studying in japan essay

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Why Study in Japan

Why Study in Japan? Here are our top 10 reasons

You should seriously consider studying in Japan due to its cheaper tuition fees for international students than many other developed nations, lots of scholarship opportunities, low cost of living for students, generous part-time work allowances, ample graduate employment opportunities, and welcoming immigration system. As a country that has continued to meld high technology into the fabric of its society whilst remaining true to its unique culture, Japan continues to fascinate people around the world. In addition to Japanese language courses, the number of degree courses taught in English at Japanese universities has increased in recent years, making Japan an increasingly popular study destination. Over the last 10 years, the total number of international students enrolled at universities in Japan has increased by over 160%.

Japan is continually internationalizing as its companies actively compete across the globe; leading to good job prospects for graduates. Studying a bachelor’s degree in Japan is also more affordable than in many other G7 nations and there are many scholarship opportunities available. All of which is leading more students to ask “should I study in Japan?”.

Here are 10 great reasons why you should consider studying in Japan!

Table of Contents

• Japan has a high-quality of education
• Excellent employment opportunities for international students
• Affordable tuition fees & generous scholarships
• Safe and secure, with an excellent medical system
• You can earn a degree and learn Japanese at the same time
• Learn about Japanese culture, history, and nature
• Great quality of life
• Japan fosters your self-discovery and adventurous spirit
• Lifelong friendships and future career connections
• Japanese food tastes better in Japan!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. japan has a high-quality of education.

Japan is renowned for its excellent education system and is the top-performing OECD  country in reading literacy, math and sciences with the average student scoring 529, well above the OECD average 486. 94.6% of Japanese adults aged 25-64 have completed upper secondary education, higher than the OECD average of 78%.

All Japanese universities are regulated by the  Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MEXT)  and therefore degrees from Japanese universities are recognized internationally. By choosing to study at a university in Japan, you can be assured of an excellent education.

2. Excellent employment opportunities for international students

There are skill shortages emerging in many industries and increasing competition amongst companies for workers who are bi-lingual and tri-lingual. Most companies will still require fluency in Japanese which you can attain while studying at a Japanese University. However, there are an ever-increasing number of jobs that do not require you to have  JLPT N1  level Japanese.

Japan has a very welcoming set of immigration policies towards skilled labor. Unlike some countries which limit the number of years a graduate can “stay back” in the country, international graduates of Japanese universities can renew their work visas as many times as they like, so long as they remain in employment. There is also a points-based path to permanent residency now in place in Japan which grants extra points to international students who have graduated from a Japanese university.

3. Affordable tuition fees & generous scholarships

There’s also  a long list of private and foundational scholarships  that can support you over your time in Japan. Many people think Japan has a high cost of living. However, once you get outside of the major cities like Tokyo or Osaka the cost of living markedly decreases.

According to  Times Higher Education , the average tuition cost for an international student at a typical public college in the US is $26,290 USD per year. A typical private non-profit college would charge $35,830 USD per year. In comparison, the yearly tuition cost of a Japanese university is around one half to one quarter the cost of a US university. Tuition fees will vary between different universities so be sure to check the rates at the particular universities you are interested in. International students in Japan also have the ability to work part time up to 28 hours a week during semester and up to 40 hours a week over vacations, again making studying in Japan a more financially viable option than many other countries.

4. Safe and secure, with an excellent medical system

Japan was also the first country in the world to enshrine environmental protections into law and continues to have very strong food safety regulations. According to the  World Health Organization , the Japanese have the longest life expectancy in the world, thanks in part to Japan’s excellent medical system which you will have access to as a student through the very affordable national health insurance system.

iCLA provides a safe, secure and convenient environment for its students with its  onsite dorms  and  bi-lingual counselling services . You can find out more information on our dormitories and  student life  on our homepage.

5. You can earn a degree and learn Japanese at the same time

Traditionally, an international student seeking to study at a Japanese University would attend a Japanese language school to improve their Japanese to a  JLPT N2 or N1 level . They would then take university entrance exams and go on to study a degree program in Japanese. This process often means that getting a degree could take several years longer than the standard length of the degree, with the additional associated expense.

At a university offering an English-taught degree like iCLA however, you can study Japanese as an elective while studying towards your major. iCLA’s Japanese language program  is designed to assist you in gaining fluency in Japanese by the time you graduate. Learning Japanese while you earn your degree can save you years and thousands of dollars.

Universities in Japan also have many clubs and societies where you can make friends and use your Japanese in real life situations. At Yamanashi Gakuin University we have over 90 different clubs and societies you can join. The part time work rights granted to international students will also allow you to improve your Japanese and experience Japanese business culture at the same time.

6. Learn about Japanese culture, history, and nature

As one of the highest context languages (meaning that communication is dependent on the understanding of the underlying cultural context rather than the direct meaning of the words), the subtlety of Japanese is intrinsically linked and expressed in its culture and art. Improving your Japanese while living and studying in Japan will allow you to gain an even deeper appreciation for Japan’s history, townscapes, shrines, temples, Samurai culture and anime. An investigation of the unique art forms and aesthetics of Japan may inspire you to assess your inner beliefs, leading to improvements in yourself through deep cross-cultural understanding.

Yamanashi Gakuin University is located only 90 minutes by rail from Tokyo, so you have great access to such spots as Akihabara, where you can experience the Japanese anime scene and digital technology, and Shibuya, where you can experience Japanese pop culture. In addition, iCLA is in Yamanashi Prefecture , the home of Mt. Fuji and two  UNESCO Biosphere Reserves  (the  Minami Alps  and  Kobushi  UNESCO Biosphere Reserves) offering a plethora of historical and cultural sites and an abundance of hiking and mountain climbing opportunities.

7. Great quality of life

Every year articles are published where cities have been ranked on differing metrics and one announced as the “most liveable in the world”. Japanese cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto frequently feature highly on these lists. The metrics generally used in these assessments include access to public transport and healthcare, climate, political stability, cost of living pressures, access to employment opportunities, walkability, safety, the list goes on. It is little wonder then that these Japanese cities, with their economic opportunities, cleanliness, low crime, and efficient and interconnected transport systems that are directly tied to housing developments often rank highly.

While cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto loom large in the imagination when one thinks of Japan, how does life in smaller regional centers like Kofu, the capital of Yamanashi Prefecture compare? What smaller cities may lack the neon glitz and crowds of their megacity cousins they more than make up for in their lower cost of housing and food , more relaxed pace of life and access to the great outdoors.

Yamanashi Prefecture is a popular getaway spot for people from Tokyo and its surrounds, with many holiday homes and camping spots dotted around the prefecture, particularly around Mt Fuji and the Five Lakes of Fuji area. Kofu and its surrounds offer easy access to activities such as seasonal fruit picking (strawberries, cherries, peaches and grapes to name a few), hiking, mountain climbing, camping, fishing, skiing, plenty of onsens (hot springs) and Japan’s top destination for roller coaster addicts, the Fuji Q Highland theme park. For more information please see our local’s guide to the 17 best things to do, see and eat in Yamanashi .

In addition to this easy access to leisure activities, smaller regional centers like Kofu have much lower housing costs with both rents and house prices being much lower. Food costs also tend to be lower with better access to local farmers markets, meaning we have access to fresher produce for less. The convenience of living in a larger city is all still here. Convenience stores are still open 24 hours a day, there is a multiplex cinema in a large modern mall, and the downtown has a vibrant entertainment district with plenty of bars and restaurants.

Japan is a land of contrasts and is a rich source of research and debate for economists and political scientists alike, but for visitors to Japan like international students, the quality of life here is something to behold.

8. Japan fosters your self-discovery and adventurous spirit

Living in another culture and learning a new language allows you the distance to examine and gain a deeper understanding of your own culture. You will gain a new appreciation for the importance of diversity and cross cultural understanding. Japan is also a very safe country to explore. With its impressive public transport and rail network, including the iconic “Shinkansen” or bullet train, it’s very easy to travel around Japan!

9. Lifelong friendships and future career connections

All first year iCLA students, including the Japanese students, must live in our on-site student accommodation . This leads to a very close-knit, inclusive and diverse student body and a supportive community spirit you might not find at a larger universities. Living and studying with students from all over the world will give you a fantastic cross-cultural education that will benefit you over your whole post university career.

10. Japanese food tastes better in Japan!

Each region has a variety of delicacies on offer and Yamanashi is no exception. Living here you’ll get to try some of  Yamanashi’s famous foods  like hearty Hoto noodles, yuba, Yoshida-udon, Torimotsu, Venison curry, and Otsukedango.

When you are not out sampling the local cuisine, iCLA’s cafeteria will have you covered with 3 meals each weekday of delicious and nutritious local and international dishes. There’s even a vegan option available.

Is it possible to study in Japan in English?

Yes, many universities, including ours, offer a wide range of programs in English.

Is Japan a good place to study as an international student?

Absolutely. Japan offers a high-quality education, a rich cultural experience, and a safe environment, making it an excellent choice for international students.

Can you study in Japan without knowing Japanese?

Yes, you can study in Japan without knowing Japanese if you enroll in a program taught in English. However, learning Japanese while you are here will enhance your experience and daily life in Japan.

Is Japan an affordable place to study?

Yes, compared to many Western countries, studying in Japan can be more affordable, with reasonable tuition fees and living costs. Additionally, there are numerous scholarships and financial aid options available.

What are the disadvantages of studying in Japan?

Potential challenges include the language barrier for daily interactions outside the classroom and adapting to cultural differences. However, the overall experience is highly rewarding for most international students.

That’s it for our top ten reasons to study in Japan!

Did you learn something new about coming to Japan as an international student? If you’ve got more reasons why Japan is a great study destination let us know! To stay in touch with us and find out more about iCLA, follow us on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  Twitter  and  YouTube .

Studying in Japan is an experience like no other, and the International College of Liberal Arts at Yamanashi Gakuin University is ready to welcome you! Our degree program is taught entirely in English so you don’t need to speak Japanese to apply or enroll. We offer majors in  Global Business and Economics ,  Interdisciplinary Arts , Interdisciplinary Data Science , Japan Studies , Political Science , and Psychology , as well a wide variety of elective courses in topics as diverse as Sociology, Natural Science and Quantative Reasoning, in addition to our extensive Japanese Language program.  Our curriculum  is designed to give you the best basis for a successful career both here in Japan and abroad. We have two intakes per year and applications are done completely online at  apply.icla.ygu.ac.jp .

If you think studying in Japan sounds like a good option, register for more information and to download a copy of our student brochure!

Register for more information about iCLA

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Top Reasons To Study in Japan

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Study in Japan

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Updated on 27 February, 2024

Shivangi Mishra

Sr. content editor.

Why study in Japan ? Some of the top reasons to study in Japan include the country’s highly rated educational institutions and universities, including the likes of Waseda University, Keio University, and Kyoto University. There is a steady demand for skilled manpower across several industries as well, with a flourishing job market in the country. 

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Table of Contents

• Higher educational standards-
• Great employment prospects for foreign students-
• Reasonable study costs and multiple scholarship options-
• Safety and medical prowess-

Cost of Study

• Scholarships
• Requirements to study
• Right cities to live and study
• Cost of living

Stay back options

Reasons to study in japan .

There are many benefits of studying in Japan that you should know more about. The major reasons for choosing Japan to study include the following: 

Higher educational standards- 

The biggest reason to study in Japan is its reputed educational institutions. Japan is one of the highest-performing OECD nations in math, reading literacy and sciences, with average student scores touching 529, which is higher than the average score of 486. 94.6% of adults in the country have finished upper-secondary education (those between 25-64 years of age). A big reason to study abroad here is the fact that all universities in the country are under the regulation of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology (MEXT), with global recognition for all degrees. 

Great employment prospects for foreign students- 

Along with the globally acclaimed top universities in Japan, students can also expect a gateway to a fulfilling career ahead. Japan is one of the world’s biggest economies and also houses several leading companies in sectors like technology, manufacturing, and automotive. It offers great employment prospects for international students due to continual requirements of skilled workers in several sectors. Most companies will require fluency in the Japanese language, which students can work on during their courses. Immigration policies are favorably crafted for the benefit of skilled graduates. International graduates can renew work visas multiple times if they remain employed. There is also a points-based gateway towards permanent residency. 

Reasonable study costs and multiple scholarship options- 

Japanese universities usually charge reasonable tuition fees. Some even have similar fee structures for domestic and international students. The Japanese Government also offers JASSO and MEXT scholarships while most universities also have their own merit-based options for 25%/50%/75%/100% waivers. Many private scholarships are also available. International students can work up to 28 hours each week (part-time) during their semesters and this increases up to 40 hours every week during holidays.  

Safety and medical prowess- 

Japan is one of the world’s most secure countries with a low crime rate overall. Tokyo and Osaka are some of the safest cities globally. Japan has also innovated in terms of earthquake-resistant technologies as well. Japan has stringent regulations on food safety and the longest life expectancy rates worldwide. The medical system is top-notch in the country and students will gain access to the same via their national health insurance plan, which is also pocket-friendly. 

Best universities to study with ranking in table

Some of the top universities in Japan include the following (ranked as per the 2023 QS World Rankings): 

National Universities usually charge 537,800 Yen for the first year, while this is also the same across public universities in most cases. Private liberal arts and science universities charge anywhere around 7,46,200 Yen and 10,49,000 Yen respectively. Average tuition costs for UG programs are approximately 12,40,000-28,30,000 Yen, while this is around 12,50,000-44,00,000 Yen for master’s programs. Doctoral degrees usually cost around 19,000-1,20,000 Yen, depending on the program. 

Scholarships 

Some of the top scholarship options include the following: 

• MEXT Scholarships
• Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) Scholarships
• Waseda University Japanese Government Scholarship
• Japan Foundation of UNU
• KUAS Undergrad Scholarship
• Yokohama National University Scholarship
• ADB Japan Government Scholarship, University of Tokyo 
• Hokkaido University Scholarship
• Ritsumeikan University Scholarship
• Asia Pacific University Scholarship 

Requirements to study 

Some of the general study requirements include the following: 

• Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) with evaluation in science, Japanese as a foreign language, Japan and the world, and mathematics. 
• Japanese (JLPT) and English language requirements ( IELTS /TOEFL/PTE). 

Some documents required include the following: 

• High school diploma/bachelor’s diploma
• Application fee payment proof
• Transcripts of academic records
• Motivation letter
• Passport-sized photograph
• Personal statement
• Letters of recommendation 
• Copy of personal ID/valid passport 

Right cities to live and study 

Some of the top student-friendly cities include the following: 

• Sapporo- The biggest city in Hokkaido, it has several international students and the campuses of Sapporo International University and Hokkaido University, along with many others. There are many tourist landmarks here as well. 
• Hiroshima- This city has several international students as well, in tandem with the Hiroshima University and other institutions. There is a robust transportation network here including trams. 
• Yokohama- This city lies within the Kanagawa Prefecture and has thousands of international students as well. There are many institutions nearby including Tokai University, Sophia University, Nihon University and Keio University. 
• Kobe- This city offers beautiful views and is home to numerous international students as well. It is home to the Japan University of Economics and Kobe University. 
• Kyoto- This is a city that is home to international students and top institutions like Kyoto University, Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics, Ritsumeikan University, and many others. 
• Nagoya- This city is another hub for international students and houses leading academic institutions like the Tokyo University and Nagoya University. 
• Osaka- Osaka has thousands of international students and institutions like the Ritsumeikan University, Kansai University, and the Keio University. 
• Tokyo- The city is arguably one of the best destinations for international students in the world, home to top institutions and several tourist landmarks alike. 

Cost of living 

The cost of living in Japan can be summed up under the following heads: 

• Housing and accommodation costs- This can be approximately 12,000 Yen per month for single rooms. Off-campus units may cost approximately 6,000 Yen per month. 
• Food- This can vary between 800-1,000 Yen. 
• Travel- This could be close to 10,000 Yen per month. 
• Utilities- Students can expect to pay close to 10-18,000 Yen per month. 

Students may stay back for a maximum duration of 360 days in the country to find employment. An official letter of recommendation is required for changing the student visa status to undertaking designated activities . The employment or work permit visa depends on the type of work. There are many long-term visas for foreign nationals on the basis of their jobs. Some types include engineer/specialist in humanities/international services, artist, medical services, journalist, and so on. The highly skilled professional visa helps attract scientists, lawyers, and engineers to the country. There are two types of visas with validity of 3/5 years. One can also apply for permanent residence after having met the criteria. Japanese citizenship is also an option. 

Why Is Japan a good place to study abroad?

Japan is one of the best places to study abroad, on account of its world-class education system, low crime rate, and good infrastructure. Japan is known for highly ranked universities and a flourishing job market.

Is Japan good for study?

Japan is acclaimed globally for its academic and research excellence. Many Japanese institutions hold high rankings in global lists. Japan also offers immense scope in terms of research and innovation.

Which course is best in Japan?

There are several popular courses in Japan including immunology, electrical and electronics, welfare and health, Japanese language and culture, Japanese affairs, food science and technology, and more.

She is an experienced writer and journalist who has extensively covered the education sector in India and Abroad. Now helping Indian aspirants realise their foreign education dream by providing them with relevant content and information through upGrad Abroad. Amateur traveller, loves to read Architectural Digest!

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Our top reasons why you should study in Japan

Japan is at the top of many people’s bucket lists – and for good reason. It’s a beautiful country with kind people, delicious food and a remarkable culture. If you’re looking for a memorable study abroad experience, you’re sure to find it if you study in Japan. 

Read on to see our top reasons why we think you should study in Japan.

Embrace the rich culture 

Japan’s unique culture is revered world-wide, from its cuisine to its art and entertainment. Traditional and contemporary Japan exist side-by-side 

You could join a centuries-old Shinto festival one weekend and an international anime convention the next. Shop along the streets of Harajuku before heading along to a traditional tea ceremony or a kabuki performance. Eat a traditional ichiju sansai , 一汁三菜 breakfast one day and an American-style one the next. Or just grab an onigiri , おにぎり(rice balls) from the convenience store on your way to school or work!

It doesn’t matter whether you live in a big city like Tokyo or somewhere less metropolitan , your life in Japan is bound to touch on many aspects of the country’s culture.

One of the safest countries in the world

Japan is consistently named one of the world’s safest countries to visit for tourists and this is no less true for those who stay there longer term. Of course crimes happen everywhere, so common sense should still prevail and you should take similar precautions that you would anywhere else in the world. 

However, it’s hard to beat Japan in the safety stakes. It has a comparatively low violent crime rate and in most areas it’s fairly safe after dark. It’s completely normal to see people leaving their belongings – including expensive items like laptops and smartphones – unattended in public and for it to still be there when the owner returns. Falling asleep in public is extremely common – there’s even a term for it, which you can read about here . On top of that, there is a level of orderliness and cleanliness that is rare to find elsewhere.

Experience the famous cherry blossom season 

If there is one season that Japan is renowned for, it’s spring. Cherry blossom season is a special part of Japanese culture, where people flock to parks to sit under flowering cherry trees to socialise with friends, family and colleagues. At a deeper level, the coming of spring signifies new beginnings and the cherry blossoms represent the impermanence, but also beauty, of life. 

However, it’s not just spring that’s amazing in Japan. Each season offers something beautiful and unique. Summer is hot, but there is an abundance of cultural festivals to experience; autumn is stunning with all shades of red, orange and yellow covering the landscape; and winter brings with it beautiful, clear skies and crisp air – not to mention excellent snowy playgrounds in some parts of the country for those who like winter sports.

Enjoy authentic Japanese food

It’s likely you’ll have eaten Japanese food of some sort in your home country. Especially with globalisation and the internet, it’s easier to find restaurants and recipes these days that give you a more authentic Japanese food experience.

However, nothing beats experiencing the cuisine of a country in the actual country itself. When you study in Japan, you’ll see that Japanese food is so much more than sushi rolls . There’s sushi, yes, but there are also many different noodle dishes, BBQ, hot pot, desserts and more. Affordable, quality meals like gyūdon , 牛丼 (beef rice bowl) or katsudon , カツ丼 (crumbed pork cutlet on rice) are common – perfect for hungry students – and the street food is delicious!

Travel a beautiful country

One of the best things about living and studying in Japan is getting to explore the country. It’s a relatively small archipelago, but it offers so much diversity when it comes to travel. Ski on some of the world’s best powder snow up north in Hokkaido during winter and then swim in crystal clear waters in Okinawa during summer. 

In between are the mountains, forests, temples, shrines, rice fields, quaint villages and the lesser explored places that you may only have the time to experience if you live in Japan. 

Thanks to its location, Japan also offers you a great place from which to explore the rest of Asia. It’s only a short flight to South Korea, mainland China and Taiwan. Southeast Asia is easily accessible, too. 

It might be difficult to find the money to travel as a student. But with our handy money-saving tips , you can build a travel budget while you’re in Japan.

Go! Go! Nihon is here to help you study in Japan

The Go! Go! Nihon team has more than 10 years’ experience in helping students study in Japan. If you’re still debating whether to study in Japan or not, contact us for more information. We would be happy to help you.

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650 Words. Limitless Topics. Your Chance to Stand Out from the Rest.

By Yuki Kondo-Shah, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate Fukuoka

The essay is the single most important part of your college application, because it's the one part that you can truly control at this moment. The grades on your transcript reflect the last three years of hard work in various courses. Your standardized test scores are a snapshot of your test taking ability on one weekend morning. Teacher recommendation letters are their perspectives about you compared to your classmates.

The essay, on the other hand, will reflect how much effort you put into it right now. You should start the draft early, make edits and rewrite it multiple times, and share it with friends and mentors that you trust. While there may be other students who have great grades, test scores, resumes, and letters, there should be only one personal statement that sounds like you wrote it, and that’s the key to a successful application essay. It's perfectly fine to write it first in Japanese and then translate it into English!

In my experience evaluating Japanese student essays in admissions applications, too many students simply answer the essay question being asked. That seems counterintuitive, I know, but the point of the essay questions is to function as a prompt, a starting off point, from which you can explore your background, history, intellectual interests, and future plans. The goal is to have the admissions officer come away after reading your essay knowing you better as an individual, why you are motivated, and why you would be a great addition to the classroom and campus life at their school.

My specific advice to Japanese students would be to NOT be humble, but to think BIG. This is not a time to be shy, as you are competing with American students who have been educated to express their dreams and articulate their plans in their applications. Ask yourself what is motivating you to study in America, and what you think an education there would allow you to do that you cannot achieve if you were to stay in Japan. If you want to read some sample essays, the New York Times does a series every year on essays that move their editors .

Let's look at a short essay question from my alma mater, Dartmouth College, on this year's application: "In the aftermath of World War II, Dartmouth President John Sloane Dickey, Class of 1929, proclaimed, ‘The world's troubles are your troubles…and there is nothing wrong with the world that better human beings cannot fix.’ Which of the world's ‘troubles’ inspires you to act? How might your course of study at Dartmouth prepare to you to address it?”

There are many inspirational young people setting great examples these days by tackling challenges like climate change or bullying. In writing your 650 words, think about the impact you want to have on the world. What makes you stand out from the rest?

Read the other articles in the series:

• American Universities Want YOU!
• Extracurricular Activities: What You Do Outside School Matters
• Six Tips for Getting Strong Recommendation Letters
• Dos and Don'ts for Writing Teacher Recommendation Letters

Click here for more information on studying in the U.S. and EducationUSA programs throughout Japan.

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Your First Step Towards Study in Japan

The appeal of study in japan.

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A Developed Economy and Advanced Technology

Japan is an economically-developed country with advanced scientific technology. People in universities and businesses carry out innovative basic and applied research every day, and countless new technologies and theories are being developed and put to use. This scientific technology and academic theoretical work are the tools that support peoples' lives and society all over the world. A variety of high level education is practiced, which forms the social foundation of Japan. There are over 700 universities or colleges in Japan. The number of vocational colleges in Japan is close to 3,000. The kinds of learning that are available ranges from traditional academic fields like law, economy, engineering, and science to modern disciplines in fields like environmental studies, information, and tourism, and even fields such as animation or computer game production.

A Unique Culture and Internationalism

Japanese language and culture has its own uniqueness. However, if you come and live surrounded by Japanese culture, you will find that was first seems special or strange has an origin that provides a reason for being the way it is. It is such cultural origins that serve as the common foundation which links the people of the world together. Studying in Japan provides you with not just advanced and specialized knowledge, but opportunities to learn about Japanese language and culture as well. Such experiences can deepen your understanding of your own language and culture in addition to a greater understanding of the world. These kinds of multi-cultural experiences during your time studying abroad will shape who you are and who you will become.

Supporting Your Dreams

After their study in Japan, many students go on to play active roles in companies related to Japan or Japanese companies both in Japan and in their home countries. Based on our surveys of overseas study participants, we found that those students felt that their time studying in Japan was an immeasurably valuable experience. Finding success from study in Japan is not a dream that easily comes true for many. However, if you can work towards your dream through the stresses brought by an unfamiliar culture and the joys of new discoveries, it is a dream that will come true. Challenge yourself to come study in Japan, and you will surely realize your dreams.

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WHY STUDY IN JAPAN?

There are many good reasons to study in Japan. Some students are attracted by Japan’s high educational standards, while for others the attraction is Japan’s rich cultural heritage. Nearly 5 million students study abroad annually, with that number projected to continue increasing. With over 150,000 international students, Japan is one of the most popular destinations for international students. 

HIGH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS

The OECD ranks Japanese high school students number one in the world for maths, and number 2 for scientific literacy. Japan has the highest number of Nobel prize winners of any Asian country, and the second highest of any country since 2000.. 49% of Japanese High School graduates enter university. Japan has over 700 universities, with 10 ranked in the top 200 worldwide..

SEE THE WORLD, DEVELOP AS A PERSON

Studying abroad gives you an unparalleled opportunity to live, work and explore a different culture. You will be able to learn about the people, the culture, the history and language of one of thew world’s most unique cultures. Living overseas will help you develop as a person, becoming independent and taking responsibility. It will help you to see things from new perspectives, and appreciate the differences between cultures, while also seeing the deep similarities between people. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom; meeting people from different cultures and making friends from all over the world are also important parts of growing up.

LEARN JAPANESE WHILE EARNING A DEGREE

Studying on one of our international program allows you to learn Japanese all the way throughout your degree program, while also earning a degree in another subject. Many students with an interest in Japan feel they have to choose between a degree in Japanese and another subject. With Tsukuba’s English programs, you can have the best of both worlds; learning Japanese while also gaining a degree in another subject. Student who wish to remain in Japan and work after graduation may enjoy a significant advantage over language majors, who may have comparable Japanese levels, but who lack the degree specific skills.

DISCOVER JAPAN’S RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE

Japan has been inhabited for thousands of years., and has a long and fascinating history filled with war and intrigue. Discover peaceful temples and shrines, demon museums, and the history of how Japan was unified by the sword. Enjoy summer festivals and year-round traditional ceremonies, in friendly rural villages and dynamic global cities. Tsukuba is less than 2 hours from the historical capital, Kamakura, and an hour from the world class museums in the current capital, Tokyo.

JAPAN IS A SAFE, PEACEFUL PLACE TO STUDY

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime is rare, with Japan ranking last in the number of victims of crime per capita (nationmaster.com). Japan regularly turns up on lists of the safest places to visit in the world. Japan also has one of the world’s most advanced healthcare systems, reflected in this high life expectancy. Members of the National Health Insurance scheme pay only 30% of their healthcare costs, with a trip to the doctor or dentist often costing only a few hundred yen (few dollars).

MARTIAL ARTS AND CULTURE

For those wishing to learn Japanese, or take part in a Japanese martial art, the University offers obvious benefits. The University has sent over 60 athletes to the Olympic games, and we have numerous Olympic medalists and world champions on staff. Judo, kendo, kyudo, and karate players have the opportunity to train in one of the world’s foremost university clubs, while high level instruction is readily available. Students wishing to learn taiko drumming, shamisen, Japanese calligraphy or the tea ceremony are equally well catered for.

IMPROVING YOUR EMPLOYABILITY

Study abroad is an impressive part of any resume. Employers value the skills you learn as an international student. As well as the personal growth you will undergo studying in Tsukuba, interacting with your professors, classmates, tutors and friends, will help improve your international awareness and employment opportunities. Internationally aware employees are in strong demand, and many companies actively recruit students with overseas learning experience – especially if they are able to speak a second language. If you choose to return home after graduation, you can be confident that your experience in Tsukuba will help you appeal to high-quality employers, particularly those involved in international business.

For this wishing to remain in Japan, there is a strong job market for highly qualified graduates. In a recent survey, around half of the major Japanese companies surveyed expressed a desire to hire foreigners graduating from Japanese institutions.

LOW TUITION FEES AND GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS

Tuition fees are comparatively cheap in Japan. While an “in state” student in the US may spend $10,000 a year or more on tuition, with “out of state” and international fees being several times higher, tuition fees at Japanese public universities are a mere 535,800 yen (approx $5,500) a year. Furthermore, at Tsukuba the regular entrance fees and first semester tuition fees have been waived for undergraduate English program students. Partial and full tuition fees waivers are even possible for high achieving students from poorer backgrounds.

Furthermore, a wide range of scholarships are available, both from the university, and from public and private organizations. A limited number of Tsukuba scholarships are available, paying a monthly living allowance, and a travel allowance (first year only). A wide range of other scholarships are available, with some directed towards specific nationalities, women, minorities, or those with high level Japanese proficiency.

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These programs provide an interdisciplinary view of topics related to living organisms and their environment, with students encouraged to take a range of courses from across three Colleges:

Plant and animal science, ecology and evolution, environmental engineering, agricultural economics, paleontology, natural hazards.

Interdisciplinary Engineering (IDE)

This is a single-degree program based on a multidisciplinary approach to engineering that encompasses Material and Energy Engineering, AI & Robotics, Mechanics, Mathematical Modeling, ICT and Internet of Things (IoT), etc.

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This program is research-oriented and emphasizes hands-on training in our state-of-the-art biomedical research laboratories. Prospective students must already have credits of approximately 2 years of study in medical or life sciences.

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Here are the helpful links. If these cannot answer your questions, please come to talk to us!

• Our Programs: https://www.global.tsukuba.ac.jp/apply/
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A Year in Japan: My Study Abroad Experience

Among hundreds of students who applied to study abroad, I was one of two who planned to spend an entire academic year. I walked onto the campus of the College of Wooster as a Posse Foundation Scholar with a passion for teaching and Japanese culture. For eight months, my personal journey in Japan took me out of my linguistic and cultural comfort zones, as well as empowered me to further my education of the Japanese language and society.

Most of my middle school and high school years were spent enjoying anime (Japanese animations or cartoons) and manga (Japanese comics). These two outlets provided me with a window to gain some knowledge of Japanese customs and even to visualize what Japan would look like. These glimpses of Japanese culture gave me some helpful information that I eventually used when I was there. For instance, many anime feature the characters bathing in a hot spring, which is usually separated by gender and may be outdoors. That precursor of the cultural significance of public bathing, prepared me for the moment I would bathe in an onsen (hot spring) with strangers. After the first few embarrassing moments of trying to cover my body, the onsen became one of my favorite aspects of Japan. I left high school with an interest and used my college’s resources and faculty to craft my interest into an achievable academic plan.  

During the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016,  in a unique and highly admired country, I have taken countless pictures and videos of the beautiful landscape, historic temples and shrines, and variety of foods — all of which coated my social media profiles. So, many of my friends from high school, college and beyond had the chance to experience Japan through me.

“You’re living the dream” and “You’re living my dream” are the words I heard most often from my friends. I know any college student’s goals of going to a different country can come to fruition. Throughout my first year at Wooster, many students and faculty advocated for me to make a comprehensive list of interests and to keep my course schedule and post-graduate plans open.

I t could have been be easy to exclude traveling or studying abroad. My mom and some friends did share their concerns with me, that it could be too expensive or an unnecessary luxury to go to Japan for two semesters. Even though studying abroad can seem out of reach, giving yourself the chance to experience a new culture allows you to understand your own from an outside perspective, develop unforgettable friendships, and overcome apprehension toward financial constraints. I ultimately decided to go for it. I realized my dream of going to Japan would, most likely, never go away, but any obstacles that would come can be worked through, despite how daunting it may appear.

Preparing for foreign exchange

The preparations for studying abroad can be a large amount to handle, but the experiences while abroad helped me quickly forget all the pressures I faced, and my adventures have been well worth my labor. My first steps included searching and applying to a study abroad program, applying for approval from my college to study abroad, then research study abroad scholarships. In the midst of these things, I also worked to get my passport and visa (with help from my study abroad program) and save money.

I completed the majority of the paperwork and received my visa roughly a couple weeks before my flight, so I used that time to pack and investigate fun things to do in Japan. My flight for the fall semester marked a number of milestones; it was the longest flight I was ever on, first time traveling outside the United States and the first time I ate meals on a flight. I took a night flight to Chicago, then flew straight to Narita Airport, near Tokyo. Even though I traveled alone, my excitement couldn’t be contained. I took several pictures of my seat, the monitors around my seat and the airport.  

Once I arrived and needed to retrieve my luggage, I was quickly spotted by the Japanese students from my study abroad program. We gathered with one of the staff members, who was waiting for American students to arrive. After a week of a hotel stay for orientation, I and about four other girls moved into a single-room, female dormitory.

My study abroad program, IES Abroad, congregated about 25 students from various American colleges to attend courses together at a Kanda University of International Studies in Chiba, Japan. One required course is Japanese language, we were tested and placed into levels one to four. The semester was about four months long, which included sponsored field trips to Okinawa and Kanazawa. During the following semester, new American students are enrolled, while the year long students, myself and a student from Montana, are welcomed back along with the new students. So, I met about 50 American students in addition to making new Japanese friends, while reconnecting with people I knew from the fall semester.

The friendships I established abroad were absolutely unforgettable and led to exciting and humorous moments. One of my most memorable friendships started in a routine language performance activity, where we got into pairs and talked to another pair of Japanese students — in Japanese, of course. Since I didn’t know much Japanese at the time, I would often nod, smile and do my best to wait until the timer was up. However, my partner, Emir, and I met two Japanese girls who became two significant and dear friends. Miku and Mizuki are best friends and are third years at the university (see my birthday photo, above.) Their outgoing personalities and sense of humor had me and Emir shouting in laughter and speaking in excited voices during the activity. During the spring semester, Emir wasn’t there, but the three of us continued to have funny moments together, eat together, and we even celebrated my birthday.

For my last meal in Japan we went to an all-you-can-eat (食べ放題) buffet and reflected on our friendship, laughed and made fun of each other. They even gave me a farewell gift, a collage of our time together, which had pictures of us at school, my birthday party, and snap we sent each other. At dinner they shared with me that Emir and I are their first foreign-exchange student friends. My parting with them was incredibly sad, but we decided it was a temporary parting and we would see each other again. Studying abroad is not just about what that country can give you; your impact on other people’s lives is just as powerful and memorable.

As a foreigner in Japan, the question I heard the most was: “Where are you from?” I would reply “American” or “I’m from America.” Sometimes it would lead to an unwanted conversation about Donald Trump. Yet the consistency of saying that “I am American” forced me to confront a portion of my identity that can be easy to disassociate myself from as a black woman. On many occasions, I had to explain racial disparity and inequity in America to my Japanese friends, who are not familiar with crimes that are fueled by hatred and racism. Their sympathy and awareness to the suffering of African Americans manifested a cross-cultural encounter for us both. My experiences of explaining about my home country to someone of a different origin is not only important for them, but also for me, since that custom, issue or tradition is embedded into my personality. Although there are many unpleasantries and hardships that come with being an African-American, it is a staple of my identity that can not be easily removed.

Financial concerns & scholarships

Scholarships were going to be my main financial support for spending my entire junior year abroad, so I spent countless hours writing essays and filling out scholarship applications. One scholarship that made the biggest impact on supporting my study abroad and also allows me, a recipient, to also support other students’ study abroad endeavors. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship awards students “of limited financial means to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented internships abroad,” according to the website.

The Gilman scholarship is offered to students who are U.S. citizens during their undergraduate careers. Eligible students are those who are receiving a federal Pell Grant and who can prove they will receive it during the application process or time abroad; are going to be abroad for at least four weeks (two weeks  for community service students) but no more than an academic year; and are not planning to go to a country on the U.S. Department of State’s current Travel Warning List .

The application process involves an application and some paperwork to be completed by the study abroad advisor and financial advisor from one’s school, in addition to two essays: a statement of purpose essay and a follow-up service project essay. The statement of purpose essay gives you the chance to explain the issues you may have faced in school and to paint a picture of the impact traveling abroad would have on your life and future endeavors. As for the follow-up service project essay, this a unique chance to use your experiences abroad as a tool to “inspire others to pursue their own experiences abroad” and the scholarship itself.

As a VOX alumna, I chose to gear my follow-up service project toward today’s teens. Funding from the Gilman scholarship helped me use my experience to emphasize the importance of cross-cultural interactions, and shatter the stereotype that one’s financial background dictates one’s interests or limits their ability to travel across the world.

Jasmine, 21, is a VOX alumna who is returning to The College of Wooster after one year abroad as a senior.

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University Life in Japan: Experiences as a student in Japan

When I was 20 years old, I spent one year studying in Japan. At the time, I was a third-year American college student, but for that year, I had the opportunity to study at Nara University of Education.

Although I was an exchange student, I had the opportunity to take classes with peers, live in a dorm full of other students from all around the world, and best of all, live full time in Japan

In fact, I loved it so much, now I am a full time student at Kyoto University

In this article, I would like to explore universities in Japan, with a focus on Kyoto University. I will discuss what sets it apart from both American universities and other Japanese universities, as well as my own personal experiences as a “Kyoudaisei” ( 京大生 ( きょうだいせい ) or Kyoto University student).

What is Kyoto University?

Kyoto University, nicknamed Kyodai, is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Japan, founded in 1897 as Kyoto Imperial University. Over the years, it has gained a reputation for excellence in research, teaching, and innovation and has produced many notable alumni, including twelve Nobel laureates, two Fields Medalists, and one Gauss Prize laureate.

Its history can be traced back to 1869 when the Kyoto Prefectural School of Medicine and the Kyoto Prefectural School of Science were established by the newly-formed Meiji government.

In 1897, these two schools were merged to form Kyoto Imperial University, which was one of the first imperial universities established in Japan. The university initially had five faculties: Letters, Law, Science, Medicine, and Engineering.

During the early 20th century, Kyoto Imperial University underwent significant growth and expansion, with the addition of new faculties and research institutes. It also played a prominent role in Japanese society, producing many prominent scholars, scientists, and political figures.

After World War II, Kyoto Imperial University was renamed Kyoto University, and it became a national university under the new Japanese education system. In the postwar period, Kyoto University continued to expand and develop, becoming a leading research institution in Japan and the world.

In the 20th century, a group of Japanese philosophers associated with Kyoto University, known as The Kyoto School, developed a distinctive approach to philosophy that blended Western philosophical ideas with traditional Japanese philosophy and religion. The Kyoto School emerged in the early 20th century and was active until the 1960s.

The Kyoto School philosophers were influenced by the works of Western philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Martin Heidegger, as well as traditional Japanese philosophy and religion, particularly Zen Buddhism. They sought to develop a new form of philosophical inquiry that could bridge the gap between these entirely separate traditions.

The Kyoto School is associated with several key figures, including Nishida Kitaro (西田幾多郎), Tanabe Hajime (田辺元), and Nishitani Keiji (西谷啓治). These philosophers developed a range of concepts and ideas, including the idea of “absolute nothingness” (無), the critique of modernity, and the idea of “self-emptying” (kenosis).

Differences between Japanese and American Universities

There are several differences between universities in Japan and universities in America. Coming from a “party college” in America, I was amazed that the idea of a “party college” was foreign to my Japanese friends and classmates. I remember walking past Greek life that was often filled with laughter and music every weekend or hearing many tales of my friends’ night out getting wasted. In contrast, in Japan, most of my friends rarely ever partied, and when they did go out for social drinks, the party would end by 11 pm.

Upon entering Japanese universities, the first culture shock you may have comes before you even enter the university – admissions. Admissions to Japanese universities are often based primarily on entrance exams, which are highly competitive and require extensive preparation.

In contrast, American universities consider a wider range of factors in admissions, including grades, test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation.

For someone like me, who does poorly on tests, this made applying to Kyoto University so daunting. I ended up studying for five months straight and nearly cried halfway through!

The next thing I noticed quickly coming to Japan was that Japanese universities have a more formal and hierarchical academic culture, with a greater emphasis on respect for authority and adherence to rules and procedures.

In contrast, American universities tend to have a more informal and collaborative academic culture, with a greater emphasis on independent thinking and creativity. For example, it’s common for students in my American college to refer to their professors informally, while the thought of doing such in Japan is absurd.

Another major difference I noticed is that in Japan, the curriculum is often more structured and standardized, with less flexibility for students to choose their own courses or explore different fields. Many of my Japanese classmates often have set curriculums throughout their college experience (although this does depend on the university as I found Kyoto University was less this way than others).

In contrast, American universities tend to offer more flexibility and choice in the curriculum, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests and goals.

One of the differences that has caused me the biggest problems is that Japanese universities often rely heavily on lectures and rote memorization, with less emphasis on discussion and critical thinking. As someone with a terrible memory, I have struggled extremely with the strong emphasis on tests rather than class discussions and essays. Luckily, most of my master’s level classes in Kyoto have been presentation and essay-based more than exams, but if I see an exam on the syllabus, I panic because Japanese professors expect you to be able to memorize everything!

The last difference I noticed is the fact that Japanese universities are significantly less diverse than American. At my first university, there were perhaps only thirty or forty foreign students who all lived in the same dorm. It was quite a shock after coming from an American university, which is famous for its diversity and vibrant campus cultures, with a wide range of social and extracurricular opportunities for students. However, the lack of diversity luckily did nothing to hinder my ability to make friends.

Differences between Kyoudai and Toudai

Of course, when discussing the rivalry between Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, I must admit upfront that I am obviously biased as a Kyoto University student. But I’ll refrain from saying that Kyoto University is better!

However, it is true that both Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo are highly regarded and prestigious universities in Japan. Kyoto University is known for its strengths in the fields of humanities, environmental studies, and life sciences, including biotechnology, medical research, and neuroscience. Likewise, the University of Tokyo is known for its strengths in a wide range of fields, including science and engineering. Both are very well-developed research institutions, but they have different research priorities and strengths. Kyoto University has a strong focus on interdisciplinary research and is known for its innovative research in fields such as stem cells and regenerative medicine. On the other hand, the University of Tokyo has a strong focus on basic research and is known for its contributions to fields such as physics, chemistry, and mathematics.

One of the biggest differences is in campus culture. Kyoto University, like the rest of Kansai, has a more relaxed and laid-back campus culture with a strong focus on traditional Japanese culture and arts. In comparison, the University of Tokyo has a more competitive and rigorous campus culture, with a strong focus on academic achievement and research excellence. This, in many ways, reflects the culture of the cities they are in. Kyoto University is in Kyoto, which is a smaller and more traditional city with a slower pace of life. The University of Tokyo is in Tokyo, which is a larger and more modern city with a faster pace of life.

Despite these cultural differences between the universities, there is one commonality I always hear about them. Often, both are known to having responsible and highly intelligent students, but it is also said that students at both universities are crazy!

What’s struggles do I have as a foreigner on Kyoudai Campus?

This is the most difficult section to write. For one, I am quite happy in my life at Kyoto University. I have had many opportunities that I would not have had at home, many classmates that have changed my life, and amazing professors from whom I have learned quite a bit. This makes it hard to shed light on the things I have personally struggled with. I would like to preface this section by first saying that while there are significant struggles to deal with, this isn’t me saying that the program is all bad.

With that said, I have to mention that equal treatment between foreign students and Japanese students does not exist. For one, I was surprised to learn that the requirements for foreign students are not the same. For example, it is uncommon for foreign students to be required to be a TA and teach classes. This removes foreign students from the opportunity to gain experience in leadership positions. For some foreign students, this is a blessing, but for others, it can be a struggle when they want the same opportunities and experiences as the Japanese classmates but immediately get overlooked.

The reason for this is a bit complex, as some foreign students are unable to speak Japanese, making it impossible to teach in a Japanese class and lead Japanese groups. This is the double-edged sword of having a program without explicit language requirements. There are very few English classes, and many Japanese students on campus have low proficiency or low motivation in English studies. The same is within the administration as it is often required for foreign students to have a tutor, which is a student (most of the time Japanese students, but also at times high Japanese proficiency international students) at Kyoto University who acts as a translator when handling office officials unable to speak English.

Likewise, this can be a struggle on the social side as many Japanese students and professors automatically assume foreign students have little to no Japanese ability. This means some Japanese students actively avoid direct interactions, and foreign students can easily get isolated from their peers even if they have a decent Japanese proficiency.

While not all faculties are the same (there is a lot of diversity even within the same university), the divide between Japanese and foreigners is perhaps the biggest struggle. In some labs, this results in the minority foreign student population being isolated into their own pockets with difficulty making strong connections to their Japanese peers. While this might be fine if you are doing a temporary foreign exchange program (albeit a bit disappointing), it can be more frustrating when you are an international student.

The other difficulty comes from the strictness of the Japanese language itself. In every language, second language speakers naturally have differences in their language use from their native counterparts. For example, word choice, grammatical structure, accents, and so on can all mark a foreign language user as having their own unique dialectic category. English spoken within Japan is different than in China or India. English is, in fact, an international language with a multitude of foreign native and non-native dialects, making it a very adaptable language to use.

While of course prejudices and biases about different dialects in English exist, it is undeniable that English has a natural vast diversity in use, especially compared to monolithic languages like Japanese. Japanese has dialectic differences across regions, but there is a big difference in that Japanese does not have a lot of international dialects in the way English does. This means that when foreigners gain high Japanese proficiency and start entering Japanese spaces, there is much less acceptance of diverse accents and use.

This is something that many foreigners struggle with when submitting academic papers, applications, and other materials in Japanese, as the critique they receive, regardless of how many native speakers proofread their writing, can be harsh. This can lead to many students feeling discouraged from even attempting to use and improve their Japanese ability, as the effort to use the language can result in falling behind and facing unnecessary hurdles.

How is it changing?

While I will admit that, at least in my faculty, active efforts to address and change these types of problems have been made – such as increased encouragement for English within academic circles (given that international research requires adequate English proficiency), pushes to include foreign students with Japanese proficiency in leadership positions, and encouragement to increase Japanese and foreign student social interactions.

I have noticed that there’s big pushes to increase global connections across campus and I do think the university is very good at trying to promote foreign exchange and collaborations. As the world is exiting the global pandemic, the number of foreign students (both foreign exchange and international students) on campus has increased and I hope in turn this will be able to benefit everyone.

However, many of the problems on campus I’ve notice are, in part, a microcosm of the difficulty of life as a foreigner throughout Japanese society. The monolithic culture can often be very exclusionary for those who do not fit the “Japanese ideal” which, as I have discussed in past articles, harms both Japanese and foreigners alike.

Katarina Woodman

My name is Katarina (Kat) Woodman ウッドマン カタリナ (キャット) と申します。 ​ Kyoto University Graduate School of Education ​Educational Cognitive Psychology Course, Doctoral course​ 京都大学大学院教育学研究科 教育認知心理学講座, 博士後期課程

I was born in the United States and currently reside in Kyoto, Japan. My specialization is in Japanese Second Language (JSL) and multilingualism, but in general I write about a broad range of Japanese related topics.

アメリカ生まれ、現在は京都市在住です。専門分野は日本語第二言語（JSL）とマルチリンガリズムですが、一般的には幅広い日本関連のトピックについて執筆しています。

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Japanese Writing Practice: Ultimate List of Resources for Every Level

Japanese writing can be one of the scariest aspects of learning Japanese! And there’s no shortcut to success – you simply have to get your Japanese writing practice in . Luckily there are no shortage of tools to help you with this!

Whether you are a beginner looking to practise your Japanese handwriting, or an advanced student in need of Japanese essay writing practice, there are lots of free and cheap resources out there at every level.

Here’s my roundup of the best websites, apps, printables and other tools for Japanese writing practice.

Japanese writing practice apps

Free websites for japanese writing practice online, easy japanese writing practice for beginners, japanese hiragana and katakana writing practice.

If you are new to learning Japanese, you’ll want to get your hiragana and katakana down pat before you move on to anything else.

Spending time on your hiragana and katakana writing practice not only helps you memorise the characters, it will also improve your handwriting and help you become accustomed to correct stroke order, which will be a massive benefit when you move on to learning kanji !

There are loads of free Japanese katakana and hiragana writing practice sheets online for you to download and print at home. Here’s a selection:

Free Japanese hiragana and katakana writing practice sheets pdf workbook

This free workbook from JapanesePod101 introduces all the hiragana and katakana characters and has spaces for you to trace, and then copy them out. The workbook also contains flashcards to practise your recognition. Note: you need to create a free account to access the workbook.

Japanese hiragana writing practice sheets

An alternative source to print out hiragana practice sheets, with grid lines to help your handwriting.

Japanese katakana writing practice sheets

An alternative source to print out katakana practice sheets, with grid lines to help your handwriting.

Free BLANK Japanese writing practice sheets

If you just want blank Japanese graph paper to practise writing out your characters, I have created my own in various sizes/formats for you to download and print!

Kakikata print maker

An awesome website (designed for Japanese parents/teachers to use with their children) where you can design and print your own worksheets with kana or kanji characters of your choice, in various formats. You can even choose to add stroke order! Useful if you want to practise a particular word or set of characters.

Japanese Tools: create your own kana practice sheets

Here is another useful site where you can create your own Japanese practice writing sheets with the characters of your choice, printed with a gradual fade to trace/copy.

Japanese kanji writing practice

If you are studying kanji from a textbook or course and you just need blank kanji graph paper to practise writing on, you can print that out here .

If you are looking for pre-printed kanji worksheets with kanji to copy out, the best resource I have found is this one:

This amazing website lets you download and print kanji writing practice worksheets for kanji sets according to JLPT level, Japanese school grade level, Wanikani level, Kanji Garden app level, or frequency. It’s totally free and so useful!

Easy Japanese sentence writing practice

Once you know your kana and a few kanji, you might start to think about writing out some Japanese sentences.

JapanesePod101 writing practice worksheets 

JapanesePod101 has a selection of free Japanese writing practice sheets, available as pdfs that you can download and print yourself. They currently have 16+ free writing practice workbooks on beginner-friendly topics such as daily routine or ordering food. This is a good way to get used to writing out simple Japanese sentences at the beginner level. 

However, I wouldn’t recommend them for complete beginners because they use kanji – so you should be familiar with some kanji and the basic rules of stroke order before you use them.

As soon as you are able to form Japanese sentences on your own, I recommend you start a Japanese journal and/or sharing your sentences with others using the resources in the intermediate/advanced section below!

When you are learning to write in Japanese, I recommend writing them out by hand as much as possible because it helps you learn by muscle memory and helps you develop neat handwriting! However, it’s also useful to have a great writing practice app or two on your phone so you can study on the go.

There are lots of great apps out there to practise writing Japanese characters. Here are some recommendations:

Skritter is an app for learning Japanese (and Chinese) writing and vocabulary. You can use Skritter to learn kana and kanji from scratch, or simply to review what you’ve learned. It uses handwriting recognition and a spaced repetition system (SRS) to help you learn effectively.

Under the ‘test’ settings section you can choose to focus on writing only, or add in flashcards for reading and definition too.

It works well alongside other courses and textbooks to practise your characters. They have pre-made flashcard decks from various textbooks which is great when you get on to drilling vocabulary.

As with Skritter, you can either use this app to learn kana and kanji as a complete beginner, or just to practise writing the characters you already know. In fact, it’s probably the best app I’ve found if you just want a simple flashcard-style writing practice app with handwriting recognition. It’s a little clunkier to use but once you’ve got it set up, it’s easy. If you already know the kana and you just want to practise, choose ‘Yes, but I need more practice’ during the set-up stage.

The Scripts app from the makers of Drops teaches you kana and kanji (and also has the option to learn other languages’ scripts, such as hangul or hanzi, if you’re doing the polyglot thing). You learn by tracing the characters with your finger on the screen.

It’s a good option if you are learning to write the Japanese characters from scratch. However, I could not see an option to skip the ‘learning’ stage and just review, so if you’ve already mastered your kana it won’t be for you.

Learn Japanese! 

This is a very simple and easy to use app to learn how to write hiragana and katakana. However, you only learn 5 characters at a time and I couldn’t see a way to skip to review only, so again, great for complete beginners but not if you just want to practise.

Intermediate and advanced Japanese writing practice

At the intermediate and advanced levels, you are well beyond copying out characters/sentences on worksheets, and you will be creating your own compositions in Japanese. In fact, I highly recommend doing this as soon as you are able to! 

One popular method to get your Japanese writing practice is to keep a daily diary or journal in Japanese . You can try to incorporate new grammar and vocabulary you’ve learned, or simply write whatever comes into your head just to get used to writing in Japanese.

Even jotting down a few private sentences in your own notebook will be beneficial. But if you want to step it up a notch, use one of the websites/apps below to share your writing with other learners and native speakers and receive feedback.

If you’ve been studying languages for a while you might be mourning the loss of Lang8, a site where you could post journal entries in your target language online and get feedback from native speakers. Here are a couple of Lang 8 alternatives I’ve found:

LangCorrect

LangCorrect is a site where you can practise your Japanese writing online by writing daily journal entries and getting corrections from native speakers. It’s fairly active with the Japanese learning community, and you can usually expect to get a few comments/corrections within a few hours (don’t forget to take the time difference into account!). They also have journal prompts in case you’re feeling the writer’s block. It’s free to use.

Journaly is a similar site I’ve heard, about although I haven’t used it and I have the impression its user base is smaller than LangCorrect. It’s free to use and there is also a paid version which has a few extra benefits, such as bumping up your posts to get more attention.

This is a free website offered by Dickinson College. Its main purpose is for connecting language exchange partners, but they also have a feature where you can post writing samples to receive corrections from native speakers.

r/WriteStreakJP

This subreddit is a forum to practise writing in Japanese. It’s for anyone at any level who wants to practise their Japanese writing. The idea is that you write something every day to build up a ‘streak’ and build the habit of writing in Japanese regularly.

You can write whatever you feel like; many people write diary-like entries about their day, or share random thoughts, or write about something new they’ve learned etc. There are native Japanese speaking mods who drop by to correct mistakes.

There are a lot more learners than native speakers on the forum, though, so unfortunately you’re not guaranteed feedback. But it’s still a great place to practise writing (and reading!) Japanese.

HelloTalk is a language exchange app where you can connect with Japanese native speakers, chat via text, voice or video call and receive feedback on your Japanese. In addition to connecting with people directly, you can also create ‘moments’ (write posts such as sharing journal entries, or pictures of your day) and ask general questions, and receive comments/feedback from other users.

Be warned, recently I hear a lot of users complaining that people use the messaging function like a dating app – but you may have better success using the ‘moments’ function or messaging people yourself first.

Another language exchange app where you can exchange text messages with a Japanese-speaking partner and receive corrections.

HiNative  

On HiNative you can ask questions about language usage and get feedback from native speakers. You can write your questions either in Japanese or English. This question/answer service is free. Premium paid members can also post diary entries to get feedback.

More resources for Japanese writing practice

Here’s a mixture of other useful tools and resources I’ve found for Japanese writing practice that don’t fit neatly into the above categories! This section contains a mixture of free and paid resources.

Japanese water calligraphy practice kits (paid)

Why not go old-school and practise your Japanese characters with a real calligraphy brush! In Japan, students often practise their calligraphy with these nifty ‘magic’ kits, where you paint with water on the special water-activated paper, which fades away after a few minutes so you can reuse it time and time again. This is a fun way to refine your Japanese handwriting while reviewing the characters!

Printable Japanese journals with writing prompts (paid) 

I found this printable Japanese journaling/writing practice kit on Etsy. It contains dozens of writing prompts at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, so you’ve got no excuse not to jot down a few sentences in Japanese every day! Check out the other great resources by the same author.

Japanese planner templates (free)

If you want to take daily notes or plan your day/week in Japanese, this site has loads of free Japanese planner templates to print out.

Japanese writing practice notebooks (paid)

The paper used in Japan for school compositions/essay writing practice is called genkouyoushi . There are lots of genkouyoushi notebooks with cute cover designs available on Amazon.

Free printable genkouyoushi (Japanese composition paper)

Alternatively, you can print out your own genkouyoushi-style blank writing sheets here for free.

Japanese sentence/usage databases

These databases are useful tools that I often use when writing in Japanese to check how words are used. You can search for a Japanese word and see it in context of many authentic, native Japanese sentences, to get an idea of correct and natural usage. You can also use them for sentence mining , if that’s your thing.

• Reverso – my favourite. Need to create a free account to see all sentences.
• Natsume – see how often a word is used, and which particles and other words usually follow it
• Sentence search with audio

How to Write Japanese Essays book (paid)

If you are studying Japanese to a very high level, for example to enter a Japanese university or company, you will need Japanese essay writing practice. The book How to Write Japanese Essays comes highly recommended and will train you to write in the formal academic style that is taught in Japan.

Japanese writing practice roundup

Which tools and resources do you use for Japanese writing practice? If you know any I’ve missed out, please share in the comments!

See these related posts for more useful resources to learn Japanese:

• Japanese Writing Paper: FREE Printable Blank Japanese Writing Sheets
• FREE Websites for Japanese Reading Practice (At Every Level)
• 10+ Effective Ways to Get Japanese Speaking Practice (Even if You Study By Yourself!)
• Where to get Your Japanese Listening Practice: The Epic List of Resources!
• The Ultimate List of Japanese Podcasts for Listening Practice (Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced)
• Best YouTube Channels to Learn Japanese {20+ Japanese YouTubers!}

Rebecca Shiraishi-Miles

Rebecca is the founder of Team Japanese. She spent two years teaching English in Ehime, Japan. Now back in the UK, she spends her time blogging, self-studying Japanese and wrangling a very genki toddler.

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How to improve your writing skills in Japanese

UPDATE | October 1, 2022

The ability to write Japanese, which is necessary for living in Japan. Here are four recommended ways to do just that.

• Copying example sentences from Japanese textbooks and reference books
• Write a 3-line diary in Japanese
• Decide on a theme and write a short essay.
• Post to SNS. write a comment. send a message.

In order to go on to higher education or find a job in Japan, you need to be able to write in Japanese. What kind of training do you do to improve your writing skills in Japanese? What should I do to improve my writing ability?

In this column, I will introduce four ways to improve your writing skills in Japanese!

1. Copy the example sentences from Japanese textbooks and reference books

Do you have any Japanese textbooks or reference books? The book can be used not only for reading, but also for improving your writing skills. It's easy to do. Just write an example sentence. You can write the example sentences in a notebook, or you can write them using computer software.

This method is very easy, but it can be a little boring. However, the example sentences in recent textbooks are created by Japanese teachers considering whether they will really use them in their daily lives. Therefore, if you write down the example sentences and memorize them as they are, they will be useful in your daily life.

If you write example sentences properly, you will be able to memorize grammar and words at the same time. If you think writing example sentences is too easy, start from the last page of your textbook. Many people haven't read the last page (maybe for the first time!), so it's a great practice.

2. Write a 3-line diary in Japanese

The next method is to write a diary in Japanese. Don't you think you have to write long sentences in your diary? But short sentences are fine. Write a lot of short sentences, until you have three lines. It can be a little tough at first.

When writing a diary, you don't have to write "I'm amazing". Rather than that, let's honestly write "bad self". "I couldn't study today," "I couldn't do the laundry even though the weather was nice," or "I slept until noon."

After I write about myself, I write about what happened today and what I noticed. "I took a walk and the wind felt good," "It seems that the neighborhood bakery is closed today," and "It's nice weather." If you write every day, you will get used to "writing".

3. Decide on a theme and try to write a mini composition.

A third way is to write an essay. Think writing is difficult? Actually, it's the same as a diary, and you should keep writing down what you're thinking. This composition is to improve your writing skills, so you don't have to show it to anyone. So feel free to get started.

It may be difficult to decide on a theme for writing, so I prepared a few themes. From the themes below, choose one that you think you can write, and try to write it in 200 to 400 characters. Even if it's not the theme below, you can write what you want to write.

"self-introduction" "Things I want to do in Japan" "My favorite 〇〇" "How to study Japanese" "How to spend your day off" "Friend 〇〇" "Let me introduce you to my family." "Recommended shop" "How to cook national dishes" "What I want to study more"

4. Post to SNS. write a comment. send a message.

Have you ever sent a message in Japanese on SNS (LINE, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)? You can improve your Japanese writing skills by using Japanese on SNS and messaging apps. However, the thing to be careful about with SNS is that there are people who read it.

Send messages with the other person in mind so that the person reading the message doesn't feel bad. The same is true when posting on SNS or writing comments.

And Japanese on SNS and messaging apps often uses "spoken language" rather than "written language". It's a different style of word than the Japanese used for higher education or job hunting, so be careful when using it properly. SNS is fun, so I want to make good use of it to improve my Japanese writing skills.

This time, I introduced four ways to improve your writing skills in Japanese. Please feel free to challenge yourself in whatever way you like. See you in the next column!

I teach Japanese at Japanese language schools and universities in Kyushu. I love games and manga. I also work as a coordinator and web writer to create a local Japanese language class for those who are studying Japanese.

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Best Universities in Japan: Your Pathway to Academic Excellence

Nestled amidst the vibrant tapestry of Japan's rich cultural heritage lies an academic realm that constantly pushes the boundaries of innovation and learning. Did you know that Japan is not only renowned for its technological advancements and picturesque landscapes but also harbors some of the finest universities globally? One remarkable facet of these institutions is their seamless fusion of time-honored Japanese traditions with cutting-edge research and teaching methodologies. This balance is exemplified by the best Japanese universities, like the University of Tokyo, where venerable cherry blossom-lined pathways lead students to state-of-the-art research facilities. This juxtaposition of ancient aesthetics and pioneering research encapsulates the essence of Japan's educational approach – honoring heritage while propelling education into the future.

Best Universities in Japan: Short Description

Join us as our essay writing service unravels the unique characteristics that make studying in Japan an experience brimming with higher education excellence. In the following sections, we'll delve into the academic programs, research opportunities, and cultural experiences that set Japan's best universities apart on the global stage. Whether you're seeking innovative research, a culturally enriching education, or a bit of both, these top universities in Japan offer an unparalleled platform for growth and discovery.

Studying in Japan: Key Attributes and Features

When considering higher education, few places offer the captivating blend of tradition, innovation, and cultural enrichment found in Japan. From ancient temples to bustling metropolises, Japan's educational landscape mirrors its diverse and dynamic society.

Japan's dedication to education is reflected in its literacy rate of nearly 100%, showcasing the country's commitment to knowledge dissemination. With over 800 universities, Japan hosts a significant number of international students, solidifying its status as a global education hub. The country's technological advancements and innovative research are evident in fields like robotics, engineering, and medicine, making Japanese universities attractive to those seeking to be at the forefront of their disciplines.

Japan boasts an array of universities catering to various academic pursuits. The country is home to both public and private universities, each contributing uniquely to its educational fabric. Public universities generally hold an edge in terms of research and global recognition, while private universities excel in offering specialized courses and fostering strong ties with industries. The balance between these two sectors ensures that students have a diverse range of options to choose from, depending on their academic and career goals.

One compelling aspect of studying in Japan, which could be a great theme for graduation speeches ideas , is its comparatively affordable tuition fees, particularly at public institutions. Just like the journey you've all taken to reach this milestone today, the affordability of education in Japan reflects the importance of smart choices and strategic planning. On average, tuition fees for international students in Japan can range from $5,000 to $10,000 per year, making it an enticing destination for those seeking quality education without the burden of exorbitant expenses.

Getting admitted to a Japanese university requires more than just academic credentials. While entrance exams are common, some universities offer English-taught programs, alleviating the need for Japanese language proficiency. Additionally, universities value diversity and seek well-rounded candidates. Demonstrating a strong academic background, involvement in extracurricular activities, and a clear statement of purpose can bolster your chances of acceptance. And always keep in mind if you need help, you can just ask, ' Write my paper ,' and get our support in creating an outstanding admissions essay.

Best Universities in Japan: Earning Worldwide Prestige in Education

In the heart of Japan's educational landscape lie institutions that have transcended national borders, garnering esteem and recognition on a global scale. The following universities stand as beacons of excellence, drawing students and scholars from around the world who seek to partake in an educational journey that merges tradition with innovation.

University of Tokyo

The University of Tokyo, often referred to as Todai, stands as Japan's most prestigious and globally renowned national university of higher learning. Established in 1877, its rich history, academic excellence, and cutting-edge research have propelled it to the forefront of global education. Nestled within the vibrant city of Tokyo, the university provides a dynamic environment that fosters innovation, critical thinking, and cultural exploration.

Being the best university in Japan, it is renowned for offering a diverse array of courses across multiple disciplines. Some of its standout programs include Engineering, Medicine, Computer Science, Economics, and Natural Sciences. The university's commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration enables students to explore a wide range of subjects, encouraging holistic growth and intellectual curiosity.

While tuition fees can vary depending on the program and level of study, the University of Tokyo is known to offer quality education with relatively affordable tuition fees compared to many Western universities. Scholarships and financial aid opportunities are available to both domestic and international students, making the university accessible to a wide range of individuals.

The University of Tokyo has produced numerous Nobel laureates, contributing significantly to advancements in science, literature, and peace. The Hongo Campus, one of the university's main campuses, is home to the iconic Yasuda Auditorium, a symbol of academic excellence and architectural elegance.

Kyoto University

Kyoto University, often referred to as Kyodai is a prestigious institution that encapsulates the essence of Japan's ancient capital, Kyoto. Established in 1897, the university blends a rich historical legacy with a modern approach to education and research. Situated in a city known for its cultural heritage and serene landscapes, it offers a unique academic experience that combines tradition, innovation, and global perspective.

Kyoto University is renowned for its excellence in a wide range of disciplines. It is particularly acclaimed for its programs in Environmental Studies, Biology, Engineering, Medicine, and the Humanities. The university's commitment to fostering interdisciplinary research and holistic learning equips students with a comprehensive skill set for tackling complex global challenges.

Tuition fees at this institution vary based on the program and level of study. While international students typically have to pay higher fees than domestic students, the university offers various scholarships and financial aid options to alleviate the financial burden and attract a diverse student body. Additionally, for those seeking alternative learning opportunities, don't forget to explore the wealth of free Harvard online courses available, which can provide valuable supplementary education at no cost.

Kyoto University's Yoshida Campus features the Clock Tower, a symbol of the university, and is a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan. The university's Primate Research Institute is renowned for its studies on primates and has contributed significantly to the understanding of human evolution and behavior. It also played a role in the discovery of the chemical element Darmstadtium, reflecting its active engagement in scientific advancements.

Osaka University

Osaka University stands as a beacon of academic excellence in Japan, renowned for its rich history of innovation, research prowess, and commitment to fostering global leaders. Established in 1931, the university has continually evolved to become a leading institution in education and research, making significant contributions to various fields on both national and international scales.

Osaka University is particularly known for its outstanding courses in fields such as Engineering, Life Sciences, and Physics. The university's programs in Advanced Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, and Global Governance offer students the chance to delve deep into cutting-edge subjects, guided by some of the finest minds in academia.

Osaka University's campuses are a blend of modern facilities and historic buildings, offering a serene environment for learning and reflection. The university is also known for its open and inclusive environment, encouraging collaboration and interaction across disciplines. Osaka University has a track record of developing pioneering technologies, contributing to Japan's reputation as a hub of innovation.

Tohoku University

Nestled in the heart of Japan, Tohoku University shines as a premier destination for studying in Japan. Renowned for its academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and commitment to societal advancement, this institution has been a pillar of education and innovation since its founding in 1907. It's a place where global leaders are nurtured, and the boundaries of knowledge are continually expanded.

Tohoku University is celebrated for its exceptional courses in Engineering, Materials Science, and Medical Sciences. The university's programs in Robotics, Disaster Management, and Nanotechnology attract students seeking to delve into cutting-edge fields guided by esteemed scholars.

The university's campuses blend modern infrastructure with picturesque landscapes, providing an inspiring backdrop for learning and personal growth. After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Tohoku University played a crucial role in disaster recovery efforts and continues to contribute to disaster management research.

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Nagoya University

Established in 1871, Nagoya University has evolved into a distinguished institution known for its cutting-edge research, diverse academic offerings, and global impact. The university houses pioneering research centers in fields like Nanoscience, Quantum Physics, and Space Exploration, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Located in Nagoya, a hub of history and culture, students can immerse themselves in traditional Japanese heritage while enjoying modern city life. Moreover, the university's strong ties with industries offer students practical experiences through internships, research partnerships, and projects that bridge academia and industry. With a rich tradition of groundbreaking research, students have access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative opportunities, fostering an environment of innovation.

Kyushu University

Established in 1911, the university has evolved into a dynamic institution that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and global engagement. The university hosts innovative research centers in fields like Asian Studies, Robotics, and Advanced Energy Conversion, encouraging cross-disciplinary exploration. Kyushu University has established partnerships with institutions worldwide, fostering opportunities for international exchange, joint research, and collaborative initiatives.

As the best university in Japan, this institution also actively engages with local communities, contributing to regional development and addressing societal challenges through research and outreach. Kyushu University is dedicated to sustainability and actively participates in research and initiatives related to environmental conservation and renewable energy. And if you're looking to expand your knowledge beyond the classroom, there are a variety of recommended books for college students that can complement your studies and foster personal growth.

Tokyo Institute of Technology

The Tokyo Institute of Technology, often referred to as Tokyo Tech, stands as one of Japan's premier technical universities renowned for its cutting-edge research and academic excellence. Established in 1881, Tokyo Tech has evolved into a global institution that consistently ranks among the top engineering universities worldwide.

This institution is particularly acclaimed for its exceptional courses in engineering, science, and technology-related fields. The university offers a diverse range of programs, including but not limited to Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, and Architecture. These courses are designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle real-world challenges and contribute meaningfully to their respective industries. Also, the Ookayama Campus, one of Tokyo Tech's campuses, boasts a blend of modern architectural design and serene green spaces, providing an inspiring environment for learning and research.

Studying at Tokyo Tech comes with several remarkable benefits. The university's world-class faculty comprises leading experts in various fields, providing students with unparalleled mentorship and research opportunities. The institution's well-equipped labs and research centers foster an environment of hands-on learning and innovation. Moreover, Tokyo Tech's extensive network of alumni and industry connections offers graduates a distinct advantage in pursuing successful careers in academia, research, and industry.

Hokkaido University

Hokkaido University, located in Sapporo, Japan, is one of the best Japanese universities that has established itself as a leader in education, research, and innovation. Founded in 1876 as Japan's first modern university, Hokkaido University has consistently upheld its commitment to fostering intellectual growth, cultural exchange, and scientific exploration.

The university offers a wide range of courses spanning various disciplines, including Agriculture, Life Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Hokkaido University is particularly renowned for its excellence in Arctic and environmental research, as well as its contributions to agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine.

The campus features a blend of historic buildings and modern facilities, creating an inspiring and picturesque setting for learning and research. Hokkaido University's research efforts extend to areas such as sustainable agriculture, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity preservation, addressing critical global challenges.

University of Tsukuba

The University of Tsukuba, located in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, is one of the top universities in Japan that blends academic excellence with innovative research across a wide range of disciplines. Established in 1973 through the merger of several institutions, the university has rapidly risen to prominence both domestically and internationally for its commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and cutting-edge education.

The University of Tsukuba offers a comprehensive selection of courses spanning natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, arts, engineering, and more. Notably, the university excels in fields such as Physical Education, Sports Sciences, Space and Planetary Sciences, Health and Life Sciences, and International Relations.

The University of Tsukuba was one of the first institutions in Japan to adopt a semester-based academic calendar, aligning itself with global academic norms. Its commitment to physical education and sports sciences led to its designation as Japan's Sports University, and it played a significant role in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. The campus boasts a mix of modern facilities and lush green spaces, providing an atmosphere conducive to both focused study and relaxation.

Keio University

Keio University, located in Tokyo, Japan, is a prestigious private university in Japan that has been at the forefront of education and research since its founding in 1858. It is particularly well-regarded for its programs in Economics, Business Administration, Literature, and Law. These programs are designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and a global perspective among students.

Studying at Keio provides students with numerous advantages. Being one of the leading universities in Japan, its rich history and commitment to academic rigor ensure a high-quality education. Its faculty members include leading scholars and researchers who offer mentorship and expertise to students. Keio's emphasis on global engagement and language education prepares students to navigate the interconnected world and pursue international careers.

The university has a notable tradition of 'juku,' which are small private academies. The founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa, established Keio based on the principles of these juku, emphasizing critical thinking and practical education. The university's main campus in Mita is characterized by a blend of historic buildings and modern facilities, creating a unique and vibrant learning environment. The university's Shonan Fujisawa Campus focuses on interdisciplinary studies and hosts the renowned Keio Research Institute at SFC, known for its innovative research and collaboration.

4 Key Facts Before Studying in Japan

Studying in Japan offers a unique and enriching experience, blending ancient traditions with cutting-edge technology and innovation. Before embarking on your educational journey in this captivating country, here are four amazing facts you should know:

• Unique Accommodation : Immerse yourself in Japanese living arrangements, from modern apartments in bustling cities to traditional ryokans (inn-style lodgings) with tatami floors and onsen (hot spring baths). This allows you to experience various facets of the Japanese lifestyle during your stay.
• Cultural Festivals : Japan hosts numerous festivals throughout the year, celebrating everything from historical events to seasonal changes. Participating in festivals like Gion Matsuri in Kyoto or Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori offers an immersive cultural experience and a chance to connect with local communities.
• Technology Marvels : Japan is known as a global technology hub. It's the birthplace of many tech giants like Sony, Toyota, and Panasonic. Studying here means access to cutting-edge research facilities, robotics labs, and innovation centers, providing opportunities to immerse yourself in the latest technological advancements.
• Cultural Etiquette and Respect : Japanese society places a strong emphasis on respect, humility, and proper etiquette. Familiarize yourself with cultural norms such as bowing, removing shoes indoors, and proper dining etiquette. Embracing these customs not only shows respect for the host culture but also helps you integrate more seamlessly into everyday life. As you immerse yourself in these cultural aspects, you might also want to explore some of the best educational podcasts available, which can provide valuable insights into various subjects and enhance your learning journey.

Additionally, if you're considering higher education options, exploring the best universities in the USA can provide valuable insights into diverse academic opportunities and research excellence.

Final Thoughts

In your quest for top-notch education and discovery, Japan's finest universities roll out the red carpet. Tradition meets innovation as these academic powerhouses shape sharp minds and fuel global progress. Get ready to dive into a melting pot of culture, learning, and self-discovery. Your journey to academic greatness just found its passport to Japan!

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Documentary Filmmaker Explores Japan’s Rigorous Education Rituals

Her movies try to explain why Japan is the way it is, showing both the upsides and downsides of the country’s commonplace practices. Her latest film focuses on an elementary school.

By Motoko Rich

Reporting from Tokyo

The defining experience of Ema Ryan Yamazaki’s childhood left her with badly scraped knees and her classmates with broken bones.

During sixth grade in Osaka, Japan, Ms. Yamazaki — now a 34-year-old documentary filmmaker — practiced for weeks with classmates to form a human pyramid seven levels high for an annual school sports day. Despite the blood and tears the children shed as they struggled to make the pyramid work, the accomplishment she felt when the group kept it from toppling became “a beacon of why I feel like I am resilient and hard-working.”

Now, Ms. Yamazaki, who is half-British, half-Japanese, is using her documentary eye to chronicle such moments that she believes form the essence of Japanese character, for better or worse.

To outsiders, Japan is often seen as an orderly society where the trains run on time, the streets are impeccably clean, and the people are generally polite and work cooperatively. Ms. Yamazaki has trained her camera on the educational practices and rigorous discipline instilled from an early age that she believes create such a society.

Her films present nonjudgmental, nuanced portraits that try to explain why Japan is the way it is, while also showing the potential costs of those practices. By showing both the upsides and downsides of Japan’s commonplace rituals, particularly in education, she also invites insiders to interrogate their longstanding customs.

Her latest film, “ The Making of a Japanese ,” which premiered last fall at the Tokyo International Film Festival, documents one year at an elementary school in western Tokyo, where students align their shoes ramrod straight in storage cubbies, clean their classrooms and serve lunch to their classmates.

In an earlier documentary, “ Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams ,” Ms. Yamazaki showed high school baseball players pushed to physical extremes and often reduced to tears as they vied to compete in Japan’s annual summer tournament .

In the schools highlighted by Ms. Yamazaki, both films show what can at times seem like an almost militaristic devotion to order, teamwork and self-sacrifice. But the documentaries also portray teachers and coaches trying to preserve the best of Japanese culture while acknowledging that certain traditions might damage the participants.

“If we can figure out what good things to keep and what should be changed — of course, that’s the million dollar question,” Ms. Yamazaki said.

“If we don’t have those what seem ‘extreme’ parts of society — or more realistically as we have less of it, as I see happening,” wrote Ms. Yamazaki in a follow-up email, “we might see trains in Japan be late in the future.”

Some extreme scenes show up in her films. In “The Making of a Japanese,” for instance, one first-grade teacher strongly chastises a first grader and makes her cry in front of her classmates. But the film also shows the young student conquering her deficiencies to proudly perform in front of the school.

Ms. Yamazaki “showed the reality as it is,” said Hiroshi Sugita, a professor of education at Kokugakuin University who appears briefly in the film lecturing the school’s faculty.

Having grown up in Japan and then trained as a filmmaker at New York University, Ms. Yamazaki has a one-foot-in, one-foot-out perspective.

In contrast to a complete “outsider who is exoticizing things, I think she is able to bring a perspective that has more respect and authenticity,” said Basil Tsiokos, senior programmer of nonfiction features at the Sundance Film Festival who selected two of Ms. Yamazaki’s films for documentary showcases in Nantucket and New York.

Ms. Yamazaki grew up near Osaka, the daughter of a British college professor and Japanese schoolteacher, and spent summers in England. When she transferred from a Japanese school to an international academy in Kobe for her middle and high school years, she was surprised that janitors, not the students, cleaned the classrooms. Relishing the freedom to choose electives, she enrolled in a video film class.

She decided to leave Japan for college partly because, as someone of multiracial heritage, she was tired of being treated as a foreigner.

When she arrived at N.Y.U., most of her classmates wanted to direct feature films. Ms. Yamazaki enrolled in a documentary class taught by Sam Pollard , a filmmaker who also worked as an editor for Spike Lee and others, and embraced the medium.

Mr. Pollard spotted her talent right away. “You have to apply yourself to figure out what the story is,” he said. “She had that.”

While she was still an undergraduate, Mr. Pollard offered Ms. Yamazaki some editing work. After graduation, she said, “a lot of my friends were smoking pot and were these artist dreamer people with grand ideas.” But she took on multiple editing gigs to support her passion projects. Even now, editing helps support her documentary work.

She attributed her work ethic to her years in Japanese elementary school. “People would be like, ‘you’re so responsible, you’re such a good team player, you’re working so hard,’” she recalled. She regarded her efforts as “below average in terms of a Japanese standard.”

She met her future husband, Eric Nyari, while interviewing for a job to edit a documentary about the Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto that Mr. Nyari was producing. She didn’t land the job, but the pair became friends. Mr. Nyari, who describes her as “a dictator — in a good way,” is now the primary producer of all her documentaries.

Ms. Yamazaki made the leap from editing to professional directing with a short film for Al Jazeera, “ Monk by Blood ,” that examined the complicated family and gender dynamics at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto.

Next she chose a subject that had nothing to do with Japan. “ Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators ” brought her more attention as it screened at film festivals in Los Angeles and Nantucket.

Ms. Yamazaki and Mr. Nyari rented an apartment in Tokyo seven years ago and Ms. Yamazaki began work on “Koshien.”

One of the high schools she wanted to use in the film is where the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani had trained, but his former coach, Hiroshi Sasaki, was wary after years of media requests.

Mr. Sasaki softened when he saw how Ms. Yamazaki showed up with her crew in the morning, often before the players arrived, and stayed late at night to film the team cleaning the field.

One afternoon, after he had barred her from a particularly dramatic practice and then ribbed her for not filming it, she burst into what she said were tears of frustration because her cameras had missed such a great scene.

“I thought this person really is serious about this and I was so moved,” said Coach Sasaki in a video interview with The New York Times. The morning after the practice, he invited her to turn on the camera while he watered his collection of bonsai plants and answered questions about his coaching philosophy. That episode became a pivotal scene in the documentary.

Ms. Yamazaki, who films her subjects for hundreds of hours, captures vulnerable moments that reveal as much to her subjects as to audiences.

In one scene in “Koshien,” the wife of another high school baseball coach says she resented her husband’s career because it often took him away from their three children.

“Seeing the movie, it was my first time knowing these feelings,” said Tetsuya Mizutani, the coach, whose old-fashioned, hard-driving style is highlighted in the film.

Such discomfiting moments distinguish Ms. Yamazaki’s storytelling from most Japanese documentary filmmakers, said Asako Fujioka, former artistic director of the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. Filmmakers in Japan try to treat subjects “kindly, like a caring mother or friend,” whereas Ms. Yamazaki “is very bold in the way she creates drama.”

Seita Enomoto, the teacher who chastises a student in “The Making of a Japanese,” said that although some viewers have criticized him, he appreciated that the film also showed the child learning that “she should work hard, and how she changed and succeeded.” Ms. Yamazaki and Mr. Nyari hope next to make a documentary about new recruits at a large Japanese employer, where young staff start with training that can lead to lifelong work at the same company.

For now, they are raising their young son in Tokyo and have enrolled him in a Japanese nursery school. Although human pyramids have been banned by schools because of parental complaints, Ms. Yamazaki hopes her son will absorb some of the values that exercise taught her.

“It was a weird personal experience,” she said, “that I look back on fondly.”

Kiuko Notoya contributed reporting.

Motoko Rich is a reporter in Tokyo, leading coverage of Japan for The Times. More about Motoko Rich