MA in Japanese

Spoken by close to 125 million people, Japanese is one of the most spoken languages of the world. Parallelly, the treasure trove of Japanese texts and literature has led to a growing interest in the study of the language in several universities worldwide and is not just limited to the Universities in Japan. Many courses offered outside of Japan, include an option to study in Japan as well. Read on to know more about what the MA in Japanese entails!

Introduction to the Course

The MA in Japanese is a 1 to 2 year long, language-based, degree program that dives deep not only into the origin, history and modern interpretations and changes in Japanese but also into the study of Japan through the ages. At present, it is offered across America, Europe, and Australia. As a specific entry requirement, knowledge and proficiency of the Japanese language is common across almost all course offerings. Other admission requirements include bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, writing sample, optional GRE scores, research methods experience, statement of purpose [SOP], English language proficiency [IELTS/TOEFL] for international students, among others. 

Also Read: Study in Japan

Course Components

An MA in Japanese is a blend of several spheres, including but not limited to language studies, culture, history, anthropology, and international area or global studies. It is typically divided into components that touch or go in-depth into such disciplines depending on the nature and objectives of the course. The following paragraphs delve into this topic: 

Required Subjects

There are a few subjects which are integral to the degree program, out of which, studying the Japanese language can be said to be the most important. You may or may not have a choice of elective. These subjects of MA in Japanese may include:

• Linguistics
• Japanese Language
• Introduction to Asian Studies
• Classical Japanese Literature
• Texts in Modern Japanese Literature
• History of Japan

Research Methods

Not dissimilar to other postgraduate language degree programs, training in research methods is important to explore the Japanese language, its history, modern usage, etc. This includes understanding how both qualitative and quantitative research must be conducted as well as the design and questions in surveys, experimental design, literature review, case study analysis and much more. Avenues of research into advanced fields of etymology, anthropology, culture, communication, ethnography and area studies, among others also open up. 

Course Electives

In order to diversify one’s understanding of the Japanese language, universities also focus upon giving students an introduction to variegated topics to know the context, background and other dimensions of the language. In the Master of Arts program, students have the freedom to choose electives according to their interests and research inclinations. Some of the electives you can expect to be offered during an MA in Japanese program are:

• Intercultural Communication
• Research of Language Education Policy
• Japanese Cultural Education Research
• Topics in Japanese Sociolinguistics
• Politics and International Relations
• Philosophy
• Old (8th century) Japanese Texts
• Economy and Business of Japan
• Japanese Social Anthropology
• Japanese Politics
• Religion
• Literature
• Social science
• Modern Translational History of Japan
• Linguistics, etc.

Also Read: Global Studies

MA in Japanese: Universities

An MA in Japanese gears you up academically as well as professionally for a career in research or a career in foreign language. Typical career profiles include Language Translator, Research Assistant, Area Manager, Author, Professor, etc. Here are some of the major universities you must consider: 

Name of University	Location	QS World Ranking 2023	Courses
University of Oxford	UK	4	MSc Japanese Studies
Stanford University	USA	3	MA in Japanese
National University of Singapore	Singapore	11	MA in Japanese Studies by Research
The University of Melbourne	Australia	33	MA Japanese [Thesis Only]
Leiden University	The Netherlands	131	MA in Asian Studies – Japanese Studies
Purdue University	USA	129	M.A. in Japanese (second language acquisition and pedagogy)
Lund University	Sweden	95	Master of Arts in Language and Linguistics, Japanese
University of Auckland	New Zealand	87	MA in Japanese
University of Newcastle	UK	192	MLitt Japanese Studies
SOAS University of London	UK	443	Japanese Studies MA MA History and Intensive Language Japanese  MA Japanese Studies and Intensive Language
Sophia University	Japan	801-1000	MA in Japanese Studies

Benefits of Learning Japanese

In today’s advanced world learning a foreign language is a great idea. The following are the benefits of learning Japanese as foreign language:

• It will give a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and history
• It will provide great career opportunities in the professional field
• Japanese is among the most learnt Asian language for professionals
• Learning Japanese could land highest paying language jobs for students
• It will also provide a competitive edge in the job market

Also Read: Career in Foreign Language

Career Prospects

The demand for the Japanese language has increase and with the rise of Asian culture, many people are attracted to Japanese anime, music, cartoon and fashion. This has made more people to learn the language. The following are the job profiles people can choose to pursue after completing MA in Japanese:

Job Profile Average Salary
Translator 7.2 Lakh
Japanese Teacher 3.2 Lakh
Embassies/Government Jobs 8.7 Lakh
Flight Attendant 6.0 Lakh

Hence, a master’s course in Japanese is not only available in the country itself but is opted by students across the globe! If you are interested in pursuing an MA in Japanese, get in touch with the counsellors at Leverage Edu through a free 30 minutes FREE counselling session for the right course and university combination and make an informed decision towards a rewarding career!