Graduate Schools
The Division of Humanities offers three majors: Master's/Doctoral Course of English Literature, Master's/Doctoral Course of Japanese Literature, and Master's/Doctoral Course of Communication Studies. These majors have the following features:
(1) Research with a view of culture from female perspectives based on the tradition of educating self-reliant women in modern Japan.
(2) Research based on the University's tradition of "posing questions about cultural phenomena from a Christian perspective," focusing on the Christian context of literature and culture/society.
(3) Research on issues of cultural exchange and friction, and communication in the international society by focusing on the development of various cultures in Yokohama.
Purpose of Education and Research in the Division of Humanities
To conduct theoretical and applied research in the field of humanities and foster scholars with high research ability, working adults equipped with advanced knowledge and skills, and well-educated members of society who are confident in expressing their opinions and able to cooperate with others in a diversifying society.
Three Policies
Master’s Cours
Diploma Policy
Master’s degrees will be granted to students that have acquired expertise and have learned relevant research methods and techniques in the field of the humanities that are able to serve as workers that contribute to a diversified society by utilizing their expert knowledge.
Curriculum Policy
Students will acquire high level skills in the field of the humanities through small-sized, specialized research classes and master’s thesis preparation that will allow them to serve as professionals that contribute to society by using their expertise to understand our diversified society from a Christian, female, multi-cultural perspective.
Admission Policy
After selecting applicants that understand the educational and research ideals of this division through an entrance examination conducted on multiple occasions that tests their individuality and expertise, applicants who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to promote interest and research in the field of humanities will be accepted.
Doctoral Course
Diploma Policy
Doctoral degrees will be granted to students that have acquired expertise and have learned relevant research methods and techniques needed as independent researchers in the field of the humanities that are able to serve as professionals and researchers that contribute to a diversified society by utilizing their expert knowledge.
Curriculum Policy
Students will acquire high level skills and deep knowledge, which serves as the foundation of those skills, in the field of the humanities through small-sized, specialized research classes and doctoral thesis preparation that will allow them to serve as professionals and researchers that contribute to society by using their expertise to understand our diversified society from a Christian, female, multi-cultural perspective.
Admission Policy
After selecting applicants that understand the educational and research ideals of this division through an entrance examination that tests their individuality and expertise, applicants who are interested in the field of humanities, possess the necessary specialized knowledge, and have learned relevant research methods and techniques will be accepted.
Division of Humanities Organization Chart
Division of Humanities
Master's/Doctoral Course of English Literature
1. Students conduct research on British and American cultures and societies based on traditional British and American literature with an emphasis on expanding the present interdisciplinary research. The four main features of the course include:
(1) Research on the Christian context
(2) Research on literature, culture, and society from a woman’s perspective
(3) Research on the English-speaking world
(4) Research on traditional literature and comparative culture
2. Although Japan has traditionally been quite passive concerning the introduction and acceptance of British and American literary research, it will be necessary in the future for Japan to share its research findings with the world. With this in mind, the “Translation” course involves research that addresses such issues.
3 The study and practice of the English language includes general linguistics as well as focus on the comparison of English and Japanese and "the link between language and culture."
| Position Title | Name | Major |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | BURLEIGH, David J. | British literature and culture, English |
| Professor | FUJIMOTO, Tomomi | folklore studies, juvenile litrature |
| Professor | FUKUNAGA, Yasuyo | Film studies, English language education |
| Professor | KONDO, Ariyuki | History of British Art and Architecture |
| Professor | MAEDA, Ayako | American literature and culture |
| Professor | MUKAI, Hidetada | English Literature and British Cultural Studies |
| Professor | NAKAGAWA, Masanori |
American Studies |
| Professor | YOHENA, Shoko | English linguistics, sociolinguistics |
| Professor | YUI, Tetsuya | British literature and culture, English |
| Associate Professor | TOGASHI, Go | British literature and culture |
| Associate Professor | UMEZAKI, Toru | American History |
- Nature in King Lear
- Money and Jane Austen
- On Cultural Problems in Translation
- Translation and Culture: A re-evaluation of Shizuko Wakamatsu’s Japanese translation of Little Lord Fauntleroy
- Oscar Wilde Re-examined Passion. Pain and Individualism
- A Study of William Wordsworth
- The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962: The Response of President John F. Kennedy and the National Security Council
- The American Family and Migration to the West in the 19th Century
- The Plot and Theme in Flannery O’Conner’s Literature
- A Study of Virginia Lee Burton’s Picturebooks: Time in The Little House and Life Story
- A Study of Virginia Woolf :The Significance of Being Alone
- A Study of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and Emma: The Heroines and Their Mentors
- Two Novels of Will and Destruction in Victorian Age
- A Study of C.S.Lewis
Division of Humanities
Master's/Doctoral Course of Japanese Literature
1. As this major deals with topics on the position of Japanese literature, language, and culture in the world, the theme that runs through the course tends to pursue the fundamental questions of that relevant field. There is a particular focus on the issues involved in the acceptance and reproduction of foreign ideologies, such as Christianity, and also on reviewing literary research from a female perspective.
2. Classical literary research involves the study of the unique characteristics inherent in Japanese literature and culture with a focus on cultural exchange issues between countries that use Chinese characters in their languages as well as artistic, religious, political, and historical issues based on fundamental research of the reprints and annotations of classical literary works.
3. In addition to the fundamental research, such as the intensive study of literary materials, modern literary research involves the study of the unique characteristics inherent in Japanese modern literary studies together with culture with a wide-ranging academic perspective that includes examining the demand for foreign ideologies, such as Christianity, literary theory, literary criticism with female perspectives, and comparative literature.
4. Japanese language studies aim to determine the future of the Japanese language by examining both the diversity of modern Japanese and literature-based historical linguistics.
| Position Title | Name | Major |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | FUJIE, Mineo | Japanese early modern literature |
| Professor | SATO, Yuko | Modern Japanese literature |
| Professor | SHIMAMURA, Teru | Modern Japanese literature |
| Professor | SUEOKA, Minoru | Comparative study of China and Japan, Chinese literature |
| Professor | TAKEUCHI, Masahiko | Japanese literature in Heian period |
| Professor | TANI, Tomoko | Japanese literature in middle period |
| Associate Professor | KATSUTA, Koki | History of Japanese language |
| Associate Professor | MATSUDA, Hiroshi | Ancient Japanese literature |
| Guest Professor | MIYASAKA, Satoru | Modern Japanese literature, Christian Studies |
- A Typological Study of the Discourse Development Process
- A Lexicological Study of Konjaku Monogatarishu by Literary Style
- An Essay on Somon poems from the Manyoshu
- Time and Space in Ancient Literature
- An Essay on Ochikubo Monogatari: Structure and Dynamics of Expression in Daily Life
- A Descriptive Essay on Genji Monogatari
- Royalty and Faith: Deer, dragons and kings seen in Kiyomizu and Kasuga
- Women of the Middle Ages: A look at their lives through the Ryojin Hisho
- The Battles and Last Moments of Yoshitsune: Truth and Falsehood of History
- The World of Early Modern Haikai: A deep discussion about Ichu Okanishi
- An Essay on Koshoku Ichidaiotoko: The steps leading from medieval love stories to Koshoku Ichidaiotoko
- A Study of Buke Giri Monogatari: A reader’s and writer’s perspective
- A Study of the Early Works of Natsume Soseki: The many issues concerning “Intertextuality”
- A Study of Fumiko Hayashi’s Floating Clouds: A feminist and colonialist perspective
- A Reoccurring Story: An essay on Kokoro by Natsume Soseki
- Realization of Discourse in the Literature of Ryunosuke Akutagawa: A focus on Hell Screen
- A Discussion on Changes in the Appearance of the Queen Mother of the West: A focus on the connection between the Queen Mother of the West and peaches
Division of Humanities
Master's/Doctoral Course of Communication Studies
1. While focusing on multiculturalism in Japan and postcolonial world affairs, students will carry out logical and empirical research in the following four subject groups, addressing topics such as human existence, social relations, gender, psychology, language, culture, and information media.
(1) Study in Communication Psychology
(Research and study of interpersonal communication, cross-cultural communication, etc.)
(2) Study in Social Communication
(Investigative study of issues facing information, education, and minorities; study of contemporary ideology, etc.)
(3) Study in Linguistic Communication
(Investigative study of dialectology, phonetics, sociolinguistics, etc.)
(4)Study in Cultural Communication
(Investigative study of the body, media culture, gender, multicultural society, etc.)
2. A training and practice based “Research Methods” course has been established which focuses on the acquisition of social-scientific study and research methods. Those students who are certified as social researchers by the Japan Association for Social Research can acquire Specialized Social Researcher certification upon completion of the course.
3. This course aims to foster individuals that can coordinated with others, create, and conduct research in communication field related companies, such as media/information firms, as well as NPOs, government organizations, research organizations, and other entities.
| Position Title | Name | Major |
|---|---|---|
| Professor | INOUE, Emiko | History of contemporary Japanese gender education |
| Professor | MOROHASHI, Taiki | Mass communication, sociology, women's studies |
| Professor | SAITO, Koji | Phonetics, sociolinguistics, dialectology |
| Professor | SHIOMURA, Kimihiro | Cultural psychology, cognitive social psychology |
| Professor | TAKADA, Akinori | Contemporary philosophy, media studies, information and communication |
| Professor | WATANABE, Namiji | Psychology |
| Associate Professor | AIZAWA, Hajime | Paul Tillich Studies, Christianity and Other Religions, Religion and Psychotherapy |
| Associate Professor | OKURA, Ichiro | Multicultural co-existence network |
| Associate Professor | TAKAHASHI, Kyoko | Dance Studies, Anthropology of Sports |
Master’s Course
- Japanese discourse research
- Proposal for a Japanese luxury brand
- Analysis of participatory modern art
- A psycholinguistic and acoustic-phonetic study of vocal intentionality
- Beauty and Feelings of Inferiority: Why do women undergo plastic surgery?
- Sociolinguistic Research Related to Verbal Abuse
- Representation of Foreigners in the Media
Doctorate Course
- A study on the Effect of the Cultural View of Self and Self-related Concepts on Interpersonal Consciousness
- Development of a Multimodal Corpus Analysis Method for Online Gaming
- The Effect that Pauses have on Other Rhythmic Components in Speech: Speech data from Japanese language students