Welcome to Japanese Program at Sac State

Our program belongs to the Department of World Languages and Literatures at Sacramento State (LINK).  

The Sac State Japanese program offers a rigorous and flexible language and literature curriculum designed to meet the diverse needs of incoming students and ensure their success in learning.

The Sacramento region is one of the most active areas for Japanese language learning in the nation. The public school systems in this region lead the country in the number of Japanese language programs offered at the high school level, with over 2,000 students currently studying Japanese across twenty-four high schools and six local community colleges.

Historically, Sacramento has been a center of Japanese immigration, boasting an active Japanese American community committed to preserving the legacy of pre- and post-war migration from Japan. This vibrant community includes the Japanese American Citizens League, which is dedicated to preserving historical sites significant to the Japanese community, as well as two local Japanese language schools, various cultural groups, churches, Buddhist temples, grocery stores, and restaurants. These elements collectively reflect the enduring presence of Japanese language and culture in our region.

Moreover, Sacramento is home to several prominent Japanese businesses and organizations, such as Gekkeikan, Nippon Shokken, Shinmei Foods, Mikuni Color, and the Sacramento-Matsuyama Sister City Corporation.

The Sac State Japanese program serves as a crucial link among these entities, playing a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Sacramento's diverse historical legacy. By fostering connections between the campus community, local businesses, cultural organizations, and the broader community, the program not only enriches the educational experience of its students but also strengthens the cultural ties that sustain Sacramento's vibrant Japanese American heritage.

Japanese Minor

A working knowledge of Japanese is increasingly becoming an important tool in the world of international business and foreign affairs; hence Sacramento State offers a minor program in the Japanese language. Coursework in Japanese may be applied toward other specially designed minors and majors such as Asian Studies, Anthropology, Humanities and Religious Studies, International Business, and International Affairs.

If you want to minor in Japanese? Contact Prof. Kazue Masuyama (masuyama@csus.edu) or Prof. Kristina Vassil (vassil@csus.edu)

Japanese Language and Culture Classes (Link to University Schedule)

• Fall 2024

• Spring 2025

Student Profile - See more on Student Success Stories 

Students in the Japanese language program come from a variety of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Half of the students in our advanced courses major in the sciences (computer science, engineering, physics/math, chemistry, etc.) 

As a testament to the strength of the minor program, the majority of our graduates are currently pursuing careers in Japan or in a Japan-related field. Our students combine language skills with related business, computer science, engineering, social science, and humanities majors and minors, better preparing them to compete in a job market that demands specialized skills. 

Apart from the skills it provides to students pursuing Japan-related careers, a Japanese minor, by showing mastery of a difficult language and complex cultural and political issues, is an excellent general degree, equipping students with language and cultural proficiency enabling them to communicate successfully in a pluralistic American society and abroad.

Students graduating with the Japanese minor are qualified to pursue a large variety of academic and professional goals, including language teaching, attending graduate school, or working in high-profile jobs in the pubic and private sectors.

More on Student and Alumni Activities

Student Leadership and Events - see more Japan Club 

Japan Club & Soranbushi Club

World Languages Day - Every Fall: Japan Club officers serve as student leadership

Japan Day - Every April

Study Abroad Programs in Japan  

"It was an incredible experience in living in Japan." Click for more participant voices

Link to International Program and Global Engagement

CSU International Programs (one-year study abroad program)

• Waseda University 早稲田大学

• Tsukuba University 筑波大学 

Sacramento State Program (one semester or one year)

• Yokohama National University 横浜国立大学

• Shinshū University 信州大学 

• Ehime University 愛媛大学 

Japanese Teachers Fall 2024

Kazue Masuyama; Kristina Vassil; Eliot Kelly; Catherine Miskow; Nobuko Torres

MEET US

Any Question? Contact Prof. Kazue Masuyama