Program explores Japan’s Kansai region through interdisciplinary lens

Research & Scholarship

The faculty-led study abroad program offers an opportunity to explore Japan's Kansai region through engagement with cultural texts, classroom discussions and immersive site visits.

Students in the program visit the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji). (Courtesy photo)

The following story originally appeared on the website for the College of Arts & Sciences. - Ed.

In January 2025, the William & Mary Japanese Studies Program, housed in the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures, partnered with the Reves Center for International Studies to launch a new faculty-led study abroad program, offering students a unique opportunity to explore Japan's Kansai region through engagement with cultural texts, classroom discussions and immersive site visits.

Professor of Japanese Studies and program director Tomoyuki Sasaki led 17 students to Osaka for a two-week course titled "William & Mary in Osaka." The course, which is set to run again this January, represents a significant step forward for the department's international programming.

"The purpose of this course was to familiarize students with the history, culture, and geography of Osaka and the Kansai region," Sasaki said. "There was a combination of discussion and engagement with cultural text and various field trips."

Braden Coykendall '26 appreciated that the program gave him a chance to explore and become familiar with the local areas his class visited.

"We were not just limited to the city of Osaka, and we were not stuck in the classroom all day. Our class got around the Kansai region and had extensive site visits in cities like Kyoto and Kobe as well," Coykendall said. "I liked how we took time to appreciate spots in each of these cities that may be frequented by locals but might be overlooked by most foreign tourists. I liked visiting local shops, cafes, and restaurants, and practicing some of the Japanese I have learned."

Students pose in front of the Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street in Osaka. (Courtesy photo) The group dines at a Shabu-shabu restaurant in Osaka, experiencing authentic Japanese cuisine. (Courtesy photo) Higashi-Honganji Temple in Kyoto was one of many site visits featured in the study abroad program. (Courtesy photo)

The Reves Center partnered with CET Academic Programs, based in the Osaka Gakuin University campus, for logistical support and help with travel and coordination throughout the region.

Each morning, students met in a classroom on the campus of Osaka Gakuin University to discuss novels and films set in the region. Afternoons were devoted to field trips to the very locations depicted in those texts, creating a dynamic blend of academic and experiential learning.

Prior to departure, as with all W&M faculty-led study abroad programs, students were required to complete a one-credit pre-departure course in the fall semester, during which they began engaging with cultural materials and learned how to use digital mapping tools to document their journeys.

"I required each student to create their own StoryMap based on their experience in Osaka," Sasaki explained. "They were expected to incorporate what they learned and create narrative maps using multimedia. For this purpose, I worked with the Center for Geospatial Analysis and invited a staff member to help teach students how to use ArcGIS StoryMaps."

Assistant teaching professor of Japanese Studies Shinji Shimoura will serve as the faculty director for the upcoming program in January. Student interest in the program was significant, contributing to its selectivity: 17 students have been selected to travel to Osaka. The participating students will have the opportunity to engage with Japan's education system through guided visits to local schools and universities, conduct linguistic landscape research in the ethnic enclaves of Tsuruhashi and Nankinmachi, and explore the local food systems in Osaka's neighborhood communities.

"Visits to historically significant locations including Kyoto, Kobe and Himeji further strengthen the connection between classroom learning and on-site exploration," Shimoura said.

Again, the students will create a StoryMap project to showcase their experiences exploring new places, cultures and communities.

This interdisciplinary approach to learning is at the core of the program, signaling a promising new chapter for global learning within the Japanese Studies Program.

Emma Halman, College of Arts & Sciences

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