Graduate School ofInternational Cultural Studies
Tohoku University

JapanS e nd a i

Photo credit: City of Sendai

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University, Japan41 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan 980-8576
Tel: +81-(0)22-795-7556
Fax: +81-(0)22-795-7583
Email: int-kkdk@grp.tohoku.ac.jp
http://www.intcul.tohoku.ac.jp/

東北大学附属図書館所蔵

international, global, and interdisciplinary perspectives, and has
been using the knowledge obtained to educate students who willassume leadership in various sectors in the world. Since its
inauguration in 1993, the school has produced 880 masters and209 doctorates (as of March, 2018). Many of them have beenplaying an active role at universities and other research institutions,public agencies, educational institutions, or companies.

What is international and global is not limited to our perspectives
in research. We boast our international/global student community.

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University

About 75% of our MA students and about 60% of our doctoral

Daiko Takahashi, Ph.D.
Dean,
Graduate School ofInternational Cultural Studies

T

program and a three-year doctoral program. It promotes education and research that adopt
interdisciplinary and comprehensive approaches in three areas: (1) area studies from aninternational perspective covering Japan and the world’s diverse local cultures, (2) the global
community, and (3) the scientific study of languages. Within these areas, we aim to develop
professionals with strong understandings of cultures who act and think globally, as well as specialists
with advanced expertise and research capabilities.

The Graduate School has eight departments, each of which feature a unique educational program andpromote cutting-edge research. These departments are organized into three educational program units
called “divisions.” Divisions play a coordinating role, ensuring that students acquire the advanced
knowledge and capabilities that allow them to be active in the global community. These divisions are

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issues in societies, and aspects of language fromhe Graduate School of International Cultural Studies consists of a two-year master’s

expected to meet the Graduate School’s three educational goals: the development of (1) deep
understandings of different cultures, (2) skills to solve global issues, and (3) communication abilities.
Graduate School of International Cultural StudiesTohoku University

has been devoted to research on local cultures,

About GSICS

Dean’s Message02T

he Graduate School of International Cultural Studies

students come from outside Japan, and those numbers far exceed
Tohoku University’s averages, distinguishing us from othergraduate schools. We expect our students to learn to view thingsfrom international and global perspectives not only throughcourses and instruction by faculty members but also frominteractions with peer students with diverse backgrounds.

We comprise eight departments using Japanese as their medium ofinstruction and admitting students in April in accordance with theJapanese educational system, and two international programs
where English serves as the medium of instruction and newstudents enter in October (one of them will accept students in April

globalized world.

Tohoku University in Rankings
Times Higher Education (THE)Japan University Rankings 2019

AERA 2019 Assessment
by Japanese high schools

3rd in Japan

1st in JapanQS World University Rankings
2019

QS World University Rankings
2019

77th in the world

5th in Japan

About GSICS

Dean’s Message

as well). All of them help students build a successful career in thisInternational Graduate Programin Japanese Studies (GPJS)

TTSciences consists of a two-year M.A. and athree-year Ph.D. program affiliated with GSICS,

he GPJS is comprised of several Tohoku
University schools that offer courses in thehumanities and social sciences. This new graduate

Tohoku University. The aim of this program is to promote

program features an interdisciplinary curriculum dealing withinterdisciplinary education and research concerning humandiverse aspects of Japanese culture and society and promotes collaborative research with overseas partner universities. At the GPJS,

language from the multiple perspectives of linguistics,

we use the West’s Japanese studies methodology while fostering a new type of specialist who can address contemporary social

psychology, brain science, and information science. Based on recent development in linguistics and other relevant

issues from a Japan-based perspective. First-year M.A. students enrolled at GSICS or other graduate schools are eligible to apply,

disciplines, the program seeks to comprehensively understand issues associated with linguistic communication,and upon selection are given a scholarship that lasts until the completion of their Ph.D. program.

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language acquisition and loss, language and the brain, and natural language processing. The program isconducted in collaboration with the Research Center for Language, Brain and Cognition.

Graduate Program in Global Governanceand Sustainable Development (G2SD)

The International Joint Graduate Programin Resilience and Safety Studies (GP-RSS)TT

his program is part of Tohoku University’s GSICS,and offers a two-year M.A. and three-year Ph.D.
program. All courses are taught in English, and no

he International Joint Graduate Program inResilience and Safety Studies (GP-RSS) is taught
by leading experts in the field of disaster sciences

Japanese language ability is required for admission. The aim ofand human security. We invite world renowned faculty from ourthis graduate program is to develop students’ abilities toaffiliated partners worldwide, and through active student andadvance global governance and sustainable development, twofaculty exchanges, we hope to provide our graduate students

crucial tasks for the world today. Through a combination of critical theoretical and empirical studies, this programwith a research platform for integrated academic specificity, international diversity, hands-on education in the field, and in academic

aims to produce scholars who can question conventional wisdom and design innovative analytical frameworks

collaboration.

based on their interdisciplinary knowledge.

All our lectures are held in English, and we will be tracking student progress through two Qualifying Examinations (QEs). We strive
for quality in our graduate school education.

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University

he International Graduate Program in Language

Successful Ph.D. students will be entitled to diplomas that include a note of theircompletion of the program, and where affiliate agreements exist between partnership schools, a certificate noting an internationaljoint degree.

English and Joint Graduate Programs

English and Joint Graduate Programs04
Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku UniversityFeatures

International Graduate Programin Language Sciences (IGPLS)T

was primarily established to elucidate thecontemporary realities of China and theThe Department of Global Japanese Studies
consists of faculty members from various
disciplines, such as literature, comparativesystem, it has brought together seven faculty members

Islamic region covering from Southeast Asia to North

culture, Japanese intellectual history, and sociology. The

from a variety of departments. They specialize in FrenchAfrica. We believe that it is important to investigate

department was launched with Japanese studies facultyand German literature, British theater, French and US

former’s presence in Asia and Africa in the 21st century

members that had belonged to departments in the former

history, and Latin American anthropology. Europe and thefrom a historical and cultural perspective in order toGraduate School of International Cultural Studies. InAmericas have historically been sites of the intersection ofunderstand the basis of its development as a leader of thetoday’s modern era of globalization, Japanese studies isvarious ethnic groups, races, and languages, and were alsoworld’s political economy. The latter, on the other hand,undergoing a transformation. Traditionally the field has

the driving force of the world in the 20th century. In thehas historically both maintained ties and been a source ofbeen centered on scholarship about Japan’s unique

21st century, an age of increasing globalization, thesefriction between Asia and Africa, and the necessity ofculture, disconnected from the rest of the world, as well asregions must be contextualized and studied comparatively.

empirical studies on the characteristics of Islamic

research concerning the reception and impact of foreign

This department is therefore divided into the fields ofcommunities are now widely recognized. This department’s

cultures in the country. However, today, manga, anime,

European area studies and American area studies, which

students are trained to become internationally active andand other Japanese cultures are spreading throughout theelucidate the uniqueness and diversity of the cultures andhighly specialized professionals, professors, orworld. The department therefore promotes a more complex

societies of each region through education based on

researchers equipped for the current period of change inand nuanced approach that takes history into account andstudents’ specific professional research aims. The

Asia and Africa. They focus on Islamic areas or Chinese

examines “the world in Japan” as well as “Japan in thedepartment also works to understand European andhistory and culture, learn, if necessary, languages such asworld.” One of the features of this department is the wide

American cultures through close cooperation between

Arabic or Chinese (one of the official languages of therange of historical periods covered, from ancient toresearch fields. Based on this rigorous education system,

United Nations), and engage in individual, cross-sectional,

modern and contemporary times. Students could carry out

the department aims to develop scholars and professionals

and original research to write a thesis or dissertation. Thisdiachronic research on an aspect of cultural exchange, orthat combine essential expertise and broad-ranging

department therefore is comprised of scholars specializing

explore Japan’s relationships with foreign countries toperspectives for our global era.

in North Africa and China that can provide guidance forunderstand the social phenomena of a certain era. Thestudents to fully acquire the academic skills they need.

Department of Global Japanese Studies provides a forum
for academic study and the exchange of ideas for those
who have a strong interest in Japan and its relationshipwith other countries, and who want to acquire a broad
perspective and deep knowledge about Japan and theworld.

Mariko ICHIKAWA
Professor
Naruhiko TERAMOTO
Professor
Toyoshi OBARA
Professor
Keisuke NOMURA
Associate Professor Shigeto YOSHIDA
Associate Professor Ryō YAMAUCHI

Professor

Professor

Professor

Takashi KURODA

Professor

Professor

Minoru K ATSUYAMA

Associate ProfessorProfessor

Tomoki ŌKAWARA

Associate Professor

Associate Professor

Lin ZHU

Associate Professor
Associate Professor

Michio SUZUKI
Sekiko SATŌMasato SANO
Orion KLAUTAU
Shinobu MYŌKI
Clinton GODART

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interdisciplinary education and research

he Department of Asian and African Studies

Department of
Global JapaneseStudies

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University

Americas. In order to build an

Department of
Asian and AfricanStudies

Division of Area Studies

F o s te r in g a d eep u n d er st an d i n g o f d i f f eren t cul t ures

Division of Area Studies

06T

his department focuses on Europe and theDivision of Area Studies

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University

Department ofEuropean and AmericanStudies

TI

international economy are increasinglyinseparable. These rapid changes can only

n the modern world, there is a strong demand forenvironmental protection measures andresolutions for global environmental problems.

W

ith the advancement of globalization, there is
now active movement of people and goods,
and opportunities to come into contact with abe understood from a multi-faceted perspective that goes

The Department of International Environmental and Resources

diverse set of cultures have increased. Today,beyond the frameworks of traditional political science andPolicy has five faculty members from a variety of fields whoconversations about other cultures are a daily occurrence.

economics. In the Department of International Politics andwork to develop knowledge and human resources to address

In this context, however, ethnic and cultural friction

Economics, we adopt such a perspective to engage insuch issues. The following are three major features of theresulting from different backgrounds often occurs. Solving

leading cutting-edge research and education thatdepartment.

such problems and building a society where people withhighlights the close international connections between

different backgrounds can coexist is a pressing matter,

politics and economics, covering Asia and globalization,

An emphasis on practical applications. This department seeksboth internationally and domestically. The Department ofas well as political and economic relationships between

to address real-world problems, and therefore takes aMulticulturalism engages in interdisciplinary andAsia, the United States, and other areas. It offers courses

field-oriented approach to research and education while

comparative education and research on various culturalon the international politics surrounding Japan in areas

working to deepen our knowledge regarding public policies

and ethnic groups with this as our ultimate aim.

such as national security, regional conflicts, andand societal welfare.

The department has six faculty members, each with anationalism, as well as courses that analyze international

different area of expertise. While their fields are diverse—

economic relations, including international market

An integrated scientific approach. Environmental problems takephilosophy, literature, history, Asian and European area

competition, trade, finance and investment, regional

many forms. Even the same problem can take different ones

studies—they share an interest in plurality andeconomic integration, and the world economic system.

depending on the cultural or economic context. Therefore, it iscoexistence. Students can acquire a broad perspective

Applying various social science fields, such asnecessary to study them from a multi-faceted and integrated

through their courses as well as the division’s common

international relations, political science, and economics,

approach that makes full use of knowledge from subjects suchsubjects and comprehensive field-based learning.

we strive to develop students with a wide range ofas environmental engineering, social engineering, economics,knowledge and astute analytical skills that can unlock theand environmental psychology.

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University

oday, international politics and theDepartment ofMulticulturalism

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Department ofInternational Environmentaland Resources Policy

complex and diverse realities of contemporary internationalsociety.

An emphasis on international perspectives. Many of theDivision of
Global Symbiotic Societies

F o st er i n g ski l l s t o so l ve g l o b al i ssues

Division of Global Symbiotic Societies

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Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University
Division ofGlobal Symbiotic Societies

Department ofInternational Politics
and Economics

environmental problems that have occurred on a global scale
are complexly intertwined with globalization. It is therefore
necessary to understand situations abroad, especially in other
Asian countries, and consider environmental measures froman international perspective.

Jeongsoo YU
Professor
Dinil PUSHPALAL
Associate Professor Toshiaki AOKIAssociate Professor Masahiro SATŌAssistant Professor Kazuaki ŌKUBO
Associate Professor Takako IZUMIProfessor

Hiro K ATSUMATA
Associate Professor Ryō IKEDA
Associate Professor Yōichi TSUCHIYA
Associate Professor

Kyōko FUJITA
Professor
Tōru SATŌProfessor
Kōji SAKAMAKIAssociate Professor Yukino SATŌProfessor

T

he Department of Theoretical Linguistics
boasts a diverse set of faculty members who
study semantics, lexicology, pragmatics, andDepartment ofApplied Linguistics

In the Department of Applied Linguistics, facultyand students research language by using various
related sciences and technologies and apply

syntax from the perspective of cognitive and generative

their findings to language education. As indicated by thelinguistics. We carry out comparative studies of not only

department’s name, “application” is a keyword in our research.
The research interests of our faculty members are as follows:

research aims to elucidate the nature of natural language,

grammar research and Japanese language education that

as well as its acquisition, learning, understanding, andincorporates cognitive science and computational linguistics

usage that underlie human cognitive abilities and language

methods; corpus studies and teaching English as afunctions. In close cooperation with the Department ofsecond/foreign language; Spanish language teaching andApplied Linguistics, we apply the findings of theoreticallanguage instructor education based on language education

research on language acquisition and education to offer aresearch; development of, implementation of, and research onbroad educational program. Furthermore, using theGerman language education that applies ICT; research on

knowledge acquired through the Tohoku University 21sthigher education language teaching methods, evaluation,Century COE (Center of Excellence) Program, we havequality assurance, and professional development; second

broadened our research to empirically validate the results

language acquisition research and bilingual education; syntaxof psychological and neuroscientific linguistic research,as seen from functionalist and cognitivist linguistic theories,

thereby adding interdisciplinary elements to our offerings.

and contrastive linguistic and linguistic typology research

We welcome students with intellectual curiosity who arerelated to semantics; and research on the acquisition ofinterested in discovering and analyzing languages’

Japanese as a second language as well as Japanese language

similarities and differences as well as elucidating theeducation. Faculty members of our department are in charge ofgrammar and cognitive abilities underlying language

Japanese, English, German, and Spanish language education

phenomena.

at Tohoku University, and apply their research to education as
well as incorporate feedback from education into theirresearch. By bridging these two spheres, the department is
opening up new horizons for applied linguistics research.

Professor
Professor
Professor
Professor
Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor
Associate Professor

Yoshio K AWAHIRA
Naoyuki ONO
Hiroyuki ETŌDaikō TAKAHASHI
Satoshi UEHARA
Takeshi NAKAMOTO
Kensaku SOEJIMA
Mariko NAKAYAMAProfessor
Takeshi OKADA
Professor
Mitsuhiro SHIGAKI
Professor
Kensuke SUGIURA
Professor
Kei YOSHIMOTO
Professor
Yoshio KITAHARA
Associate ProfessorPeter John WANNER
Associate Professor
Wataru NAKAMURA
Associate Professor
Natsue SUGAYA
Senior Assistant Professor Hyeonjeong JEONG

Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University

world, clarifying their similarities and differences. Our

11Japanese and English but also other languages of theDivision of Language Research

F o st eri n g co m m u n i cat i o n ski l l s

Division of Language Research

10Graduate School of International Cultural Studies
Tohoku University
Division of Language Research

Department ofTheoretical Linguistics