If you have fallen in love with the Japanese language and culture, why not study there?

Here are a few tips and pointers to consider when applying for an undergraduate degree in Japan as an international student:

Entrance Exams

As exciting as studying abroad may sound, there are usually entry requirements. In Japan, most courses are taught in Japanese, so you need to prove your proficiency in the language before you can apply. This is why most applicants need to take the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students, which is more commonly known as EJU. The EJU examination is designed to test the applicant’s academic abilities in the following subject areas: 

• Japanese as a Foreign Language 

• Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

• Mathematics

• Japan and the World

The subject areas you are tested on depend on the course and university you are applying to, so please do check in advance! You can have a quick browse of the schools which require the EJU entrance exam here. To help prepare you for the examination, the Japan Student Services Organization, JASSO, have provided the syllabus for each subject and past paper questions. 

Taking exams can always be a source of stress for many of us, but the best part about the EJU examination is that you can take the test as many times as you like! It is administered twice a year, in June and November, and you can choose which score is submitted with your university application. What’s more, your score remains valid for up to two years, so there is never any rush. However, you should bear in mind that the academic year in Japan starts in April, so you would need to pass the EJU exam in June or November at least one year before you plan to start your studies.

On the other hand, you will probably have to travel abroad in order to sit the EJU exam as the test is not available in the U.S., U.K. or Europe. Naturally, there are abundant test sites in Japan, but you can find plenty of other alternative examination sites around the world! If you are planning on travelling to Japan to sit the EJU examination, you may need a Temporary Visitor Visa, which you can read more about here. 

In these truly strange and uncertain times it’s vital that you plan ahead. If you want to sit the examination in near future, please keep monitoring the status of your examination, as the June 2020 session has already been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

For more information about the EJU examination, check out the JASSO website, where you can find out more about the application process and scan through their FAQs.

As well as proficiency in the Japanese language, universities may require you to be proficient in the English language; qualifications include the TEFL certification. If you are interested in acquiring a TEFL certification, check out our online courses, provided by Come On Out eTEFL. 

The additional benefit of getting this certificate to prove your English language abilities is that you can use it to teach English while you are studying! Private English teachers are in demand in Japan, so you can earn a decent pay – this is particularly important for privately-financed students – and have a flexible working schedule. On top of that, you get the added bonus to meeting new people, making friends and networking; so, the question is: why not?

Scholarships

Generally speaking, tuition fees for undergraduate degrees are much more affordable than in the U.S. and U.K. At national universities, fees are 535,800 yen, which is approximately 5,055 USD (3,900 GBP). There is also an admission fee of 282,000 yen, which is around 2,660 USD (2,057 GBP), in addition to maintenance fees, living costs and accommodation. As such, being a student in Japan can get pretty expensive.

To overcome these costs, most international students apply for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, MEXT, scholarship. The 2021 MEXT scholarship covers all education fees, including tuition, admission and the cost of your entrance exam! On top of that, you are given an allowance of at least 117,000 yen per month, which amounts to more than 1100 USD. MEXT will also provide you with a ticket to Japan for your first arrival and another after your final year of study, when you decide to leave Japan.

Although the MEXT scholarship is extremely rewarding, it can be rather difficult to qualify for it. Here is a checklist of the main eligibility criteria for the scholarship:  

Nationality

• You must be from a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan 

• You cannot have a Japanese nationality; if you carry a dual citizenship you must be willing to give up your Japanese nationality before arrival 

Previous study

• You must have completed at least 12 years of study in your own country

Japanese Language 

• You must be proficient in Japanese or be willing to undergo a one-year preparatory education in the language before you go to university (excluding undergraduate courses which to not require Japanese language proficiency) 

Age

• You must be between the ages of 17 to 25 to apply for the undergraduate scholarship

You must also apply for a student visa and include health documents for your application to be approved. Unfortunately, applications for the 2021 MEXT scholarship have now closed, but keep your eyes peeled as the 2022 applications are set to open in April 2021! 

If you do not meet the criteria for the MEXT scholarship, there are still plenty of alternatives for international students! Here are a few scholarships to get you started: 

• Scholarships for International Students in Japan – JASSO 

• Scholarships for Students Studying in Japan – Japanese Embassy (U.K)

• The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students – JASSO

• Bridging Scholarships for Year Abroad – American Association of Teacher of Japanese

Overall, there are quite a few factors to consider when applying to study in Japan – and abroad in general – so definitely do your research! It is important that you have a good reason for why you want to study in Japan and how it will benefit you. 

Good luck on your applications!

Let Come On Out – Japan help you as you embark on your exploration of undergraduate degrees in Japan. To hear some of our Global English Camp interns’ opinions on how to prepare for life in Japan, click here!

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Written by Sara Nouri, 2020 Come On Out Intern

Much of Japan’s allure lies in its incredible diversity contained within a relatively small landmass. Thanks to our rotating schedules as Global English Camp interns, we had the good fortune to explore much of Japan’s unique geography, from sleepless cities to quiet countrysides.

As enthusiastic social media users, we often relied on Instagram for recommendations and tips on living in Japan, as well as staying connected to the country long after leaving. Here are some of our favorite Instagram accounts to remind us of Japan even when we can’t be there in person!

1. @japanbyfood

This account features traditional Japanese food like wagashi and ramen, as well as Japanese food trends like Studio Ghibli-themed cream puffs. Many of the accounts’ captions highlight the history and traditions associated with popular Japanese dishes, so it serves as a great educational tool for anyone looking to learn more about Japanese food.

Content from @japanbyfood

2. @her.atlas

Caitlin Atlas is an American influencer living with her husband and dog in Iwakuni, a tiny Japanese town in the western prefecture of Yamaguchi. Originally from San Diego, she now teaches part-time at an American school and chronicles every detail of her life in Japan, from her modern home to her grocery store trips. She is also active on YouTube, TikTok, and her own blog (heratlas.com).

Content from @her.atlas

3. @hirozzzz

Photographer Hiroaki Fukuda’s Instagram account strikes a perfect balance between the natural and man-made beauty that comprise Japan’s distinct aesthetic. Between the sakura, torii gates, and Tokyo streets, you might even spot a celebrity or two that Fukuda has photographed during their visit to the country. 

Content from @hirozzzz

4. @twinleaves

All of the photos on this page follow the same formula with strikingly different results each time: perfectly-square captures of exterior walls across Japan. The variety this photographer produces is captivating; some portraits are stunningly simple, while others are so elaborate they could be studied for hours.

Content from @twinleaves

5. @blossomtheproject

This account uses Instagram-friendly infographics to explain “social issues and mental health” in a Japanese context. Most of the posts are available in both Japanese and English. For anyone who has spent time in Japan or wishes to better understand contemporary Japanese society, this page is a great start.

Content from @blossomtheproject

6. @coco_pinkprincess

Coco is a nine year-old fashion icon from Harajuku, the colorful, fashion-forward neighborhood in Tokyo. On her account, you can find her fiercely posing in everything from full monochrome looks to balloon pants. For anyone interested in Japanese fashion and street style, this account is a fun one to follow.

Content from @coco_pinkprincess

Whether you are visiting Japan or sitting on your couch daydreaming of a trip there, these accounts will help you connect with Japanese culture regardless of your location. While these are a few of our favorites, there are plenty of Japanese content creators and we are always looking for more to follow. Do you follow any Japanese Instagram accounts?

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Written by Emily Coplan and Isa Ananya Spoerry, 2019 Global English Camp Interns

Considering Japan’s complex history and rich cultural composition, it should come as no surprise that the country also has a thriving literary scene. I learned just as much last summer, when at the end of Global English Camp I found myself longing to return to Tokyo before even boarding my flight home. After flipping through the photos of my adventures for what seemed like the hundredth time, I figured there must be better ways to recapture the magic I felt while traveling through Japan. Enter: books!

Below you will find a brief list of excellent reads that offer insight into some of the most compelling aspects of life in Japan, from its characteristic tea culture to its ubiquitous convenience stores. Global English Camp may be remote this year, but books provide the perfect portal to Japan until it is safe to travel once more. Happy reading!

A bookstore in Nara.

1. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is one of Japan’s most prolific and internationally-recognized contemporary authors; his books have been translated into over 50 languages and won numerous awards. Norwegian Wood, named for the famous Beatles song mentioned in the novel’s opening pages, follows a young man named Toru Watanabe through two romances and the loss of his best friend to suicide. Murakami meditates on universal themes including grief, adolescent love, and the passage from youth to adulthood through a uniquely Japanese lens. Pictured below: Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and the Gion district in Kyoto.

P.S. It’s a favorite book of singer Harry Styles!

P.S.S. For a taste of Murakami’s writing, try this recently-published short story in The New Yorker, linked here.

2. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata

The first of Murata’s ten books to be translated into English takes place within one of the most familiar Japanese settings to residents and visitors alike: the conbini, or convenience store. Thirty-something Keiko Furukura is a top-performing employee at the fictional Hiiromachi Station Smile Mart. She struggles to connect with her family and finds a sense of purpose, identity, and value in her work at the conbini. Striving for what she perceives as normality, Keiko strikes a deal with a misogynistic, bitter man named Shiraha. Murata uses her characters as vehicles to interrogate key issues in modern Japan, ranging from declining marriage rates to shifting gender roles, as well as hikikomori—a Japanese term for endemic reclusivity and social withdrawal. Pictured below: The author in front of her favorite convenience store, Family Mart, and some of the author's convenience store picks (onigiri, sushi, and melon bread & green tea).

3. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

Similar to Convenience Store Woman, the protagonist of Strange Weather in Tokyo is a single working woman in her late thirties. One evening, Tsukiko reconnects with her old Japanese teacher—’Sensei,’ who is at least thirty years her senior—at a bar, sparking a tentative romance that spans the four seasons in Japan. Tsukiko and Sensei understand one another deeply, which Kawakami uses to explore loneliness and the importance of human connection. As most of their interactions take place over dinner and drinks—many of which are described in ways that feel like Kawakami’s ode to Japanese cuisine—readers might envision themselves as sitting just one table away, able to detect the subtle intimacy of the relationship these two characters cultivate. Pictured below: Different settings of Tokyo at night.

4. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko is the only book on this list whose author is not Japanese. Min Jin Lee, a Korean-American, wrote this novel to draw more attention towards Zainichi Koreans, or people of Korean descent who reside in Japan. Through three generations of a fictional Korean-Japanese family, Lee illustrates the contentious history between the two countries through the primary setting of 19th century Japan. One decision made early in the novel sets in motion the unexpected, heart-wrenching lives of a dynamic cast of characters across a small Korean fishing village, the bustling Japanese port city of Osaka, and an American university in New York. Lee’s meticulous attention to detail in both her research (which took ten years!) and writing style ensures a rewarding reading experience that is equal parts emotional and informative. It is also one of my absolute favorite books I have ever read. Pictured below: Osaka by day and night.

5. The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzō

More of a long-form essay than a book, The Book of Tea is also the oldest work on this list, published in 1906. Writing for a Western audience, Kakuzō explains how chadō, or teaism, might be applied to practices of everyday life. He lauds the serenity and simplicity brought about by tea and commends the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, a philosophy rooted in appreciating and embracing the beauty of imperfection. Ultimately, Kakuzō suggests that tea should be recognized for its universality and power as a bridge between countries and cultures. If you’ve ever enjoyed a great cup of matcha, this book is a must-read! Pictured below: The author with her first matcha of the trip and an iced matcha in Tokyo.

And, for good measure, two excellent books that are not set in Japan but are by authors of Japanese heritage…

1. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Told through a series of flashbacks, a caregiver named Kathy reminisces on her time at a boarding school in the English countryside and the dark secret behind it.

2. The Memory Police by Yōko Ogawa

Residents of an unnamed island routinely experience the physical and mental erasure of everyday objects, enforced and monitored by a mysterious force: the titular Memory Police.

What are some of your favorite Japanese books?

A handmade book from a shop in Nara.

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By Isa Ananya Spoerry, 2019 Global English Camp Intern

Author’s Note: This is a very small sampling of a much larger corpus that becomes even more expansive if you can speak or read Japanese. I selected some fairly popular books that were either initially written in English or have a well-respected translation, but I encourage everyone to read beyond this list and share your own recommendations.