In May 2023, the number of international students at Japanese language schools hit a record high of 90,719, according to the Japan Student Services Organization. To help incoming students find suitable, high-quality schools, the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education (Nisshinkyo) issues the Japan Ryugaku Awards each year.
The awards were established in 2012 by Nisshinkyo’s Academic Research Conference on Japanese Language Schools for the purpose of developing infrastructure to facilitate the intake of international students.
The awards, announced online, are given to universities and vocational schools that perform well on a web survey of schools that the faculty and staff of Japanese-language schools would recommend to international students.
This year, a total of 50 schools won awards, with the top 10 — five from eastern Japan and five from western Japan — selected for the grand prize in five categories.
Taking top prizes in the national university category were Kyushu University and the University of Tsukuba, from Ibaraki Prefecture. Kyushu University has over 2,500 international students and offers degree programs in English. Moreover, a new international education navigation center opened in April to provide international students with more extensive support. The University of Tsukuba prides itself as being a university that is “Open to the World,” and has programs specifically geared toward international students.
In the private university liberal arts university category, Takushoku University and the University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences both won top honors for the fourth consecutive year.
Takushoku University has a study support office that assists international students with Japanese language hurdles, such as supplementary language classes, and an employment support program specifically tailored for them.
Since the school opened in 1988, the University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences has found the exchange of people across national borders indispensable. It also values cooperation with Japanese language schools and offers assistance to international students with job hunting.
Tokai University and Ritsumeikan University meanwhile won the top prize in their regions in the private university science and engineering category.
Tokai University, whose name references the Pacific Ocean, holds “nurturing human resources with a strong sense of mission and a rich sense of humanity who will be responsible for the history of tomorrow” as the main pillar of its education. The university aims to provide an education based on the perspective of historical, national and global views through integration of humanities and natural sciences.
Ritsumeikan University meanwhile welcomes over 200 international students annually from 80 countries and regions, with approximately 70% having graduated from Japanese-language schools.
For vocational schools, the top prizes were awarded to Bunka Fashion College and the Ehle Institute in the society and culture category, and to Nippon Engineering College and Toyota Technical College Nagoya in the skills and technology category.
Last year, Bunka Fashion College commemorated its 100th anniversary. The college currently has 750 international students and is highly regarded overseas, producing excellent creators and designers. The Ehle Institute, a Japanese-language school in western Japan, provides students from all over the world with preparatory Japanese courses that facilitate their entry into prestigious universities.
Additionally, a handful of schools were recognized for the top prize in their categories for five consecutive years: Japan Electronics College, Tokyo International Business College, Ashikaga University, Fukui University of Technology and Yokohama National University. The consistently high evaluation of these five schools earned them entry into the Ryugaku Awards Hall of Fame.
These are 9 of the 10 schools that received this year’s Japan Ryugaku Awards, recognizing their excellence in supporting international students.
Japan Electronics College
URL:
https://www.jec.ac.jp.e.aem.hp.transer.com/
Equipping students for the future
We have accepted about 4,700 students from 78 countries and regions. Currently, about 600 from 25 countries are learning innovative technologies in areas including CGI, games, anime, design, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, website design and mobile apps. Our international student support staff will make sure you have a comfortable life. Over 90% of our students who wanted to find positions at Japanese companies have realized their dream.
Takushoku University
URL:
https://lang.takushoku-u.ac.jp/en/
Human resources for tomorrow
Takushoku University is highly acclaimed by international students and Japanese-language institutions. By sharing most of their classes with Japanese, international students engage in daily interactions, which dramatically enhances their Japanese skills. The university also provides scholarships exclusively for international students to ensure they can study without financial concerns, and the learning support office for Japanese-language instruction offers comprehensive support when needed.
Nihon Kogakuin College, Hachioji Campus
URL:
https://www.neec.ac.jp/abroad/
Ideal learning on an ideal stage
We offer 34 courses on subjects including manga, anime, broadcasting, CG, design, audio technology, information technology, hospitality, electronics and architecture. We offer extensive support, including an international exchange salon and health and career centers. Combined with our wide-ranging scholarship programs and dormitory, we provide an ideal environment to study with peace of mind, whether your plan is to find a job or enter university.
Tokyo Metropolitan University
URL:
https://www.tmu.ac.jp/english/index.html
Pursue an ideal state of humanity
TMU, as the only public university in the metropolis, offers quality education based on research prowess backed by rich academic resources in Tokyo.
We offer the Tokyo Global Partner Scholarship Program, which enables exceptional international students to pursue their graduate studies at TMU. The scholarship covers admission fees, tuition, airfare and a monthly stipend. We hope this will encourage international students to pursue their goals at TMU.
Tokai University
URL:
https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/
Broad support for global students
To ensure a safe, comfortable campus for international students, we provide broad support, including academic supervisors’ guidance on courses, a tutoring system, special courses in the international student curriculum, a discount on the “overseas training voyage” program, job-hunting consultations and health consultations. We also offer the Shigeyoshi Matsumae Scholarship for International Students to those who demonstrate outstanding results on entrance exams.
Tokyo Denki University
URL:
https://www.dendai.ac.jp/en/
Our core value is practicality
Students aiming for a science or engineering degree in Japan need proficiency and thinking skills in Japanese and an understanding of its culture. At TDU, aligned with our belief that “In the technology breathes its creators,” we offer Japanese courses for international students. We aim to nurture students who experience personal growth while pursuing higher education in Japan. We hope that our international students can contribute to the future of people and society through technology.
Tokyo University of Science
URL:
https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/
Pushing sustainable development
Since its founding in 1881, the Tokyo University of Science has maintained an education policy of “achieving excellence.”
Many graduates are actively working for high-technology companies. To support international students, we provide freshman-specific guidance, assign a senior student as an adviser, manage an international dormitory and help students maintain legal residency while they pursue their academic goals in Japan.
Ryutsu Keizai University
URL:
https://www.rku.ac.jp.e.aqp.hp.transer.com/
Realize the RKU Vision
Ryutsu Keizai University is on a mission to help students unlock their full potential and realize their dreams through our “Realize RKU Vision.” With partnerships with leading companies like NX Express, we offer practical education that equips international students with the skills to excel in today’s competitive job market. We also provide an extensive selection of Japanese language courses and personalized support to ensure your success in job hunting and beyond. Your future starts here at RKU!
University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences
URL:
https://global.umds.ac.jp/english/
Aiding students on business path
We have a wealth of knowledge about the types of abilities and aptitudes companies seek in international students, as well as the right experience in guiding them. A dedicated division assists with students’ learning, living and job hunting, and we support students until they attain the N1 level on the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. Additionally, numerous scholarship and tuition reduction programs are available. Let us help you realize your dream of working for a Japanese company.
For more information on the Japan Ryugaku Awards,
please visit https://www.ryugakuawards.org/
Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education
