Graduate School of Japanese Applied LinguisticsWaseda University

Dean of the Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics, Waseda University
KOBAYASHI, Mina

The Graduate School of Japanese Applied Linguistics at Waseda University, commonly known as Nikken, was established in April 2001 as the only independent graduate school in Japan specializing in Japanese language education. As of September 21, 2024, the school has produced 1013 master’s degree holders and 95 doctoral degree holders. Over 1,000 graduates are now actively engaged in various fields, including educational institutions and private companies, both in Japan and abroad.  

In April 2024, the “Act on the Promotion of Proper and Secure Implementation of Japanese Language Education through the Accreditation of Japanese Language Education Institutions” was enacted, establishing a new national qualification called “Registered Japanese Language Teacher.” The act also introduced a system for accrediting “Certified Japanese Language Education Institutions” and “Registered Japanese Language Teacher Training Institutions.” Considering the social demand for Japanese language education, the establishment of such qualifications and systems represents a step forward. However, the challenge now lies in how to effectively implement and enhance these qualifications and systems in practice.  

With the rapid development and widespread adoption of AI, it has become possible to achieve highly accurate translations simply by inputting unknown foreign languages. Furthermore, by inputting ideas or keywords, machines can generate entire texts from scratch. The methods of learning foreign languages and our interactions with them are expected to change significantly in the future. In such a time, we must ask ourselves why we spend time learning a foreign language. What is the role of a human teacher? In a society where we can connect online instantly, what is the significance of gathering in a classroom to learn together? These new questions continuously arise before us.  

Japanese language education as a field of study is one that, from the perspectives of learning, teaching, and using the Japanese language, pursues global peace and the happiness of people. It constantly demands us to consider “what kind of questions should we ask?” At Nikken, we aim to nurture individuals who can formulate and address these questions themselves while also disseminating the results of their research. 

September 2024