6 Arts Degree Programs in Japan

Established with the aim of fostering human resources with advanced knowledge and skills in the fields of art and design, the Master's Degree Program was the first to be officially approved at a private art university in Japan in 1964. The Master's Degree Program encompasses five majors. In addition to Painting, Sculpture, and Design, the Art Studies major was installed in 1998, followed by Ceramic, Glass, and Metal Works in 2002. The distinct class system with one-on-one tutelage by subject teachers continuing from the undergraduate course aims to improve expertise in the respective fields. For the fostering of internationally-minded human resources, our school accepts a large number of foreign exchange students. Furthermore, in conformity with requests for postgraduate adult re-education, a system divided into daytime and nighttime classes were introduced in 1995.

The undergraduate school is structured in five areas. Art Expression Visual Literature Representation Design Community Area Design Community Sense Design

This course can be broadly split into two components. The first is to establish a core research community in fields such as visual, spatial, and cyber media (which have not been adequately covered by the arts or the humanities in the past) and newly emerging fields gaining in social importance, as well as teaching current arts and media issues from a specialist, practical perspective. The main objective is to develop students’ theoretical understanding of areas such as media literacy, which lie outside the framework of existing art theories yet have real relevance to social realities, while also providing practical training to develop their media-processing skills on the computer.

Students research, experiment with, and create in various expressive methods and mediums, while considering and researching issues without being limited to traditional art and design frameworks. Rather than producing tangible “things,” they come up with concepts, make plans, and carry them out, resulting in expression. In other words, they study the creative process itself and perform research while focusing on the importance of concepts. The overall research method combines investigation, collection, planning, study, and production (including a thesis).

College of Creative Studies (CCS) offers an unprecedented, cutting-edge program that allows every individual student to enhance self-motivated, creative learning and reading for his/her own goals. CCS students are therefore expected to tailor academic courses and to develop coordination and collaboration abilities for designing solutions to complex societal challenges he/she pursues, creating science-technology innovation and societal change for the future of humanity.

Regarding expressive results as artworks, students work to further improve their skills and techniques and carry out research. They think about what artistic expression means in contemporary society and pursue their own themes and methods as expressive mediums. They strive to explore their own artistic visions and potential and establish personal themes while thinking about connections with society.