Introduction

Qualified sophomores, juniors and first semester seniors have the opportunity to enroll in the Asian Studies program at Kansai Gaidai University, located in Hirikata, Japan.

Hirikata is located midway between Osaka and Kyoto, both cities being about an hour away by train.

The Asian Studies program at Kansai Gaidai was established in 1972, and hosts more than 700 international students annually. Coursework covers a broad spectrum of subjects, and students will find themselves alongside Japanese and international students from more than 40 countries in their Asian Studies courses. All students will take Japanese language while on the program, but need not have completed Japanese prior to participation. Students will have the chance to join organizations on campus, including the "speaking partner program" and the "experience Japan program", as well as clubs and teams such as judo, flower arrangement, kendo, karate, tea ceremony, tennis, and soccer.