Study languages: Make the world your place.
To learn Japanese is to gain direct access to one of the world’s most sophisticated, dynamic, and fascinating cultures – and to the large and wealthy market of one of New Zealand’s major trading partners. Japanese culture blends the best of East and West, of cutting-edge modernity and unique tradition, of high-tech innovation and high-cultural style. It is the culture that has given us award-winning manga and anime, the mysteries of Zen, the delectable tastes of sushi and tempura, and the great fun of karaoke – not to mention the world’s shortest poems and longest novels! Japanese culture has something to interest everyone.
Why study Japanese?
Japan is one of New Zealand's major trading partners and one of the world's richest and largest markets, therefore your knowledge of Japanese language and culture will be highly valued by many New Zealand or overseas employers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, primary and secondary schools, tourism industries, research institutes, law firms and translation services, and the many New Zealand businesses that trade with Japan, all require university graduates not only proficient in Japanese language but familiar enough with Japanese customs and culture that they are able to interact successfully with Japanese people.
Your study of Japanese language and culture will also be immeasurably enriching to you on a personal level. Whether you're interested in anime cartoons or Zen meditation, in the novels of Haruki Murakami or the films of Hayao Miyazaki, in the high aesthetics of Japanese food or Tokyo fashion, in flower arrangement, rock gardens, martial arts, tea ceremony, or all of the many other fascinating aspects of Japanese culture, this culture has so much to offer. It will enrich you intellectually and spiritually for the rest of your life.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Japanese as an undergraduate at Otago.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
A four-year degree focusing on advanced study and culminating in a research project in the final year
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
A two-semester programme of structured coursework, and in some cases supervised research, extending the knowledge and skills gained from the bachelor’s degree
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
A one- or two-year degree entailing a major research project, culminating in a thesis
Graduate qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
Applications for the Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Japanese are no longer being accepted. The Languages and Cultures programme Kā Reo me kā Tikaka o te Ao Whānui is introducing a new curriculum which will no longer offer honours.
| Papers |
|---|
| JAPA 441 Advanced Topics in Japanese |
| JAPA 451 Studies in Japanese |
| JAPA 452 Studies in Japanese 2 |
| JAPA 490 Dissertation |
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Japanese is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
| Thesis |
|---|
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Japanese or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Japanese must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Japanese prior to undertaking the thesis. |
Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
JAPA papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAPA131 | 2026, 2027 | Introductory Japanese 1 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| JAPA132 | 2026, 2027 | Introductory Japanese 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| JAPA231 | 2026, 2027 | Intermediate Japanese | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| JAPA233 | 2026, 2027 | Business and Professional Japanese | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| JAPA242 | 2026, 2027 | Understanding Japanese Culture | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA243 | 2026, 2027 | Issues in Japanese Culture Today | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA331 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Japanese 1 | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| JAPA332 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Japanese 2 | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| JAPA342 | 2026, 2027 | Understanding Japanese Culture | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA343 | 2026, 2027 | Issues in Japanese Culture Today | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA351 | 2026, 2027 | The Structure of the Japanese Language | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA352 | 2026, 2027 | Language Cosplay: Japanese Language in Anime and Beyond | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 2 |
| JAPA441 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Topics in Japanese | 20 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA451 | 2026, 2027 | Studies in Japanese | 20 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA452 | 2026, 2027 | Studies in Japanese 2 | 20 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA490 | 2026, 2027 | Dissertation | 60 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| JAPA590 | 2026, 2027 | Research Dissertation | 60 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
Contacts
School of Arts
Languages and Cultures Programme
Web otago.ac.nz/japanese
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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