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What Can You Do With a Japanese Degree?

A Japanese Studies degree prepares you for careers in international business, education, government, and translation. Gain language skills and a deeper cultural understanding for careers that cross borders and cultures.

Embrace a Global Future and Earn Transferable Skills

Earning a bachelor's degree in Japanese Studies goes beyond learning how to communicate in another language. Students also explore Japanese culture, media, literature, and history to gain a more holistic understanding of Japan.

As one of the world’s largest economies, Japan plays a leading role on the global stage. Japan’s cultural influence continues to grow, shaping media, technology, video games, music, and business worldwide. Studying Japanese in college helps students build transferable skills that apply across many industries connected to Japan.

Whether you plan to live in Japan or work in Japan-related industries, you’ll gain valuable skills that support your career goals.

Build a Future You Want

Explore careers in diplomacy, support translation projects for global tech companies, or represent organizations in international business. A Japanese Studies degree offers flexibility for students interested in global careers, combining Japanese language proficiency with cultural understanding.

At Willamette, hands-on learning is our priority. Our Japanese Studies program equips you with skills employers value and guides you toward meaningful career opportunities. With study abroad experiences, Japanese clubs, and language tables, students can engage in hands-on learning each year.

A professor talking to two students sitting down

What Skills Do You Learn?

Students gain a wide variety of skills that benefit them throughout their careers. Willamette's degree helps students with abilities such as:

  • Language proficiency: Gain the ability to communicate with other Japanese speakers through reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
  • Cultural humility and literacy: Understand history, social norms, and values embedded in Japanese culture. Gain an awareness of cultural biases and significant cultural issues.
  • Critical thinking: Interpret Japanese texts, media, and historical contexts with attention to nuance, perspective, and cultural meaning.
  • Problem-solving: Develop practical problem-solving skills through translation accuracy, cross-cultural negotiation, and advanced language use.
  • Adaptability: Through language study and cultural exploration, students build the ability to adjust quickly in new and unfamiliar situations.
A puzzle that highlights Japan's geography

What Jobs Can You Get With a Japanese Studies Degree?

Consider translation and interpretation roles, develop policy through cultural awareness, or utilize foreign language skills in creative roles. A degree in Japanese Studies can be extremely beneficial to a wide variety of industries. Employers often include businesses, law firms, government offices, and media companies. However, other options include NGOs, research centers, software companies, hotels, cultural exchange associations, or the military.

Explore career options such as:

  • Communication and Education

    Careers that focus on teaching and translating across languages and cultures.

    • Japanese Language Teacher
    • Teaching Assistant
    • Interpreter
    • Translator
    • Editor
    • Subtitler

  • Government

    Roles that support cultural exchange and cooperation between countries.

    • Foreign Service Officer
    • Consular Officer
    • Cultural Affairs Specialist
    • Cultural Ambassador
    • Trade Compliance Analyst
    • International Trade Specialist
    • Policy Analyst

  • Business

    Positions that apply Japanese language and cultural knowledge to global commerce.

    • Business Analyst
    • Import and Export Coordinator
    • Account Coordinator
    • Purchasing Agent
    • Operations Manager
    • Customer Service Manager
    • International Partnerships Manager
    • Financial Relationship Manager

  • Media

    Creative careers that interpret, adapt, or produce content.

    • Author
    • Digital Content Creator
    • Marketing Specialist
    • Illustrator
    • Media Producer

  • Education and Nonprofit Work

    Careers centered on research, education, and advocacy.

    • Research Associate
    • Program Coordinator
    • Nonprofit or NGO Program Officer
    • Social Worker

  • Tourism

    Roles that support travel and culture by connecting people across borders.

    • Tour Company Owner or Manager
    • International Travel Coordinator
    • Hospitality Manager

Is a Japanese Degree Worth It?

Absolutely! A Japanese degree offers a variety of benefits that extend beyond simple language skills. In the US, Japanese Studies graduates have an average wage of around $99,300. Employers often value bilingual employees across many roles, which can support opportunities for higher pay or advancement.

Japanese Studies helps prepare students for specialized roles that have a global component to them. If you're considering a career that requires language skills or planning to move to Japan, it's a great major to pursue. Consider combining Japanese Studies with another field to tailor your education to your ideal career.

A cherry blossom tree on Willamette's campus

Should I Major in Japanese?

Are you passionate about Japanese culture? Do you enjoy learning languages? If you want to turn those interests into a career, consider majoring in Japanese Studies. A Japanese Studies degree helps you build valuable skills that can lead to careers in business, international relations, and teaching.

Are you considering a career abroad? Majoring in Japanese can help you develop the right skills international employers value and require. Develop the language skills that you need to work in Japan or in other countries where people speak Japanese.

Two Willamette students exploring the Japanese Gardens

Consider Graduate Degree Programs

Looking to take your language skills further? Graduate programs let you combine Japanese with another field and prepare for careers that require advanced training. Depending on what path you choose to explore, you may need a graduate degree in teaching, business, or Asian studies. Consider programs such as a Master of Teaching (MAT), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or a Master's in Linguistics.

Our Japanese Studies graduates have enrolled in graduate programs at:

  • American University
  • Hawaii Pacific University
  • Kent State University
  • Michigan State University
  • Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
  • Tokyo University
  • University College Cork
  • University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • University of Oregon
  • Waseda University

Real-World Examples

Willamette students have used their language skills and cultural understanding to advance their career goals. Our students have made an impact in fields ranging from teaching and translation to business, government, and global fashion. Learn more about our students’ internships and career paths.

  • Diversity Media Network
  • Empire Entertainment Japan (株)
  • The Yokohama Theatre Group
  • Amazon
  • Ascension
  • Benesse Corporation
  • EC Eikaiwa
  • Eighty Days Japan
  • ENLASO
  • Hawaii Department of Education
  • Japan-America Society of the State of Washington
  • Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET)
  • Kawagoe Education Center
  • Malvern College Tokyo
  • Moravia
  • Nike
  • TransPerfect

Why Choose Willamette for Japanese Studies?

Thanks to Willamette's partnership with Tokyo International University (TIU), plenty of Japanese students spend a semester on campus. TIU creates opportunities to practice Japanese and engage with contemporary culture outside of the classroom. Students can room with a Japanese student, participate in the Japanese Language Table, or serve as a language partner for immersive, real-world language practice.

Students can also gain experience teaching Japanese alongside Japanese students at a nearby local middle school. Explore course options that provide real-world experience along with academic credit.

English Language and American Studies Program
Japanese Studies Courses

Engage with Japanese culture during your undergraduate experience. Join student groups like Japan Studies Student Leaders (JSSL) to build a community of students who share the same passion for Japan. Each spring, JSSL hosts Sakura Matsuri, a festival showcasing the beautiful cherry blossoms around campus. The event is filled with food, entertainment, and cultural activities, helping you gain hands-on experience while deepening your understanding of Japan's culture.

Students can also join the Koto Club, a sub-group within JSSL. Koto Club performs both on and off campus, offering a way to engage with the larger community.

Japan Studies Student Leaders
Student Clubs

Our liberal arts program can help support your unique career path. Embrace different academic disciplines and develop the right skills you need for your goal. Our Career Development Center can help you learn how you can use your Japanese Studies degree after college. They'll discuss double majors, where our alumni have worked, and even help you build a resume to showcase your education.

In terms of networking, students have the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships through our connection with Tokyo International University (TIU). We also encourage internships to help students connect academics to career options.

Are you interested in the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) program? We offer specific JET application workshops to help you perfect your application. You can also connect with Willamette alumni who have pursued the JET program to learn more and craft your application accordingly. Join specialized workshops that help you explore your major, search for jobs, and build your resume.

Career Development

Studying abroad is a core part of the Japanese Studies experience at Willamette. Through the Office of International Education, students can explore study abroad options at partner universities across Japan, including programs in Kawagoe and Kobe. These experiences allow students to deepen language proficiency while earning academic credit toward their degree.

Learning Japanese in Japan provides benefits that cannot be replicated in a classroom alone. Daily immersion strengthens listening and speaking skills, exposes students to informal and professional communication styles, and builds cultural awareness through lived experience. Studying abroad also helps students develop independence and cross-cultural competence while adding international experience to their resume, skills that employers consistently value.

Office of International Education

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