From ancient myths to contemporary social issues, Japanese studies offers a full range of courses in language, culture, literature, linguistics, gender studies, and anthropology. The activities at the Japanese House, the daily Language Tables, and numerous other events organized by our faculty immerse students in a culturally rich Japanese experience.

Students and a professor sit in a circle at the Japanese House.

Japanese House

The Japanese House provides an immersive living situation in Japanese. Students and the resident teaching assistant organize cultural presentations and activities, study sessions, cooking parties, and other activities including anime and film screenings, karaoke parties, dance workshops, and martial arts demonstrations. 

Japanese Language Table

The Japanese Language Table offers daily opportunities to interact with students and instructors in an informal atmosphere. The Middlebury School of Japanese in the summer Language Schools offers a year of language and culture study during eight weeks in the summer, and serves as preparation for study abroad during the junior year at the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Tokyo, one of the world’s most vibrant cities. Seniors consolidate linguistic gains made abroad with a disciplinary focus in their capstone year of independent research, writing, or translation.

Illustrations of cats on cards

Language and Culture

A structured sequence of courses in language and culture prepares our students for international careers or graduate study.

Students learn to use Japanese in a variety of environments and become confident speakers, readers, and writers.

Courses

Middlebury is one of the few colleges to offer an advanced seminar in Japanese language at the School of Japanese and the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in Tokyo.

Study Abroad in Japan

Courses taught in English on modern and classical Japanese literature, popular culture, gender, and society provide cultural breadth and disciplinary depth.

Learning Goals

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