MA Japanese Studies

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Students take 180 credits, 60 of which are a dissertation, 15 is a core module and the remaining 105 are from taught modules. A maximum of 60 credits can be taken from one discipline and a minimum of three disciplines must be covered. For students opting to take two language acquisition modules, only one of these can be from an introductory level.

One of the modules is designated as a major, in relation to which students complete a 10,000 word dissertation. Note that some modules can only be taken as a major and some, notably language modules, only as a minor.

As the emphasis in the Regional Studies programmes is on interdisciplinary study, students may only take a maximum of 60 credits in any one discipline. A minimum of three disciplines must be covered and, for students taking two language acquisition modules, only one of these can be at introductory level.

Some disciplines, such as Anthropology, Economics, or Politics, require an appropriate qualification (such as part of a first degree) if any of their modules are to be taken as the major subject. Students interested in such modules are advised to refer to the relevant webpage for details and, if necessary, to contact the relevant module convenor. Please note that convenors have discretion in deciding if an applicant's background is sufficient for the module concerned.

• Dissertation in Japanese Studies

• Connections and Intersections: Core Aspects of East Asian Studies

Students choose modules to the value of 105 credits from the options below.

• Culture and Society of Japan

• Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period
• Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts

• Economic Development of Japan

• Japanese Modernity I
• Japanese Modernity II
• Modernity and Identity in Modern Japanese History 1868-1912
• Nation and Empire in Modern Japanese History 1868-1945

• Japanese 1 (PG)
• Japanese 2 (PG)
• Japanese 3 (PG
• Japanese 4 (PG)
• Japanese 5 (PG)
• Practical Translation: Japanese into English
• Korean 1 (PG)
• Korean 2 (PG)
• Intermediate Korean (PG)
• Chinese 1 (PG)
• Chinese 2 (PG)
• Chinese 3 (PG)

• Identity and social relations in Japanese (PG)
• Issues in Japanese language learning

• Japanese Traditional Drama (Masters)
• Modern Japanese Literature (Masters)
• Reading Pre-modern Japanese Texts 1 (PG)
• Reading Pre-modern Japanese Texts 2 (PG)
• Self, City and Sexuality in Modern Japanese Literature 1868-1945 (PG)
• Writing from the Margins: Minority Voices in Modern Japanese Literature, 1945 to the Present (PG)
• Censoring Japan: A Socio-Cultural History of Japanese Television

• Management in Japan I
• Management in Japan II

• Japanese Transnational Cinema: From Kurosawa to Asia Extreme and Studio Ghibli
• Censoring Japan: A Socio-Cultural History of Japanese Television
• Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde

• Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters)
• Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters)

• International politics of East Asia
• Northeast Asian politics: Japan, Korea and Taiwan
• Japan Unravelled

• Religious Practice in Japan: Texts, Rituals and Believers

• East Asian Buddhist Thought

If you are a current student you can find structure information on Moodle or through your Department.

• MA Japanese Studies - Programme Specifications 2017/18 (pdf; 134kb)
• MA Japanese Studies - Programme Specifications 2018/19 (pdf; 134kb)

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules