Introduction

The Department of  Japanese Studies was established in 1985 at The University of Hong Kong.  In September 2003, more than 1,200 students from different faculties of the University applied to enroll in one of the Japanese language courses offered by the Department.  About 200 students major in the Department. Why is the Department so popular among students? 

To Hong Kong, Japanese companies are important investors, and, to job hunters, they are also important employers.  Japanese companies offer jobs to thousands of new university graduates every year.  University graduates have come to understand that knowledge of the Japanese language is a must for them to win in the keen job competition.  The Department offers Japanese language courses from beginning to advanced level.  Students with no Japanese language background can apply and after three years of  language training, they can sit for the Level Two Examination of Japanese Proficiency Language Test that is usually required by Japanese employers in Hong Kong. 

Of course, to master the language alone cannot secure a bright future.  Students will have to have a good understanding of Japanese society and culture.  The Department offers a series of courses on Japanese business, education, popular culture, women, literature, Sino-Japanese relations, anthropology of Japan, comparative and applied linguistics, contemporary Japanese society and culture and so on to ensure that students get a thorough understanding of  Japanese society and culture .  Apart from these courses, the Department also organises a series of exchange programs with Japanese Universities for up to one year so that students can experience by themselves the everyday life of Japanese people. 

Meanwhile, the Department has initiated a summer-internship programme with Japanese companies in Hong Kong to give students a chance to get some working experience and prepare for their future job hunting in Japanese companies. 

Finally, it is worth mentioning that learning in our Department is greatly expedited by the availability of a most up-dated, well-equipped Audio Visual Library and a Computer Room. While the Computer Room allows students to do Japanese word processing, to utilize dictionaries, send Japanese email, and to conduct internet search, the Audio Visual Library is a fully digitized language laboratory to enhance teaching and learning across the departmental curriculum as a whole, and to enhance language proficiency of students in particular with the application of information technology.  For example, students may use a virtual tape recorder/player on the computer to listen to, and to view both audio and video files. 

We in the Department of Japanese Studies at The University of Hong Kong promise to do our best to offer you a happy and rewarding university education and to prepare you for your future careers in the competitive business world.