MEXT Scholarship(Japanese Studies Students)

About Hiroshima University

① Features of the University

1) Characteristics and History
In 1949, the Hiroshima College of Literature and Science and the Hiroshima Higher Education Teaching College were merged, and Hiroshima University was born. Hiroshima University has a reputation as a leading university among education universities in Western Japan, as well as being prominent among Japanese universities for its high number of students. With 12 undergraduate faculties and 5 graduate departments, Hiroshima University is the home to education and research which meet the needs of today’s world, including those of the Information Age, internationalization, and lifetime learning. Aside from the undergraduate and graduate faculties, Hiroshima University holds a variety of unique research centers including the Research Institute for Higher Education, Institute for Peace Science, Morito Institute of Global higher Education (hereafter, Morito Institute), and the Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine.

Furthermore, the education department offers a special Japanese Language education course for students studying to become Japanese Language teachers or Japanese Language specialists.

Separated from the bustling city and surrounded by an abundance of nature, the vast Higashi-Hiroshima Campus provides the perfect study environment.

2) Staff/Student Numbers *as of 1 May, 2023

Teaching Staff 1,732
Students Undergraduate students 10,612
Graduate students 4,526

 

② International Exchange Numbers

The number of University Level Bilateral Agreements: 400 (354 institutes , 56 countries/areas)
Total number of international students: 1,726 (85 countries)    As of May 2023

③ Total Number of Accepted International Students and number of Students for Japanese Language and Culture Study Program for the past 3 years

  Total Number of Int'l Students Total Number of Students for Japanese Language and Culture Study Program
2023 1,726 2
2022 1,638 1
2021 1,650 1

 

④ Features of Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, and Higashi-Hiroshima City

Hiroshima City and Higashi-Hiroshima City are located in the Southern region of Hiroshima Prefecture. Both have direct access to the Seto Inland Sea, a mild climate, and are famous for their seaweed and oysters. The mountain area of northern Hiroshima Prefecture is famous for the traditional entertainment known as Kagura. One can also find many ruins of ‘Tatara (ironworks)’ in this area.

Hiroshima City was the first city to fall victim to the atomic bomb, but now, as an official designated city dedicated to the quest for international peace, it is the home of many groups involved in peace-promoting activities, in which our program’s students have opportunities for participating.

Higashi-Hiroshima City is located in a basin approximately 30 kilometers east of Hiroshima City. It has a long history as a town famous for its sake (Japanese rice wine). Recently, with the move of Hiroshima University and the establishment of several other private universities, as well as a great number of enterprise research centers, the city is rapidly developing into a center for academics and research. Furthermore, the recent prosperity of semiconductor, electricity and electronics production has led to a rapid increase in the population of Higashi-Hiroshima.

Course Contents

① Purposes of Course

A course intended mainly to improve Japanese language proficiency with supplementary study about Japan and Japanese culture.

② Features of Course

This course is comprised of three major components: a compulsory Special Japanese Language and Culture Study Program conducted solely for the students of this program; a research component consisting of topical research conducted under the guidance of a personal supervisor and the presentation of a research report; and participation in general Japanese and Japanese Affairs classes of the student’s choice.
The Specialized Japanese Language and Culture Study Program involves the cooperation of professors both in and out of the Morito Institute, and offers students the chance to not only deepen their knowledge of Japanese language, culture,society, and the peace contemplated from Hiroshima through special lectures, but also allows them to experience Japanese history, culture and customs first-hand and the preciousness of peace through several study tours within Hiroshima Prefecture, the Chugoku region, and in the Seto Inland Sea and surrounding areas.
The general Japanese Language and Culture classes are conducted for all foreign students of Hiroshima University, and students of this course may take any of the upper intermediate Level 4 and the advanced Level 5 classes, according to their personal ability and interests.
For topical research, each of the students undertakes specialized research in a topic of their choice relating to Japanese language or culture. The students’ personal supervisors, including specialists in the study of the Japanese language, Japanese language education, and Japanese culture, oversee the research. If desired, students are also able to audit regular classes from other faculties along with other Japanese students.
Every student is assigned with student supporters, who can offer advice or assistance on residential and college life. Students can also join in different international activities on campus.
Morito Institute also holds a large collection of Japanese movies and animation DVDs available for loan, along with portable DVD players. It is hoped that students will make use of these to further their study by watching them in their free time.
Every year, Morito Institute publishes the collection of the research reports written by the students.

③ Maximum Capacity

20 students
(Embassy recommendation:16, University recommendation:4)

④ Requirements for Acceptance

Those eligible to enter this course include those recommended by their embassies based on the regulations set by the Ministry of Education, or those recommended by universities or departments that have a agreement with Hiroshima University . In addition, the following requirements must be met:

1) Japanese Language Proficiency: Applicants must have an high level of Japanese ability. At the minimum, they must either hold or be able to pass Level N2 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.

2) Educational Background/ Field of Study: Applicants must have studied Japanese for a minimum of two years and be majoring in Japanese Language and/or culture. First year students are ineligible for this program.

⑤ Goal of Achievement

Every program student completes specialized personal research and writes a research paper under the direction of his or her individual advising professor. This research process grows ability in focusing on subject, planning study, word processing in Japanese and public presentation.

⑥ Course Length

Training Period : Late in September 2024 ~ Late in September , 2025                                                                (Enrollment Period: October 1, 2024 ~ September 30, 2025)

⑦ Period of Scholarship

October, 2024 - September, 2025

⑧ Annual Events and Schedule

・Students arrive in late September, and return home in late September. ・Opening and Closing ceremony   ・Research Presentation (students give a brief presentation on the contents of their individual research report)   ・Study Trip to Shimanami (Seto Inland Sea) ・Study Trip of Kojiki & Fudoki (Shimane)                                           

⑨ Course Completion Requirements

1) Compulsory Subjects
Required to take Special Japanese Language and Culture Study Program Ⅰand Ⅱ: 4 hours per week during both semesters. The research proposal presentation and mid-term presentation of each student's personal Research also takes place durig this time. Finally, they submit final reports written with a theme related to Japanese language, culture and society.

2) Elective Subjects
Required to take Japanese language course offered to all undergraduate and graduate students at the Morito Institute: 3 or more classes per week during both semesters depending on the Japanese language level of each student (level 4 or 5).

3) Certificate
All students who have fulfilled the completion requirements receive a certificate.

4) Academic Transcript
Academic transcripts are issued to students on demand.

⑩ Course Outline

1) Course Features
Special Japanese Language and Culture Study Program Ⅰ& Ⅱ (compulsory subjects) consists of special lectures on the Japanese language, culture and affairs, offered only to the program students by lecturers from the Morito Institute and other faculties, and study tours to cultural institutions and treasures of Chugoku and Shikoku area including Hiroshima, Ehime, and Shimane.
Through this program, students can improve understanding about history, culture, and industry of Seto-uchi area surrounding Hiroshima.
Students can also improve their Japanese language competence by taking Japanese language classes offered at the Morito Institute, thus acquiring a high proficiency of Japanese language useful for business and research.
On the basis of skills and knowledge acquired through the course, students conduct 'Project Study' that is on the same level as a graduation thesis under the personal support of a supervisor, considering the possibility of their going on to a Japanese graduate school or finding a job related to Japan.

2) Class Subjects

i) Compulsory Subject
Special Japanese Language and Culture Study Program Ⅰ & Ⅱ(2 classes per a week during both semesters, 120 hours in total) - Special lectures and study tours
"Project Study"-Submisson of the final report
ii) Elective Subjects
【Level 5】
    "Advanced Japanese Analysis A,B"   "Advanced Japanese Vocabulary A,B"   "Business Japanese A,B"   "Academic Writing A,B"
       ---2 classes per week during 1st and 3rd terms, 32 hours in total for each term
    "Advanced Japanese Cinema A,B"  "Advanced Japanese Listening A,B"
      ---2 classes per week during 2nd and 4th terms, 32 hours in total for each term
【Level 4】
    "Upper-intermediate Japanese A-1,2"  "Upper-intermediate Japanese B-1,2"
     ---2 classes per week during 3rd and 4th terms, 32 hours in total for each term
    "Upper-intermediate Japanese C-1,2"  "Upper itermediate Japanese D-1,2"
     ---2 classes per week during 3rd and 4th terms, 32 hours in total for each term

3) Activities and Tours
 ・In "Special Japanese Language and Culture Study Program Ⅰ&Ⅱ
         ---Hiroshima City Tour 1 & 2     ---Study tours to Saijo, Miyajima, Fukuyama, Onomichi and Kure(Hiroshima)
 ・Study Trip to Shimanami (Seto Inland Sea)
 ・Study Trip of Kojiki & Fudoki (Shimane)
 ・Other activities including a homestay and exchange event arranged by Hiroshima International Homestay Club

4) Opportunities for learning with Japanese Students
  If students are siiking opporunities to study with Japanese students, they may be able to do so through Faculty classes, e.g. in Letters, Education, etc., not offered by Morito Institute.

⑪ Guidance

1) Program Coordinators

ISHIHARA, Junya Associate Professor of Morito Institute of Global Higher Education

2) Guidance
All professors from the Morito Institute and some from the Education Department oversee the running of this program, and offer advice and support to students.

3) Advice and counseling are abailale for international students at the following locations;
   ・Health Service Center  ・International Student Advisor (Education department only)

Housing

 The increase in the number of international student at Hiroshima University means that it is no longer always possible to find a place in one of the university's international student dormitories. There are cases when students have to rent a private apartment. The lodging situation for students of the Japanese Language and Culture Program for the last three years is as follows;

  Int'l House Sun-square Private Apartment Total
2023 2 0 0 2
2022 1 0 0 1
2021 1 0 0 1

 

Hiroshima University International House:
Room size 13.3㎡; Rent ¥5,900/month; Common House Expenses ¥ 2,500/month; Walking Time to Morito Institute : 20 mins, Cycling time: 7 mins

Leased Accommodation by University:
Room size 15-17㎡; Rent 8,000- ¥ 18,000/month; Deposit  ¥ 20,000

Sunsquare Higashi-Hiroshima:
Room size 17.46㎡; Rent \23,500/month(indluding Common expense charge); Sheets \6,000; Deposit \40,000; Time to Morito Institute: Bus-15mins, Bicycle-25mins

Private Apartments:
Room size 15-17㎡; Rent \25,000-45,000/month; Common expenses chagre \1,000-3,000/month; Deposit 1-3 months rent; Move-in fee 1 month rent; Agent fee 1 month rent

※In order to cover living expenses and set-up costs until the time of the first scholarship payment, it is suggested that students bring a minimum of \100,000 with them to Japan.

 

Follow-up for Course Completion Students

Printed Research Reports Books are delivered to completed students and their home university.
Research Reports' files are registered for general use at Morito Institute HP repository.
Past program activity records are accessible to completed students.
All completed students are booked on our program’s mailing list and informed about present program activities.

Inquiries

Morito Institute of Global Higher Education, Hiroshima University
Address: K305, 1-1-1 Kagamiyama Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8524
Phone: +81-82-424-6286(Direct)
Fax: +81-82-424-6286
Email: morito-office(AT)hiroshima-u.ac.jp (Please replace (AT) with @)


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