Japanese Language & Culture
To help international students build Japanese language skills for daily life and future careers, NAIST offers several Japanese learning opportunities.
At NAIST, students can take Intensive Japanese I and II, beginner-friendly on-campus courses that focus on basic communication skills. By completing these courses, students can develop conversational abilities roughly equivalent to JLPT N3 level.
For students who wish to study beyond this level, NAIST also provides access to online Japanese language courses offered by the University of Tsukuba. These courses are available at various levels and allow students to work toward higher proficiency, including JLPT N2 or N1, which are often required for employment in Japan.
1. On-campus Japanese Courses (Intensive Japanese I & II)
NAIST offers Intensive Japanese I and Intensive Japanese II for international students who want to start learning Japanese. These beginner-friendly courses focus on practical communication for daily life (e.g., self-introductions, shopping, making plans, and talking with friends).
2. Online Japanese Courses (University of Tsukuba)
Students can also take online Japanese language courses offered by the University of Tsukuba as Special Auditing Students. Courses are available from beginner to advanced levels and allow you to study from anywhere.
| Intensive Japanese Ⅰ, Ⅱ |
These beginner-friendly courses are open to all international students who want to start learning Japanese. You’ll build basic skills for daily life and future goals like job hunting (JLPT N3 level).
A short placement test will be held before the first class in October. To get a head start, we recommend trying the free Minato e-learning platform by the Japan Foundation (https://minato-jf.jp). |
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| Online Japanese Language Program by University of Tsukuba |
NAIST students can take online Japanese language courses provided by the University of Tsukuba. Students are registered as special auditing students and placed in appropriate classes based on their Japanese level, with a variety of topic-based courses available at each level. |
| JEP Kyoto Ryukoku University (-Mar.2026) |
In the 2018 academic year, NAIST signed an agreement with Ryukoku University on credit transfer, so international students at NAIST can take subjects in Japanese history, economics, politics, culture, and society at Ryukoku University's "JEP Kyoto" to learn about a wider variety of Japanese culture. These classes will be held in English.
Center for the Promotion of Global Education (Ryukoku University) |
Other
| Volunteer | ”The Network Ikoma Nihongo no Kai” offers Japanese language classes twice every week. There are six classes in total, and you can learn Japanese according to your own level, from beginners to advanced. |
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