Department of Japanese philology

History of the Department:

In 1996, Japanese language classes started as a second language at the Translation Theory and Practice Faculty of Uzbekistan State University of World Languages. In the academic year 1999-2000, Japanese was taught in the Faculty of International Journalism, and from the 2005-2006 academic year, it started in the 2nd Faculty of English Philology.

Since the 2010-2011 academic year, Japanese has been taught in the 1st and 3rd faculties of English Philology.

In the academic year 2014-2015, the field "Philology and Language Teaching (Japanese Language) 51201000" was established by the decree No. 2193 of June 26, 2014.

In the 2018-2019 academic year, the Department of Japanese Language Theory and Practice was established.

Department Structure:

• Head of the Department: Senior Teacher, Nargiza Mirvakhidovna Khamidova
  Email: mica777@mail.ru
  Working hours: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Currently, 26 professors and teachers are working in the department.

Staff:

• Nargiza Mirvakhidovna Khamidova – Head of the Department, Senior teacher

• Malika Musayeva Ibragimova – Associate Professor

• Munojot Khalilovna Umarova – Senior teacher

• Linara Ramilevna Mulekova – Teacher

• Anna Vasilyevna Kim – Teacher

• Mokhidil Sherali kizi Khodiyeva – Teacher

• Aziza Ibrohim kizi Musayeva – Intern Teacher

• Dilnora Bakhodir kizi Madumarova – Intern Teacher

• Azimjon Norboyevich Mamadiyev – Intern Teacher

• Shokhjakhon Avaz ugli Pirmakhmatov – Intern Teacher

• Javokhir Nematillo ugli Inoyatov – Intern Teacher

• Yulduz Kodirjon kizi Amirova –  Teacher

• Yuta Ujiie –  Teacher

• Tomokazu Ono – Teacher

• Manabu Uyexara – Teacher

• Daixo Kitaoka – Senior Teacher, PhD

• Kayo Noda – Teacher

• Kimiko Yamamoto – Teacher

• Yukiko Miyagoshi – Teacher

• Nanaxo Abe – Teacher

• Yukari Kamei – Teacher

• Kuniyuki Noto – Senior Teacher, PhD

• Sevara Sherali kizi Okilova – Intern Teacher

• Mariyan Nikolayevna Bykova – Intern Teacher

Currently, there are 350 full-time, 220 evening students in the bachelor's program, 7 in the master's program, and over 300 students learning Japanese as a second foreign language. In total, nearly 870 students are learning Japanese and its culture with great interest, and the interest in the Japanese language is increasing every year.

International Cooperation:

• Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan

• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)

• Tsukuba University

• Toyo University

• Kobe University of Foreign Studies

• Soka University

• Bunkyo Gakuin University

• Wakayama University

• Tachibana University

• Hokkaido-Higashikawa Language School

• HU-MUP Hokkaido-Higashikawa Project

• Nippon Travel Agency

• JICA Grow Project

• Japan Foundation

• MEXT Program by the Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan

Achievements of the Department:

Since 2000, JICA has been collaborating closely with our university, and over 10 JICA volunteer teachers have contributed to teaching Japanese.

In 2016, 708 books and study materials were received from the Abe Akie Foundation, the Japan International Foundation, and the Toshiba Foundation.

In 2021, the Department of Japanese Language Theory and Practice received a "Grassroots" grant of $93,000 from the Japan Foundation for Japanese language teaching.

Since 2015, our Japanese language teachers have been developing their teaching skills through long-term (six months) and short-term (two months) programs at the Japan Foundation's Japan Language Institute in Urawa.

Every year, our students visit partner universities in Japan for one-year exchange programs. They also successfully participate in the MEXT program.

Since 2014, nearly 100 of our students have studied in Japan through the aforementioned programs. The credits and grades obtained in Japan are recognized by our university, so our students do not waste time while studying in Japan.

Tsukuba University, Wakayama University, Bunkyo Gakuin University, and Toyo University regularly organize online webinars and seminars with our students. Moreover, professors from Tsukuba University give lectures for our students, and our students participate in online seminars about Japan and Uzbek culture with students from Wakayama and Toyo Universities.

Thanks to Tsukuba University and Professor Ono Masaki, Uzbekistan State University of World Languages became a member of the JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) project. The JSPS program promotes international scientific exchange through agreements and memorandums between scientific academies, councils, and other organizations. These programs are mainly implemented through joint scientific projects, seminars, and researcher exchanges. We are proud that Tsukuba University and the JSPS project have accepted our university as a partner, and our teachers and researchers participate in the JSPS project.

Qualification Skills After Graduation:

Graduates of the Japanese Philology program will possess the following qualification skills:

1. High-level language proficiency:

   • Deep mastery of all language skills in Japanese (reading, writing, speaking, listening) at the N1-N2 level of JLPT exams.

   • Analysis of Japanese grammar, lexis, phonetics, and pragmatics.

   • Understanding Japanese traditions, history, literature, art, religion, and modern society.

   • Taking into account Japanese mentality and behavioral norms in intercultural communication.

   • Writing and analyzing academic works on Japanese linguistics, literature, or culture.

   • Selecting, systematizing, and interpreting philological sources.

   • In-depth study of major genres, periods (e.g., Heian, Edo, Meiji), and key figures (Murasaki Shikibu, Yukio Mishima, Haruki Murakami) of Japanese literature.

   • Linguistic, stylistic, and semiotic analysis of texts.

   • Accurate translation of texts (literary, technical, formal) from Japanese to native language and vice versa.

   • Maintaining context in translation, considering intercultural differences.

   • Methodology of teaching Japanese as a foreign language.

Graduates of the Japanese Philology program have broad opportunities in the fields of linguistics, culture, and regional studies and can work globally as competitive specialists.

Internship Opportunities:

• Japan Foundation's Urawa Institute

• Tsukuba University

• Hokkaido Language School