28 Best Arts Master's Degree Programs in Japan for 2024

The objectives of the course are to provide students the opportunity to learn and do research on musical art while placing a high priority on developing each student’s personality and creativity. It aims to train excellent musicians and researchers with the ability to play active roles in society by taking full advantage of their professional knowledge.

We have an entrance examination system and research and education system that allow admission every six months. We will increase learning opportunities by conducting enrollment selection that is easy for professionals and general members of society to take on challenges.

In this course, students find their own subjects and create their art through observation and subjectivity, while adding depth to their creative visions. In supplementary classes, students hone in on their themes and learn to see their work more broadly. Students who complete this course go on to play important roles in the fields of art and education.

Exploring the theoretical and practical methodologies for creating products in everyday use, taking into account the whole lifecycle of them right from the planning and development and to the final disposal.

Exploring the essential qualities of visual communication in human society, while studying the techniques of visual transmission in a variety of information media.

Under the guidance of multiple instructors from different areas of expertise, students acquire multi-faceted viewpoints, further deepening their awareness of research standards, all of which connect with writing their doctoral thesis.

From a broad perspective, the graduate school of this university will acquire in-depth academics and skills related to music, cultivate the abilities required for research abilities and highly specialized professions in the field of music majors, and will deepen its depth. The purpose is to contribute to the development of culture.

In the field of composition research at the graduate school, we will strive to develop knowledge and abilities that can fully demonstrate individuality and creativity in the world music scene. It is also a place to deepen research on a comprehensive art genre with faculty members, focusing on the utilization of multimedia and enabling various collaborations. The environment that supports vibrant efforts in research and creative practice is becoming more fulfilling, and today, composers who are attracting attention both inside and outside the country are leaving every year.

Keyboard Instrument Research Area The Graduate School of Music (Master's Program) Keyboard Instrument Research Area was established for the purpose of developing more advanced music art education and research and human resources that contribute to culture and society. In this keyboard instrument research area, in order to organically develop high-quality practical educational programs and enable activities in a wide range of fields, teachers of pianists and composers, as well as teachers of voice, strings, tubes, and percussion instruments. We have a comprehensive teaching system for music arts, including. In the piano research area, there is a "special research on instrumental music" centered on analysts to deepen the understanding of music, and a lesson to broaden the musical perspective through understanding other musical instruments by considering the technique of performance expression from the analysts. There are classes such as "chamber music training", language learning, reading the original book, invited professors from overseas, and practical training by pianists. In the completion test, one hour of performance and the result of the music research are required to be prepared as a treatise or program note. In the accompaniment research area, the goal is to cultivate in-depth knowledge of various musical instruments and voices, the ability to accurately read scores, etc., which are indispensable for professional accompaniment, and to fully support the co-stars while also expressing themselves. To give a practical lesson. Practical lessons including music analysis by the composer's instructor, "basic accompaniment exercises" to learn live harmony and arrangement necessary for understanding the work, instrumental music sonatas, songs, opera, oratorio, collepetitol, etc. There are "special research on instrumental music" that allows you to select what you want to learn, and "chamber music training" that is common to all majors in instrumental music. The work of accompaniment pianists is currently in great demand, but there are few places for full-scale learning. The goal of this graduate school is to thoroughly learn the abilities required as an accompaniment, pay attention to individual individuality, and finally establish a comprehensive view of music.

Regarding expressive results as artworks, students work to further improve their skills and techniques and carry out research. They think about what artistic expression means in contemporary society and pursue their own themes and methods as expressive mediums. They strive to explore their own artistic visions and potential and establish personal themes while thinking about connections with society.

Students research, experiment with, and create in various expressive methods and mediums, while considering and researching issues without being limited to traditional art and design frameworks. Rather than producing tangible “things,” they come up with concepts, make plans, and carry them out, resulting in expression. In other words, they study the creative process itself and perform research while focusing on the importance of concepts. The overall research method combines investigation, collection, planning, study, and production (including a thesis).

Focuses on the management of non-profit or public arts organizations such as orchestras, theaters, and art museums. As a full member of the AAAE (Association of Arts Administration Educators), we provide a comprehensive art management program according to international standards.

Focuses on public policy for creative cultural industries, which includes policy support for non-profit groups and for-profit organizations.

With the progression of researches in fine arts, design, and multiple media, independent specialized programs at the Graduate School of Fine Arts (Japanese Painting; Oil Painting and Woodcut Printing; Sculpture; Design; Ceramics; and Art History, Theory, and Conservation) were combined into the single Fine Arts program in 2007. This is not only to establish a system suited to the needs of the times; when education and research are sophisticated, and interdisciplinary studies are developed, but also to enhance each conventional specialization. Also, in order to apply the university's researches to practical endeavors, the Graduate School has established projects to reinforce interdisciplinary studies, and those to serve the development of the local community and society.

The Graduate School of Music reorganized its master's degree programs in 2007. The former classification of specialties, that is three programs consisting of six different areas of study: Composition (Composition, Musicology), Voice, and Instrumental Music (Piano, Strings, Winds, and Percussion), were incorporated into one unified Music program. This single program aims to establish a flexible system for interdisciplinary study and education beyond the boundaries of specialization while it offers opportunities for solid specialized researches. As a result, students can pursue their interests with more flexibility. Specifically, the master's degree program at the Graduate School of Music covers seven areas of study: Composition, Musicology, Voice, Keyboard Instruments, Strings, Winds, and Percussion. Each of the areas is establishing classes in cooperation with other areas, even with the liberal arts classes and the Graduate School of Fine Arts. Such classes planned and established by more than two different areas of study are called "Project". Projects currently in operation are Composite Arts Project (Opera Project and Art Management Project, implemented in cooperation with the School of Art) and Music Project (Chamber Music Project, Orchestra Project, and Wind Orchestra Project). There are considerable latent social needs for music. In other words, they are ample opportunities to make a contribution to communities through music. The master's degree program at the Graduate School of Music intends to develop individuals who can discover and at the same time, create social needs for music through their musicianship while refining their abilities as genuine professionals. The program provides the necessary support for this purpose. As it has established the Art Management course recently, its flexible education effectively cultivates the talents and interests of individual students.

This program aims to create a fresh vision and expression in the diversity of cultural life and change in the social environment. To achieve this, both students and instructors make a continuous effort with self-study. Based on the motivation of each research office, each graduate student makes an annual curriculum plan under discussion with the supervisor. Mid-term, students have an opportunity to present their research and have instructions for further development. Students and their supervisors have opportunities for discussion to deepen the contents of the study.

In the Graduate School of Design, we educate students and research on the various issues that are indwelling in the regional society. Through education and research, we aim to foster a professional who has advanced knowledge and is an expert in design. Our graduate students will be high-leveled specialists, researchers and educators who will contribute to the welfare of regional society by promoting industry, developing art and culture, restructuring and activating the community.

Classes consist of Specialized Theories and Specialized Training, which concern the area of each student's supervisor. They are either small seminars or one-to-one lessons using practical skills, considering each student's ability, treating his/her motivation as an essential element. The curriculum is organized in such a way as to allow students to both further their understanding of their specialized subjects and acquire a broad knowledge of music in general. For their specialized area, they start their research under the supervisor from the beginning of the course. For their graduation theses, students are to participate in an orientation in November of the first year, followed by their Graduation Thesis Progress Report Presentation, for which supervision from all of our teaching staff is available. Furthermore, as the most important event of the course, we have the Shuonkai Music Festival, which is organized and run in cooperation with the undergraduates, postgraduates, and alumni union. It has been held over thirty times and is a highly unique event even on a national scale. Every year, it is held in mid-February and early March. In February, a variety of presentations are delivered by the undergraduates, postgraduates, and alumni in the Music Building and Auditorium of MUE, concerning achievements of classes and individual research themes, while in the following month, presentations and musical performances on their graduation theses (both under/postgraduates) are delivered in an auditorium in Sendai. The Shuonkai Music Festival is an enormously important event for the course, constituting the culmination of the years' work in the Department of Music Education.

The Music and Arts Graduate School of the Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts aims to accomplish the objectives of developing students’ outstanding professional competence in various areas of the musical arts. Based on the above, and following the founding principles of the school, outstanding practical education shall be provided to students, with particular attention paid to the technical characteristics of Okinawa’s traditional performing arts, which have been inspired by the particular history, culture, and natural environment of this archipelago.

The MA in ceramics consists of specialized training in porcelain (overglaze enameling technique, the study of its basic material, etc.), and stoneware and earthenware (glazed, unglazed, etc.). In each of these specializations, students acquire technical expertise as well as theoretical knowledge. In terms of educational content, first-year students undergo practical training in the adjustment of basic materials including clay and glaze, also in shaping techniques and comparative firing (including black-burnished and pit-fire ware). Second-year students conduct research on advanced shaping and firing techniques as well as decorative methods while working on their study projects.