Japanese Studies Program

Established in 1966, the Japanese Studies Program is the first Japanese Studies Program in Southeast Asia, and the first among the International Studies Programs of the Ateneo.

Initially, it was the university's response to the felt need to deepen understanding of Japan with which the Philippines has had long historical ties. As bilateral relations developed, the program has sought to expand mutual understanding. Today, the Philippines and Japan endeavor to locate themselves in the milieu of globalization, and the Japanese Studies Program carries on the tradition of contributing to a scholarly approach to the problems and issues concomitant with world developments.


The Japanese Studies Program offers:

1. Minor in Japanese Studies for the undergraduate level
2. Master of Arts in Japanese Studies, with the following areas of specialization: Economics, History, Political Science, and Sociology

With its language and Japan-related courses open to degree and non-degree students from different disciplines, the Japanese Studies Program aims to develop graduates who have a global outlook, imbued with a keen understanding and appreciation of his/her own culture and of others', especially those with which his/her culture interfaces. Students who go through the courses of the Japanese Studies Program are highly competitive, uniquely advantaged, and relevant in work areas of diplomacy, trade and management, research and teaching, development studies, economics, and politics.

Vision, Mission:

The Japanese Studies Program consists of highly skilled and competent faculty specializing in different areas of the social sciences: Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology-Anthropology, and Business. Our undergraduate program provides students with a broad understanding of the Japanese people, their culture and language, historical development and contemporary challenges. Through our graduate program, we form specialists on Japan with high levels of practical and intellectual competence needed to address the growing economic and political importance of the Asia-Pacific region. We actively involve ourselves in research and organize conferences and seminars with the aim of creating an original and substantial academic tradition of Japanese Studies in the Philippines

Course Curriculum:

Master of Arts in Japanese Studies

This graduate degree program offered by the Japanese Studies Program of the Ateneo de Manila University is designed to provide a broad understanding of the Japanese people, their culture, historical development and contemporary problems.

The program is designed to interact with discipline-based programs of the graduate school, namely, Economics, History, Political Science and Sociology. The program has the following objectives:

• To contribute to the deepening of scholarly knowledge about Japan
• To form specialists on Japan with a high level of practical and intellectual competence needed in the economy, public service, media and education and who can address the growing economic and political importance of the Asia-Pacific region
• To create a tradition of Japanese Studies in the country of the highest quality

Admission:

To qualify for admission to the degree program, the applicant must have:

1. a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college of good standing
2. a general average of 85 percent, "B" or 2
3. acceptable scores in the entrance tests administered by the Center for Psychological and Educational Assessment of Ateneo de Manila University
4. an interview with the Japanese Studies Program Director.

Minor in Japanese Studies
(Certificate program - undergraduate level)

About the program

Faculty

Fulltime Faculty

Alverio, Elizabeth A. Jr.
Jose, Lydia Y.
Tan, Rosalina P.
Yabut, Hiroko N.

Part-time Faculty

Santamaria, Matthew M.
Sumida, Akiko
Valiente, Tito G.
Zulueta, Johanna O.

For inquires, e-mail mmartinez@ateneo.edu or japanese@admu.edu.ph or call 426-6001 local 5248.

About the program