Program Overview

Kansai Gaidai University is located midway between Osaka, Japan’s second largest commercial center and Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. This places Kansai Gaidai University as a bridge between the new Japan and the old Japan, making it a place where commerce and culture meet.  Located on the Yodo River, Kansai Gaidai is in the center of this region, midway between the ancient capital of Kyoto and the dynamic business center of Osaka, with Nara and its Daibutsu (Great Buddha) and “sacred deer” only a short train ride away. Kobe, located only a little further away, is the newest addition to the Kansai region, for it began its growth with opening of Japan to the West in the 1860s, and boasts of western influences in its architecture and atmosphere.

This superb location provides an excellent starting point from which to begin exploring of a land that, by anyone's standards, is truly fascinating. These geographic advantages are extensively utilized in the Asian Studies Program through field trips, independent research, and/or case studies.

The university was founded in 1945 and enrolls approximately 13,000 students. Kansai Gaidai University has the largest international program in Japan, with more than 250 university exchange partners worldwide. Most content courses are taught in English.

Program Focus

Begin your exploration of Japan and Asia at Kansai Gaidai where people from fifty countries meet and learn from each other.  The Asian Studies Program at Kansai Gaidai University stands out because it is committed to educating students about all of the dimensions of Japanese life: language, cultural values, business structures and practices, political institutions, arts, literature, and historical landmarks in the evolution of international relations. A variety of course offerings relevant to Japan and Asia, taught by experienced faculty members, will provide new perspectives for participants and inspire their intellectual and personal growth.

Efficient language training with the latest innovations in linguistic instruction, fully equipped language laboratories, friendship programs with Japanese students, as well as the heart-warming home stay program, will all contribute to the rapid development of participants’ language proficiency and pragmatic understanding of the Japanese culture.