Japanese Language & Culture

Learning Through Language. Living Through Culture.

Living in Japan provides students with a unique opportunity to learn a language where it is spoken every day. At NIS, students develop Japanese not only through classroom instruction, but also through authentic experiences that help them connect with the people, traditions, and communities around them.

Students don't just learn Japanese in Japan.
They learn from Japan.

Whether students are taking their first steps in learning Japanese or are developing native-level literacy, our programme is designed to build confidence, strengthen communication, and deepen cultural understanding. As students progress through the school, language learning becomes an important bridge between academic learning and meaningful engagement with life in Japan.

Explore Learning Beyond the Classroom

Many of our learning experiences take students into communities across Japan, where language, history, culture, and geography come together through authentic experiences.

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Language & Cultural Experiences Beyond the Classroom

Learning Japanese extends far beyond the classroom. Students regularly use the language as they explore the communities, traditions, and cultural experiences that make living in Japan unique. Whether ordering lunch at a local restaurant, speaking with community members, visiting museums and historical sites, participating in cultural festivals, or engaging in extended learning experiences across Japan, students discover that language becomes more meaningful when it is connected to authentic experiences.

A group of people wearing conical hats stand on a wooden bridge in front of a traditional Japanese temple surrounded by lush greenery.

Throughout the year, students participate in experiences that deepen their understanding of Japanese traditions, contemporary life, and the communities around them. Depending on their age and programme, these experiences may include:

Seasonal celebrations and cultural traditions
Calligraphy and traditional arts
Japanese cooking and food culture
Visits to temples, shrines, museums, and historical landmarks
Community interactions and local partnerships
Extended Learning Trips throughout Japan
Literature and storytelling
Music, theatre, and artistic traditions

These opportunities help students develop confidence as communicators while deepening their appreciation for the history, values, and perspectives that shape Japanese society.

A Differentiated Program

One of the strengths of the NIS Japanese programme is that it supports students with a wide range of language backgrounds and experiences. Students are placed in courses appropriate to their proficiency, allowing every learner to experience challenge, success, and continued growth.

ELC & Elementary

Kindergarten-Grade 5

A teacher in a green shirt guides a young boy in a yellow shirt as he writes at his desk, with other children and colorful classroom decorations visible in the background.

Students begin learning Japanese in Kindergarten through play, songs, stories, and everyday communication. As they progress through the Primary Years Programme, instruction becomes increasingly differentiated to support students at different stages of language development.

Learning emphasizes communication, literacy, confidence, and cultural understanding while supporting students' growing ability to use Japanese in authentic situations.

Middle School

Grades 6-10

Two young people are studying at a wooden table with papers, while a bookshelf filled with books and supplies is visible in the background.

As students move into the Middle Years Programme, Japanese learning continues to build on individual proficiency and prior experience.

Students study both Japanese Language Acquisition and Japanese Language & Literature.

Learning continues to connect language with culture, encouraging students to communicate confidently while exploring contemporary and traditional aspects of Japanese society.

High School

Grades 11-12

A young man in the foreground is practicing calligraphy with a brush and ink, while in the background, other students are also engaged in art activities.

Students continue their Japanese studies through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, selecting the pathway that best matches their language background and future goals.

Coursework is designed to prepare students to communicate effectively while developing intercultural understanding, critical thinking, and appreciation of the Japanese language and culture.

Why Japanese Language & Learning Matters at NIS

Learning Japanese offers students far more than the ability to communicate in another language. Research shows that learning additional languages strengthens cognitive flexibility, problem-solving, memory, and the ability to shift between different ways of thinking. Students also develop greater empathy and intercultural understanding as they learn to communicate across languages and perspectives.

At NIS, learning Japanese allows students to engage more deeply with the country they call home. Whether reading signs, participating in local traditions, speaking with community members, or exploring Japan through learning experiences beyond the classroom, students develop a stronger sense of connection to the people, places, and culture around them.

By combining language learning with authentic cultural experiences, students become more confident communicators, more adaptable learners, and more globally minded citizens.