Japan is full of surprises and extremes. At one extreme, it is at the very center
of the frenetic world of industry and finance. It is a stimulating, ultramodern
country with commercial centers that are open 24 hours a day and skyscrapers
that house the headquarters of multinational corporate giants. Its city streets
are lined with shops and restaurants and are crowded with traffic. It has an
active, lively cultural scene that includes both traditional and pop culture.
On the other hand, Japan is an ancient, diverse country with a history of some 2,000 years. Occupying the archipelagoes of four main islands at the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, the country is mountainous with only about 20% of the land arable for its population of 130 million. They live mainly in the vicinities of Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Sendai.
The country is rich in cultural traditions, made richer by its contacts with China over the centuries and by Western countries in modern times. Many of the traditions derive from medieval times -- painting, literature, theater, dance, music, traditional crafts, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy, gardening, and martial arts. The multiple religious traditions of Buddhism, Shintoism, and Confucianism continue to pervade Japanese culture.
There is much to explore in Japan. Students can visit the crowded streets of Tokyo, travel to the Japanese Alps for the weekend, try pachinko (a game that is sort of like pinball and is a national passion), experience a traditional kabuki performance and bunraku puppet play, or take a turn at karaoke.
Since 1983 St. Lawrence University has offered students the opportunity to study at one of two Japanese universities: Nanzan University in Nagoya and International Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo. The agreement between these universities and St. Lawrence University is reciprocal; Japanese students from Nanzan and ICU spend one year on the St. Lawrence University campus.