Cultural Morphology Program

Having been restructured in 1998, the Cultural Morphology Program (Master and Doctoral Programs) aims to research the essential aspects of culture. It focuses on specialized areas, seeking to analyze various cultural phenomena that span all times and places from the perspective of forms. Here, morphology refers to the field of study that treats the principles, systems, and history that are fundamental to culture as subjects of research. This program contains 11 courses, including Philosophy and History of Philosophy, Studies in Modern Thought and Culture, Clinical Philosophy, Chinese Philosophy, Indian and Buddhist Studies, Japanese Studies, Japanese History, Asian History, Western History, Archaeology, and Human Geography. There are former graduates of this program who have chosen to pursue careers as university lecturers, high school teachers, researchers at institutions, journalists, public servants, and employees in private companies.

Cultural Representation Program

Following the Cultural Morphology Program, the Cultural Representation Program (Master and Doctoral Programs) was re-established in 1999. This major focuses on various concrete symbols seen in culture, in contrast to the Cultural Morphology Program, which deals with the forms of culture. Because this major is made up of 12 varying courses – Japanese Literature, Comparative Literature, Chinese Literature, Japanese Historical Linguistics, English and American Literature, German Literature, French Literature, English Linguistics, Japanese Linguistics, Aesthetics and Science of Literary Arts, Musicology and Theatre Studies, and Art History – various types of representations, including performances, can be researched in this program. Those who have completed this program now work in a wide variety of fields, such as universities, high schools, research institutions, museums and art museums, government and municipal offices, and private companies.

Cultural Dynamics Program

Our Cultural Dynamics Program (Master Program) was established in 2007 to tackle numerous cultural issues that could not be investigated within the conventional academic frameworks of the humanities, due to rapid societal changes. In this program, we emphasize cross-sectional and practical research and education that can correspond to phenomena in a new era with four courses – Cultural Coexistence, Arts and Media, Literature and Environment, and Ecological Linguistics. We also stress the importance of building extensive knowledge, in-depth understanding of various aspects of the humanities, and developing human resources that can engage in society using expertise and practical skills. This is why we are actively involved in the recurrent education of school teachers. Students who have completed this program are working in the public and private sectors – from education, culture-related businesses, and public cultural administration to advertising, IT companies, and manufacturing industries.