WMU Japanese Program

WMU Japanese Program Official page of the Japanese Program at Western Michigan University.

This is the official page of the Japanese Program and Soga Japan Center at Western Michigan University. The Japanese program is housed in the Department of World Languages and Literatures at WMU, and offers a major and a minor in Japanese. It also offers a more extensive array of exchange programs than nearly any other university in the United States. The Soga Japan Center is an interdisciplinary

center at WMU which hosts and facilitates talks, cultural events, and other activities relating to Japan. The SJC works closely with the Department of World Languages and Literatures and other departments, which have Japanese studies faculty.

05/11/2026
WMU Soga Japan Center will host a virtual Japanese Children's Day program with Michigan 4-H on May 5. You will be learni...
04/13/2026

WMU Soga Japan Center will host a virtual Japanese Children's Day program with Michigan 4-H on May 5. You will be learning about the Japanese celebration, food, origami, Japanese language, and more! This will be held Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6-7PM (Eastern Time)
Please register to get Zoom ID and password: https://forms.gle/c2TtYnuVCoBm2rM1A
This program is free, and non-4-H members are welcome.

02/12/2026
A wonderful event—thank you to everyone who joined us on this snowy day.
01/23/2026

A wonderful event—thank you to everyone who joined us on this snowy day.

01/20/2026

Japan Twang! 🎶✨
Experience the electrifying sound of Tsugaru-jamisen with Sato Michiyoshi—a modern, improvisatory Japanese music style performed on the shamisen. Translation and commentary will be provided during this hour-long concert.

📅 Thursday, January 22 | 5 p.m. (Doors open at 4:30 p.m.)
📍 Connable Recital Hall, Light Fine Arts Building, Kalamazoo College
🎟 Free & open to the public | Parking available

Hosted by WMU’s Haenicke Institute for Global Education’s Soga Japan Center in collaboration with Kalamazoo College.

🔗 More info: https://wmich.edu/global/events/japan-twang-concert

12/04/2025
Prof. Jeffrey Angles in WMU's Japanese program wrote the script for this newly released, short, animated, film produced ...
10/29/2025

Prof. Jeffrey Angles in WMU's Japanese program wrote the script for this newly released, short, animated, film produced by TED-Ed (a branch of TED Talks). Animated by Masayoshi Nakamura. this film retells one of Japan's most famous ghost stories, the story of "Hōichi the Earless." Perfect for Halloween! Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56F0Y33QZnQ

Dr. Ethan Segal of Michigan State University will give a special talk "Streaming Samurai: Historical Japan in Contempora...
10/28/2025

Dr. Ethan Segal of Michigan State University will give a special talk "Streaming Samurai: Historical Japan in Contemporary Media" at 3:30 p.m. in Brown Hall, Room 3025, on Thursday, November 6. This event is free and open to the public. No registration required. If you don’t have a WMU parking permit, please use metered visitor parking or obtain a temporary permit. Temporary permits can be purchased online or at the Parking Services kiosk for $5.00 per day. For more information, please refer to https://wmich.edu/parking.

The Soga Japan Center is hosting a special talk "Three Questions for Japan in Michigan: Where, Who and What?" by the Hon...
09/29/2025

The Soga Japan Center is hosting a special talk "Three Questions for Japan in Michigan: Where, Who and What?" by the Honorable Consul General Hajime Kishimori at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, October 22, Sangren Hall Room 1910. This event is free and open to the public. No registration required.

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Western Michigan University, 1903 W Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI
49008

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