<p>tokyo university and kyoto university are the most prestigious schools if you actaully want to go to a japanese university.</p>
<p>according to my japanese history professor who got BA, MA and PHD in Japanese from stanford.</p>
<p>Untilted,</p>
<p>I disagree. I'd put Waseda before Kyoto.</p>
<p>ditto on the waseda comment.</p>
<p>And besides, 東京の大学 is not grammatically "incorrect" because it would translate to "The University OF Tokyo" or "Tokyo's University." But you were right, because it is normally referred to as just: 東京大学</p>
<p>I never said it was grammatically incorrect. I just said nobody adds it. </p>
<p>If I were to make a ranking of Japanese universities, the top five would be:</p>
<p>Todai
Waseda
Kyoto
Keio
Osaka</p>
<p>Now, granted, this runs contrary to what the Monbukagakusho thinks, but who cares? Waseda has a much stronger presence in policy circles and research circles than Monbusho seems to admit.</p>
<p>Oh well, not like any of them are that great.</p>
<p>Well if we're talking about Japanese Universities, would you need to know Japanese?</p>
<p>Depends. Not all schools in Japan require that entrants know Japanese.</p>
<p>ICU has a good program for non-Japanese speakers, and it does a pretty good job of getting them equipped with Japanese language skills. Plus, it's in a great location (Western Tokyo, right off the Chuo line in Musashisakai/Mitaka).</p>
<p>What is ICU :-</p>
<p>I'm so naive. Any grants or financial aid if I go to Japan?</p>
<p>ICU is International</a> Christian University. It's a relatively well-known school in Tokyo, but not one of the "Tokyo</a> Six" by any measure. By the way, don't let the "Christian" part turn you off if you're not Christian. It's not very pushy at all. I was initially worried (as a Jew), but found that nobody really proselytizes.</p>
<p>In either case, funding is VERY limited for non-Japanese. Stick to an American campus and study abroad for a year. Where do you live right now?</p>
<p>Agree with the mentions of good schools for Japanese language, above.</p>
<p>Two others I would mention are Bucknell and GW. Bucknell is a LAC that has a very strong Japanese program. GW also has a strong program in Japanese language and culture.</p>
<p>Earlham has ties to Japan that go back to the Emperor's tutor in the 1930s. They have the oldest exchange program in Japan among American colleges. And if you buy a map of the U.S. in Japan, you will find Richmond, Indiana on it, way out of proportion to its size.</p>
<p>They have majors both in Japanese Language & Linguistics and in Japanese Studies. They have a "Japan House".</p>
<p>
[quote]
And if you buy a map of the U.S. in Japan, you will find Richmond, Indiana on it, way out of proportion to its size.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I just checked my map of the US that I have here, and nope...it's not impressively big at all. It's actually not on there.</p>
<p>Saying 東京の大学 is like saying something grammatically correct but extremely awkward in English, I suppose.</p>
<p>I took the JLPT after 9th grade...forgot all my Japanese since :D</p>
<p>Which level? I passed ni-kyu this year.</p>
<p>lewisloftus: "Saying 東京の大学 is like saying something grammatically correct but extremely awkward in English, I suppose."</p>
<p>Yeah, like saying "Good afternoon my dear sir. Could I trouble you for a spot of tea?" As compared to "Excuse me, but could I get a cup of tea?"</p>
<p>UCLAri: ni-kyu?! I'm jealous! I haven't taken the test yet, but I'd only be able to pass san-kyu (san-kyu to ni-kyu is a big jump, right?)</p>
<p>Oh, and for those of you who are interested in studying in Japan, google the Monbukagakusho scholarship.<br>
Btw, does anybody know just how competitive this scholarship is (i.e. acceptance rates, SAT ranges,etc. for the US students)?</p>
<p>" just checked my map of the US that I have here, and nope...it's not impressively big at all. It's actually not on there."</p>
<p>Just worth asking: do you have a Japanese map, in Japanese?</p>
<p>Lotus,</p>
<p>I'm closer to ikkyu than I thought, but I just don't care to memorize any more kanji. Yes, the jump is large.</p>
<p>Monbusho scholarships are difficult. Very difficult. Besides, who wants to study in Japan? Get a real degree. :p</p>
<p>
[quote]
Just worth asking: do you have a Japanese map, in Japanese?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, the map's in Swahili. [/sarcasm]</p>
<p>which schools have the best japanese study abroad programs? is there any university that really stands out?</p>
<p>holy crapo. there's a forum about japanese colleges?!?!?</p>
<p>i got into two of them...</p>
<p>the one that you just mentioned... ICU and another called Jyochi Daigaku (Sophia University). and hopefully Waseda (my mother went there.)</p>
<p>I'm half Japanese and Korean, btw.</p>
<p>So I am so torn between ICU, UCSD and a bunch of other schools.</p>
<p>combatbaby, the school that definitely has some of the best study abroad programs for people who don't speak japanese would have to be ICU. ICU is such a friendly environment that has a campus that is absolutely gorgeous that looks just like ones from America. (Usual Japanese colleges look more like the campus of NYU). My cousin took courses at ICU and had an awesome time there. You should consider it.</p>
<p>Concerning other schools like Waseda and Jyochi (Sophia University), their programs for people who aren't absolutely confortable with Japanese is very limited. It would be best to go to ICU I believe, because they have a very similar system to American Liberal Arts Colleges and they were the first to start the program for special people (like people who aren't 100 percent comfortable with Japanese or people who want to learn Japanese).</p>
<p>combatbaby,</p>
<p>Princeton's program in Japan and UC EAP both stand out as really good programs.</p>