2026 Presentations by Students studying "Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course"
On Sunday, August 2, 2026, the Center for Japanese Language and Culture at Gifu University held a hybrid thesis presentation session (both in person and online) for students completing the "Japanese Language and Culture Studies Course." Approximately 30 participants from both within and outside the university attended the event, where five international students from the course's 25th cohort, representing China, Thailand, and Vietnam, presented their research findings.
International students enrolled in the course study Japanese language and Japanese culture at Gifu University from October to the following August as state-funded students recommended by embassies or their home universities, or as exchange students from Gifu University's partner institutions overseas. At the end of the course, each student writes a thesis on a topic of personal interest under the guidance of a faculty supervisor and with support from Japanese student tutors at Gifu University.
The students of the 25th cohort also completed their theses by conducting research, analysis, and discussion on the languages and cultures of Japan and their home countries from their own unique perspectives. During the presentation session, they confidently presented their research findings in Japanese using slides. Tutors, friends from the same countries, faculty members, and students from their home institutions also attended the event and supported the presenters.
The students will attend the completion ceremony on Thursday, August 20, and, after returning to their home countries, will resume their studies at their respective universities. Many graduates of the course go on to pursue graduate studies at Gifu University or other institutions in Japan, while others return to Japan to seek employment. We look forward to meeting these graduates again in the future and seeing how they have continued to grow.
Gifu University will continue to welcome international students from a wide range of countries and promote international exchange.
Presenters and Thesis Titles (in Presentation Order)
- Ms. ZHU JIAOMEI (China)
"Otome Games Across Borders: Reception and Transformation in Japan-China Cultural Exchange" - Ms. DONPRAIPAN KEMJIRA (Thailand)
"Examination Stress Caused by Differences in University Entrance Examination Systems in Japan and Thailand" - Ms. NGO VU PHUONG NGOC (Vietnam)
"A Comparative Study of High School History Education in Japan and Vietnam" - Mr. TANSAWANGKUL JARKWARIN (Thailand)
"A Comparison of Aesthetic Perceptions of Teeth in Japan and Thailand" - Mr. ZHUANG JIALE (China)
"Why 'Tomodachi' Is Written as 『友だち』 Rather Than 『友達』: Changes in the Japanese Language and Cultural Backgrounds Reflected in Orthographic Choices"
