OpenFieldPhD in Japanese Cultural Studies and Folklore (Yanagita Kunio Memorial Center)
World-famous doctoral program in Japanese folklore studies, ethnology, classical literature, and cinema history based around the personal archive of folklore pioneer Kunio Yanagita.
Application checklist & requirements
These requirements reflect published university guidelines available at the last review. Review official department guidelines before submission.
- Academic degree / Prerequisites
- Master's degree in Japanese Literature, Folklore, Cultural Anthropology, or Asian History.
- English language proficiency
- Native or near-native Japanese proficiency (JLPT N1 with superior scores).
- Standardized testing (GRE/GMAT)
- Not required.
- Thesis / Research statement
- Master's thesis copy, CV, list of published papers, and comprehensive doctoral research proposal.
- Recommendation letters
- Two academic letters from university professors.
How much will it cost? How much funding is available?
- Financial support / stipend
- Seijo Doctoral Scholarship providing ¥600,000/year living stipend plus full tuition waiver
- Application fee
- ¥35,000 application fee
- Tuition / joining costs
- ¥0 with scholarship
Dates and verification
- Application deadline
- January 10, 2027
- Last source review
- 2026-10-15
Important verification note
Facts reflect official Seijo University documentation reviewed 2026-10-15. Admissions, funding allocations, and eligibility thresholds are evaluated by the university.
Reviewed 2026-10-15 · Editorial standards · Report an issue