95 Best Humanities in Japan for 2025

Through wide-ranging studies of literature, languages, writing, manners, and customs from ancient times to the present, the culture and spirit of the Japanese people are examined from many different perspectives. The department aims to contribute to the development of research and study of Japanese culture, thereby developing human resources which can disseminate Japan’s unique culture to the world.

The mission of literary research in a Liberal Arts education is to confirm the semantic richness of man and the world through textual experiences. For this to be done, we must be able to critically read the world, to accept the emotional dimension, which is not necessarily explicable through logic, and to learn how to apply an integrative and intellectual approach.

Students will be immediate assets by training practically in "the Hospitality Training Room", which offer equipment and facilities that are also used in the working field. It is compulsory for students to acquire the basic knowledge of the international community and the language skills that is the key in understanding different cultures. We aim to train hospitality and communication skills in order to be able to work with people all over the world.

The other biggest trend in this 21st-century world is localism (the principle of specific areas) or regionalism (the principle of multiple areas) as opposed to globalism. The International Communications Department overcomes the barriers of cultural and political conflicts of countries with different languages, ethnic groups,

The Faculty of Letters aims to develop practical skills acquired by students through the study of various writings. They will learn how to approach writings as research subjects and how to feel the emotions that emanate from the world of language and expression. In addition to literature, students will also study human behavior as well as social and cultural phenomena.

Those who desire to study Japan from an international perspective so become global leaders with a deep understanding of Japan, or who seek to contribute to the advancement of multilingual and multicultural societies in Japan and elsewhere. The School of Japan Studies offers the opportunity to study and discover Japan comprehensively and from international perspectives.

A fundamental fact must first be made clear: the Faculty of Letters is not just a place to study literature. Philosophy, religion, history, language, art, and social sciences are included among the wide range of subjects that can be studied here.

Under the motto of “exploring cultures through a hands-on approach,” this department engages in cultural research activities that extend beyond the campus. Students study Japanese culture from diverse angles and deepen their understanding through hands-on experiences in one of the four domains of Language, Literature, Thought & Art, and Society & Folklore.

Since its inception, the Department of Chinese Studies has consistently emphasized practical Chinese education. As a first goal, we set the acquisition of Chinese that is useful in changing China’s social situation, economy, and culture. We also foster specialists who can be successful in the international field.

The Department of Japanese Literature and Culture offers a curriculum with numerous elective courses that students can choose according to their interests. The courses include classical and modern literature, traditional culture, theater, movies, and animation.

International Liberal Arts is foundational at SILA and permeates every aspect of the curriculum. Liberal arts colleges, though global in scope, are small in scale. We are a learning community where classes are small and the relationship between teachers and students is close. With the exception of Japanese Expression, Career Design, and some classes in the Teacher Certificate program, all the classes are taught in English. The educational curriculum of Miyazaki International College consists of General Education Courses, Language Courses, Study Abroad Courses, Specialized Courses, Career Education Courses, Senior Thesis and Optional Courses. Courses are developed in accordance with the following principles: Classes conducted through active learning enable every student to practice and develop critical thinking skills By studying the cultures of Japan and other countries through a broad range of liberal arts courses, students will learn how to compare, analyze, and value different cultures Students practice identifying and solving problems through specialization in their chosen research areas and through the development of individual research projects Language courses (“Japanese Expression”, “Studies in Japanese Expression” and “English”) serve the purpose of developing a solid proficiency in the Japanese language and complementing and enhancing the English language proficiency that is foundational for global citizenship Courses shall offer students opportunities to acquire ICT knowledge and skills, and the ability to employ ICT in the use of the e-Portfolio system and presentations, etc.

Students study and have personal experience of Japanese history, thought, religion, art, etc., in order to understand Japanese culture as one's own inheritance and source of being. By becoming aware of the source of one's personality, students can deepen their understanding of international society and different cultures.

Multifaceted, critical thinking, and a high level of language proficiency are essential for identifying and solving issues in the increasingly globalized environment. Students will be expected to develop skills for an active role in society through the following curriculum; Liberal Arts for acquiring logical, critical thinking supported by knowledge in specialized fields, and Urban Science studies for tackling issues among global cities and local regions.

The Faculty of Foreign Languages aims to nurture a workforce that can utilize high language proficiency. Our faculty encourages you to be successful in society, such as the international business world with high communication skills in English or in educational organizations with linguistic ability and leadership. Also, we strive for you to be able to study abroad, challenge yourself with certificate examinations and improve your TOEIC score.

The study of history is an academic discipline that seeks to provide narratives of the past by examining diverse historical materials from the perspective of the individual historian. Students develop the ability to read and understand historical documents, grasp the issues of the contemporary world from a historical perspective and comprehend the meaning that past events have for the modern world.

In the German language course of our school, we have developed diverse lessons and seminars on German-speaking countries in order to cultivate learners who understand German-speaking countries from the standpoints of both communication and culture.

For many observers and visitors, Japan is one of the most intriguing countries on earth. For them, Japan offers a vast variety of exhilarating and sometimes puzzling experiences that often give rise to many questions. Japan Studies endeavors to answer most, if not all, of them. Japanologists understand their field as an interdisciplinary project that engages with all aspects of Japanese culture, history, and society. Many students and scholars investigate these topics in relation to historical and present-day events in East-Asia and the West. Such an approach relates their study and research not only to other disciplines but also to other nations, civilizations, and geographic areas.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) oriented liberal arts are international goals for sustainable development adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. At EUH, we aim to train young people to contribute to the establishment of integrated solutions to real-world problems while considering the direction of the 17 SDGs and aiming to contribute to the realization of a sustainable world

Two courses of study are offered in the M.A. program: Cultural Studies and Applied Social Sciences. The goal of each is to turn out highly qualified graduates who can deal with the transformations and institutional reforms that are occurring at both the regional and the global levels of current society.

Initially aimed at training Catholic church clergy and religious education, it is now open to anyone seeking to learn Christian ethics and culture. Based on Christian values, we will look at various problems in the modern world, acquire solid values ​​in a confused modern society, and seek out the true form of human beings and society. As the only Catholic theology department in Japan, we train priests/priests, believers, religious teachers, and people who acquire Christian ethics and culture and contribute to the international community.