The Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ), study abroad programs offer U.S. undergraduates the opportunity to study in Tokyo for a semester, summer, or full academic year. TUJ offers distinct advantages for students with a strong interest in Japan specifically, and Asia more broadly. The most significant advantage is the opportunity to study with Japanese students, who comprise about 60 percent of the student body, and with TUJ’s mix of international students from over 40 countries around the world.

Unlike many study abroad programs where American students study mostly with other Americans, at TUJ program participants study in classrooms with a wide mix of multilingual students who are also exploring issues such as Japan’s relations with the West, the role of women in Japanese or Asian society, and the Asian-American experience. The result is a dynamic exchange of ideas and perspectives on current global issues, international relations, and aspects of traditional and popular culture.

Study abroad participants may choose from a broad range of courses across a variety of disciplines. The academic program is comprised of an extensive curriculum that includes Japanese language instruction for both native and non-native speakers and upper level courses in the areas of American studies, art, Asian studies, business administration, economics, communications, critical languages, political science and psychological studies. In addition, students interested in architecture may wish to enroll in the specialized fall semester architecture program. With the exception of Asian language classes, all courses are conducted in English.

TUJ’s experienced and accomplished faculty works closely with students to help them achieve their academic objectives. Small classes (15 students on average) facilitate lively discussions and allow professors to give special attention to students. Modern facilities, TUJ’s central Tokyo location, and extracurricular activities in Tokyo and around Japan enhance the learning environment and cultural experience.

Another feature of the program is the availability of paid and unpaid internships, usually for students with Japanese language skills ranging in proficiency from conversational to advanced. Interns are placed at embassies and at multinational corporations and organizations in Tokyo.

TUJ is the Tokyo campus of Temple University. Founded in 1982, TUJ is the oldest and largest foreign university in Japan and has developed into a nationally recognized institution offering an extensive range of educational programs. With an enrollment of 2,980 students and a faculty of 180, TUJ offers BA degrees with majors in American studies, art, Asian studies, business management, communications, economics, general studies, international affairs, political science, psychological studies, and tourism and hospitality management. TUJ also offers AA degrees, an MBA, a Master of Science in Education and Doctor of Education in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), and a Masters of Law.

In addition to the major departments listed above, undergraduate courses are offered in anthropology, architecture, art, art history, biology, broadcasting, telecommunications and mass media, Chinese, computer and information sciences, film and media arts, finance, history, human resource administration, Japanese, journalism, Korean, mathematics, music studies, philosophy, physics, sociology, statistics, theater, and women’s studies.

TUJ is home to the Institute of Contemporary Japanese Studies (ICJS). The institute sponsors special programs devoted to Japanese contemporary culture and language, a lecture series, an academic journal, and fellowships for scholars and graduate students. TUJ study abroad students thus can take advantage of the specialized curriculum of an Asian studies institute devoted to a comprehensive study of Japanese culture.

One of TUJ’s greatest assets is its student body.  Sixty-three percent of the undergraduates are Japanese, and the remainder come from over 40 countries around the world, including the United States and countries in East and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The diverse student body helps make TUJ a rich, dynamic, and stimulating institution.Of the 2,980 students, about 720 are undergraduates, while about 460 are enrolled in graduate programs. The remaining students are either completing the academic preparation program prior to beginning their undergraduate studies or are enrolled in TUJ’s continuing education and corporate education programs.

The Japanese students who attend TUJ do so for many reasons. Some prefer the U.S. approach to education, having attended international schools in Japan or having returned to Japan after studying abroad. For these students, TUJ provides a unique opportunity to study in the same classroom with English-speaking international students, and to experience an approach to education that differs considerably from Japanese educational institutions. For both international and Japanese students, TUJ’s integrated educational environment fosters the cross-cultural sophistication and linguistic skills needed to succeed in a global
environment.

TUJ is located in the Minami Azabu and Mita districts in central Tokyo. Azabu Hall occupies six floors of a modern office building; facilities include classrooms, a library, computer labs with Internet access, a teaching and learning center, an audio/video center, faculty offices, and a student lounge. Mita Hall is located in an office building a five-minute walk from Azabu Hall; facilities there include classrooms, study rooms, a computer lab, faculty offices, seminar rooms, and a student lounge.  TUJ is within easy reach of a number of interesting Tokyo neighborhoods, including Shibuya, an entertainment area popular with young adults, and Roppongi, the famous nightlife district.

The Imperial Palace, where the emperor resides, the Diet Building (Japanese legislature), and the shopping districts of Ginza and Shinjuku are all fewer than three miles from TUJ. Minato Ward is home to the offices of many international
companies and a number of embassies, many of which are in the immediate vicinity of TUJ. Keio University and Meiji Gakuin University are both fewer than 10 minutes’ walk away.

Shops and restaurants around the campus cater to the embassy and foreign communities in the area. Restaurant options range from traditional Japanese washoku and kaiseki to international cuisine. TUJ is accessible by Tokyo’s famous public transportation system from every part of the greater Tokyo metropolitan area and is within walking distance of the Hiroo, Mita, and Azabu Juban subway stations and the Tamachi train station on the Yamanote line.

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