Education Policy

IKUSHU’s goal is to provide the very best environment for Japanese language study so that our students can continue on to universities, graduate schools, and technical colleges. Our education policy includes not only Japanese language study and hands-on experience with Japanese culture but also the nurturing of diligent students with positive attitudes toward learning. The first-class education that students receive at IKUSHU continues to serve them after graduation as they enroll in their ideal universities, graduate schools, and technical colleges and become individuals capable of contributing to society.

  • Beginning-level students will establish a firm foundation, using a comprehensive textbook.
  • Intermediate-level students will receive instruction in grammar, reading, listening, conversation, vocabulary, composition, etc., using multiple textbooks in order to advance to a higher level.
  • Students in the advanced-level Japanese-language class who wish to proceed to institutions of higher education will be offered small group seminars in which instruction in taking entrance examinations will be given.
  • For those who wish to proceed to institutions of higher education, such as a university or technical colledge, individual guidance is available on written exams, interviews, and short essays for the schools and departments of their choice.
  • For those who wish to proceed to graduate school, instructions on how to write research plans are available.
  • Instruction in taking the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), which is held in July and December, is offered.
  • Instruction in taking the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU), which is held in June and November, is offered.

Our Curriculum

We offer five courses to suit the abilities of international students and future plans.

  • Two-Years CurriculumTwo-Years Curriculum
  • 1 year 9 months Curriculum1 year 9 months Curriculum
  • 1 year 6 months Curriculum1 year 6 months Curriculum
  • 1 year 3 months Curriculum1 year 3 months Curriculum
  • Three-Months CurriculumThree-Months Curriculum

Two-Years Curriculum

1st year (beginner)

Term I April–June Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I
Greetings / Hiragana / Katakana
Kanji / Listening Exercises / Writing / Conversation
First Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term II July–September Minna no Nihongo ShokyūⅡ
Kanji / Listening Exercises / Writing / Conversation
Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
Second Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term III October–December Beginner Review / Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
Chūkyū e Ikou / JLPT N2 & EJU Prep
Grammar / Vocabulary (N2) / Reading / Writing
Third Interview
JLPT
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term IV January–March Chūkyū Kara Manabu (first half)
New Kanzen Master N2 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep
Fourth Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score

Second Year (Intermediate / Advanced Level)

Term V April–June Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) / Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) EJU
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term VI July–September Chūkyū Kara Manabu (second half)
New Kanzen Master N2 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep / N1 Prep
Fifth Interview
JLPT
EJU
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term VII October–December Joukyū de Manabu
New Kanzen Master N1 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep / N1 Prep
Sixth Interview
JLPT
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term VIII January–March Japanese Recap
Integrated Study in Japanese Language and Culture
Seventh Interview

1 year 9 months Curriculum

1st year (beginner)

Term I July–September Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I
Greetings / Hiragana / Katakana
Kanji / Listening Exercises / Writing / Conversation
First Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term II October–December Minna no Nihongo Shokyū II
Kanji / Listening Exercises / Writing / Conversation
Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
Second Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term III January–March Beginner Review / Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
Chūkyū e Ikou / JLPT N2 & EJU Prep
Grammar / Vocabulary (N2) / Reading / Writing
Third Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score

Second Year (Intermediate / Advanced Level)

Term IV April–June Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) / Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) EJU
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term V July–September Chūkyū Kara Manabu (first half)
New Kanzen Master N2 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep
Fourth Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term VI October–December Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) / Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) Fifth Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term VII October-March Joukyū de Manabu
New Kanzen Master N1 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep / N1 Prep
Sixth Interview

1 year 6 months Curriculum

1st year (beginner)

Term I October–December Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I
Greetings / Hiragana / Katakana
Kanji / Listening Exercises / Writing / Conversation
First Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term II January–March Minna no Nihongo ShokyūⅡ
Kanji / Listening Exercises / Writing / Conversation
Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
Second Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score

Second Year (Intermediate / Advanced Level)

Term III April–June Beginner Review / Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
Chūkyū e Ikou / JLPT N2 & EJU Prep
Grammar / Vocabulary (N2) / Reading / Writing
Third Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term IV July–September Chūkyū Kara Manabu (first half)
New Kanzen Master N2 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep
Fourth Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term IV October–December Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) / Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) EJU
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term VI January–March Chūkyū Kara Manabu (second half)
New Kanzen Master N2 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep / N1 Prep
Fifth Interview
JLPT
EJU

1 year 3 months Curriculum

1st year (beginner)

Term I
January–March Minna no Nihongo ShokyūⅡ
Kanji / Listening Exercises / Writing / Conversation
Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
First Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score

Second Year (beginner / Intermediate Level)

Term II
April–June Beginner Review / Japanese Affairs / Topic Presentation
Chūkyū e Ikou / JLPT N2 & EJU Prep
Grammar / Vocabulary (N2) / Reading / Writing
Second Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term III
July–September Chūkyū Kara Manabu (first half)
New Kanzen Master N2 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep
Third Interview
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term IV October–December Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU) / Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) EJU
Proficiency Test Passing Score
Term V January–March Chūkyū Kara Manabu (second half)
New Kanzen Master N2 Grammar / Short Essay
Listening / Listening & Reading / Reading / Short Essay / Katakana
JLPT & EJU Prep / Opinion Presentation
N2 Prep / N1 Prep
Fourth Interview

Primary Textbooks

Beginner Level

  • Minna no Nihongo Shokyū I (second ed.)
  • Minna no Nihongo Shokyū II (second ed.)
  • Minna no Nihongo I & II Choukai
  • Kanji Practice in 15 Minutes a Day (upper/lower)
  • Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation
  • Nihongo Challenge N4 Grammar and Reading Practice
  • Original materials created by IKUSHU instructors

Intermediate Level

  • Chūkyū e Ikou Japanese Sentence Patterns and Expressions
  • New Approach Japanese Intermediate Course Kisohen (revised edition)
  • New Approach Japanese Advanced Course Kisohen (revised edition)
  • Chūkyū wo Manabou Chūkyū Zenki
  • Original materials created by IKUSHU instructors

Advanced Level

  • Joukyū Gakushūsha no Tame no Nihongo Dokkai Workbook
  • Advanced Readings in Japanese
  • Ryūgakusei no Tame no Ronritekina Bunshō no Kakikata
  • Ryūgakusei no Tame no Akademikku / Japanese
  • Original materials created by IKUSHU instructors

Test Preparation

  • New Kanzen Master N1–N3
  • JLPT Prep Nihongo Soumatome N1–N3
  • JLPT Prep Nihongo Power-Drill N1–N3
  • Nippon Ryugaku Shiken Sokko Training
  • Nippon Ryugaku Shiken Kanzen Kouryaku Mondaishū
  • Numerous original texts created by IKUSHU instructors

List of Annual Events

Aprilpril Entrance ceremony for students enrolling in April
Start of classes
October Entrance ceremony for students enrolling in October
Informal gathering
May Extracurricular lesson—disaster prevention training
EJU Preparation
November Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students
June Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students
JLPT Preparation
December Japanese Language Proficiency Test
Christmas party
July Entrance ceremony for students enrolling in July
Japanese Language Proficiency Test
January Start of winter classes
New Year’s event
August Counseling on university choices
Summer vacation
February Student mixer
September Term exams, physical checkup
Extracurricular lesson
March Graduation ceremony