Institute of Japanese Studies
In Heidelberg Japanese Studies, Japan is studied and taught in all its breadth and depth.
A degree program (BA, MA, or doctorate) with us will familiarize you with the Japanese language and culture, but also introduce you to the country's literature, history, and society. Our research specializes in topics such as Japanese religions, pre-modern literature, education, and translation. At our Asian Studies Campus in Heidelberg-Bergheim (CATS), we work closely with experts on East Asia and other regions of the world, both inter- and transdisciplinarily. Numerous partner universities enrich our teaching offerings, and we also cooperate with partner institutions in research, primarily in Japan, Europe, and North America. At the Institute of Japanese Studies, approximately ten staff members work in these areas. An excellently equipped institute library, part of the CATS library, enables us to work on current research questions and conduct research-related teaching.
Institute
Japanese Studies has been taught in Heidelberg since 1985. Since 2005, the Institute of Japanese Studies has been part of the Centre for East Asian Studies, together with the Institute of Chinese Studies and the Institute of East Asian Art History. In close collaboration with colleagues from the Centre, the main areas of focus in Japanese Studies include literature, history, politics, society, intellectual history, culture, and selected aspects of Japan’s economy.
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Bachelor
In the B.A. program in East Asian Studies (Japanese Studies), students engage with the Japanese language, history, society, and culture. In addition, regional connections to China and Korea are also explored.
Master
The M.A. program in Japanese Studies in Heidelberg focuses on the application of academic methods and the deepening of subject knowledge, including the further development of language skills.
PhD
In the doctoral program, candidates pursue advanced academic research on Japan. The focus is on independent research in literary or historical studies. The goal is a dissertation that makes an original contribution to the field of Japanese Studies.
Research
In the doctoral program in Japanese Studies, candidates pursue advanced academic engagement with Japan. The focus is on independent research in literary or historical studies, supervised by experienced professors. The goal is a dissertation that makes an original contribution to the field of Japanese Studies
Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies
Together with the Institute of Anthropology (IfE), the South Asia Institute (SAI), and the Centre for East Asian Studies (ZO), the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies (HCTS) forms the Centre for Asian and Transcultural Studies (CATS). The CATS complex surrounds the new central library building.
