News & Topics

Greetings to all Nanzan University and Center for Japanese Studies alumni. My name is Masahiko Mutsukawa. I am the Associate Director for the Japanese Education Division in the Foreign Language Education Center. I have been teaching Japanese language in the Center for Japanese Studies since 2006.

On 20 May, the Completion Ceremony was held online for students in the Center for Japanese Studies (CJS) in the 2021-2022 academic year. Online delivery of classes started in the CJS part way through the Spring Semester of the 2020 academic year, so they have been running for more than two years now. This year, the Summer Program was also cancelled because of the difficulties faced in terms of foreigners entering Japan for short-stays.

This challenging situation has continued for quite some time now, but recently there has finally been brighter news about increasing the upper limit for the number of foreigners entering the country and the relaxing of restrictions on the entry of foreign tourists. In this context, in the CJS we are pressing ahead with preparation for the recommencement of in-person classes from the Fall Semester.

In addition, since last year, there have been two new initiatives related to international student education. First, in the CJS, a new program called the Modern Japan Program (MJP) has started. The Intensive Japanese Program (IJP) , which has existed from the past, has been aimed at students who wanted to study the Japanese language intensively but the MJP is a program for students who would like to study basic Japanese as well as take part in a high quality course with Japanese students that provides information in English about Japanese affairs. The CJS aims to develop itself further based on the IJP and MJP programs.

Next, a new dormitory called the Janssen International Residence has opened this April. Nearly 180 local and international students with a diverse range of values live together and learn from each other. It offers an educational program called the 'Skill Development Program for Diversity and Inclusion'.

Excited about the new program and the new dormitory, in the CJS we are pressing ahead with preparations to accept new students in person in the Fall Semester. Similarly, we very much look forward to the day on which we can see you all again. In the near future, when you are able to enter Japan freely again, please consider dropping in to Nanzan University to see us. I look forward to that day.

Masahiko Mutsukawa
Associate Director for Japanese Education Division, Foreign Language Education Center
Dean of Academic Affairs for Japanese Language, Center for Japanese Studies