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Study Japanese at Otago

    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.

    Career opportunities

    There are many opportunities open to students who major in Japanese. While some opt for careers in foreign relations, trade, commerce and tourism, others choose an academic path, such as teaching Japanese at schools in New Zealand or going on to MA and PhD degrees at Otago or elsewhere. A number of our graduates have also spent time in Japan under the Japanese government's JET Programme. They work as assistant language teachers at Japanese schools or as coordinators for international relations at local government offices.

    Teaching style

    We teach Japanese with communicative methods and simultaneously develop students' skills in speaking, reading, listening and writing. Frequent tutorials are provided to help students practice in small groups with native speakers. The core papers aim to develop students' competency in the language to a level which enables them to read and converse without serious difficulty.

    We teach Japanese culture through Japanese  film, literature, history and society. There is a good balance between lectures taught by teachers and seminars involving students' discussions and presentations. Training in critical thinking, research, and academic writing is provided in all our culture papers.

    Recommended background

    No former training is required, because we offer introductory Japanese for absolute beginners. If you have studied Japanese at secondary school for several years, you can enter our Intermediate Japanese papers directly, and study toward advanced levels.

    Choose a study option

    Whether you're embarking on your academic journey with our comprehensive undergraduate programmes or aiming to reach new heights through our advanced postgraduate offerings, Otago is here to support your aspirations.

    Undergraduate qualifications

    For new and current students studying towards a Bachelor's or other first degree. Explore undergraduate qualifications at Otago, designed to build a strong foundation in your chosen field, preparing you for a successful career or further study.

    Note: this subject can also be studied as a minor.

    Ready to apply?

    Take the first step towards your future in this subject.

    Further study opportunities

    Whether you are looking to bridge your undergraduate studies to advanced knowledge or aiming to specialise in a specific field, Otago offers a range of graduate and postgraduate options to suit your aspirations.

    Programme details

    Compare programmes for this subject as a major and minor (where available).

    Papers
    Seven of:
    Students admitted directly to papers at 200- or 300-level must replace their prerequisites with other papers in the subject concerned

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level JAPA 131 Introductory Japanese 1 18
    JAPA 132 Introductory Japanese 2 18
    One of GLBL 110, LING 111 18
    200-level JAPA 231 Intermediate Japanese 18
    JAPA 233 Business and Professional Japanese 18
    One of ASIA 201, ASIA 202, GLBL 201, GLBL 202 18
    300-level JAPA 331 Advanced Japanese 1 18
    JAPA 332 Advanced Japanese 2 18
    Two of ASIA 302, ASIA 311, GLBL 301, GLBL 302 36

    Notes:
    (i) With the approval of the Head of Programme, one 200-level paper may be substituted with one of the following papers: LING 231, MUSI 240, RELS 216, 227
    (ii) With the approval of the Head of Programme, one 300-level paper may be substituted with one of the following papers: HIST 341, RELS 316
    (iii) Students with previous knowledge of Japanese will be placed in JAPA papers appropriate to their level. Students placed in 200- or 300-level language papers will still have to pass approved papers worth 180 points in order to major in Japanese.

    		 
    Plus 180 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. 180
    Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts  
    Total 360

    LevelPapersPoints
    100-level LING 111 A World of Languages 18
    Two 100-level papers in one of the following languages: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Latin, Māori, Spanish 36
    200-level LING 217 What's Behind Language: Sound and Structure 18
    One further 200-level LING paper (excluding LING 231 TESOL: Guide to Language Teaching) 18
    Two 200-level papers in the language continued from 100-level 36
    300-level Two 300-level LING papers 36
    Two 300-level papers in the language continued from 200-level 36
    Plus 162 further points; must include 36 points at 200-level or above. 162
    Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts  
    Note: In the case of Māori language, students will take MAOR 111, MAOR 211, and MAOR 311 at 100-, 200-, and 300-level respectively. 
    Total 360

    A minor subject can be included in many of our undergraduate degrees. To earn a minor, you typically must complete a minimum of 90 points in that subject, with at least 18 points at the 300-level.

    Your minor can be a subject more commonly taken for a different degree. For example, a BCom majoring in Marketing can include Japanese as a minor subject. To include this subject as a minor in your application, first find a major subject through our Subject Search or Study Match.

    You can check what’s required to receive the minor accreditation in the programme details below.

    Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Entrepreneurship (BEntr), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree

    PapersPoints

    Five JAPA papers or relevant non-JAPA content papers, at least three of which must be above 100-level, including at least one at 300-level.

    90

    Papers

    View a list of all related papers below.

    JAPA papers

    Paper Code Year Title Points Teaching period
    JAPA131 2025 Introductory Japanese 1 18 points Semester 1
    JAPA132 2025 Introductory Japanese 2 18 points Semester 2
    JAPA231 2025 Intermediate Japanese 18 points Semester 1
    JAPA233 2025 Business and Professional Japanese 18 points Semester 2
    JAPA242 2025 Understanding Japanese Culture 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA243 2025 Issues in Japanese Culture Today 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA244 2025 Modern Japanese Fiction 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA331 2025 Advanced Japanese 1 18 points Semester 1
    JAPA332 2025 Advanced Japanese 2 18 points Semester 2
    JAPA342 2025 Understanding Japanese Culture 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA343 2025 Issues in Japanese Culture Today 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA344 2025 Modern Japanese Fiction 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA351 2025 The Structure of the Japanese Language 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA352 2025 Language Cosplay: Japanese Language in Anime and Beyond 18 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA441 2025 Advanced Topics in Japanese 20 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA451 2025 Studies in Japanese 20 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA452 2025 Studies in Japanese 2 20 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA490 2025 Dissertation 60 points Not offered in 2025
    JAPA590 2025 Research Dissertation 60 points Not offered in 2025

    More information

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    Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.

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