Develop advanced fluency in the Japanese language and study the literary and cultural traditions of Japan from early times to the present day.
The Japanese major and minor offer you the opportunity to develop advanced language skills and will give you an in-depth introduction to Japanese literature and culture. Our courses take an interdisciplinary approach, incorporating perspectives on historical, social, philosophical and political issues.
You can expand your language skills and learning opportunities by studying abroad and living in our language residence hall.
When you graduate, you will speak, write and read Japanese fluently and be comfortable in both formal and informal contexts. You will become an adept translator, interpreter and researcher, and be able to engage sensitively with Japanese culture.
What You’ll Study
- Advanced courses in reading, writing and translation
- Courses in Japanese literature in English
- Courses in classical, modern and pop culture
- Study abroad in Kyoto or Tokyo
- Senior project
Learning at Pomona
Watsuji Tetsurō's philosophy of fūdo
Zelin Wang ’21 examines how Watsuji Tetsurō's philosophy of fūdo (climate and culture) and betweenness of human beings contrasts with Maruyama Masao's fundamental proposition of politics as an activity of artificial inventions and the implication of their divergence in conceptualizing culture, ethics, politics and modernity.
Majoring in Japanese at Pomona College allows me to delve into the richness of the language, both modern and classical. Additionally, with the linguistic skills, I have been able to engage with Japan's complex history, enter into the world of Japanese philosophy with thinkers such as Maruyama Masao, and connect with people from Japan and beyond.