SEIJO UNIVERSITY | Faculty of Arts and Literature

The Faculty of Arts and Literature consists of six departments: Japanese Literature, English, Arts, Cultural History, Mass Communications, and European Cultural Studies. The aim of this Faculty is to have a deep and clear understanding of the dynamic modern world in terms of cultural, social and historical perspectives. Students are required to be proficient not only in Japanese but in many languages, such as English, German, French, Chinese and Italian. On the basis of these language studies, students are to major in various topics, such as art, music, film and folklore, as well as literature, history and philosophy, with broad perspectives through interrelated research. Thus the Faculty is called ‘Arts and Literature’, which is different from other universities’ ‘Faculty of Literature’.

Small-classes encourage in-depth discussions, broaden the students’ perspectives, develop critical faculties and flexible thinking; the Faculty nurtures students to become distinctive and receptive individuals. We believe this approach enables us to develop graduates equipped with the necessary skills for success in our complex and rapidly changing society.

The Department of Japanese Literature offers research opportunities in the fields of Japanese literature, Japanese linguistics, and Chinese classical literature. Japanese literature studies are grounded in canonical works such as Ise Monogatari and Manyoshu, but also cover a wide range of classical, modern, and contemporary literature. In Japanese linguistics, the Japanese language is studied from historical, phonetic, and grammatical perspectives. Courses are also offered on the history of writing and calligraphy. In the Chinese classical literature course, students compare Japanese and Chinese literary works, and study Chinese poetry and other Chinese literary works.

Offering courses in literatures in English, cultural studies, and linguistics, the Department of English’s curriculum strikes a balance between traditional disciplines and new fields of study. Students choosing to specialize in literature may study British and American literature as well as works in English by writers from other countries. Those who choose to pursue cultural studies have the opportunity to explore the cultures of English-speaking societies through examination of visual, literary and electronic media. Linguistics students may approach the English language by studying sound (phonology) and grammar (syntax) as well as sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics.

The Department of Arts enables students to acquire a broad theoretical understanding of, and deep insight into, the variety of art forms created by humankind. The Department offers courses in the following disciplines: Aesthetics; Arts Studies, which comprises the very diverse fields of Musicology, Theater Studies, Film Theory and Film History; and Art History, which includes the History of Japanese Art, the History of Western Art, and the History of Eastern Art. Academic studies are supplemented by visits to theaters, concerts and art institutions. We are one of the few universities in Japan to have a department with such a diverse arts curriculum.

The Department of Cultural History had its origin in and still specializes in the well-known scholar Kunio Yanagita’s tradition of Japanese Folklore Studies (minzokugaku), but now practices an interdisciplinary and intercultural approach to culture and society of all periods and places. Each of our students specializes in one of our three fields: Japanese History, Japanese Folklore Studies, or Socio-cultural Anthropology. Academic studies are supplemented by field studies, as well as practical anthropological training such as interview and field research techniques. Students are encouraged to question the canon, to rethink the relationships between the margins and the center, and to explore socially relevant cultural history.

The Department of Mass Communication prepares students for careers in mass media fields, including journalism, advertising, public relations and marketing, with courses in various social science disciplines. Courses in mass media and journalism and in related fields such as social psychology, advertising psychology, and communication theory provide in-depth understanding and foster the capacity for critical judgment regarding the uses and nature of mass communication. Prominent professionals offer special lectures in the field of mass communication. Completion of the basic curriculum in the first two years is followed by seminar study and completion of a graduation thesis.

The Department of European Cultural Studies encourages students to study various aspects of European cultures, including literature, art, history, linguistics, philosophy, and current affairs. Our teaching centers on French and German culture, which we consider essential for the understanding of European culture and modernity in general. Students must learn either German or French intensively as their primary foreign language, while for their secondary language, they can choose between various options. The Department also offers classes in ancient Greek, Latin, and Italian. Students must write graduation theses, whose research themes can be based on diverse subjects, in accordance with their own interests.