What is Japanese
Japanese: Nihonjin, aka the Japanese language, is one of the most versatile languages across the entire world. In India, most people think that learning or graduating in a language subject, which is not used in the country that much is of no use. But, to be honest, it’s completely the opposite. Yes, it is true that not many companies in India use Japanese as their mode of communication. But, does it mean that there is no scope at all? Absolutely not. Do you know that cartoons like Doraemon, Shinchan etc. that get telecast in kids’ TV channels are originally made in Japanese? Yes, not only these but so many other cartoons, movies and almost all anime are made in Japanese. However, in our country, it is telecasted in regional languages. How does it happen? Well, companies like Nick, Hungama, etc. hire language translators.
Not only that, big companies who have professional ties with Japan, also hire translators for communication purposes. So, worry not, because if your favourite language is Japanese and you want to study it, then go for it because you’ll have a lot of options when it comes to a job.
A lot of universities in India provide Japanese courses that you can get enrolled into for your higher studies. Some of the best universities in India for the Japanese Language includes JNU, Mumbai University, Pondicherry University, Pune University, University of Mysore, SRMIST, Ramjas University, Hayakawa Japanese Institute and Nihonkai Japanese Institute, etc.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Japanese
For BA in Japanese
You must have passed 10+2 with a minimum of 60% marks overall.
Admission is mostly made on a merit basis; however, some reputed universities conduct entrance exams for admission as mentioned above.
For MA or M.Phil. in Japanese
You must have passed their BA in Japanese studies or foreign languages or any other relevant course with a minimum of 45% marks overall from a reputed university.
Some universities also take in students who have done Diploma in the Japanese Language.
For PhD in Japanese,
You must have passed their MA or M.Phil. in Japanese language or Foreign Language or any other relevant course with a minimum of 50% marks overall from a reputed university.
For Diploma
You can opt-in this course after passing their 10+2 with a minimum of 40% marks overall. Students from any stream can go for the diploma course and learn the basics of Japanese.
Japanese Language Entrance Exams
There is no specific entrance exam for the Japanese Language or foreign languages as a whole. You can sit for entrance exams that are based on Humanities and Social Science because if you qualify any of these exams, you’ll get the opportunity to select the language as one of your core subjects. However, if your aim is just to study the Japanese language or any foreign language in general, then there is no entrance exam for that. Almost all universities and institutes- be it public or private, select students on the basis of merit by going through the scores of their recent qualified exam. So, if you manage to get a good score in 10+2, then there is a high chance that you can easily get into one of the top universities of India. And, if you still want to go for BA or MA and select language as an optional course, then here are some entrance exams to look out for:
DUET: The Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET) is conducted by Delhi University every year for all arts, science and commerce students. You can go for a BA in this university as they do have a very good course structure for the Japanese language.
HSEE: IIT Madras conducts Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination (HSEE) every year. You can get enrolled into a BA in Humanities and Social Science after qualifying the exam, and you can opt-in for the Japanese language as an elective throughout your degree.
CEE: Combined Entrance Examination (CEE) is conducted by Assam Science and Technology University every year. You can go for a BA course and opt-in Japanese language as an elective subject.
JNUEEE: Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEEE) is conducted by JNU every year and you can directly take the Japanese language as one of your core subjects.
CCEP: Conducted by Pune University every year. They also have a foreign language department, and you can directly take the Japanese language as one of your core subjects in foregin language department.
On top of these exams, almost all universities, both government and private, organise their own entrance exam. So, if you have any university or institute in mind, then keep in touch with them, check their notices and announcements and just go for it.
Scope of Japanese in India and Abroad
Yes, people might say that the scope of Japanese Language in India is very limited. However, it is not true at all. If you learn the Japanese language, then you can go pursue many careers that will help you experience different things. You can become a translator for a big company like Sony, Honda, Panasonic, Hitachi etc. that are Japan-based companies with branches all over the world. Not only that, but you can also even become a translator for a big TV production company like Nick, Hungama etc. who telecasts shows like Pokémon, Beyblade etc., made and produced in Japan. You can even work for the tourist department as a Japanese expert and translator and connect with people from abroad who speak Japanese. And, you can even open your own coaching centre for Japanese language or become a professor in the Japanese language for a reputed university.
In case you are thinking about going abroad, you’ll have more possibilities and opportunities. If you want to go abroad, then I highly recommend you go to Japan. In fact, if possible, I would even recommend you do your masters and PhD in Japan. You’ll have so many options because as we all know that Japan is a highly technologically advanced country. There are so many companies and businesses in Japan that have branches throughout the entire world. And, you can apply for a job as a translator for these companies and businesses. And lastly, if you are qualified and experienced enough, then you can even get a job in a big company like Google. Google hires a lot of language translators who can help them with programming scripts for regional languages and translation tools. So, if your qualification matches, you can even go for that.
Course Fees Japanese
Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Private | Government | Private | Government | |
UG | ||||
PG | ||||
DIPLOMA |
Course Subjects
If you are going for a BA in Japanese Language, then it is a 3 years course comprising 6 semesters. The typical subjects taught in these semesters are:
1. Japanese Expressions
2. Japanese Scripts
3. Basic Sentencing
4. Reading Comprehension
5. Spoken Japanese
6. Composition
7. Intermediate Japanese
8. Translation
9. History of Japan
10. Indo Japanese Relation
11. Contemporary Japan
12. Japanese Society
13. Japanese Newspaper writing
14. Essay and Letter writing in Japanese
These subjects will be taught semester wise and the syllabus of each semester differs from institute to institute.
If you are going for an MA or M.Phil. in Japanese Language, then it is a 2 years course comprising 4 semesters. Some of the subjects that you’ll be taught in your institute are:
1. Theory and Practice of Translation
2. General Linguistics
3. Cultural History of Japan
4. Modernisation and Economic Development
5. Japanese in Business sectors
6. Literacy criticism
7. Japanese Language Methodologies
8. Guided Speaking
Again, these subjects will be taught semester wise and the syllabus of each semester differs from institute to institute.
If you are going for a Diploma course in Japanese Language, then these are some of the subjects that you’ll be taught in your institute:
1. Japanese Scripts
2. Japanese composition
3. Essay and letter writing
4. Article writing in Japanese
5. Japanese Culture and Japan History
Note that these subjects might vary for different institutions, but these are the general subjects for Japanese language.
Careers in Japanese
So, even though people say that the Japanese language has no scope in India, after reading this article, you can get an idea of how many opportunities you can grasp after studying the Japanese language. Ranging from Japanese voice-over artist to business advisor and Japanese translator, you have a wide range of career selection after studying Japanese. In case you go abroad, these opportunities will automatically increase to a greater number.
Upcoming trends
Some upcoming trends and topics to look forward to, are:
With the booming technological business in Japan, a lot of companies are hiring Japanese speakers and voice over artists for recording of sounds.
A lot of new institutes are looking for Japanese professors. Reports say that many universities in India are extending their foreign language department and so they are hiring Japanese experts as teachers and professors.
There is a high demand for Japanese translators in the US. A report from the US says that the demand for Japanese translators is high and the competition is not fierce. Hence, Japanese is considered to be one of the most profitable language subjects in the US.
A lot of anime companies are looking for dubbing artists, who can understand Japanese and translate it to the English language.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Job Profiles
Now, a Japanese translator can apply for different types of jobs. Here is a table that shows all the different options you have when you become a Japanese expert.
Job Profile | Job Description |
Language Advisor | The work of a language advisor is to promote awareness of the language and respond to any kind of needs. |
The work of a Japanese Translator is to translate another language into Japanese language and vice-versa. | |
The work of a Japanese Interpreter is to handle meetings and business conversation from Japanese to any other language or vice-versa. | |
Japanese Customer Support Associate | The work of a Japanese customer support associate is to assist and guide any client who doesn’t speak any other language except Japanese. |
Language Expert | The work of a language expert is to translate and handle work related to foreign languages. A language expert can even apply for a job as a Japanese teacher or Professor. |
Business Advisor | The work of a business advisor is to guide small and medium-sized Japanese businesses that deal with international clients. |
Top Recruiters
Some of the top recruiters for this field of work are:
1) Sony
2) Honda
3) Panasonic
4) Hitachi
5) Tourism based Companies
6) Hungama
7) Animax
8) Yamaha
These are some of the top recruiters from India. In case you are planning to go abroad, then you’ll have lots of opportunities as a Japanese Translator. So, in case you have a particular company in mind, just go for it and send a Resume to them.
Average Salary
Please note that these salary figures might change according to the company, employee’s qualifications and work experience. This is just an approx.. salary value to get the overview of the work.
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
Language Advisor | Rs. 5 - 7 Lakhs p.a. (approx) |
Japanese Translator | Rs. 5 - 6 Lakhs p.a. (approx) |
Japanese Interpreter | Rs. 5 - 6 Lakhs p.a. (approx) |
Japanese Customer Support Associate | Rs. 10 - 13 Lakhs p.a. (approx) |
Language Expert | Rs. 8 - 12 Lakhs p.a. (approx) |
Business Advisor | Rs. 9 - 12 Lakhs p.a. (approx) |
Required Skillset for Japanese
Always remember that when you are applying for a job, a company will always test your skills during selection. So, you have to strengthen your basic knowledge based on the Japanese Language. On top of that, these are some skill sets that a company looks for while hiring a Japanese translator:
Do you know that modern Japanese comprises 3 scripts? Yes, they are known as Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana. The more advanced knowledge you have on these scripts, the higher your chance of getting employed.
As a translator, you’ll have to learn and master the Japanese language when it comes to speaking as well as writing.
You should be good with language grammar. The way the English language has so many forms of grammar, in the same way, the Japanese language also has grammar. You’ll have to master those skills as well.
You should be knowledgeable when it comes to Japanese culture. Only learning the language won’t help. You’ll have to learn the cultural aspects of Japanese people in order to communicate in a better way.
You should always be attentive to details. Obviously, if you are not a Japanese speaker by birth, then there are chances of making mistakes. You should be always attentive and learn from those mistakes.
Lastly and obviously, you need to have good communication skills in Japanese. Always practice speaking and writing in Japanese, then you’ll be able to master it. Remember that you’ll have to practice a lot in order to learn Japanese or any other language perfectly.
Course Curriculum for Japanese
Japanese Language Curriculum is generally based on the 3 scripts that I’ve mentioned above, i.e. Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana. The curriculum for the Japanese language is made to increase your speaking and writing knowledge of these three scripts. The structure of the curriculum might differ for different universities, but in the end, the whole curriculum is made in a way to make you knowledgeable enough to work professionally as a Japanese expert.
Popular Japanese Entrance Exams in India
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: If I plan to go abroad, in which country should I pursue my PhD in the Japanese Language?
Answer :
Pursuing your PhD in the Japanese Language from Japan is highly recommended. To be honest, if possible, then doing your master’s degree in Japan is also highly recommended. By staying there, not only you can learn the language but also learn their culture, history and background.
Question: Are Diplomas good when it comes to a foreign language?
Answer :
It depends. If you are doing a diploma course from a well-reputed institute, then it’s totally worth it. However, languages like Japanese, which has 3 scripts, are very hard to master in just 1 year.
Question: Is it possible to learn more than one foreign language at once?
Answer :
To be honest, it’s not impossible. But it will be very hard because all languages have their own grammatical rules and scripts. You might get hold of the basics, but it will be very hard, nearly impossible, to learn and master the advanced skills of more than one language at once.
Question: Can I approach a TV production company after studying the Japanese language?
Answer :
Yes, you can approach a TV production company after studying the Japanese language. If you have the right set of skills, then you’ll be hired.
Question: Which country, except Japan, is good for getting a job as a Japanese Translator?
Answer :
Except for Japan, you can try out jobs in the US as a Japanese Translator. To be honest, you can also try out in India because not many people in India study the Japanese language. So, you’ll have a good chance of getting a good job.
Questions related to Japanese
How to get admission in Du pg diploma in Japanese? Is there an entrance for that and what is the intake?
Hello Chetna,
The Department of East Asian Studies began as the Centre for Chinese Studies in 1964. The Japanese Studies was introduced in 1969 and the department was renamed as the Department of Chinese and Japanese Studies. After the introduction of the Korean Studies in 2001, the department was rechristened as the Department of East Asian Studies. The department is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Delhi.
The department offers two postgraduate courses: M.A. in East Asian Studies and M.A. in Japanese. It provides inter-disciplinary doctoral research programmes in East Asian Studies and Chinese, Japanese and Korean Studies offering opportunities in diverse areas such as history, culture, language, literature, society, economics, politics and international relations.
M.A. in Japanese
The entrance examination will have:
-
Aspects of grammar, kanji, vocabulary and expressions in Japanese Language.
-
Few questions on general knowledge about Japan as well.
All candidates appearing for the entrance test for admission to the various language courses (except M.A. Japanese) are required to submit a demand draft of Rupees Five Hundred (Rupees Two Hundred Fifty in the case of SC/ ST /PH candidates) payable to the Registrar, University of Delhi at State Bank of India, University of Delhi Branch along with the application form.
DU offers a full time course if you want to pursue a diploma then -
Diploma in Japanese Language
Daulat Ram College, S. G. T.B. Khalsa College
Hope this helps,
All the best !
Can someone tell me what are the colleges that provides Japanese language as a course other than EFLU and JNU? I want to take it as I am going to finish my BA next year.
- I am listing you the top Universities other than the two you named which you may consider for your higher studies:
- Centre for global Language, Banglore
- Doon University, Dehradun
- NNM,Nalanda
- Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth,Pune
- University of Delhi (DU)
- Hope this helps
how much money do i have pay UG course in japanese language
Hi!
Japanese sure is a trending language as well as has many opportunities to build career in. Universities that offer B.A. in Japanese are:
- English and Foreign Language University, Hyderabad
- Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
- Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Maharashtra
The fee isn't high for the course. It is around 6000 p.a. (excluding other expenses) up and down which is quite affordable in all the universities mentioned.
which colleges in india provide B.A in psychology as well as foreign languages (Japanese)?
Amity University
Shri RamSwaroop Memorial University
REVA University
University of Lucknow
Maharshi Dayanand University
Maharaja SayyajiRaoi University of Baroda
RIMT University
Manipal University
University of Mumbai
The American College, Madurai
In which government university can I get admission in 2022 for diploma in Japanese?
Hello aspirant,
Below are some of the best Universities for Diploma in Japanese Course that you can look for :
UNIPUNE, Pune
Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata
CUSAT Kochi
Magadh University, Bodhgaya
Prof rajendra Singh University
RISU, Jaiipur
And many more
Further, you can follow the below mentioned link to know more about the list of best universities in India for Diploma in japanese course : https://university.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-diploma-in-japanese-universities-in-india
i hope that this will help.