https://www.senshu-u.ac.jp/global/ BCL Program

ABOUT SENSHU UNIVERSITY Senshu University was established in 1880 and has two main campuses: Ikuta Campus (pictured top left) and Kanda Campus (pictured top right). Its founders (Nagatane Soma, Inajiro Tajiri, Tanetaro Megata, and Shigetada Komai) studied abroad in the USA at the dawn of the Meiji era, and after returning to Japan, created Senshu Gakko (the forerunner of present-day Senshu University). It was the first academic institution in Japan to teach

Senshu’s mascot, “Sendy” and in Japanese. Through our study abroad programs, we aim to build upon the founders achievements and provide opportunities for students from all around the world to learn about Japanese culture, business practices, and language.

ABOUT THE BCL PROGRAM The BCL Program has been specifically designed for students from Senshu’s partner universities and offers them a general understanding of not only the Japanese language, but also Japanese business practices, cultural paradigms, and a chance to experience daily life in Japan. The program starts in the middle of September and ends in the middle of December. It consists of three courses:  Survey of Japanese Business*

 Survey of Japanese Culture & *

 Japanese Language

*Taught in English.

The “Japanese Language” course is offered to all international students, including individual participants, who wish to learn the language intensively. It features class levels ranging from beginner to advanced.

Survey of Japanese Business Throughout this course, students will gain invaluable insight into the business concepts and management that made Japan one of the world’s largest economies. The first objective of this course is to provide students with a theoretical framework of Japanese-style business practices through informative lectures. The second is to give students a firsthand look into the inner workings of Japanese corporations through company visits. The third is to improve students’ analytical skills by having them conduct research and present their findings. Accordingly, the three core course components have been divided into the following:

Lectures Teachers and professionals from various backgrounds will share their expertise with students through lectures, case studies, and class discussions. Past topics have included “Strategies of Japanese Companies”, “Japanese & Distribution Systems”, “Financial Accounting Systems in Japan”, and the “Japanese Economy”. Company Visits Students will visit companies, factories, and other organizations located within the metropolitan area of Tokyo to observe how the concepts discussed in the core course lectures are actually applied. Corporate officers will give presentations and tours. In previous years, company visits have included the Bank of Japan, KIRIN (an integrated beverage company), Cybozu (a software company), Shitamachi Bobsleigh (SMEs of Japanese-made bobsleigh), and the Toshiba Future Science Museum (a museum of Japan’s leading electronics and equipment manufacturer).

Page 1/6 Field Research Project (Topic: “7 Things to Do in Tokyo”) This project enables students to individually create a unique guide for foreign visitors to Tokyo. During the course, students will have opportunities to explore Tokyo and discover interesting places to conduct their field research. Once students decide on seven places/activities to research, they will choose a specific theme (ideally based on the content from the core course lectures) and give a presentation at the end of the program on their findings. These presentations should include visual aids (such as PowerPoint) as well as a Q&A with the audience. Students will submit a print version of their visual aids upon completing their presentation.

Survey of Japanese Culture & History The purpose of this course is to deepen students’ understanding of Japanese culture and history through various lectures, field trips/excursions, and hands-on activities that are culturally unique to Japan.

Lectures Throughout this course, students will be exposed to a wide range of viewpoints regarding Japanese culture and history, especially through the lectures conducted by teachers and professionals (all with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise). These Lecturers aim to provide students with a well-rounded understanding of Japanese society by discussing topics that cover both ancient and modern Japan, such as the origin of the Japanese people, the history of the central authority in medieval Japan, the history of samurai and the warrior culture, Edo Merchants’ culture, as well as other aspects of modern Japanese culture and subcultures (such as anime and manga). Past topics have included “Japanese Culture in Relation to the Japanese Language”, “Japanese University Students’ Educational Attitudes, Beliefs, and Classroom Behaviors”, and the “Media & Culture in Japan”.

Field Trips & Excursions In this course, students will gain access to places of cultural interest through field trips and excursions. One such field trip includes a visit to the Edo- Tokyo Museum (pictured above), where students can get an up-close look at artifacts from the era that brought about Japan’s modernization. This course also includes an overnight excursion to Hakone (pictured right), which is a resort famous for its majestic view of Mt. Fuji, autumn leaves, and Lake Ashi, as well as its ropeway and sulfurous hot springs known as Ōwakudani).

Activities The goal of this course is not simply to tell students about Japanese culture and history, but let them experience it firsthand. Students will have the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in traditional Japanese activities such as Sa-dō (Japanese Tea Ceremony held in a tatami room), Sho-dō (Japanese calligraphy) and Noh (Japanese traditional performance). Through “experiential learning”, students will have the chance to gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture by practicing unique rituals which have been performed for over a thousand years.

Japanese Language Course The purpose of this course is to equip students not only with fundamental Japanese grammar and vocabulary, but a well-rounded understanding of how to communicate effectively in Japanese. Students will be provided with textbooks and other materials which they may keep after the program.

Classes are arranged according to students’ levels (usually four to six different levels) with a maximum of 12 students per class. Students will be placed in the appropriate level according to the results of their placement tests. Upon their arrival in Japan, students will also be given a final oral and written test to determine the most appropriate class level for them. Classes are primarily held between 9:00 am – 12:50 pm (four periods comprised of four successive 50 minute sessions) Monday through Friday. Students will have a homeroom teacher, but also be regularly taught by different instructors throughout the week. At the end of the course, students will give short presentations in Japanese on any topic they choose.

In preparation for this course, students who indicate they are beginner-level on their application will be sent basic practice worksheets directly to their mailing address in June, which cover Hiragana (a Japanese alphabet comprised of 46 basic characters), numbers 1 to 10 in kanji (Chinese characters), and basic daily greetings. Page 2/6 Life in Japan

Location: Participants in the BCL Program will live and take classes at Senshu University’s Ikuta Campus (located near central Tokyo). The nearest train station to the campus is Mukogaoka-Yuen Station, which is only 25 minutes away via express train from Shinjuku (a major metropolitan area pictured top right). Therefore, students are able to easily access cultural and historical places, as well as business districts.

Dormitory: Students will stay at an international student dormitory called the “Senshu International House” (known as Kokusai Kōryū-Kaikan and pictured right/top left), which is located a one-minute walk away from campus. Full-time Senshu University students will also reside in the dormitory as resident assistants/resident partners throughout the entire BCL Program to facilitate many opportunities for cross-cultural interactions (as well as provide support in solving any issues or difficulties international students may have). We aim to pair each BCL Program participant with a Japanese roommate (i.e., resident assistant/resident partner). However, this cannot be guaranteed due to the varying number of participants each year.

Each room has two beds and two desks with a curtain dividing the room for privacy, as well as various other amenities (including a mini-refrigerator). The dormitory does not have a cafeteria, but does have two large kitchens equipped with large refrigerators, IH cookers, microwave ovens, toasters, and rice cookers. The dormitory also has a communal dining area, private phone booth, computer room (with free Wi-Fi), shower rooms, laundry rooms (with dryers and steam irons), and a recreation room (with a ping pong table, large screen TV, piano, guitar, board games, and books).

Home Visit: Students have the option of participating in a “Home Visit” (i.e., weekend homestay lasting for 3 days and 2 nights) during the BCL Program. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to intimately experience the dynamics of Japanese family life and apply their Japanese language ability in a meaningful way.

Campus Facilities: Students have access to virtually all campus facilities, including the library, gymnasium, swimming pool, training room, bookstore, cafeterias, computer rooms (which are equipped with printers and free Wi-Fi), and study areas (such as the atrium pictured left).

Extracurricular Activities: The BCL Program participants are invited to participate in any of the various cross-cultural activities organized by full-time Senshu University students. These activities are a great way to make Japanese friends. Some of the more popular activities include the university festival held in early November (called Ōtori-sai) and a day-trip to the large statue of Buddha in Kamakura (picture right).

Pre-Departure Information

Healthcare: Before coming to Japan, serious medical and dental treatment should be fully taken care of. After arriving, all hospital charges for any illness diagnosis and/or prescribed medicine must be paid by the participants, so students are required to have health insurance that covers them while in Japan. Please note that students are only able to use the free on-campus Student Health Center for emergencies and basic first aid.

Finances: Students should plan their budgets to meet all their anticipated living expenses, including meals. It is recommended that students bring around ¥80,000 – ¥100,000 to cover miscellaneous expenses while participating in the program (or at least ¥30,000 for immediate expenses). International students cannot open a Japanese bank account unless they stay in Japan for more than 6 months and complete the resident registration forms at a ward/city office. However, depending on student’s credit card company, they may use ATMs at any of the post offices or convenience stores located on campus/near the dormitory. Please note that all residents of the Senshu International House (dormitory) are assigned individual safety boxes for personal storage.

Page 3/6 Entering Japan: Japan has mutual visa exemption agreements with certain countries, so students who are passport holders of applicable countries can stay in Japan without a visa for a certain length of time (e.g., 90 days for the USA and Canada). Students from countries without mutual visa exemption agreements will be expected to obtain a “Temporary Visitor” visa at their nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate. The BCL Program is puposely designed to begin and conclude within a 90 day period, so Senshu University cannot assume responsibility for visa extensions.

Domestic Travel: The “Japan Rail Pass” allows students to travel unlimited by any JR lines, JR buses and /or ferries for a period of seven, fourteen or twenty-one days, “The Exchange Order (Ticket)” must be purchased before arriving in Japan. More information can be obtained by contacting local travel agents in your country such as JTB corp., Nippon Travel Agency, Kinki Nippon Tourist etc.). This pass is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries under the entry status of “Temporary Visitor”. - http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/index.html

Mt. Fuji is over 3,700 meters above sea level with conditions that kill climbers every year. Therefore, the climbing season is limited to only a few months when the weather is least severe (usually from early July until early September). After October, Mt. Fuji becomes a winter mountain making the climbing conditions equivalent to that of Mt. Everest. We strictly prohibit international students from climbing Mt. Fuji during the OFF SEASON.

Necessary Documents 1. Application Form (attach a recent photo*) - Downloadable from the following link/QR code: https://www.senshu-u.ac.jp/global/english/bclproguram/program.html 2. Home Visit Registration Form (attach a recent photo*) Please note this home visit is optional. If your students are interested in participating, please carefully read the information about the home visit program on the “Home Visit Registration Form”. 1-3/16" (3 cm) *All attached photos should be:  1-5/8” × 1-3/16” (4 cm × 3 cm)

 Original photo (no color copies)

1 -  Headshot (passport style; facing front, showing your full face and shoulders) 5/8

 No hats or background "

(4 (4 cm)

3. Online Comprehension Checklist (for the “Japanese Language” course) - Accessible via the following link/QR code: http://www.senshu-u.ac.jp/cypochi/form/pc/unit1000057.html This Checklist should be completed and submitted online. 4. A copy of each students’ passport 5. Official transcript (Original)

These transcripts should show students’ academic records from the university they have most recently attended. Note: Enclosed you will find “Application Forms” and “Home Visit Registration Forms”. Photocopies of these originals are acceptable.

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Voices of Past Participants

■Gabriel Sladek (2017) The , AUSTRALIA

Positive experience with Japansese Students.

For the BCL field research class, one day I visited an owl café with a Japanese student. There were so many beautifl owl’s there. I had never really seen any up close before, let alone pet them. After leaving the café, the Japanese student and I ate sushi at a restaurant that he recommended. It was the best sushi I’ve had in my life. I enjoyed spending the day with my new friend, practicing Japanese, and learning more about Jappanese culture.

■ Jack Reilly (2016) The , Trinity College, IRELAND

Being able to live in Japan for three months and experience the culture, language, and society first- hand was something I’ll never forget. The BCL Program was very fast-pased, so I realised quickly that I had to value my time wisely. Between the morning Japanese classes and lectures, I kept very busy. However, I enjoyed applying what I was learning everyday. My schedule in Ireland is much more flexible, so it took some time getting use to life in Japan at first. But, by the end of the program, Japan starting feeling like home.

Dorm life at Senshu was excellent. After you finished your homework and study, you could just walk outside your room and there would be a mixer of Japanese and international students to talk to. Plus, my roommate was Japanese, so I learned a lot about Japanese culture just by knowing him. Everyone in the dorm was friendly and would love to talk about their experiences and cultures, allowing for you to learn so much about the world just by going into the lobby.

When I arrived at Senshu, I wanted to join a sports team in the college, so I chose water polo. Even though the Senshu water polo team is ranked 4th in the country, they still let me to train with them daily. It allowed me to experience first-hand the Japanese language (since none of the members on the team were English majors) which tested my abilities and allowed me to make friends with people I wouldn’t have otherwise ever meet. Thanks to this program, I could make loads of new friends from all over the world!

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■Jessica Bober (2015) University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA

Living in Japan for three months seemed like an adventure to me. However, I had to keep in mind that every weekday would be filled with classes and field trips. Coming to terms with this was a bit hard for me at first since most of my classes in America end in the morning and the afternoon is free for me to study or relax. Here I felt constantly busy, but I wanted to improve my Japanese, so I kept studying on my own as well as doing my homework. My main hope was that at the end of this program I would improve my Japanese language skills and learn more about Japanese culture and business.

A part of the program that I really appreciated was the extended field trips in which we went to areas that held great historic importance: Hakone and Kamakura. Visiting museums and buildings at these places though were slightly difficult for me to fully comprehend due to museum exhibitions’ explanations nearly all being in Japanese, and my kanji/level of understanding is basic at best. Even though, I was interested in learning more about these beautiful places, and everywhere we went was an opportunity to experience Japan. Another component of this BCL program that had me enjoying my stay here even more was having the chance to practice traditional calligraphy. When I took part in this, I was not particularly skilled, but I tried my best. Afterwards, I had more of an understanding about the talent required to do this art, and also I could remember this experience with appreciation. During this program, we also visited numerous companies: Umekawa-Kai, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Bank of Japan, Futabaen, and Cybozu. Out of these companies, my favorite was Futabaen, a company that creates Japanese clothing through Edo Era dyeing techniques. When we had a tour of this company, I ascertained the fact that some Japanese businesses differ quite considerably from my American ideal business.

Here at Senshu, dorm life has been memorable. I am more on the introverted side, so I am accustomed to spending most of my time inside my room. While here though, if I had time to spare after homework and studying Japanese, I would leave my room, hoping to chat with the friends I made. Unlike back at my home, there are always people happy to chat and share their culture at the dorm. This will be something that I will miss. Plus, people often here will share their country’s foods that they made or even the snacks that they brought. I will definitely miss this.

Being here has allowed me to view and hopefully understand more about different cultures. It was easy to understand others from America, but when it came to people from different cultures, it was not always easy. Although at times, it was more interesting because it was something I was not familiar with. Plus, sometimes I made mistakes trying to understand or explain something in Japanese (sometimes, even English), but it always ended in a good laugh.

Thanks to this program I was able to make friends from all around the world and improve on friendships that I already held. Also, I had the opportunity to try Japanese foods for the first time, and they were delicious!

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