Admission Schedule
Foreign Service Sub-program(Global Governance Program)
Number of Students
to Be Admitted

Number of Students
to Be Admitted

Several

Mid-March

Application Period

Asian Public Policy Program

Duration(Written examination [Math,
English] and Online Interview
will be conducted)

Early-April

PublicLaw
Program

Program

Selection(Document Screening.
Online Interview may be
conducted only when necessary)

International andPublicAdministration

Course15

October-May

Application Period

Selection

Number of Students to Be AdmittedThis schedule is subject to change if you wish
to apply for scholarships

GlobalPublicGovernance
Economics
Program
Program(including FSS)

Asian
PublicPolicyProgramabout 30

about 15*

about 10-Category

May-June

GeneralTwo years Mid-Career

End-April

Admission Decision

Admission Decision

Public Economics

June

International
Students

FSS and APPP are both two-year program and start in mid-September.

One year Mid-Career

Please note that there are also spring enrollment programs, which require applicants to havesome knowledge of Japanese.

Total Capacity

Application and selection procedures differ depending on each program and category.

School ofInternational andPublicPolicyHitotsubashi University

55*Mid-Career Only. For detailed admission information for APPP, please visit
https://www.ipp.hit-u.ac.jp/appp/

Application schedule may vary from year to year, so please be sure to check the latest application
guidelines at https://www.ipp.hit-u.ac.jp/english/en_admission/en_admission.html

Access and Campus
Narita International Airport

JR Yamanote Line

Kunitachi

Tokyo Metro
Tozai Line

JR Chuo Line

Tachikawa

NakanoNarita Express

Tokyo

Shinjuku

Takebashi

Kunitachi Campus
Chiyoda Campus

Hamamatsu-choTokyo Monorail

Haneda Airport Terminal

Kunitachi st.

Supermarket
FamilyRestaurantWest Campus

Daigaku-doriSouth

To Shinjuku
Police2-1 Naka, Kunitachi,
Tokyo 186-8601, Japan

Approx. 8-minute walkfrom South Exitof Kunitachi Station(JR Chuo Line)
East Campus

National Center of Sciences
2-1-2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda,
Tokyo 101-8439, Japan

Jinbocho st.

Kyoritsu Women's
University

an-doriTo Tachikawa

Chiyoda Campus

Gakushi Kaikan

Hakus

Kunitachi Campus

Chiyoda Campus●Approx. 5-minute walk from
Exit 1B of Takebashi Station(Tokyo Metro Tozai Line)●Approx. 5-minute walkfrom Exit A8 of Jimbou-cho Station(Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line,
Toei Mita Line and Toei Shinjuku Line)

Josui Kaikan

Mercury Tower
RM#3310

Kunitachi High School

Takebashi st.

Public Law Program
Global Governance Program
including Foreign Service Sub-Program

School of International and Public Policy

HITOTSUBASHI UNIVERSITY 2-1 Naka, Kunitachi, Tokyo 186-8601 Japan
TEL：＋81-42-580-9135 FAX：＋81-42-580-9085
Email：info-ipp ad.hit-u.ac.jp
https://www.ipp.hit-u.ac.jp/english/index.html

Public Economics Program
Asian Public Policy ProgramSmall-group educationin an international environment
allows every student
to become a true professional
Hitotsubashi University established the School of

one-year course for mid-career professionals andInternational and Public Policy in 2005 with four

a different admission process for international

basic principles: "Professional education based

students. As a result, the program is a melting pot

on the foundation of state-of-the-art research,"of people and ideas, creating lively discussions"Foster leadership with multiple viewpoints

every day on various policies. We also respect

through cross-cutting analysis," "Emphasis on

Hitotsubashi University's tradition of closenessmulti-faceted and practical policy analysis," andbetween professors and students. We believe"Foster leaders who will play an active role in thesmall-group education is essential for training true

world and build a research center in thepolicy professionals with expertise and openness

Asia-Pacific region." Students acquire analyticalto multiple perspectives.

skills in one of the following fields: law and public

The full range of lectures in Japanese andadministration, international relations, andEnglish is another feature. We offer numerous

economics, while learning from neighboring

opportunities, such as seminars and symposiums,

disciplines as well. Our main objective is toto have students think about and discuss policies

nurture professionals who solve real-world issues

in English. In other words, students can attend

using general and specialized knowledge with aclasses in English while still in Japan. We believesense of ethics and responsibility.

this is the ideal form of internationalization of

We accept 55 graduate students per academic

graduate school, and it is a fundamental step toyear, with a balanced number of those mid-career

becoming the center of knowledge in thestudents and international students. We have a

Asia-Pacific region.

Message from The Dean
The novel coronavirus pandemic that began in December 2019 has profoundly changed our lives
and the international community: by May 2022, the number of people infected worldwide exceeded
500 million, and the number of deaths surpassed 6 million. Public health, service industries, sports,
education, and many other sectors have been severely affected, putting our society under
tremendous stress. In addition, the globalized international economy has slowed down amidst
stagnant logistics and an increasingly nation-first orientation, epitomized by the mask and vaccine
diplomacy.
The pandemic also accelerated the digitalization of society and the shift to online services. However,while technology improves public convenience, it also poses a number of challenges to individual
rights and privacy.
As we enter 2022, countries around the world are normalizing social life and economies, but theRussian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February, casts a dark shadow over the world: the majorityof the international community has condemned Russia’s actions as a violation of the UN Charter, therisk of nuclear weapons has been plausibly mentioned, and many civilians have been killed. Sanctions
against Russia have caused world energy prices to skyrocket, and the war between the two major
exporters of wheat, sunflower oil, and fertilizer has led to food crises in developing countries.
Our society is confronted with great challenges. We are required to solve these challenges, improvesocial welfare, and realize peace. This is, however, in fact a constant series of difficult choices. The
virus might mutate from day to day, and in our diverse societies issues must be prioritized, andvarious values considered. Should we place the highest priority on preventing the spread of infection,or on keeping the economy running? We have no choice but to implement measures despite
incomplete information.
In addition, the Russian invasion is highly problematic in terms of international law. Many believe that
Russia’s injustice must not be tolerated, but others argue that if the war is prolonged, the crisis will
deepen.

AKIYAMA, Nobumasa
Dean

School of International andPublic Policy

Policies are decided amid such uncertainty and conflicting values. Moreover, the dilemma of not
being able to satisfy everyone is not unique to global crises but is present in many daily public policy
decisions as well.
To be part of public policy involves bearing some of the responsibilities for these difficult decisions.
We need to think about how to choose measures to improve the welfare of society, including those
who challenge our decisions, how to explain those choices, and how to implement them.
Using forefront academic knowledge, the School of International and Public Policy (IPP) at
Hitotsubashi University aims to provide opportunities for students to acquire the academic
foundations and communication skills needed to be involved in public policy, to propose better policy
options, and to communicate with stakeholders to implement them.
IPP has faculty members with diverse backgrounds who conduct leading social science researchand have extensive domestic and international practical experience. They are eager to share theirknowledge and learn together with students in close communication within a small community.
We hope that as members of the IPP community, you will grow with us, make significant
contributions to society, and build careers that make the most of your individuality.

Four Basic Principles
Since our establishment in 2005, we have been conducting education and research based on the following
four basic principles.
education based on the foundation of
1 Professional
state-of-the-art researchleadership with multiple viewpoints through2 Fostercross-cutting analysis

We are committed to bridge the gap between the latest findings ofdomestic and international public policy research and practice, and to
swiftly reflect issues of actual practice in our teaching and research.

Putting emphasis on the cross-cutting nature of law and public
administration, international relations, and economics in policy research,
the program fosters individuals who can look at policy issues from amultidisciplinary perspective.

leaders who will play an active role in the world
3 Emphasis on multi-faceted and practical policy analysis 4 Fosterand build a research center in the Asia-Pacific region

2

In light of the diversification of policy decision-makers in charge, theprogram places emphasis on practical policy analysis from theperspectives of both the public and private sectors.

Aiming to form a center for research and education in international andpublic policy in the Asia-Pacific region, we foster individuals who will be
leaders in policy making.

3

Curriculum

Courses in English
International and Public Administration Course

Features
The School of International and Public Policy takes
a multifaceted approach to understanding andaddressing various policy issues. To achieve this, wedraw our curriculum from cutting-edge research inlaw and public administration, international relations,and economics. Our students choose their courseand program affiliation to specialize in a subject.
However, we encourage them to cross disciplinary
boundaries by selecting relevant lectures andseminars from our broad range of offerings. Moreover,
our curriculum offers interdisciplinary courses thatallow students and faculty to discuss policy frommultiple perspectives. Our goal is to nurtureindividuals with the ability to analyze and formulate
policies by incorporating the best of each approach.
A master's thesis is not required. However, we
generally expect our students to write a research
paper on a policy issue. Working on the research
paper project rigorously, students will learn how totackle real-world issues by applying the knowledge
acquired in the graduate school.
We require students to complete 44 credits for the[Master of International and Administrative Policy]

one-year and two-year programs (the completion of
one lecture per week for six months becomes two
credits).

CROSS-DISCIPLINARY APPROACHESInternational Political Economy
International Economy and Finance,
etc.

NGO/NPO Studies
Comparative Foreign Policies
International Human Rights Law
EU Studies, etc.

International
Relations

Economics

Theory and Principle of Taxation
Administration and Public
Finance, etc.

Law andPublicAdministration

Policy Decision Process
Global Environment andDevelopment Assistance, etc.

Foreign Service Sub-program (Global Governance Program)
The Foreign Service Sub-program (FSS) within the Global
Governance Program accepts those mid-career officers andinternational students from abroad who wish to study
international relations and acquire a master’s degree inTokyo by taking courses in English. The FSS aims to produce
talented individuals with specialized knowledge in the fields
of international relations, international history, andinternational law, in addition to crucial skills in policy
analysis, formulation, and implementation. Our goal is tonurture high-level practitioners who will play proactive rolesin the advancement of diplomatic and international interests.
Reflecting the considerable transformation in worldpolitics, where transnational issues such as global warming,
financial crises, and terrorism cannot be solved by only one
country, while technological progress has expanded the
network among actors in every part of the world, the FSS
offers programs designed to provide the skillsets necessary
for multilayered global governance – which needs people
who can adjust to changes and demonstrate originality,
creativity, and a solid understanding of international
relations.
The small size of the classes is another attractive featureof the FSS. With an average class size around 10 or less,students enjoy close contact with the faculty members andcreate a dense network with fellow students.

Example of first quarter schedule
Mon

Tue

1 st

Regional Studies I

Research Methods
in International Relations

2 nd

International Political
EconomyⅠ

Wed

Thu

Fri

Theories ofWorld Politics
Global Governance
TheoryInternational
Security Policy

3 rdThrough five types of courses – basic subjects, core
subjects, applied subjects, case studies, and workshops –students can gradually build their knowledge. With a limited
number of compulsory subjects, students enjoy the freedom
to choose those classes that best fit their interests. While
writing research papers (which are equivalent of master’stheses) is elective, this is highly advised as the culmination ofstudies.
A total of 44 credits are required for the degree. Credits
from other IPP programs and other schools within
Hitotsubashi University are counted towards graduation, up
to a set number of credits. If applicable requirements aremet, students can also acquire credits for Internships as well.

Public Economics Course[Master of Public Policy（Public Economics）]

Basic Structure
The curriculum consists of academic andprofessional training. Academic training includes
basic, core, applied, and case study subjects.
Professional training includes workshops and othersubject groups. The objective of this professional
training is to develop competency in communication(excellent listening and speaking skills). Thus,
students will acquire various tools necessary to
become successful in society, including presentation
skills, techniques for facilitating lively discussions, andthe ability to summarize assigned tasks in reports.
The fluidity of today’s society means we must
continually respond to new challenges as they arise.
Achieving good results in this fast-changing
environment requires, among other things, a highlevel of communication skills and expertise. At the
School of International and Public Policy, we aim tonurture future leaders capable of meeting such

4

Asian Public Policy Program
demands throughprofessional training.

extensive

academic

and

CURRICULUMInternshipWorkshop

Consulting Projects

Professional Training

Improve expression and communication skills

Case studies

Learn how to analyze and evaluate policies

Applied subjects

Work on specialized issues of public policies

Core subjects

Work on basic issues of public policies

Basic subjects

Learn fundamental theories

Academic Training

Obtain knowledge on theoretical andconceptual frameworks and application skills

The Asian Public Policy Program (APPP) targets young
professionals in Asian governments, central banks, andother policy-related organizations. The APPP has been andcontinues to be an important stepping-stone for suchindividuals to become fully-edged fiscal or financial
economists, economic planners, policy analysts, andpolicymakers in their governments as well as in internationalorganizations. The course distinguishes itself from othergraduate programs offered in the public policy area by its
strong focus on economic policy, with almost all the requiredand elective courses structured around economics and its
applications to policy. The program aims to equip its
graduates with the knowledge and skills to analyze anddevelop policies against a sound knowledge of economic
theory.
The Program is also especially attractive for the
personalized attention it provides to students. The classsizes are quite small – at most around 15 – and each full-time
faculty supervises around 4 students per annual intake andis thus able to provide close guidance on the student’s
academic undertakings. The small size of the Program also
allows students to build strong ties with their peers, which
can last a lifetime, and will be a valuable asset in their career.

Example of first quarter schedule
Mon

Tue

2 nd
3 rd
4 th

Wed

Thu

Fri

Microeconomics
for Public Policy

1 st
Economics of
Public Sector I

Macroeconomics:
Theory and Policy

Fundamentals of
Econometric Methods I

Microeconomics
for Public Policy

Macroeconomics:
Theory and Policy
SeminarsEnglish Thesis
Writing I

Workshopon Current Topics

The curriculum focuses on economic policy design andanalysis, and is conducted entirely in English. The curriculum
consists of core theory courses, fiscal and regulatory policy,
monetary and financial policy, workshops on current topics,
special intensive courses, and weekly seminars.
A strong emphasis is placed on seminar work and themaster’s thesis. Seminar work is a long-standing tradition at
Hitotsubashi University, where a small group of students
work together under the guidance of the academic advisor
to discuss economic and policy issues as well as develop
and discuss their prospective thesis. The thesis is a requiredelement of the course and provides an opportunity forstudents to apply their knowledge and skills acquired fromthe APPP courses to analyze real-world policy issues. A totalof 44 credits and the submission of a thesis are required forthe degree.

5Faculty
Associate Professor

ABE, Tatsuo

II, Masako

Professor

After graduating from Tohoku University Faculty of Law,
Professor Abe joined the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications in 2010. At the national level, he oversaw
the election system as well as the fire and disasterprevention field, while in Fukui and Nara he acquired
experience in planning, tourism, and public finance. His
classes include Local Government Policies I, etc.
The old capital of Nara is now flourishing, just likethe fragrance of blooming flowers.

Professor

Message to students Where there is a will, there is a way.

Professor

GG

Motto

PL

Professor

APPP

Learn to think for yourself and to express yourProfessor

ICHIHARA, Maiko
GG

Message to students

6

Motto

Even the unskilled can succeed given enough tries.
Inscrutable are the ways of heaven.

Professor

Professor

Hot Yoga

TSUJI, Takuya
PL

Ph.D. (Academic) from the University of Tokyo. Professor
Tsuji has served as a member of the National and Local
Dispute Resolution Committee and the Tax Commission.
His research focuses on public administration and local
government theory. His classes include Public
Administration I, Public Administration II, and Studies on
Policy and Legal Affairs.

Message to students Ask, and it shall be given to you.

SEKINE, Toshitaka

Professor

APPP

Favorite Quote

NEMOTO, Yoichi

Ph.D. (Economics), Johns Hopkins University. Professor
Yamashige’s research focuses on social policies such as
childcare support, healthcare, and welfare policies. His
classes include Fundamentals of Economics I, Public
Economic Analysis I and II, Consulting Project I and II, andJapan’s Fiscal and Monetary Policy Making.

TAKAKU, Reo

Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur.

Associate Professor

PE

YOKOYAMA, Izumi
PE

Ph.D., Keio University. Associate Professor Takaku is a
specialist in policy evaluation and analysis of health carepolicy utilizing data. At IPP, he is in charge of Econometrics
Analysis and Theory and Principle of Social Security
Systems II etc. His courses are relatively math-intensive,
but he always teaches thoroughly with his students in
mind, so give it a try.
Playing the piano.

YAMASHIGE, Shinji
PE

Favorite Quote

Look ahead but live in the present.

Associate Professor

Hobbies

Back to the Basics.

TAKEMURA, Hitomi

Professor

Ph.D. (Economics), University of Oxford. In his course
Central Banking, Professor Sekine shares his 33 years ofexperience at the Bank of Japan, the International
Monetary Fund, and the Bank for International
Settlements. He hopes to show how economics andeconometric analysis are applied to policy and the real
thrill of working in the public service of a central bank.

Ph.D. (Public Policy), Harvard University. Worked for the
Ministry of Finance and the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic
Research Office （AMRO）. Professor Nemoto studies
the regional financial arrangements to prevent andresolute currency crises. His courses:
Macroeconomics, Current Issues in International
Economy and Regional Financial Arrangements andEconomic Surveillance in East Asia.

Favorite Quote

Asian Public Policy Program

PE

APPP

Ph.D. (Economics), University of California, Berkeley.
Former research economist of Cabinet, other ministries,
and international organizations. Professor Hori’s
empirical research evaluates policies of Asian economies.
He teaches Economics of the Public Sector, Economic
Analysis of the Tax System, and Economic Analysis ofSocial Security Systems at APPP.

APPP

Ph.D. (Law), National University of Ireland, Galway.
Professor Takemura majors in international criminal law,researching the activities of the International Criminal
Court, the exercise of criminal jurisdiction by states overcrimes under the international law, and the criminal liabilityof individuals under the international law. Her classes
include Community Interest and International Law.

SATO, Motohiro

GG

HORI, Masahiro

Public Economics Program

GG

Doctor (Economics), Queen's University. His areas of expertise are
public finance, especially tax. Professor Sato received the Ishikawa
award from the Japanese Economic Association. He serves as amember of Japan’s Government Tax Commission, Regulatory
Reform Promotion Council of the Cabinet office, Fiscal Council of
MOF and the Tax Commission of Tokyo etc. He teaches Public
Economic Analysis I and Theory of Local Public Finance. He is the
Director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy Research,
involved in the health economics program.

KWON, Yongseok

My dream is to travel from Tokyo to Seoul Pyongyang - Beijing and then overland to Paris.

PE

Professor

Hobbies

Playing futsal.

Professor

Ph.D. (Hitotsubashi Univ.). Visiting scholar (Seoul
National Univ., Waseda Univ.). Majoring in the history of
Korea, Japanese diplomacy, and East Asian international
relations, Associate Professor Kwon studies the cultural
aspects of the Japan-Korea relationship such as pop
culture and sports. He teaches International Relations inEast Asia and Japan's Foreign Policy.

Message to students

Message to students thoughts.

ISHIZUKA, Hideki

Repeated reading makes the meaning clear.

Associate Professor

Juris Doctor (University of Tokyo). Professor Fujioka’sarea of specialization is tax law. He is conducting
research on issues related to tax law and currency, andthe relationship between the tax system and themonetary system. At IPP, he is in charge of Theory andPrinciple of Taxation I and Tax Policy, etc.

Professor

Hobbies

GG

FUJIOKA, Yuji

Message to students Let's deep dive into Japanese tax policy.

OBAYASHI, Kazuhiro

Ph.D. (Political Science), George Washington University.
Professor Obayashi’s academic field of expertise isinternational relations. He conducts research on civil wars,
peacebuilding, and global governance in these issue areasusing quantitative and qualitative methods including fieldresearch. His courses include Theories of Conflict, Peace
Studies, and International Institutions.

Master (East Asian Studies), Stanford University. Basedon his experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ofJapan and at Peking University, Professor Ishizuka
studies international relations focusing on China, Asian
regional studies, and international cooperation. His
courses include Comparative Foreign Policies andJapan's Foreign Policy Making I.

Ph.D. (Law), Hitotsubashi University. Minister Counsellorat the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International
Organizations in Vienna (2016-2018). Professor Akiyama’s
area of expertise is international security. In particular, he
studies issues of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear
disarmament. His courses include International Security
Policy, etc.

Associate Professor

GG

Global Governance Program(including Foreign Service Sub Program）

GG

Ph.D. (Economics), University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Research fellow at the Center for Health Policy andEconomic Research (HIAS Health). Professor Ii’s studies
focus on health care and welfare policy. She teaches
Fundamentals of Econometric Methods, Economic
Analysis of Social Policy, and Health Economics(cooperation with Tokyo Medical and Dental Univ.).

AKIYAMA, Nobumasa

Message to students I always look forward to discussing with students.

Public Law Program

APPP

PL

Favorite Quote

Professor

PL

Ph.D. (Economics), the University of Michigan. Associate
Professor Yokoyama’s area of expertise is Labor
Economics and Applied Econometrics. Her publications
include Takaku and Yokoyama (2021, Journal of Public
Economics). Her courses consist of Introduction to
Quantitative Analysis, Microeconomics Analysis, Applied
Econometrics II etc.

Message to students

I will help you apply economic theory to policy
proposals.

NOGUCHI, Kikumi
PL

Ph.D. (Political Science), George Washington University.
Steering committee member of the World Movement for
Democracy, East Asia Democracy Forum, and Japan
Fact-check Center. Professor Ichihara’s area of expertiseis democracy support in Asia. She teaches Introduction to
International Politics and Global Governance Seminar.

Doctor of Law (Hitotsubashi University). Member of the
Administrative Appeal Board, the Social Infrastructure
Development Council, and the Immigration Policy Advisory
Committee. Professor Noguchi’s major is administrative
law including immigration, police administration, andpublic records management. At IPP, she teaches
Administrative Law: Specific Issues, etc.

Let's move forward, cherishing our individuality
and strengths.

Message to students law, which is necessary for policy implementation.

Let's enjoy learning together about administrative

7

Voices from Students”By interacting with students who hold diverse values,
I learned a lot and gained a new perspective”
Growing up in Jamaica, I became interested inlinguistics during my high school years andstudied Spanish, French, and Japanese. By
studying linguistics, my interest expanded tothe history and culture of the countries I
studied, and further on to international
relations. That is why I studied international law
and international relations (IR) at Jamaican andCanadian universities. During this time, I
volunteered as a foreign language instructor for
JICA. While in Japan, I decided to attend a
Rennique Thomas Oshane Japanese graduate school to further my studies
in IR. I chose IPP because of its strong
Foreign Service Sub-program (FSS) reputation in the IR field and its excellentof Global Governance Program
learning environment.
In the future, I would like to contribute to”Having the opportunity to interact with experts who play acentral role in Japan is very appealing”
In my third year of university, I studied abroadin Sweden and my learning experiences there
made me realize that money can make a big
difference in one's education and lifestyle. Since
then, I became interested in public finance.
Coming from a rural part of Japan, I also wished
to revitalize regions that were in decline, so I
entered IPP to learn about local finances.
In the PL program, I took classes taught byexperts in various fields and officials from thecentral government. This opportunity to interact
with experts is one of the best features of the
program. I was also able to learn withclassmates from the central and local
governments, and to hear their practical stories.

My supervisors gave me both positive andnegative feedback as I worked on my thesis,
and their guidance enabled me to gain
confidence in my work.
At IPP, I learned the importance of seeking
solutions to an issue by analyzing it throughmultiple lenses, such as government agencies,
private companies, and residents. It is also avaluable experience for young students todiscuss various issues on equal footing, with
mid-career students in their 30s and 40s who
have had working experience. I believe it isextremely meaningful to study in such anenvironment before entering the workforce.

solving social problems in my home country. In
Foreign Service Sub-program of Global
Governance program, I am researching theimpact of countries that are non-signatory tointernational human rights treaties. I am
learning a lot from my instructor on how to
conduct research and how to utilize research
networks. The students I study with are diverse,
including those who work for government
agencies and returnees who have experienced
living in various cultures. Through discussions
with them, I have attained new perspectives. I
am satisfied with the class style in which
students create class materials, formulate
policies, and present them.

SATO, Yuichiro
Public Law Program”My viewpoint broadened because I can take various classes,
even those from other graduate schools””Having interest in East Asian international relations, I applied to Global
Governance Program to gain both practical and theoretical perspectives
that I believe will contribute to my future career”
I was born and raised in Turkey. The image of Japan
there is very positive. I became interested in Japan andJapanese culture in high school when I first learned
about Japanese history, and that Japanese and Turkish
are from the same linguistic family. I wanted tobroaden my knowledge, so for my undergrad, I
majored in Japanese Language and Literature at
Ankara University. Contrary to its name, my program
offered interdisciplinary study with a wide array ofclasses related to Japan, among which, a course about
Turkish Japanese relations, and a course about thehistory of East Asia. The latter got me interested in thefield of international relations, as well as the East Asian
region. These interests made me want to further mystudies in international relations and become a linkthat would bring Japan and Turkey closer, as well as
take an important and active part in solving global andregional issues.
After graduating, I was awarded MEXT Scholarshipand had the opportunity to study at Hitotsubashi
University Graduate School of Law for six months as a
research student, starting from September 2021.
I applied for IPP's GG program because I believe it isimportant to acquire not only a theoretical but also apractical approach in the field of international
relations. Since GG offers both, I thought it was an
excellent program to broaden my horizons. Moreover,through the multicultural learning environment andopen discussions in my lectures, I was able to gain agreater understanding of diverse perspectives.
I believe that Hitotsubashi University provides an
excellent environment to concentrate on my studies. I
would like to continue my studies here for the Ph.D.
program as well.

KOMATA, Megumi
Public Economics Program

NAZLI DENIZ SARILGAN

only considered the superficial causes ofproblems, but I am now acquiring the tools tothink about their essence.
I am also taking advantage of the opportunity
to take courses from other graduate schools at
Hitotsubashi
University
bystudying
international relations and data analysis using
Python. I was anxious when I first enrolled, but
my fears were completely unnecessary. Since
then, my world has expanded and my desire tolearn has grown. I think IPP is the best place forpeople who have had working experience torelearn.

Fri

Global Governance Program”We get to learn closely from academics and practitioners
and improve our language skills”

SUDA, Tomohiro
Asian Public Policy Program

8

I had been working for 10 years for amanagement support group and a consulting
firm when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. It wasan opportunity for me to stop and reconsider
my career path. Looking back, I recalled a time
when I had been involved in supporting local
governments, and they had been extremely
grateful for the support. So I decided to get
involved in the public sector, and I retired andenrolled in IPP's Public Economics program.
Although I had no prior knowledge of public
economics, I am able to learn under careful
guidance about theories that will be useful in
my real-world work. For example, theories from
economics could be useful in understanding
issues from actual work or society. In the past, I

Nowadays, the government is promoting
Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM). I
enrolled in IPP in order to learn about thismethod. I chose APPP because it provides
students with the opportunity to learn insmall-sized classes from researchers andpractitioners who used to be high-profile
government officials. Also, classes at APPP areconducted in English since there are many
international students; hence, I can also obtain
English skills useful in the field.
One of the lectures that left a lasting
impression on me was the econometrics andsocial policy theory class, taught by Professor Ii.
As we face an aging society, social security

expenses are increasing, and the optimizationof these expenditures has become a major
issue. Under these circumstances, I feel that theapproach of planning and evaluating healthcare
policies based on data, which I learned in
Professor Ii's class, will be of great use.
Moreover, exchanging information on policy
planning with fellow students working at
finance ministries and central banks in Asian
countries is helpful for my own work. It isdefinitely a stimulating experience to have theopportunity of explaining Japan's policies topeople from countries that are also
experiencing declining birthrates and aging
populations.

9Voices from Alumni
IKEDA, Satoko
Public Law Program

Figures
General 2-year course, completed in 2014
Working at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism(currently on loan to Saga Prefecture Public Policy Department)

I wanted to work at the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT)
when I studied law as an undergraduate student.
However, during my undergraduate years, I did
not have much opportunity to learn about public
administration. Besides, I needed to study again
for the civil service exam. As a result, I decided toenter Public Law Program at IPP. I also expected
to learn about practices from civil servants.
The learning environment matched my

NAKAZAWA, Yuki
Global Governance Program

expectations. I studied with people engaged inpublic affairs, including national public officials,
prefectural and city government officials, andcity council members. In class, I broadened myperspectives
throughdiscussions
that
integrated theory brought by professors andpractice brought by former students. Thanks to
my experience at IPP, I can discuss with mysupervisors, colleagues, and people outside of
the Ministry with ease.

General 2-year course, completed in 2021
Working at the Cabinet Office

At GG, many classes were discussion-based. I
had to do the readings in advance, put together
my ideas, and speak clearly and convincingly.
My classmates, including working professionals
and international students, were distinct frommy undergraduate days. Moreover, I had theopportunity to participate in joint programs withJapanese, Chinese, and Korean institutions. I
also visited Cambridge and Oxford Universities.
During these exchanges, we discussed topics,

such as security, with the local students. As aresult, I strengthened my ability to reach aconsensus while interacting with people withdifferent experiences and values. I believe one
can acquire the skills and the appropriate
mindset to become a global professional by
studying at GG.

Percentage of September 2022
Enrollment by configuration
Asian Public Policy
Program

Foreign Service Sub-program(Global Governance Program)

12

Total
Enrollment:
18

Public Economics Program

While involved in project finance at a general
trading company, I struggled with the realitythat maximizing corporate profit ultimately leads
to social problems such as local environmental
destruction. I realized that continuing my career
as a finance professional while ignoring these
ethical issues would be burdensome. I believedthat institutional design on the policy side wasthe cause of these issues. As a result, I decided
to study at a policy school to get closer to policy

Nguyen Thanh Tung
Asian Public Policy Program

2-year course for mid-career person, completed in 2019
Studying at Ph.D. course at Graduate School of Economics

Before coming to Japan, I was working at theVietnam Institute for Economic and Policy
Research. In 2019, I obtained my masterʼsdegree in public policy at the Asian Public Policy
Program. The program offers important core
courses in economics and econometrics andmany elective courses in different aspects of amodern economy, especially in Asia. APPP also
provided me the opportunity to transfer to the10

making. IPP was an excellent choice because it
is possible to obtain a master's degree in one
year.
My year at IPP was fantastic. I studied theory
and practice in a balanced way. The classes
were small, and I was very close to my professor,
who meticulously commented on my master's
thesis. Even now, more than ten years after I
graduated, I still get advice from him from time
to time.

Graduate School of Economics for a doctoral
study. I am now a Ph.D. candidate at
Hitotsubashi, working on the field of labor
economics. The best thing about APPP is thatyou always have the support you need, fromcareer advice to daily life.

Japanese
students(Male)

29
41
Female58

International
Students

International
Students

International
students(Female)Male
67
International
students(Male)

29
26

Major employers of graduates from the 1st to 17th terms(including return to original work)
Manufacturing

Government
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Ministry of Defense
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

Ministry of the Environment
National Tax Agency
Board of Audit
Secretariat of the House of Representatives
Cabinet Office
Fair Trade Commision
Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development
Australia Ministry of Education etc.

Government (local)

1-year course for mid-career person, completed in 2010
Working at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation as senior advisor

Japanese
students(Female)6

12TOKYO METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT
Kanagawa Prefecture Government

OKI, Eri

6

Composition of students in attendancein AY 2022 (As of Oct 1, 2022)

Akita Prefecture Official etc.

Think Tanks, consulting and other services
Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC
Daiwa Securities Group Inc.
Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.
FUJITSU RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.
PwC Consulting LLC etc.
Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co., Ltd.

Information and Communications
Rakuten Group, Inc.
IBM Japan, Ltd.
Japan Broadcasting Corporation
TOKYO BROADCASTING SYSTEM TELEVISION, INC.

NTT DATA CORPORATIONYahoo Japan Corporation
The Asahi Shimbun Company etc.

TOSHIBA CORPORATION
Sony Group Corporation
Sumitomo Chemical Co., LtdCANON INC.

Sharp Corporation
TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
Hitachi, Ltd. etc.

Finance/Insurance
Bank of Japan
Nomura Securities Co.,Ltd.
Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Japan Bank for International Cooperation etc.

Other
・International organization:
United Nations
・Corporation/NGOs/Specified Nonprofit Corporation:
Japan Pension Service
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC.
The Japan Foundation (JF)Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Japan Business Federation
Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU)
・Energy:
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.
OSAKA GAS CO., LTD.

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.

・Trading company:
MITSUI & CO., LTD.
ITOCHU Corporation

Mitsubishi Corporation

・Transport and postal activities:
JAPAN POST HOLDINGS Co., Ltd.
East Japan Railway Company

DHL Japan,Inc.

Scholarships for FSS Students

Housing

The FSS is run in cooperation with scholarship programs such as
JDS and JICA-SDGs, and thus students interested in the FSS canapply for JDS and/or JICA-SDGs. The same does not apply for the
MEXT scholarship, but MEXT scholarship awardees are welcome toapply for the FSS. If they meet the necessary requirements, existing
MEXT scholarship recipients at other institutions might be eligible toextend the scholarship period for additional advanced study at FSS.
Please refer to each scholarship’s website for more information.
Note that partner universities of JDS and JICA-SDGs are subject tochange every academic year. Please contact JICA for details.
For information about other scholarship programs and enrollment
fee/tuition fee exemption, please visit
https://international.hit-u.ac.jp/en/pros/pr/support.html
For scholarships for APPP Students, please visit
https://www.ipp.hit-u.ac.jp/appp/

Hitotsubashi University has two
residential halls for international
students: Residence Hall Ikkyo-Ryo
and Residence Hall Kunitachi. Manyof IPP’s international students
reside in Ikkyo-Ryo. For details aswell as availability, please visit
https://international.hit-u.ac.jp/en/
curr/accom/degree_students.html

etc.

Japanese Language Education
Japanese language courses are available for international students.
For more information, please visit
https://international.hit-u.ac.jp/en/courses/japanese/index.html

11