Minor in Japanese Studies (JNH)
Acting Director for the JNH Minor Program: Eva Nagase (on behalf of Sachiko Murata )
Coordinator for JPN (Japanese Language) courses: Chikako Nakamura
Full-time Faculty: Janis Mimura, Sachiko Murata, Eva Nagase, Chikako Nakamura, Atsuko Oyama, and Eriko Sato
Part-time Faculty: Mary Diaz, Yasuko Fujita, Anne McNulty, Hiroko Matsuzaki
The general goal of the minor in Japanese studies is to help students understand the specific characteristics of Japanese culture and civilization through courses in literature, religion, history, and language. Many of the students who minor in Japanese Studies go to Japan on various exchange programs to learn more about the country and to prepare themselves for graduate school or for careers in business and government.
The International Academic Programs (IAP) office has been offering a number of study abroad / exchange programs with many Japanese universities including Chiba University, Kyoto Sangyo University, Nihon University, Okayama University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, and Waseda University for many years. These programs are well established and extremely beneficial for the Japanese Studies minors. Contact Eva Nagase
AAS-Teacher Education Program for Japanese (BA degree) leads to New York State initial teaching certification and the B.A. degree in Asian and Asian American Studies: Adolescent Education –Japanese, Grades 7 – 12. Contact Eriko Sato
Tentaroh Inoh Collection for Japanese Studies was established in 2007. The collection has about 70,000 volumes of rare and valuable Japanese books on history, literature, philosophy, anthropology, archeology, religion, linguistics, and political science, including numerous reference books.
Challenge Exams are available for Japanese language courses. Contact Language Learning Resource Center to see if you are eligible.
Japanese Students Organization (JSO), a student organization at Stony Brook, has been supervised by faculty members in the Japanese Studies Program. They organize Japanese cultural events at Student Activity Center every year.
Taiko Tides, a club for Japanese taiko drumming, consists of American students, Japanese American students, and international students from Japan on campus, supervised by faculty members at Stony Brook with the help of dedicated volunteer instructors, has been serving as one of the most important extra-curricular activities that can teach Japanese traditional culture and art at Stony Brook. They have been performing many venues on Long Island.
The Pre-College Japanese Programwas established as a part of the Department of Asian and Asian American Studies in 2004 in order to offer Japanese language courses for local community residents. Near 50 students are enrolled in this program every year.
The Japan Center at Stony Brook was established in 2003. It has been organizing numerous educational events and programs related to Japan. The annual Canon essay competition is one of the Japan Center’s programs and has greatly raised the visibility of our university’s Japanese programs in the New York Metropolitan area.
Participants in the JET Program