography/History, Civics, Mathematics Science and Infomation), it will be judged whether applicants have acquired basic knowledge in each subject and the logical thinking and expressive abilities. - General entrance examination (1st round examination (five-subject type) using the Common Test for University Admissions)
Using the results of the Common Test for University Admissions ((i) Japanese, (ii) a Foreign Language, (iii) TWO subjects from Geography/History, Civics and Science, and (iv) ONE subject from either Mathematics or Information), it will be judged whether applicants have acquired basic knowledge in each subject and logical thinking and expressive abilities. - General entrance examination (2nd round examination using the Common Test for University Admissions)
The same policy is applied as that for the 1st round examination (three-subject type or four-subject type) using the Common Test for University Admissions.
- General entrance examination (individual examination)
- Comprehensive entrance examination
In the first round of the entrance examination, the applicant's efforts at high school, etc. Will be reviewed by using the application form to comprehensively judge the applicant's basic knowledge and skills, initiative and cooperative attitude that the applicant should have acquired by the end of high school, etc. Their independence and logical thinking and expressive abilities will be judged through a task common to all departments and a department-specific task. In the second round, applicants will be evaluated on their basic knowledge about classical literature in a written examination, and communication skills and the ability to participate in discussions with others in an oral examination. Through the above review and examination, a comprehensive judgment will be made.
- Entrance examination by recommendation
Applicants recommended by the principal of a high school, etc. will be judged to have the basic academic skills that should have been acquired by the end of high school. In addition, through the review of application documents and an interview (oral examination), applicants' motivation for study and research, ability to express themselves, communication skills, and cooperative attitude will be comprehensively judged.
- Entrance examination by recommendation (from Senior High School affiliated with JWU)
Applicants recommended by the principal of the Senior High School affiliated with JWU will be comprehensively judged based on the application documents and interview. - Entrance examination by recommendation (from designated schools/partner schools)
Applicants recommended by the principal of the high school designated by the department (designated school/partner school) will be comprehensively judged based on the application documents and oral examination. - Entrance examination by recommendation (general recommendation)
Applicants recommended by the principal of a high school, will be judged to have logical thinking and expressive abilities in an essay and communication, expression, and the ability to participate in discussions with others, as well as basic knowledge about Japanese language in an oral examination. The application documents will also be reviewed to make a comprehensive judgment.
- Entrance examination by recommendation (from Senior High School affiliated with JWU)
- International students
Applicants will be judged on whether they have sufficient basic academic skills through the examination of two subjects (“Japan as a Foreign Language” and “Japan and the World”) of Examination for Japanese University Admission (EJU). The application documents and oral examination will be used to judge their volition to study, initiative, Japanese language ability, communication skills, ability to participate in discussions with others, and basic knowledge of the subjects covered by the Department of Japanese Literature.
- Transfer and bachelor's admission
For those who have graduated from universities, junior colleges, and technical colleges (including prospective graduates), and those who are currently enrolled in other universities, an essay examination will be conducted to judge whether they have logical thinking and expressive abilities, as well as specialized knowledge equivalent to the second or third year of university study. Through application documents and an oral examination, applicants will be judged comprehensively on their volition to study, initiative, communication skills, ability to participate in discussions with others, and basic knowledge of the subjects covered by the Department of Japanese Literature.
- Working people
Through application documents, a written examination in Japanese, and an oral examination, applicants will be judged comprehensively on their volition to study, basic knowledge of the subjects covered by the Department of Japanese Literature, initiative, communication skills, and ability to participate in discussions with others.
