Japanese Studies

Japanese studies is an interdisciplinary field that combines serious engagement with the Japanese language with the study of Japanese history, society, culture, literature, religion, gender and politics. Japan is an economic superpower, a cultural innovator of global influence, and a society with a distinctive history and set of institutions that repays study from multiple angles. A degree in Japanese studies prepares you both to use the language at a high level and to understand the society and culture it expresses.

At the University of Manchester this four-year full-time programme focuses on modern and contemporary Japan, developing your language skills alongside your knowledge of Japanese society, history and culture. You will study Japanese language to an advanced level, developing reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities that equip you to engage professionally and academically in Japanese. The broader studies strand examines key issues in Japanese society, including questions of gender, education, religion, history and contemporary social change, drawing on a range of disciplinary perspectives.

A sandwich year gives you the chance to gain professional experience before your final year, and work placement opportunities throughout the programme connect your academic learning with real professional environments.

Manchester has developed a substantial undergraduate and postgraduate presence in Japanese studies since the programme was established in 2007, and the department benefits from an expanding research community engaged with contemporary Japan.

Graduates move into careers in international business, diplomacy, journalism, education, translation and interpreting, cultural organisations, technology companies with Japanese operations, and NGOs. Many pursue postgraduate study in Japanese studies, linguistics, area studies or related fields, and some go on to academic research. The combination of language competence and cultural expertise opens roles across a wide range of contexts.