Exploring Contemporary Japan

  Japan

• All Other Areas: 
Hiratsuka

Term: Summer 
Dates: June 3 - July 7, 2008

Description: This five-week program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students and there are no prerequisites. The program's home base is Hiratsuka, Japan, a medium-sized city (pop. 257,000) located 50 miles southwest of Tokyo on the coast of Sagami Bay. Hiratsuka is near the historic city of Kamakura and the majestic Mount Fuji.

The Contemporary Japan program consists of two components:

Language instruction and lectures in English about Japanese culture and society on Kanagawa University campus. Most mornings are devoted to language instruction or language study oriented field work. Afternoons are spent in lectures or discussions with Kanagawa University faculty and the KU Program Director or on field trips to nearby cities or within the city of Hiratsuka. Lectures are given by the faculty in sociology, international relations, anthropology, and business.

Cultural Fieldtrips
Fieldtrips include the following: seeing a kabuki play with English translation, visiting the controversial Yasukuni Shrine and its war museum, touring shrines in Kamakura, visiting various municipal facilities in Hiratsuka such as a high school, the recycling center and City Hall, touring temples and shrines in the ancient capital Kyoto during a three night excursion, visiting the Peace Park and Peace Museum in Hiroshima and enjoying the Tanabata Festival in Hiratsuka, one of the biggest in Japan.

Participants befriend Hiratsuka citizens and many Japanese university students from Kanagawa University during the program through the one week home stay, numerous cultural events with the Hiratsuka community and the Buddy Program with Japanese university students from Kanagawa University. This unique close connection with the Hiratsuka community is due the strong sister-city relationship between Lawrence, KS and Hiratsuka since 1990.

Highlights: Explore contemporary Japan while learning Japanese and earning university credit. Students on this academic experience abroad will:

- Classes held on the campus of Kanagawa University. Extensive opportunities for interaction with Kanagawa University students are provided through our well-established buddy program in which each visiting student is matched by shared interests with three Kanagawa University students.
- Opportunities to practice your Japanese language skills with Kanagawa University students and with your home-stay family.
- Enrichment of your Japanese language skills through classroom instruction, campus activities, and exploration of the cities of Hiratsuka, Kamakura, Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima. Beginning language students are also welcome.

Cost in US$: Approximately $3,860

Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and fees for 6 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $1,169*
*Actual expenses for KU students will vary by the students individual tuition compact. Non-KU students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above.

Additional costs: Airfare, lunches, dinners, passport fee, textbooks and personal expenses.

Note
All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Experience Required: no

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Transcript
• Written Application