Introduction
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Welcome to the Institute for Japanese Studies (IJS) at the Ohio State University. We welcome your virtual visit and hope that these pages provide you with the information that you are looking for. If not, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Mission 
Faculty
Research
Courses
International Linkages
Educational Partners
Government & Business Partners
Community Partners
Mission: The mission of the Institute is to provide leadership for Japanese Studies at The Ohio State University and assist academic and administrative units of The Ohio State University to advance and disseminate knowledge about Japan including its people, language, art, culture, history, environment, government and politics, economy and business, and other aspects of its society. It is committed to maintaining and enhancing the national and international reputation of Japanese Studies at The Ohio State University in the areas of research, education, and professional service including outreach for K-12, business, the community and the state.
Faculty: IJS is home to Japan specialists from four colleges (Arts, Business, Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences) and from the Library. Together they offer a range of courses involving Japanese language and disciplinary and interdisciplinary courses on Japan. OSU faculty have recently completed, or are currently engaged in, wide-ranging collaborative research with colleagues in Japan.
Research: IJS covers all areas of Japan studies with a lively program of academic activities. IJS organizes an annual lecture series and regularly convenes organizes symposia and conferences on key issues, inviting national and international specialists to share their research. IJS co-sponsors events with numerous departments, other centers and institutes and Japan-related organizations, including lectures, film series and exhibits. IJS also seeks to collaborate with other Ohio-based universities and colleges.
Courses: IJS has provided course development grants to OSU faculty in Japanese studies for innovative courses at OSU and for nationally unique faculty-led study abroad programs.
International Linkages: IJS assists in developing Memoranda of Agreement with universities in Japan and helps facilitate visits of Japanese delegations to the OSU campus. There are three different reverse-study abroad programs with the University of Shizuoka each summer.
Education Partners: IJS maintains close ties to the Ohio Department of Education and the K-12 community in many different programs and projects. IJS is home to several types of Japan Discovery Boxes and Display Boxes, that is, boxes with authentic artifacts that involve students in Japanese culture activities. IJS also houses the K-12 teacher-developed Ohio Japan Project and NCTA web-based lesson plan resource bank. IJS contributes to a speakers’ bureau that includes our staff, faculty, graduate and international students, study-abroad graduates, and Japanese community members who address many different topics.
Government and Business Partners: IJS also cooperates with partners in business and government sectors in promoting exchange between Ohio and Japan. IJS works very closely with the Saitama Prefectural government in the administration of the Ohio-Saitama Internship Program (in Japan) and the Saitama-Ohio Internship Program (in Ohio at Ohio companies) which takes place each summer.
Community Partners:
