Japanese culture is fascinating, vibrant and multifaceted and if you’ve ever wanted to immerse yourself in it, we’re proud to bring you not one, not two… but THREE opportunities to undertake incredible Japanese cultural programs!
Whether you’re up for a 3-week intensive visit to Japan, or you’re an inner poet wanting to trial your skills in a completely different cultural format and showcase them on the world stage, these Japanese study opportunities will be life-changing and there’s even scholarships available to help you get there!
Opportunity 1: Kanagawa University Japanese Language and Culture Program (11 January - 14 February 2019)
Take the opportunity to learn Japanese language and culture with students from all over the world in the Kanagawa University Japanese and Culture Program. Target participants are from absolute beginner to pre-intermediate (N3/Level3 or less in Japanese Language Proficiency Test) Beginners are welcome!
Application fee: JPY 30,000
Participation Fee: JPY 130,000
(Not including airfare, meals, housing, living expenses, transportation expenses etc).
Scholarships
2x 50% Scholarships available to CQUni students
Application deadline for Scholarship - CQUGlobal must receive applications by 27 September 2018.
Apply Now. Complete a CQUGlobal Application form and send to [email protected] before 27 September 2018.
Opportunity 2: Toyo University 32nd Poetry Competition (Friday, September 21 - Wednesday,
Each year Toyo University organises an event called Gendai Gakusei Hyakunin Isshu, a poem contest open to students. They are inviting student from their Partner Universities to express their ways of viewing daily life, everyday sentiments and feelings in a traditional Japanese fixed-form poem called tanka (see below). The 31st contest held in 2017 drew a total of 49,259 poems.
How to Submit your Poem
Complete the attached application form for the 32nd Toyo University Gendai Gakusei Hyakunin Isshu Contest (2018), enter the poem and required information, convert into a PDF file, and send to [email protected].
What is Hyakunin Isshu?
In Japan, wordplay in a style similar to that of tanka began around the 7th century. Since then, the art of poetry composition developed among the country’s ruling class and at court. During Japan’s Middle Ages, from the Heian to Kamakura era (794-1333 CE), one hundred poems by noted authors were compiled into a collection called Hyakunin Isshu (literal translation: “one hundred persons, one poem each”). Hyakunin Isshu still exists and is popular in today’s Japan as a form of traditional culture, one well-known collection being widely used in a New Year’s card game.
Toyo University openly solicits tanka poems from students and selects the best 100 entries that express their fresh sensibilities and trends of the times.
What is Gendai Gakusei Hyakunin Isshu?
Gendai Gakusei Hyakunin Isshu (One Hundred Poems of Modern Students) Contest began in 1987 as a Toyo University centennial commemorative event. In 2018, its 32nd will be held. The total number of tanka poems entered in the previous contests, expressing present-day students’ views of the world and their daily life, has reached over 1.38 million.
What is tanka?
Tanka is a fixed-form poem composed of 31 Japanese units of sound (similar to “mora”) in total that can be divided into phrases of 5-7-5-7-7 sounds to express one’s feelings and impressions in a daily situation. One unit of sound corresponds to one kana character.
For example, 「沖縄で 海にもぐって 魚とり あの海へびは おそろしかった」(Okinawa-de umi-ni mogutte sakana tori ano umihebi-wa osoroshikatta – In Okinawa, I dove into the sea and caught fish; that sea snake was scary) comprises phrases of 5 sounds (o-ki-na-wa-de), 7 sounds (u-mi-ni-mo-gu-t-te), 5 sounds (sa-ka-na-to-ri), 7 sounds (a-no-u-mi-he-bi-wa), and 7 sounds (o-so-ro-shi-ka-t-ta) . A good tanka poem makes a creative use of characteristics of the Japanese language and enables the reader to vividly imagine the scene depicted or sympathize with the author’s feelings expressed.
Want to apply? Download the information pack here, and then fill out the application form.
Opportunity 3: Winter Program to Osaka Gakuin University (14 Jan - 2 Feb 2019)
OGU offers a 3 week intensive Japanese Language & Studies Program, an excellent opportunity to learn practical Japanese, observe Japanese culture firsthand, and to interact with locals.
Program Fee: JPY164,500*
* inclusive of 19 nights’ accommodation, airport transfers, train pass, weekend field trip, trip to Kyoto, Japanese language tuition, cultural activities
Scholarship
There 10x JPY 40,000 Scholarships available to CQUni students & CQUGlobal is also offering 10 lucky students a $500 Travel Grant!
Application Deadline: CQUGlobal must receive applications by 26 October 2018.
More Details
For more information, download the information flyer or visit the Osaka Gakuin University website or the Facebook page.
Apply for the Winter Program to Osaka Gakuin University Now! Contact [email protected] before 26 October 2018.
Immerse yourself in Japanese culture - apply for these opportunities today! If you have any questions regarding these programs and scholarships, please contact the CQU Global team at [email protected]
Hi, I'm Elle! I am a proud CQUni Business and Prof Comm graduate and current member of the CQUni Student Communications team. After 3 years of coordinating major student milestones from orientation right through to graduation, I have a passion for creating memorable and valuable student experiences! I remember Uni life all too well - from the frequent procrastination, occasional meltdown and over-consumption of caffeine. I'm excited to show you not only how to survive the roller coaster we call University, but how to enjoy the ride!
Hi, I have just been reading through the Japanese opportunity you are offering. How great! I am actually looking for something similar but to learn Mandarin in China, Taiwan etc. Do you know of any opportunities for that purpose in Term 3 this year or at other times? Thanks.
Hi Paul, thanks for the great question! Our CQUni Global team are going to contact you via email shortly to discuss options. Kind regards, Elle (CQUni).