Maritime Security, U.S.-Japan issues, Japanese politics, demographic issues in Japan, soccer, snowboarding, traveling.

When selecting a program, I knew that I wanted a serious and professionally-oriented program. I was attracted to the IUC's intensive curriculum, structure, and renowned reputation, in addition to the sense of community amongst the students. I also liked that the student body seems largely comprised of professionals, academics, and graduate students.

I hope to work with U.S. and Japanese officials on international security and political issues.

Dependency recovery, labor history, mental illness, digital labor and algorithmic advertising, critical theory, modern poetry, hiking, water polo.

Collection of graduate students and resources for scholarship were the main reasons for me to consider applying. Consulting earlier applicants and Japanese scholars in my university, I was convinced that the rigorous training and social science research legacy of the program made it the most suitable Japanese program. Moreover, living in Yokohama for a year before the main ethnographic project for my dissertation and the research-related Japanese training in the program that persuaded my PhD program advisors were additional reasons for me to apply.

The pre-dissertation PhD program at my university will continue with fund applications and exams for candidacy. Until the 2020 academic year, I will apply to become a research fellow in a Japanese university for the summer. Alternatively, I might continue summer research for my university or attend a critical theory or research program in Japan or the US. In terms of career goals, I aim to become a post-doctoral researcher or a tenure-track lecturer in a university focusing on social scientific research in Japan.

WWII, Prisoners of War, Kansai, athletics (squash and tennis, specifically), music (piano and guitar), photography (digital and film), and travel!

The intensity and rigor of the program was a big attraction. After two full years of studying Japanese (including a summer in Tokyo in an intensive program) I felt as though my progress had stagnated. I know that Japan will be a part of my life forever, both in terms of my professional career as well as my academic career, so I saw the IUC as the best path forward.

After IUC I hope to make Japan a more permanent part of my life. As it stands, I am all set to start a job based in New York in July 2019. The company with which I am set to start is a relative newcomer to the biotech/pharmaceutical industry and is set to expand operations into East Asia--China and Japan, mainly. Later in my career, I hope to work in an ambassadorial capacity with Japan--perhaps in a role in the US Department of State.

Early Middle Japanese, kanbun kundoku, historical linguistics, Heian-period sutra translation, Hiking, karaoke, traveling.

The IUC is the best chance for me to improve my Japanese as a student before teaching the language as a professor. Being a full time language student will also allow me to reflect on and improve my own pedagogical practices.

I will continue my dissertation research in Japan then return to The Ohio State University to complete my PhD program and pursue an academic career.

Learning languages, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, second language acquisition, honorific language, psycholinguistic, language pedagogy, animation, bridge (card game), golf, Aikido, piano.

I've always wanted to visit Japan again, and IUC is the only long-term program that I can apply at Stanford.

Finish my Ph.D. on time...

Premodern Japanese literature and performance, running, tennis, traveling, current affairs, exploring local coffee shops.

The IUC is well regarded for its advanced Japanese language instruction and its ability to target and improve weaknesses at an individual student level. Although my research interests are Japanese literature/performance, my previous professional and academic experience concerned international affairs/defense policy, for which Japanese training was not emphasized. Given the truncated nature of my language preparation and its importance to future career prospects, I wanted to participate in an extended language immersion program as part of a cohort of students and professionals to improve my comprehension of, and ability to discuss, Japanese language materials and scholarship. IUC seems to offer students both the necessary training and just such a supportive community.

Following the completion of the IUC program, I will continue to pursue a PhD in East Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Southern California. Ultimately, I hope to eventually obtain an academic position at the university level.

Buddhism, transnational processes, literature, reading, biking, yoga, thrifting.

I was told by my mentors and good friends that it was the best way to advance my Japanese capabilities, and that the pedagogy was unparalleled. I'm also glad that the program is geared towards giving students the tools to become more capable in communicating and understanding their area of study in Japanese.

I will return to my home university to continue towards completion of my PhD; after that I will work towards becoming a professor of Religious Studies with an emphasis on teaching, although I also hope to continue my research on transnational Buddhism with an emphasis on its instantiations in Japan and America.

MA thesis topic is mindfulness in Japan. My undergraduate thesis was a translation of a short story by Ishihara Shintaro. Hobbies include riding bikes, sailing, kitchen experiments, and knitting.

An opportunity to study Japanese intensively in Japan. I have been studying Japan and Japanese for a decade now, and it's time to get to the level I should be at with my language comprehension. I know several people who have been through this program who have said that it changed their lives.

In short, gainful employment (because my undergraduate student loans seem to not be disappearing). I have interests in journalism, international business and communications, travel, and activism. I hope I can combine all of these to become a role model for future Americans, and my own peers, of how accessible the world is, and in particular, Japan.

Japanese foreign policy, Japan-Canada relations, Japan-Africa relations, implementation of multilateral initiatives by Japan such as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), the Belt and Road Council, traveling and sight-seeing, hanging out with friends, basketball, learning Japanese.

First, I was attracted to the IUC by its reputation as one of the best and most challenging Japanese language programs available. The idea of a 10-month intensive and immersive program appealed to me as the best way to overcome stagnation in my quest for Japanese fluency. Additionally, fellowship opportunities offered by the IUC’s network of generous supporters compelled me to apply to the program. Lastly, the fact that it is based in Yokohama made it symbolic given my research interests. Yokohama is where TICAD IV took place in 2008, leading to the adoption of the Yokohama Declaration and Yokohama Action Plan, which was a defining moment in Japanese foreign policy towards Africa.

My future aspirations are to get involved in a Japanese-led multilateral initiative such as TICAD and to either work for or advise governments on cooperation with Japan. With time, I hope to become a central figure for enhanced mutual understanding between Japan and its international partners, particularly in Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa.

20th Century Japanese literature, Asian American literature, disability studies, critical race studies, transnational and transpacific studies.

I attended the summer program at the IUC and loved the community there. I also liked its focus on academic and professional Japanese.

I hope to finish my PhD program and seek a tenure track faculty position.

Creative writing, wake-boarding, reptile care, video games, international journalism, interpretation.

I was attracted to the IUC based on the level of Japanese it offers. Even after finishing college, I was still frustrated by the feeling like I had plateaued, and no matter how much I studied individually, it was never enough. The IUC's curriculum is perfectly tailored towards my needs and I am excited to finally break through the barrier from advanced Japanese to near native level.

After completing the 10 month program, I hope to either return to America for Columbia's international journalism program to get my Master's, or remain in Japan and continue as a student. I am interested in taking finance classes at Waseda, and perhaps pursuing a higher education in Japan rather than America.

Translation, interpreting, foreign languages and cultures, traveling, human and civil rights, science and technology, etc.

The top-notch professional training, potential to network, and prestige of the program drew me to the IUC. The competitiveness also motivated me to apply. If I want to make it far in my career, I need the best training.

To become a leader in the field of Japanese Translation and Interpreting. I would like to attend Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) to obtain a master’s degree and/or seek employment in Japan.

Exchange programs, public relations, international communications, localization, countryside revitalization, traditional arts, sewing, quilting, knitting, cooking, writing, exercise.

In my eyes, The IUC provides an educational experience unique to other intensive language programs because there are participants from all ages, with a plethora of interests, who come together to advance their language skills. I want to learn from my peers and their niche research interests as much as I learn from the teachers.

I want to be business proficient in Japanese so I can design and execute exchange programs for Japanese people to go abroad.

Translation, visual culture, hiking, photography, collecting books.

I was attracted to IUC's focus on academic Japanese and gaining proficiency in specialized research fields, as well as the opportunity the program offers to connect with others who are planning academic and/or professional goals and careers related to Japan.

After completing the IUC program, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in Japanese Studies at a university in Japan.

Activism, needlecrafts, board games.

I was drawn by the opportunity to spend a year focused solely on the study of Japanese. The IUC has a reputation for excellence that convinced me it was the ideal place to pursue my goals.

I intend to pursue a graduate degree at the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Historical ties and interactions between Japan and the West, Western influences on Japanese culture and society, Japanese influences in Europe and the United States, early-modern and modern Japanese history, world history, reading books.

Japanese political economy, particularly in banking, macroeconomic policy, and industrial organization, financial integration in East Asia, and flows of international trade, aid, and investment, soccer, scuba diving, hiking, traveling (19 Japanese prefectures, 24 countries, and counting), and participating in extracurricular club activities (e.g., archery, calligraphy, and tea ceremony).

I first became aware of the IUC through my fellowships counselor at Occidental College, who suggested that I apply for the 10-Month Program before entering graduate school. The breadth, depth, and academic rigor of the curriculum were immediately evident from the online materials, and I was particularly attracted to the specialized language training in business, economics, politics, history, and law. The personalized instruction offered by the IUC is another major draw, with its small class sizes, feedback sessions, and emphasis on the final oral presentation allowing students to tailor the curriculum to their individual interests. With its focus on students pursuing advanced degrees and Japan-focused careers in academia, business, or government, the IUC was a perfect fit for my skills and interests.

It also goes without saying that Yokohama is an amazing place to live and study. The city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere and rich history blend tradition with modernity in distinctive Japanese style. Through weekly extracurricular activities, chances to audit courses at Nihon University, and specialized living arrangements, students at the IUC can make the most of all that Yokohama has to offer.

Following my graduation from the IUC in 2019, I plan to proceed into a master’s program in economics and public policy (or a related field) and I hope to use my studies at the IUC to underpin research projects in graduate school. After completing the master’s program, I aspire to undertake a PhD. To this end, I would seek to use my professional Japanese language skills to pursue my aspirations in the fields of economics and international affairs—whether that may eventually lead to a career in international public policy, diplomacy, or the academe.

Medical anthropology, science studies, social issues such as hikikomori and karōshi, food, travel, volleyball, working out, video games, politics.

I wanted to learn as much Japanese as I can for my research, and my advisor Joseph Hankins, an alumnus, could not recommend the school enough. Many of the researchers I am inspired by also attended IUC. So I knew it was the best school for my goals. Being in Yokohama, so close to where I do my research, my homestay family, and all of my friends didn't hurt either.

After IUC I hope to finish my Ph.D. in Anthropology and become a Professor. While any Professorship would be great, I would really like to move to either Latin America or Europe and teach there.

Japanese art history, yoga.

The intensive language training.

I will return to Columbia University to continue my PhD program.

Postwar Japan's cultural history, premodern Japan's history (1543-1853), Japan's historical open-air theme parks, Japanese loanwords in the Oxford English Dictionary, Japan's postwar music industry and the Kōhaku Utagassen.

Its long history, high reputation, strong academic network, and specific capability in academic Japanese language training for a Japanologist-to-be, as well as the generous fellowships it provides!

Going to SOAS in the UK to get my second MA degree in History after graduating from IUC (will apply in September), and then applying for the PhD program in East Asian Languages and Civilization at Harvard or Columbia.

Literature, queer studies, writing, video games, cycling, and ballet dance.

I have two friends who attended IUC consecutive years and spoke highly about the program. I've long wanted to study Japanese literature, but my language ability was not a high enough level to do it justice I felt. My friends presented IUC to me as a great option for a longtime student of Japanese who felt their learning plateaued in college. I think IUC will be a great and different experience from the language courses I've had before.

With N1 to approaching-N1 level skills, I would probably start looking into Master's programs in Japanese literature with an aim to read and study the texts in their native language. In the long term, I am an aspiring author and would love to take everything I've learned from my studies and apply it to my own work.

Cultural anthropology, design, reading, Japanese drama, Arashi (Japanese idol group).

The idea of immersive learning and becoming professional. Or maybe the Ferris Wheel.

Interested in Japanese designers and their works, I want to work as a user researcher in the design industry and plan to go for a PhD in cultural anthropology after working for a few years, focusing my research on the topic of design and human life. My ambition is becoming both a designer and an anthropologist. But obviously I still have a long long long way to go.

Premodern Japanese literature, Russian literature, Noh theater, ballet.

IUC has been recommended to me by many people for its rigor and effectiveness. I'm looking forward to sharpening my academic Japanese skills so that I can take full advantage of the wealth of materials (accessible only in Japanese) relating to Japanese theater.

After IUC, I will enter the Ph.D. program in East Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia, where I plan to focus my studies on poetry and performance in Noh theater. I hope that my research will include both academic and performative perspectives (I started taking Noh lessons this year and would like to continue!).

Social welfare, performance, theater, law, anime, literature, and science.

IUC seemed like the next logical step after I received my Master's degree at the University of Pennsylvania. By continuing to work on my Japanese language skills and immersing myself in Japanese culture, I can hone the skills necessary to succeed in a PhD program.

I am contemplating two routes after completing my program at IUC. The first would have me enter a PhD program, where I would study social welfare conditions relevant to Asian Americans. The second would have me pursue biomedical research to directly enhance the quality of life of Asian Americans.

Patent translation, translation studies, international organizations, LGBTQ+ fiction and literature.

The reputation of the school, the immersive and intensive nature of the program are huge draws. I have an acquaintance who is an alum and spoke highly of the program, as well.

My first goal is to make another attempt at the WIPO patent translation fellowship. I also want to explore options for the second year in my masters program so I may pursue a Ph.D. in translation.

Japanese modern literature (post-war period), Tanizaki Junichiro's literary concept and literary theories, Dazai Osamu, modern arts (games, paintings, and music), reading manga and novels, and electric bass.

In general, I feel my Japanese language skill has entered a period of stagnation and IUC gave me the exact opportunity to spend a year in Japan so that I may make a breakthrough by the intensive courses. In terms of my research need, I was attracted to IUC's courses which would train me to have a higher capacity of reading Japanese texts.

I will continue my studies on literature. I will spend the next year to finish my MA degree and apply for Ph.D. programs of Japanese literature.

Cooking, international relations, foreign languages, gurume meguri, traveling, karaoke, the beach.

The quality of its Japanese program.

To help strengthen US-Japanese relations by working in organizations like the US-Japan Council, Sasakawa Peace Foundation, East-West Center, etc.

Cultural competence training for counselors, social healing practices across cultures, LGBTQ+ communities, improving the quality of counseling available to transgender individuals seeking therapy.

I was first drawn to the emphasis on pedagogy at the IUC—it is neat to find a program with such an innovative and intentional structure as well as excellent faculty. I am also looking forward to interacting with students from many fields and disciplines with unique perspectives on Japanese language, history, and culture.

Most immediately, I hope to complete dissertation research exploring counselors' conceptualizations of their clients' cultural worldviews. In the future I hope to hold a clinically-focused faculty position at a university where I can facilitate the professional development of counselors-in-training.

The spread and popularization of Japanese martial arts throughout the world, singing, baking, Aikido, matsuri.

The IUC is known as one of the top places to learn Japanese. The teachers don't just teach Japanese, they also expect you to use it through the various class activities and making the school a Japanese-only space. The opportunity to study various subjects like art and Japanese history in Japanese was very attractive as well.

After the IUC I hope to work in a position that allows me to advance Japanese and American relations. Ideally I would have involvement with the Olympics as well.

Japanese language and culture, reading, walking/hiking, karate, TV/movies, Kin-ball.

A friend told me about the school and said it was one of the best places to study Japanese. I have a lot of areas I need to improve on and I believe IUC can help me accomplish that.

My goal is to become an interpreter and/or translator, therefore I am interested in entering graduate school or a speciality school in Japan after completing the program at IUC.

Waka, anthology, rhetoric, kuzushiji, early music, hiking

My interest in pre-modern Japanese literature demands a high level of fluency, which I hope to attain on an accelerated basis through intensive study at the IUC.

I plan to apply for a PhD in Japanese literature after completing my undergraduate degree. I am primarily interested in studying pre-modern Japanese poetry (waka) as, for instance, in early anthologies and uta-awase—in particular, systems of rhetoric and form.

Popular culture, globalization, identity formation, internationalization, hip hop, Japan, skiing, traveling, music, dance, reading, watching movies, photography.

It is an excellent Japanese language program which multiple friends, family, and professors have recommended and attended. Since I intend to pursue doctoral studies focused on Japan, studying at the IUC is necessary for my future career plans. Additionally, because I wish to become as fluent as possible in Japanese, I was attracted to the IUC.

Pursuing doctoral studies focused on Japan.

Light novels, otaku culture, anime and manga, reading, listening to music.

The prospect of spending so much time in Japan, studying Japanese closely with professors while also pursuing my research interests. I also appreciate the opportunity it provides for forming connections between those inside and outside Japan not only based on language study (although that is important, too!)

I'd love to work as a Japanese-English translator in the technology field.

Linguistics, pragmatics, Ryukyuan language and culture, music, cute dogs.

As a linguist who works on both Japanese and Ryukyuan languages, it is important for me to be able to clearly and confidently explain my research and its social and academic values to a variety of audiences. The IUC will not only provide me opportunities to further my knowledge of Japanese grammar and professional presentation skills, but will also offer a bright and diverse cohort with whom I can discuss my work, and from whom I will learn more about other fields of Japanese study.

After the program, I hope to return to Miyakojima and continue working with the Ikemajima and Nishihara communities. I hope to present my work at conferences, workshops, and other venues in both English and Japanese in order to spread awareness of the language and culture endangerment in the Ryukyus. Eventually, I would also like to work with the Japanese-American community in Hawaiʻi, which shares similar stories of language oppression and loss.

Religion in traditional Japanese theater, kyogen, Japanese traditional theater in film, performance theory, humor theory, Okinawan post-colonial literature, feminism, watching film, translation, hiking, comedy, gaming.

I originally heard of IUC as a recommendation from my advisor. Due to the lack of English-scholarship related to my research, we were discussing my need to engage directly with Japanese scholarship. My advisor had attended IUC herself, and she spoke of IUC’s reputation for preparing Japanese-area scholars for independent research. As I read more about the program, my interest only grew. I had originally completed two summers of intensive language study at Middlebury College. I remember how much those programed had aided my language development, and given that Middlebury only lasted 2 months, the possibilities of a 10 month program of a similar nature were enticing. I was also excited about spending the summer in Yokohama since my time in Japan had largely been limited to the Kansai area. When I learned about the many scholarships and the semiannual lectures from alumni and other scholars, that only cemented my resolve to attend IUC.

Following my attendance at IUC, I plan to return to California and complete coursework in preparation for doctoral examinations. After my examinations I plan to undertake a year of dissertation research at Waseda University and write my dissertation the following year. Once I complete my dissertation, I will seek out an Asian Studies professorship, while continuing my research on Kyogen and Japanese humor.

Postwar Japanese art, Japanese photography, Japanese print culture (sixteenth to twentieth centuries), Okinawan art, Minimalism and conceptual art, feminist art theory, Postcolonial theory, museum/gallery hopping, travel, wine, running, yoga, hiking, scuba diving.

I attended IUC during the summer in 2014 and it was a truly rewarding experience. It is an extremely collegial environment full of highly motivated, passionate individuals and dedicated instructors. After completing the summer program, I was eager to return for the year before enrolling in a doctoral program.

After completing the 10-month IUC program, I aim to begin doctoral coursework in Japanese Art History and conduct research on postwar Okinawan art.

Japanese, Chinese, Modernism, film, literature, board games, colonial studies, classical Chinese and Japanese.

A professor recommended that the IUC would be the perfect way to advance my Japanese in preparation for graduate school. I am also looking forward to being around fellow students who share similar interests and are equally dedicated to language and cultural study.

I hope to attend graduate school in some capacity.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, international relations, guitar, punk music, Japanese cuisine.

When I first heard of the IUC, I was told that it was the premier Japanese language school in the world, and that to participate in a full 10-month program would make a world of difference for my Japanese. I was immediately interested in one day attending, as Japanese language study is one of my passions and I desperately desire to reach the upper levels of proficiency within my lifetime. Now, thanks to having been fortunately accepted to next year's 10-month program, it looks like I will have the chance to reach those levels sooner than later. I am incredibly grateful.

To be honest, I am not yet sure what industry or area of work I would like to go into, but I am interested in a wide range of potential careers and know only that I would like to be able to use my Japanese language ability and personal knowledge of Japan as part of my work. My academic training relates to international relations and Japanese politics, so diplomacy and journalism are two areas of work I have considered heavily, but I want to keep my options open and continue to think during my time at the IUC about where my skills might be best employed.

Early Modern/modern Japanese history, nightsoil, public health, Yokohama, katsu kaishu, pan-Asianism, movies, reading, games, and drinking with friends.

When I first arrived at the University of Illinois to begin my Masters the IUC program was highly recommended to me. I also realized hat my Japanese was not adequate to research effectively in Japanese which also encouraged me to apply so that I could begin to further my skills.

When I return to the US after IUC, I will finish my Master's and apply for PHD programs. I hope to become a professor of Japanese history in the future.

Cinema, music, travel, modern and contemporary art.

My Japanese skills are mostly self-taught, and I have not been able to develop my speaking and listening skills as much as I would like. Because IUC is an intensive 10-month program, it is the ideal place for me to work on all aspects of my Japanese learning: not only reading for research purposes but also speaking and listening for research and communication. My research area is Japanese and East Asian cinema and visual culture. Therefore, it is crucial that I develop strong listening skills so that I am not limited to researching only subtitled film and video. Learning another language is a life-long process, but through IUC I can develop a strong base from which to build as I move forward with my career. I am also very excited to spend an extended period of time in Japan, which will enable me to enjoy Japanese culture and develop my language skills even when not in class. I am looking forward to meeting everyone at IUC and developing professional connections based on a shared love of language learning.

After IUC, I will return to the University of Southern California to resume my PhD program. I will finish my course work and will take my qualifying examinations, and thanks to IUC, I will be well prepared to include Japanese-language sources. I will also be beginning Korean language study in addition to continuing to hone my Japanese skills, which will be a new language challenge. My future goals are to teach Japanese cinema and visual culture at the university level and perhaps even to start my own academic East Asian cinema and visual media journal.

International relations, gender, post-war East Asian history.

I was originally attracted to IUC because I realized that to be able to use Japanese in my career, I need to develop a much higher ability to express ideas with nuance and clarity, and to better comprehend complex ideas. I am so excited to have the opportunity to undertake highly intensive language study over an extended period of time.

I am a Boren Scholar, and one of my stipulations of my scholarship is that within three years of returning to the US, I am required to work for the Federal government. Ideally, I'd like to find a job in a think tank or NGO for the time between my return to the US and when I can start government work. After I fulfill my service requirement, I am planning to attend grad school- but my experiences in the next few years will determine what kind of grad degree I pursue!

Modern Japanese history, history of emotions and senses, cultural exchange, politics, religion, national identity, etc.

IUC’s commitment to maintaining a rigorous and welcoming academic atmosphere most attracted me to the program. Devoting 10 months to studying only Japanese with other students who hold similar interests and professional goals is a rare opportunity. I am excited and honored to be a part of the IUC community.

After my time at IUC, I hope to enter a doctoral program where I can apply to my research the Japanese language skills that I gain through the 10-month program. Primarily focusing on Japanese history during the late nineteenth century to mid-twentieth century, my research interests center on the intersection of religion and politics. In past research, I have examined the transnational ties formed between Japan and Muslim communities between the end of the Russo-Japanese War and the end of World War II. In my future research, by using a history of emotions perspective, my goal is to focus more specifically on how religion and politics came to shape communities and the lives of individuals. However, I am especially looking forward to being able to use the language skills I gain from my study at IUC to explore primary resources at the Library of Congress and the Gordon W. Prange Collection when I return home to Washington, D.C. after the 10-month program.

Second language acquisition, teaching Japanese to speakers of other languages, discourse analysis, translation, interpreting.

I wanted to find a place where I could hone my academic Japanese skills and learn how to conduct research in Japanese. I learned a lot of conversational Japanese living inn Sado, but I want to be successful professionally with my language skills as well. It also sounded like the courses would be interesting and valuable when I read summaries

I would love to one day work as a Japanese teacher at a university and do scholarly work pertaining to second language learning. Translating and interpreting would also be very fun to pursue.

Postwar Japanese literature and culture, philosophical aesthetics (esp. Frankfurt School aesthetics), comparative poetics, Cold War cultures, theory (literary, social, and architectural), tennis, guitar, music, film.

Having taken many language classes across a variety of departments and institutions and at times wished for greater attention to the disciplinary needs and interests of students pursuing academic careers, I was especially attracted to IUC’s focus on specialized language education. I also appreciate the opportunity to concentrate on nothing but Japanese for 10 months--juggling language work simultaneously with other coursework and demands of a PhD program can be less than ideal.

Perhaps too grounded to be interesting (or even called an aspiration), but finishing my PhD program in a reasonable amount of time and getting a solid postdoc position would be lovely.

Modern Japanese history, postwar, film, dissent.

IUC has the reputation for excellence, as being the place for people in the Japan field to master academic Japanese, and prepare for a profession that demands daily use of sophisticated Japanese grammar and vocabulary.

I would love nothing more than becoming a researcher and educator in the field of modern Japanese history, at the tertiary level.

Kanbun kundoku, Sinitic tradition in Japan, Edo-period ‘encyclopedia texts', Nanga, Ukiyo-e.

My interest in Sinitic tradition in Japan demands fluency in Japanese that only the IUC can provide me with. For one, the program’s rigor would bring my Japanese reading skills up to par before I begin my PhD program, enabling me to read the difficult academic Japanese vital for the research I plan to do. Most importantly, the program’s emphasis on research in Japanese literature and art history corresponds with my interests in the Japanese Sinitic tradition as expressed in both literary and visual culture. Access to the library at Yokohama City University would provide me with extensive research materials to which I could not otherwise gain access, while the optional courses in kanbun and calligraphy are crucial to my study of Sinitic annotation and Bunjinga. On the whole, the final project and presentation at IUC would provide me with the chance to practice utilizing Japanese materials in conducting research on Japanese art and literature, which is essential given my ultimate goal to become an academic and conduct research in these very fields. Not least, the IUC would provide me with a community of like-minded scholars in whose company I would thrive at this vital juncture in my intellectual development.

After the 10-month program, I plan to apply to a PhD program in Japanese Studies. my interaction with the Japanese Sinitic tradition has driven me to develop a PhD research project with two main components: First, I would study Edo-period ‘encyclopedia texts’, and analyze the genre’s transformation from its Chinese origins—as a text that sought to explain esoteric concepts for members the higher classes—to its role in providing Japanese commoners with knowledge and even illustrations about rare and interesting objects. Particularly, I would investigate the assimilation of texts such as Terajima Ryōan’s Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia (1712) into Edo-period Ukiyo-e culture. Next, I would study the role that Japanese Nanga (Southern Style) art played in the formulation of Chinese landscape painting in the 18th and 19th centuries. Specifically, I am interested in the practice of falsely publishing Japanese Nanga works on the mainland as original Chinese works, a practice epitomized in Dianshizhai’s Collection of Illustrations (1885). There, copies from Katsushika Hokusai’s (1760-1849) Illustration of Selected Tang Poetry and Ōhara Tōya’s (1770–1840) Albums of Famous Numbers were published without credit.

Theater—playwriting and directing.

I was attracted to IUC because of the intensity of the program and, in addition, being able to focus on my own needs for my professional goals.

My future aspiration is to work in the theater industry in Japan.

Cryptocurrencies, Internet security, weightlifting, manga (One Piece), Mat Pilates, skincare.

While learning Japanese during my time as an undergraduate, I had always felt that one hour a day of language learning and application was not enough to become fluent in the language. The IUC’s rigorous program of full-time Japanese language study felt like an opportunity during which I could work toward fulfilling my goal of fluency in the Japanese language.

I plan to attend law school in the US post-IUC. I would like to combine my technical background with the law and Japanese, perhaps working in the field of international intellectual property or international acquisitions of tech companies.

Financial derivatives and risk management (methods of hedging credit and market risks for investors with different levels of risk aversion), mountain biking, mountaineering, rare techno-vinyl records

IUC is known for attracting individuals who wish to bring a contribution to Japan's progress in a wide variety of disciplines. Just the thought of being member of such a strong community of leaders attracts and inspires me.

After graduating from IUC I will start looking for jobs in the financial sector. It is my commitment to contribute to a better financial literacy level among Japan's younger generation, and to inspire the long-lost confidence in the financial markets.

Historical controversies, rightwing politics, international reconciliation, ethnic minorities (Zainichi).

IUC is the best program for Japanese language learners who are already at an advanced level, but who need an extra push to read academic and other professional writing more quickly and efficiently, to use keigo correctly and consistently, and to write in a more sophisticated manner. Since I would like to conduct ethnographic research in Japan in Japanese, I would like to improve all of these necessary skills.

I hope to enter into a PhD program in anthropology, sociology, or cultural studies where I can research efforts toward historical reconciliation among Japan, South Korea, and North Korea. I would also like to include China and Taiwan in that discussion, but for now I think my focus is just on Northeast Asia. I will be applying to PhD programs in the US, Australia, and Japan with the aim of starting those programs next fall.

Hiking, japanese, travel, literature.

I am going to IUC to be a part of a great learning environment. Hopefully meet some great people too.

Work and live in Japan.

Comparative Literature, Japanese immigration to Brazil, Japanese literature, Brazilian literature, Running, hiking, cooking, dancing, traveling, movies.

I was attracted to the IUC because I am a Comparative Literature graduate student at UC San Diego and I need to improve my Japanese language skills to be able to read the Japanese literature I research in the original (non-translation). I was impressed by the intensity of Japanese language instruction at the IUC, as well as the opportunity it offers to create an individualized study plan with elective courses and directed research.

I hope to become a professor of Japanese literature. Immediately following the IUC, I will return to UC San Diego to finish my PhD. I have four additional years remaining in my PhD program.

Video games (making and playing!), Cosplay, sewing, cross stitch, drinking boba, making new friends, watching anime and chef shows, reading fanfiction, volunteer work/outreach, make up, shopping, trying to be a great game designer!

Intense Japanese study! I want to be a great game designer and a huge part of that is ability to communicate. I believe the IUC is the most intense Japanese school dedicated to training students in writing, speaking, listening, and native use of the language.

I want to work at Nintendo's headquarters in Kyoto!

Book history, history of science, badminton,science-fiction.

My friend Maksym studied at the IUC for the academic year 17-18 and made substantial progress in Japanese. Despite the heavy workload he strongly recommended the program to me. So did my supervisor who suggested that there may be no better place than the IUC to improve my Japanese. I would like to take up the physical and mental challenge to become well versed in Japanese.
Also, the research done by the former IUC students are all quite interesting and inspiring and I expect to learn more about Japanese-related topics from the fellow students as well as from the teachers.

For the long term I intend to pursue a career in academia. After completing the program at the IUC, I plan to search for archives in Tokyo and Kyoto and get into contact with Japanese scholars in relevant fields. Before the end of 2021 I shall finish my dissertation and graduate and take the next step in a researcher’s career.