Know Japan, know the world. Know the world, look back on Japan. Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies

Cross-disciplinary
The future of the era
"History," "Culture," "Literature," and "Language"Learn.

In recent years, Japan has seen a remarkable increase in not only tourists but also foreigners working and residing there. In order to live in a society where people other than Japanese coexist, it is necessary not only to see Japan through a Japanese sensibility, but also to know Japan from various perspectives and understand different cultures. In Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies, we explore Japan's place in the world through the study of Japanese and foreign history, culture, literature, and language.

Keywords for studying Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies: Language, history, culture and literature
Characteristics of learning
  • "History," "Culture," "Literature," and "Language"
    Learn across disciplines and deepen your expertise.
    When studying history, there is a culture specific to that era, and when studying the cultures of various countries, an understanding of the language is required. "History," "culture," "literature," and "language" do not exist separately, but are interrelated. For this reason, our faculty places emphasis on cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary learning.
  • From Japan to the world.
    From the world to Japan.
    Learn from an international perspective.
    When trying to understand Japan and spread its message to the world, we need a variety of perspectives other than our own as a Japanese person. By delving into history, culture, literature, and language from a global perspective, we can gain the knowledge to reconstruct the nature of Japanese society.
  • All five fields of history. Everything is here
    A fulfilling learning environment.
    One of the greatest attractions of this department is that it offers five fields of history Japanese History, Oriental History, Western History, Geography, and Archaeology, each with its own dedicated faculty. If you want to deepen your knowledge across fields, you can meet your individual learning needs.
Mirai Step Program Become proficient in practical English with level-based English learning "LEO"

Otemae UniversitySchool of Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studiescharm

Cross-disciplinary learning

Cross-disciplinary learning
  • history
    We will explore what happened during that time, why it happened, and what kind of society it was like at the time, using documents and artifacts from that time.
  • history
    Through documents and literature, students will learn about the lifestyles, traditions, and customs of each country, why they are the way they are, and when they began.
  • history
    You will learn the rules of the language, as well as the cultural characteristics and lifestyle habits that can be inferred from the language, and gain a correct understanding of the language.

Each connection
By understanding,
You will find your own perspective and interpretation.

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Why is Korean pop culture so popular around the world?
We are exposed to Korean culture on a regular basis, such as through K-pop, and so we assume that Korea is a familiar place to us. However, through research, we can see the dynamism of Korean society that Japanese people are not very aware of. The word "Hyukshin (innovation)" is used as an everyday word in Korea, and both business people and students are full of a spirit of reform. The fact that pop culture is popular around the world is precisely due to Hyukshin's ideas and global business strategies. In many other fields, Korea is a treasure trove of ideas that Japan does not have. Through a window into Korea, we can find hints for solving Japan's problems.

From Japan to the world. Learn from an international perspective.

Looking at the historical facts,
"Global Citizen"
Understand something.

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Did you know that there was a black warlord among the vassals of the Sengoku warlord Oda Nobunaga? Nobunaga employed a man who had been a slave to a foreign missionary who had come to Japan. This way of looking at events shows that the Sengoku period is not simply "Japanese History," but is an example of how it occurred in the context of the exchange of diverse cultures. Looking at events from a global perspective allows us to recognize that we are all "global citizens," and also leads to an understanding of Multicultural Symbiosis.

You can experience "diverse cultures" on campus
Practical English Program (LEO).

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One of the features of learning at Otemae University is the "Practical English Program (LEO)". Not only are native speaker teachers in charge of instruction, but the appeal is that you can learn according to your goals and level, such as learning English in English or learning English in Japanese. In addition, if you take the Practical English Program while studying foreign cultures at our faculty, it will be even more interesting and you will be able to deepen your understanding of English words and sentences.

About the Practical English Program
Learn more

An ideal environment for studying history, with all five fields of history covered.

Oriental history, Western history, archeology, geography, Japanese History Plus sign

The greatest attraction of this department is that it is an environment where you can study all five fields of history. This is rare among Japanese universities, and History Research Institute is one of the leading facilities in the country. In particular, historical events are often related to the "topography" of the area, so studying geography also deepens your understanding of history.

Plus sign
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History Research Institute
It is one of the leading facilities in Japan, housing a wealth of valuable artifacts and documents, allowing you to see, touch, and experience real history.3D laser images of cultural properties released

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Geography for business managers
Essential knowledge?!
For example, if you want to open a convenience store in a town, you will look at geographical data, analyze the topography, access from the station, population density, and other factors to determine where you can expect a large number of customers. In other words, knowledge of geography is an essential element in marketing. In this department, you will also learn geography as the "foundation" for town development and regional revitalization.

Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies Pick up

  • Qualifications that can be acquired

    Curator (national qualification)
    Students who obtain credits for all nine required courses in the Museum Curator Course and complete at least one major from the four designated major programs will be awarded a Museum Studies Course Completion Certificate upon graduation.
    Librarian (national qualification)
    Students who take library science-related courses and earn the required credits will be awarded a "Library Science Course Completion Certificate" upon graduation.
    High school teacher's license (Japanese, geography and history, English)
    Junior high school teacher license (Japanese, social studies, English)
    The subjects in our university's teacher training courses are based on the Teacher Certification Act and the Enforcement Regulations of the Educational Personnel Certification Act, and teaching licenses are awarded to students who have the basic qualifications (university graduation) and have obtained credits for each prescribed subject.

    Target qualifications

    Registered Japanese Language Teacher (National Qualification)
    By taking our Japanese language teacher training course, you can prepare for the exam to become a registered Japanese language teacher.
  • We collaborate with local communities, mainly in the Kansai region.
    Learning through hands-on experience
    Fieldwork.

    Photographs of learning centered on fieldwork

    In order to realize practical learning, our faculty also offers a wealth of opportunities for fieldwork in collaboration with local communities. For example, students visit local areas to revitalize the area in collaboration with the local community, search for and consider tourism resources. Or, students look at a place on a map and actually investigate its topography on-site, actively incorporating learning experiences that can only be experienced there.

    Photographs of learning centered on fieldwork
  • Photo of the student group Team Colors

    Team Colors is a student organization that plans and implements international exchange events on campus. We work in collaboration with International Exchange Center to promote internationalization and Multicultural Symbiosis within the university. The name, chosen by the founding members in 2022, reflects our hope that "each student has their own individuality, and by coming together, the group becomes more colorful and engaging, enabling us to conduct attractive activities." Team Colors hosts a variety of international exchange events and meetups with international students in the International Exchange Lounge on the second floor of Building E.

    Every day is filled with intellectual stimulation and excitement.

    Photo of the student group Team Colors

    I joined Team Colors because I wanted to deepen my understanding of different cultures, as it is a platform where international and Japanese students can grow together. Intercultural exchange is a great opportunity to gain new perspectives. I experienced how my own way of thinking and understanding deepened through dialogue with international students with various backgrounds and values. I hope to continue to develop further as a diverse community.

    2023 Team Colors Leader
    Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies
    English Communication Major
    Third grade
    Wu Jiali
    Graduated from Hyogo Prefectural Higashinada High School

Faculty of Intercultural Japanese StudiesVision of the future

CAREER SUPPORTCareer Support for Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies

Career support program flow over four years

  • 1 Grade
    • Career Design I & II
  • 2 Grade
    • Career Design III/IV
    • Internship
    • Job Hunting Support Classes
    • Industry Research Seminar
    • Written exam preparation course
  • 3 Grade
    • Career Guidance
    • Internship
    • Online Corporate Seminars
    • Resume editing
    • Utilizing Otemae University 's unique company guide
    • Makeup Lessons
    • Interview & Group Discussion
  • 4 Grade
    • Job hunting restart guidance
    • On-campus company information session
    • Mock interview
    • Individual consultation, job introduction
    • Resume editing
    • Hello Work on-site consultation session

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Civil servant training program image
Civil Service Training Program
Civil service exams require a long period of preparation and exam time, and many people give up midway. Therefore, Otemae University strongly supports students in achieving their goals through classes that teach practical knowledge and exchange programs with current civil servants, focusing mainly on administrative positions in municipal governments.
Interview & group discussion preparation course image
Interview & Group Discussion
Countermeasures course
Students will practice "expressing themselves" and aim to improve their communication skills that can be used in actual job hunting activities.

For career support
For more information, please click here

FUTUREWhat to expect after graduating Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies

Qualifications and career paths you can aim for

  • Qualifications that can be acquired
    • ● First-class high school teaching license (Japanese, Geography and History, English)
    • ● Junior high school teacher license (Japanese, social studies, English)
    • ● Librarian (National Qualification)
    • ● Museum Curator (National Qualification)
  • Target qualifications
    • ● Test in Practical English Proficiency (EIKEN)
    • ● National Licensed Guide-Interpreter (national qualification)
    • ● Tourism English Test
    • ● TOEFL® Test
    • ● TOEIC® Listening & Reading Test
    • ● Registered Japanese language teacher (national qualification)
    • ● Chinese Proficiency Test
    • ● German Proficiency Test
    • ● Practical French Proficiency Test
    • ● Hangul Proficiency Test
    • ● Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK)
    • ● Civil servant
  • Graduate School
    • ● Otemae University University Graduate Graduate School of Comparative Culture

Possible career

  • Image of civil servants (government office, police, fire department, Self-Defense Forces)
    Civil servant
    (Government offices, police, fire departments, Self-Defense Forces personnel)
    There are local and national civil servants, and their work content varies. Prefectural city and ward offices and firefighters are local civil servants, Self-Defense Force members are national civil servants, and police officers are both national and local civil servants.
  • Curator image
    Curator
    Curators are professional staff members in museums and art galleries as defined by the Museum Law. They collect, store, and exhibit materials on history, art, folklore, industry, and natural science, and also conduct related research.
  • Image of a Japanese teacher
    Japanese Teacher
    Japanese language teachers will be nationally qualified as "registered Japanese language teachers" from April 2024. As this is being implemented in response to issues such as the quality of Japanese language teachers and securing sufficient personnel, it is expected that the professional status of Japanese language teachers will improve in the future.
  • Junior high school and high school teacher image
    Junior and senior high school teachers
    Our faculty offers teacher training courses that allow students to acquire specialized licenses in junior and senior high school English and Japanese, junior high school social studies, and high school geography and history. Another feature of our school is that it focuses on training teachers who have acquired the basic skills required for society.
  • NGO/NPO staff International volunteer image
    NGO/NPO staff
    International Volunteer
    In Japan, organizations that tackle issues overseas tend to be called NGOs, while those that tackle issues domestically are called NPOs. Both are private organizations and groups that carry out non-profit activities. Each has its own area of expertise, such as hunger, the environment, or refugees.
Other Occupations
  • ● Interpretation and translation
  • ● Publishing (editor/writer)
  • ● Librarian
  • - Organization staff (associations, foundations, incorporated associations, foundations, etc.)
  • - Organization staff (associations, funds, incorporated associations, and incorporated foundations)
  • etc.

Main Employment Destinations
(Academic Year 2025 / Partial excerpt by faculty)

Industry Breakdown

Kami Co., Ltd. / Asahi Information Service Co., Ltd. / Asuka Co., Ltd. / APA Hotel Co., Ltd. / Awaji City Hall / Itami Sangyo Co., Ltd. / Tokuyukai Medical Corporation / Oya Sangyo Co., Ltd. / Osaka Toyota Motor Co., Ltd. / JSS Co., Ltd. / KSM Co., Ltd. / Akindo Sushiro Co., Ltd. / Axel Co., Ltd. / Alti Foods Co., Ltd. / Awa Bank Co., Ltd. / Anvil Co., Ltd. / Iwaki Co., Ltd. / Vendome Yamada Co., Ltd. / Ecostyle Co., Ltd. / Osaka Nichirei Service Co., Ltd. / Kansai Higashidori Co., Ltd. / Komeri Co., Ltd. / Sundrug Co., Ltd. / Skylark Holdings Co., Ltd. / Co., Ltd. Sugi Pharmacy/Sukkirin Co., Ltd./Dainichi Seisakusho Co., Ltd./Takezono Co., Ltd./Takemoto Design Office Co., Ltd./Tatsumi Shokai Co., Ltd./Toyota Rental & Lease Hyogo Co., Ltd./Nakahiro Co., Ltd./Hard Off Corporation Co., Ltd./Hankyu Delica Ai Co., Ltd./Verite Co., Ltd./Maruai Co., Ltd./Maruhachi Co., Ltd./Bandai Co., Ltd./Yodobashi Camera Co., Ltd./Liberty Co., Ltd./Red Baron Co., Ltd./Starts Care Service Co., Ltd./Senko Co., Ltd./Daikokuten Bussan Co., Ltd./Takigen Manufacturing Co., Ltd./Taguchi Foods Co., Ltd./Toyota L&F Kinki Co., Ltd./Japan Pension Service /Nextage Co., Ltd./Hyogo Prefectural Police/Fujiarte Co., Ltd./SoftBank Corp./Japan Coast Guard/CLAN Co., Ltd./ME Resort Co., Ltd./Amidaike Daikoku Co., Ltd./Will of Construction Co., Ltd./Weardept Co., Ltd./Edion Co., Ltd./L Housing Co., Ltd./Kansai Supermarket Co., Ltd./Gourmet Kineya Co., Ltd./Kokumin Co., Ltd./Cosmos Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd./JR West Japan Hotel Development Co., Ltd./Stern Kintetsu Co., Ltd./Sugimoto Co., Ltd./Celebrix Co., Ltd./Topos Enterprises Co., Ltd./( Tryon Co., Ltd. / Knowledge Software Co., Ltd. / Bic Camera Co., Ltd. / Hooray Co., Ltd. / Benefit One Co., Ltd. / MegaChips Co., Ltd. / Juyutaka Jikan Co., Ltd. / Nikko Shokai Co., Ltd. / Heian Co., Ltd. / Miyano Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. / Sagawa Express Co., Ltd. / Sumitomo Life Insurance Company / Senryoku Agent Co., Ltd. / Token Corporation Co., Ltd. / Tonan Kosan Co., Ltd. / Toyo Work Security Co., Ltd. / Nippon Port Industries Co., Ltd. / Nippon Paper Transport and Warehouse Co., Ltd. / Banshu Seasoning Co., Ltd. / Hakko LR Co., Ltd. / Yashiro Tourism Development Co., Ltd. / Hyogo Rokko Agricultural Cooperative

Regarding the successful applicants
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Message

Able to work both domestically and internationally
Aiming to develop talent with a broad perspective.

The Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies cultivates individuals who can thrive in the international community by equipping them with "language skills and communication abilities," "the ability to understand multiculturalism," "the ability to discover the charm of the region (Japan) from multiple perspectives," and "the ability to communicate these to the world." These experiences will leave a lasting impression on you, a learning experience that will "strike a chord" and "resonate deeply" with you.

DeanChiyo OnzukaProfessorPhD (Linguistics)

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Learn from specialists in each field! Instructor: Koji Ozaki

Dedicated to research and approachable,
My teacher is a guide in life.

Professor Ozaki, my supervising professor, is a dedicated researcher who even presents papers at international academic conferences. He's approachable, loves baseball and beer, and his close relationship with students is a major draw. In the seminar, we worked on regional issues in collaboration with Tatsuno City. When I was unsure how to proceed with group work, Professor Ozaki gave me precise advice, making me realize the importance of leadership and judgment. Furthermore, in the Japanese early modern history class, I learned to "question the obvious" through historical materials, which influenced my own values. Through these experiences, I aspire to work in a job that supports the regional economy, and therefore hope to work for a financial institution. After graduation, a new challenge will begin with the goal of contributing to the community.

Image of Yota Ushio

Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies Japanese History Major Yota Ushio Graduate of Hyogo Prefectural Yumesaki High School

Inspiring EducationPickup Learning from fieldwork Messages from current students

The experience of learning "on the job"
To broaden my perspective.

The most memorable class for me was "International Issues from a Local Perspective." As part of fieldwork, we visited a Korean school, observed actual classes, and interacted with students through Korean dance and music. Experiencing the real atmosphere, which cannot be gained through classroom learning, made me aware of my own preconceptions and biased images. I realized the importance of coexisting while understanding each other and facing people from different cultures, and at the same time, I was deeply impressed by the fear that misconceptions and prejudices can lead to discrimination. I learned once again the importance of looking at people and society objectively, without being bound by preconceptions.

Image of Aisei Okamura

Faculty Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies Department International Relations Aisei Okamura Graduated from Nara Prefectural Nishinokyo High School

 Beyond the Faculty"Crossover of learning"

Crossover concept diagram Learn more
For example, this is how we can learn, and this is the future
  • I want to be involved in Architecture that is loved as part of the community.
  • I want to research world history and create new tourism plans
  • I want to succeed in business on a global scale.
  • I want to express the richness of Japanese literature and culture through film and animation.

Students Voice

StudentsVoice Image

To decide your future is
Because it's difficult, broaden your learning and broaden your perspective.
It's expanding.
I can choose freely, and it's perfect for me.

When I was in high school, I couldn't decide what to study at university, but at this university's open campus, I learned about International Relations, where I could study my favorite country, Korea, and it piqued my interest. At that time, I also learned about the "Crossover System," and its flexibility moved me, so I decided to apply to this university. After enrolling, I was introduced to the concept of Multicultural Symbiosis in Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies. I am learning the importance of trying to understand others in order to live together with people who have different cultures and values. In addition to what I am learning in Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies, I am taking a class in Faculty of Modern Social Studies that analyzes famous movies from a psychological perspective. Furthermore, wanting to make it a strength in job hunting, I am also challenging myself with commercial and industrial bookkeeping in Faculty of Business Administration, and I have experienced the unique enjoyment of studying for qualifications. The experience of learning beyond the boundaries of my major has greatly broadened my perspective. The Crossover System is one of the great attractions of this university. If you have even the slightest interest, I would like you to take the plunge.

Ayane Nomoto's photo
Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies
Multicultural Symbiosis Major
Ayane NomotoHyogo Prefectural Mukosho General High School
High school graduate

[Faculty of Intercultural Japanese Studies] Multicultural Symbiosis + [Faculty of Modern Social Studies] Psychology

List of majors availableMajor subjects

Course names have been updated to make them easier to understand

History Course
Japanese Studies and Asian Studies Course
International Coexistence Course

Faculty List