Japan

East and West. Tradition and innovation. Industry and family. Shinkansen (bullet train) and tatami (straw mats). Hospitality and privacy. As a YFU student in Japan, you'll discover a land of contrasts.

Japanese culture meshes Japan's history with its present-day influences: one night, you and your friends may enjoy singing karaoke; another evening, you may attend a performance of traditional theater like noh or kabuki. You might read haiku one day and a novel by Yukio Mishima the next. The Japanese enjoy newer sports like snowboarding and baseball, as well as traditional sports like sumo wrestling and kendo (fencing).

If your interests are culture, international business, and the world, understanding the Japanese people is a definite plus. Japan is a major economic world power; the need for individuals who understand Japanese culture opens up endless opportunities for Americans who have actually lived there.

Language

Japanese. Previous language study is not required except for some scholarship programs.

Host Family Placement

You may live with a host family anywhere in the country, (including the Okinawa Islands) in either a rural or suburban setting.

School

Weekdays from 8:30 a.m. until about 4:30 p.m. and half-days on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Students are placed in 9th, 10th or 11th grade. 

Pastimes

After-school clubs, skiing, movies, and performances

Program	Departure	Cost (CAD)
Summer	Mid June	$7230
Semester	August	$10500
Year	March	$10995