Ateneo Japanese Studies Program

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Ateneo Japanese Studies Program

This is the official page of the Ateneo de Manila University's Japanese Studies Program.

Established in 1966, the Japanese Studies Program of Ateneo de Manila University is the first Japanese Studies Program in Southeast Asia. Initially, it was the university's response to the felt need to deepen understanding of Japan with which the Philippines has had long historical ties. As bilateral relations developed, the program has sought to expand mutual understanding. Today, the Philippines

and Japan endeavor to locate themselves in the milieu of globalization, and the Japanese Studies Program carries on the tradition of contributing to a scholarly approach to the problems and issues concomitant with world development. The Japanese Studies Program offers Minor in Japanese Studies for the undergraduate level and Master of Arts in Japanese Studies in the graduate level, with the following areas of specialization: Economics, History, Political Science, and Sociology. With its language and Japan-related courses open to degree and non-degree students from different disciplines, the Japanese Studies Program aims to dvelop graduates who have a global outlook, imbued with a keen understanding and appreciation of one's own culture and of others'; especially those with thich one's culture interfaces. Students who go through the courses of the Japanese Studies Program are expected to be highly competitive, uniquely advantaged, and relevant in work areas of diplomacy, trade and management, research and training.

14/08/2026

CALL FOR PAPERS IS STILL OPEN!

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Philippine-Japan diplomatic normalization and the 60th anniversary of the Japanese Studies Program at Ateneo de Manila University, this conference invites scholars to reflect on the evolving relationship between the Philippines and Japan.

From the postwar reconciliation shaped by the San Francisco Peace Treaty and subsequent reparations agreements to contemporary forms of regional cooperation, Philippine-Japan relations have expanded into a multifaceted partnership. Today, Japanese Studies in the region fosters increasingly transnational and interdisciplinary inquiry, moving beyond state-centric perspectives toward broader regional, global, and decolonized engagements.

In partnership with Japan Foundation Manila and guided by Ateneo’s commitment to intellectual rigor, social engagement, and regional dialogue, this conference seeks to foreground transnational and translocal perspectives. It aims to bring together scholars whose work engages the Philippines, Japan, and the broader Indo-Pacific as interconnected spaces shaped by shared histories, challenges, and futures.

We hope you join our dialogue this November!

13/07/2026

𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲
𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦
𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠*
1𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 2026-2027

*Available for Ateneo students who need to take a Foreign Language (FLC 11), a Free Elective, an Interdisciplinary Elective (IE), or an extra subject for their Minor in Japanese Studies.

𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰!
Email : [email protected]
Call : 8426-6001 local 5248

01/07/2026

Ateneo de Manila University
Japanese Studies Program

is now accepting enrollees for

𝗡 𝗜 𝗛 𝗢 𝗡 𝗚 𝗢 𝗙 𝗢 𝗥 𝗘 𝗩 𝗘 𝗥 𝗬 𝗢 𝗡 𝗘 𝟮 𝟬 𝟮 𝟲

Basic Japanese language courses for Ateneo and non-Ateneo learners, 16 years old and older.

𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟑 : 𝟏𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 ..................................................................................

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟭 - For those with no background in the Japanese language
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟮 - For those who have successfully finished NFE1 or 30 hours of basic Japanese
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟑 - For those who have successfully finished NFE2 or 60 hours of basic Japanese

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲: 𝗣𝟰,𝟴𝟬𝟬
Inclusive of online sessions (20 hours synchronous,10 hours asynchronous), teaching materials, and a certificate for those who will finish the NFE course successfully.
..

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗼 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 & 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬, 𝗤𝗖 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀:
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟭 - For those with no background in the Japanese language
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟮 - For those who have successfully finished NFE1 or 30 hours of basic Japanese

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲: 𝗣𝟱,𝟱𝟬𝟬
Inclusive of 20 hours face-to-face classes and 10 hours' worth of online exercises, teaching materials, and a certificate for those who will finish the NFE course successfully.
. .

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝗥 or thru this link:
https://bit.ly/NFE2026_Cycle3

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝟏𝟎 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
. .

For further details, visit the Ateneo JSP webpage:
www.ateneo.edu/soss/japanese-studies/nihongo-for-everyone

26/06/2026

NIHONGO FOR EVERYONE Cycle 3
will start on July 11.
Registration details will be posted soon!

11/06/2026

CALL FOR PAPERS IS NOW OPEN!

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of Philippine-Japan diplomatic normalization and the 60th anniversary of the Japanese Studies Program at Ateneo de Manila University, this conference invites scholars to reflect on the evolving relationship between the Philippines and Japan.

From the postwar reconciliation shaped by the San Francisco Peace Treaty and subsequent reparations agreements to contemporary forms of regional cooperation, Philippine-Japan relations have expanded into a multifaceted partnership. Today, Japanese Studies in the region fosters increasingly transnational and interdisciplinary inquiry, moving beyond state-centric perspectives toward broader regional, global, and decolonized engagements.

In partnership with Japan Foundation Manila and guided by Ateneo’s commitment to intellectual rigor, social engagement, and regional dialogue, this conference seeks to foreground transnational and translocal perspectives. It aims to bring together scholars whose work engages the Philippines, Japan, and the broader Indo-Pacific as interconnected spaces shaped by shared histories, challenges, and futures.

We hope you join our dialogue this November.

24/04/2026

Check out the updated sched of ONSITE NFE classes!

Enroll today, start tomorrow!

13/04/2026

Ateneo de Manila University
Japanese Studies Program

is now accepting enrollees for

𝗡 𝗜 𝗛 𝗢 𝗡 𝗚 𝗢 𝗙 𝗢 𝗥 𝗘 𝗩 𝗘 𝗥 𝗬 𝗢 𝗡 𝗘 𝟮 𝟬 𝟮 𝟲

Basic Japanese language courses for Ateneo and non-Ateneo learners, 16 years old and older.

𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟐: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐5 - 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.....................................................................

𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟭 - For those with no background in the Japanese language
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟮 - For those who have successfully finished NFE1 or 30 hours of basic Japanese
𝐉𝐋𝐏𝐓 𝐍𝟓/𝐍𝟒 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 - Contains review of grammatical patterns and kanji for the appropriate level; listening exercises, and mock tests similar to that of the actual test. THIS IS NOT A LECTURE CLASS, AND PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF JAPANESE APPROPRIATE TO THE JLPT LEVEL IS REQUIRED.

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲:
Online : 𝗣𝟰,𝟴𝟬𝟬
Inclusive of online sessions (20 hours synchronous,10 hours asynchronous), teaching materials, and a certificate for those who will finish the NFE course successfully.

𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗼 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 & 𝗟𝗼𝘆𝗼𝗹𝗮 𝗤𝗖 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀:
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟭 - For those with no background in the Japanese language
𝐍𝐅𝐄 𝟮 - For those who have successfully finished NFE1 or 30 hours of basic Japanese

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗲: 𝗣𝟱,𝟱𝟬𝟬
Inclusive of 20 hours face-to-face classes and 10 hours asynchronous, teaching materials, and a certificate for those who will finish the NFE course successfully.
. .

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝗥 or thru this link:
https://go.ateneo.edu/NFECycle2-Registration

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 22 April 2026
. .

For further details, visit the Ateneo JSP webpage:
www.ateneo.edu/soss/japanese-studies/nihongo-for-everyone

10/04/2026

Revised schedule of
Nihongo for Everyone Cycle 2:
25 April - 27 June 2026

27/03/2026

The Sana-mania talk will now be held online via Zoom for those who are affected by the nationwide transport strike. The onsite event will still push through as scheduled.

To join, please scan the QR or click here:
https://bit.ly/Sana-mania

The Zoom details will be included in the confirmation message after you sign up.

23/03/2026

In celebration of Women's Month 2026,
the Ateneo de Manila University
Japanese Studies Program
Dr. Rosita G. Leong School of Social Sciences

presents

𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐀-𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀: 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐱 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐲𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬?

A lecture by
Dr Hiroko Nagai
Assistant Professor, Japanese Studies Program

Elected as Japan’s first female prime minister in October 2025, Sanae Takaichi faces significant challenges, particularly in the area of gender equality. Japan continues to rank low on global gender equality indices, and public opinion is divided regarding Takaichi's leadership on gender-related issues. While some view her election as a symbolic breakthrough and a sign of progress, others regard her as an extension of the existing patriarchal political system. This talk explores Takaichi’s potential impact on Japan’s gender dynamics at a critical juncture. The country is confronting multiple structural pressures, including an aging population, a shrinking labor force, economic stagnation, and declining negotiating power with the United States and China. Within this context, it examines whether Takaichi’s leadership can translate into substantive institutional change that meaningfully shapes the lived experiences of Japanese people.

Friday, 27 March 2026
3:30 - 5:00PM
Faura AVR

Scan the code or sign-up here to join:
https://bit.ly/Sana-mania

Address

2/F Ricardo And Drive Rosita Leong Hall, Ateneo De Manila University
Manila
1108

Telephone

+63284266001

Website

https://www.ateneo.edu/soss/japanese-studies

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