School of Asia 21

To deepen mutual understanding with other Asian societies, Kokushikan University has launched a new school, transcending conventional frameworks to respond to the globalizing Asia.

Kokushikan University has long been looking at other Asian societies as important partners to cooperate with ever since it was founded, with the spirit of mutual understanding, coexistence, and cultural relativism. The School of Asia 21 was established in 2002 with its view toward embodying this founding spirit in a contemporary context, based on a new concept of education. The goal of the school is to expand students’ capacity to understand different cultures, foster individual talents capable of transcending the limits of their societies, and play important roles in a global community. For international students, small-scale Japanese language classes with different levels of proficiency, as well as courses designed to train future Japanese instructors, will be provided. Opportunities to interact with local communities are also available to international students.

We aim at practical, experience-based education in Asian studies. We train talented individuals to understand the 21stcentury Asia and to take global job opportunities.

In the School of Asia 21, the first year is spent building overall understanding of contemporary Asian societies, while in the second year students select one of the three specialized courses of study: the Asia Society Course, the Asia Business Course, or the Asia Culture Course. The school emphasizes on pragmatic disciplines, and its educational methods are creative and innovative. In order to enhance our unique education, a variety of fieldwork, internship training programs in Japan and overseas, and volunteer work are duly integrated into the curriculum. Learning does not take place only in the classroom. Our students visit other countries, and gain direct, personal, hands-on feeling of Asia’s dynamism to learn the actual realities of politics, economics, and cultures on the streets. The School of Asia 21 trains people who can be active in any type of public institutions from international organizations to local governments, individuals equipped with acute business sense, and individuals good at cultural exchange.

The 21st century is often referred to as the age of Asia. The School of Asia 21 therefore offers three courses with uniquely defined dimensions: Asia Society Course, Asia Business Course, and Asia Culture Course. The Asia Society Course offers subjects relating to international cultural exchange, NGO activities, and a variety of Asian societies and cultures, covering a wide range of contemporary academic needs. The Asia Business Course offers a wide range of pragmatic business subjects required in modern business situations. The Asia Culture Course offers a variety of courseworks on contemporary Asian cultures, sports, history, and cultural heritage: all essential to understand the past, the present, and the future of Asia.