TOKYO, JAPAN

SEMESTER/YEAR study abroad PROGRAM

Student Life and Cultural Enrichment

Student Organizations

Excursions

Cultural Activities

Community Engagement

Student Organizations

Since many of TUJ students are Japanese, becoming involved in campus life provides an excellent way to make Japanese friends outside the classroom. Baseball, Soccer, Anime, Film, Videogame, and Mixed Martial Arts are just a few of the many student clubs at TUJ. Students may also become involved in planning events, such as club-based dances and parties, and participate in university festivals. Students often socialize in the Student Activities Center, where the student government and a student lounge are located.

Excursions

To enhance understanding of Japanese culture, TUJ organizes optional field trips and excursions each semester. These include outings to Japanese festivals, museums, sporting events (sumo, baseball, soccer) and the wide variety of offerings distinctive to Tokyo, one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world. With opportunities to visit a Japanese high school, the Tsukiji fish market, onsen (hot springs), art festivals, and to experience the nightlife, students are exposed to a broad spectrum of Japanese society.

Arranged day trips and overnight or weekend outings to places such as Kyoto, Kamakura, Yokohama, Nikko, Hakone and Sapporo allow students to experience the regional diversity of Japan. Students are responsible for travel, meals and lodging costs, but every effort is made to ensure that these excursions are as affordable as possible.

Many students take advantage of Tokyo’s proximity to the rest of Asia to travel throughout the region. Roughing it in remote areas, getting the pulse of Asian cities, and visiting some of the wonders of the world make this another rewarding aspect of the study abroad experience.

Cultural ACTIVITIES

The Culture Exchange Program at TUJ helps to facilitate social interaction, and language and cultural exchanges between Japanese students and international students. Through the program, students have an opportunity to meet new friends and interact socially while learning about other cultures. Students are paired up on a voluntary basis, then meet regularly at TUJ to socialize and participate in culture-related activities.

TUJ also organizes special cultural workshops on traditional Japanese arts for students. Past workshops have introduced students to ikebana, calligraphy, tea ceremony, koto, archery and sake making.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Students may participate in a variety of volunteer activities organized through TUJ’s Community Relations Department in collaboration with Tokyo’s Minato Ward, the ward in which TUJ is located. Opportunities have included assisting at city festivals, participating at cultural exchange events for local children, volunteering at an after-school program for elementary school children, and participating in neighborhood clean-up efforts.