Japanese

Naoko Nemoto, Chair

Denise Falk, Academic Department Coordinator


112 Ciruti Center
413-538-2885
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/academics/find-your-program/japanese

Overview and Contact Information

The Japanese program offers three levels of instruction. Students will build their language skills and cultural knowledge with various activities such as visiting Wa-Shin-An (the Japanese tea room at Mount Holyoke), reading short stories, writing blogs, and interviewing students from Japan. Students can study abroad in Japan through fall, spring, or year-long programs. The McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives maintains a current list of study abroad programs offered. Students who study Japanese may choose to complete the minor in Japanese listed here or the major in East Asian Studies for which language study is a principal component.

See Also

Faculty

This area of study is administered by the Asian Studies Committee:

Elif Babul, Professor of Anthropology

Calvin Chen, Carol Hoffmann Collins '63 Professor of International Studies and Professor of Politics

Satyananda Gabriel, Professor of Economics

Sohail Hashmi, Professor of International Relations on the Alum Foundation and Professor of Politics

Kavita Khory, Ruth Lawson Professor of Politics

Susanne Mrozik, Professor of Religion

Naoko Nemoto, Professor of Asian Studies

Joshua Roth, Professor of Anthropology

Ajay Sinha, Julie '73 and Helene '49 Herzig Professor of Art History

Ying Wang, Felicia Gressitt Bock Professor of Asian Studies

Amina Steinfels, Associate Professor of Religion

Lan Wu, Associate Professor of History

Abhilash Medhi, Assistant Professor of History

Jinhwa Chang, Senior Lecturer in Japanese, On Leave 2025-2026

Kyae-Sung Park, Five College Senior Lecturer in Korean

Lisha Xu, Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies

Shin-Yi Kao, Lecturer in Asian Studies

Lingjia Xu, Visiting Assistant Professor in Asian Studies

Nari Matsushima, Visiting Instructor in Asian Studies

Requirements for the Minor

At least 16 credits:

As prerequisites, if needed: ASIAN-120, ASIAN-121
Two Japanese language courses at the 200 level or higher8
An additional two 300-level courses in Japanese language8
Total Credits16

Additional Specifications

  • Independent Studies (ASIAN-295 or ASIAN-395) do not count toward the minor.
  • Language courses that are not taken at Mount Holyoke must be approved by the head of the Japanese program at Mount Holyoke College to count toward the minor.
  • Courses taught in English do not count toward the minor.

The 100-level courses in Japanese (ASIAN-120 and ASIAN-121) are prerequisites to the intermediate and advanced courses below.
Course Offerings

ASIAN-222 Second Year Japanese I

Fall. Credits: 4

ASIAN-222 is the third-semester course in Japanese for those who have taken ASIAN-121 or have equivalent preparation in Japanese. Includes approximately 250 kanji. Students in this course learn to listen and comprehend conversations about more sophisticated topics they would encounter in daily life in Japan, such as conducting conversations in a hospital, expressing their plans and intentions, asking a favor, asking for and listening to navigation directions, and giving and receiving gifts. They learn how to interact with Japanese people in such situations with appropriate cultural manners in preparation for any potential stay in Japan such as for study abroad or an internship.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
Prereq: ASIAN-121 or equivalent.
Advisory: ASIAN-121 or equivalent. Students with previous training in Japanese outside of MHC should consult Naoko Nemoto (nnemoto@mtholyoke.edu) for placement.

ASIAN-223 Second Year Japanese II

Spring. Credits: 4

ASIAN-223 is the fourth semester course in Japanese for those who have taken ASIAN-222 or have equivalent preparation in Japanese. Students in this course are taught to be able to explain procedures, ask and express opinions, understand and express complaints and apologies, while learning grammatical constructions such as passive, causative, causative-passive and different levels of politeness.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
Prereq: ASIAN-222 or equivalent.
Advisory: Students with previous training in Japanese outside of MHC should consult Naoko Nemoto (nnemoto@mtholyoke.edu) for placement.

ASIAN-324 Third Year Japanese I

Fall. Credits: 4

This course helps students attain a higher level of proficiency in modern Japanese through the extended use of the language in practical contexts. The class will be conducted mostly in Japanese.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
Prereq: ASIAN-223 or equivalent.
Advisory: ASIAN-223 or equivalent. Students with previous training in Japanese outside of MHC should consult Naoko Nemoto (nnemoto@mtholyoke.edu) for placement.

ASIAN-326 Third Year Japanese II

Spring. Credits: 4

This course continues ASIAN-324, Third Year Japanese I. It emphasizes attaining a higher level of proficiency in modern Japanese through the extended use of the language in practical contexts. The class will be conducted mostly in Japanese.

Applies to requirement(s): Humanities; Language
Prereq: ASIAN-324 or equivalent.
Advisory: ASIAN-324 or equivalent. Students with previous training in Japanese outside of MHC should consult Naoko Nemoto (nnemoto@mtholyoke.edu) for placement.