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About the Major

The growth of the Pacific Rim as an economic and technological giant has spurred interest in the region’s cultures as well as its languages. Japanese has become one of the most widely taught languages in the U.S. and has assumed critical importance in a range of professions, from politics and diplomacy to business, education, and technology. The study of Japanese at Hamilton provides rigorous, intensive training in reading, writing, and speaking the language, with upper-level courses conducted entirely in Japanese. In addition, many students choose to study abroad.  

A Sampling of Courses

Virtual Reality Benshi

Introduction to Japanese Film

This seminar delves into the history of Japanese cinema, exploring its development and impact on a global scale from the early 1900s to the present day. A unique aspect of the cinematic experience is also highlighted, specifically the presence of benshi live oral narrators. The course covers a wide range of Japanese films, from the silent era to contemporary anime. By studying Japanese cinema, students will gain a fresh perspective on the art form as well as insights into its cultural evolution as a modern mode of entertainment.

Explore these select courses:

Introduction to basic structures and vocabulary. Emphasis on oral communication with practice in reading and writing, using the two syllabaries (hiragana and katakana) and 28 kanji characters. Four 50-minute classes a week (Monday-Thursday).

The Edo Period (1603-1868) was a time of stability in Japan. The urban centers of Japan thrived, and people had greater access to wealth and education. There was an explosion of popular literature and performances, many of which influence today’s pop culture. We will read representative works from the Edo period, including ghost stories, puppet and kabuki plays, haiku, and comic fiction. The course will be primarily discussion-based. Writing assignments will include a creative writing option. The course has no prerequisites and does not require Japanese knowledge.

This course focuses on Japanese as a central point of comparison with Chinese and Korean. It covers the writing system, language policies, syntax (word order, inflections, particles, and their interactions), and phonological structures (phonemes, pitch vs. tone, and sound patterns) of these languages. No prior knowledge of any Asian language is required.


Focusing on Japan as a point of reference, this course will consider how the notion of "place" gets constructed through human emotions as something more than just a set of geographical coordinates. Examining a range of literary works and films, we will study how "Japan" has been imagined, constructed, and remembered in the 20th century through storytelling. Topics to be covered include Japan’s imperialism in Asia, Hiroshima/Nagasaki, Vietnam War, minorities in Japan, and anime. Taught in English. No prior knowledge of Japan is required. Open to Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only.

Meet Our Faculty

Masaaki Kamiya

Associate Professor of Japanese, Director of Linguistics

mkamiya@hamilton.edu

syntax, semantics, language acquisition, pragmatic and Japanese linguistics

Kyoko Omori

Associate Professor of Japanese

komori@hamilton.edu

modern Japanese literature, especially modernism and youth magazine culture; early 20th-century media, especially cinema and radio; and censorship and the Occupation Era, 1945-52

Haruka Higa

Visiting Instructor in East Asian Languages and Literature (Japanese)

hhiga@hamilton.edu

Language Teaching, TESOL, TLOTE

Asuka Miyamoto

Teaching Fellow in Japanese

amiyamot@hamilton.edu

Japanese language and pedagogy, language acquisition

Yurie Moriwaki

Teaching Fellow in East Asian Languages and Literature

ymoriwak@hamilton.edu

Careers After Hamilton

Hamilton graduates who concentrated in Japanese are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:

  • Patent Examiner, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • Youth Coordinator, Mattahunt Wheelock Community Center
  • Business Development Associate, Coleman Research Group
  • Java Developer, Clarity
  • Social Media Coordinator, Keep It Real Acting

Explore Hamilton Stories

Phi Beta Kappa key

17 Members of the Class of 2024 Elected to Phi Beta Kappa

In its second meeting of the 2023-24 academic year, the Hamilton Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa elected 17 members of the Class of 2024.

Zhaosen Guo '21 and Wei-Jen Chang

Digitizing the Past

Most people would agree that history should be accessible, and for Zhaosen Guo ’21, digitizing the past is the way to make that happen. He's spent the summer as a Digital Humanities Initiative research fellow.

Faby Alvarez ’22

Building Connections Across Cultures

An interest in Japanese language and culture led Faby Alvarez ’22 to participate in the 72nd Japan-America Student Conference (JASC), a program that brings students from the two countries together to research, study, and discuss Japan-U.S. relations across a breadth of topics. The highly competitive program emphasizes building connections across cultures through reflective, educational conversations.

Contact

Department Name

Japanese Program

Contact Name

Masaaki Kamiya, Program Coordinator

Office Location
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323

Help us provide an accessible education, offer innovative resources and programs, and foster intellectual exploration.

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