HJU
Hiroshima Jyogakuin is a relatively small but prestigious university on the outskirts of Hiroshima city proper. The institution also manages a kindergarten atop the same hill as the University and Graduate school as well as a Junior High\High School near the down town. None of the buildings however are any older than 1949 as the originals were completely obliterated by the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945(1).
As with many schools in Japan, HJU, founded by Methodists in 1886, prides itself on its Christian values and background(1). On the campus there is a large auditorium that holds services on Tuesday. Only freshmen are required to go, but you are more than welcome to attend as well. Otherwise, you can enjoy an extra half-hour for lunch every Tuesday, although keep in mind that during Final Exam week there is no service and so exams continue on the same schedule all week.
If you are interested, there is also a smaller chapel that has a service on Thursday during lunch.
There are 5 departments at HJU. Although Japanese students can only take classes from within one school, at least while I was there I was allowed to attend whatever class I pleased. Schools include the following:
Japanese Language and Literature
English Studies
Department of Human and Cultural Studies
Human Life Sciences
Life Design
My degree being Asian Studies, I generally worked through the Life Design department, but attended classes that fell under the jurisdiction of Human and Cultural Studies as well as English Studies.
The Campus
The campus is a truly lovely place. Built up a mountain, a stream runs through its center giving life to all manner of plants. The hills that surround it are also covered in thick foliage, and in the fall they seem to be afire with the changing leaves. In spring the flowers, including pale pink cherry blossoms, are everywhere. Many birds, butterflies, lizards, as well as a few cats call the campus home and raccoons live in the woods around the Ushita Sansou (mountain cottage, a club house). If you just want to get away from it all for a bit, just walk up towards said cottage, past the Jinbun-kan (see below) and straight ahead.
There are two gates to the campus. However, as far as I know the North Gate is not actually accessible to the public (it was always locked tight when I saw it). Thus, you will always enter by the Seimon which is right at the bus stop, marked by elegant wrought iron gates and a seiko clock. Throughout the school day, guards are posted at the entrance to help the students cross the roads safely and to direct traffic. This is necessary as HJU is solely a commuter school: there are no dormitories on the campus.
If not on traffic duty the guards spend their time in the little box just beyond the bike racks or signing in visitors. They’re very friendly and will always greet you and say farewell. The Japanese girls almost totally ignore them but it’s always nice to see them smile when you chirp an “ohayo-gozaimasu” back to them.
Notes on the Buildings
HJU's website provides this nice map. Please use it as a reference
Campus Map
1. Though known on campus as Jin Bun Kan, the name Centennial Hall is posted on the entrance. …I do not know why. Although the newly constructed second wing to the Sophia building now holds many lectures, Jin Bun is still the main building for classes. There are 5 floors but just one elevator so unless you have a disability or arrive early you have to take the stairs or else be late.
There are no vending machines in the building itself, but on the third floor there is a small lounge. Although noisy during class changes, it’s otherwise a quiet, comfortable spot to hang for a while.
2. Bungaku kan is home to the offices of many professors including the English teachers who are all quite friendly and helpful. There’s a directory of their offices in the student handbook and on one of the walls on the first floor.
3. The Auditorium (Koudou) used to house the library I understand. That however has been moved to the new library building at the foot of the hill. In any case, Tuesday church service is held here as well as shows, performances, and many other events. The school’s motto, “Cum Deo Laboramus” (with God we work) is written on the front.
5. Shouei-kan has some class rooms but is primarily administrative. The first floor houses the nurse’s station and a computer classroom that can be used off hours (make sure to remove your shoes prior to entering!) The offices of the president and his staff are located at the top of the stairs on the second floor as are a few classrooms. Meanwhile the third floor gives passage to the chapel which is actually located on top of the building. There are services held there on Thursdays.
6. Koufuu-kan is a very important building in your life.
The first floor has just vending machines, a copy machine you need a special card to use, and some bulletin boards, but during the first few weeks of the semester it’s also where the text books are sold.
The second floor houses the Kokusai Center(International Center).
The staff of the office are extremely nice, (love cats) and will help you with all manner of affairs, from finding classes, tutors, and friends to getting jobs, Hiroshima International Center IDs, and handling financial problems. While I was there there was one employee, Imai-san, who spoke excellent English as well, thus rendering many confusing problems such as billing, fighting with the landlord, and figuring out campus quirks easy. The staff also will take you around to help set up things like phone service, cell phones, and bank accounts, and I’m sure they’d be willing to help with other issues like internet as well.
International students gather in the office to eat lunch sometimes and it makes a great meeting place. There’s a very old computer and printer there as well which you can use if you don’t mind its slow speed, as well as a big box of donations from which you can take anything you please. This includes cookware, shoes, statuettes, purses, and, if you’re built right, sometimes even clothing.
Finally, the kokusai center also is home to your personal mailbox in which the staff puts newsletters about local events, important notices, and everything in between. Make sure to check it periodically!
The third floor of the koufuu-kan has the lost and found (enter the office and in a glass-covered shelf on the entry wall are lost items).
Meanwhile, the fourth floor is home to the office of student affairs. The teachers’ mailboxes are located in that office and it is also where you turn in class registration sheets. Also, BE SURE TO CHECK the announcements on the boards on that floor. Classroom changes and cancellations are announced there as are various opportunities and, around exam time, the requirements for reports and such. Yes, sometimes the teachers won’t tell you what they want for the paper but instead post the information on the fourth floor boards. They’ll tell you in class if this is the case but if you’re not sure, ask.
7. Saffron building is named for its dusty gold color. Japanese language classes I took were usually held here.
10. The new library is quite amazing in its size and range. There are works in English and even some books on learning Japanese.
At the main entrance is a nice sitting area that is sometimes used for small exhibits as well as a vending corner that are divided from the rest of the library by security gates. Though HJU will eventually give you an ID card whose number will allow you to enter the library, you can still get an actual library card as well. I think that once you’ve been entered into the school’s system you can check books out with your ID card, but I always used my library card which I had registered for when I first arrived and received a few weeks later.
The first floor houses large reference books as well as study desks, a media room (where you can watch TV and movies), a newspaper room, and many brand new computers and printers. Be sure never to save anything ON them though. Always bring your floppy! The same goes for the laptops you can borrow from the front desk. I don’t believe you’re allowed to take them out of the library though I could be wrong. These are useful for group conferences or for writing papers and research when the other computers are all taken.
The other floors, accessible by stairs or elevator, are mainly just books and study areas though the top floor has some conference rooms. There is an internet system to look up books just like at BGSU, and the librarians are also helpful and polite so feel free to ask them your questions.
11. This club house houses some small rooms used for sadou demonstrations (though the formal tea room is on the second floor of Koufuu-kan). Also of note is the tire-pump for bikes located next to the entrance.
16-17. Sophia-kan is another of the main class buildings, especially now that it has a huge, brand new wing. Within it are some fantastic conference rooms, comfortable chairs that roll, vending machines and a few places to sit down and study. The older wing in the meanwhile has a kitchen and other lab-related classrooms as well as many teachers' offices.
22. Hinohara Hall is HJU’s version of a Union.
The first floor is a meeting place with a few big TVs to watch and couches to crash on. Copy machines that accept cash are available and there’s a machine from which you can buy bus-cards. There also is a convenience store which, though a bit pricy, has most daily necessities. You can’t pay your NTT bills there but you can buy lunch, snacks, school supplies, feminine products, and for a pretty penny, some HJU related items.
The second and third floors are the cafeterias.
The second floor cafeteria serves 2-3 dishes a day as set meals, complete with soup, salad, and entrée. There is also a glass case of a la carte items that most girls eat as they are but which you can microwave. There is also a machine that sells tickets with which you can order other meals like curry noodles or soba although that is actually the focus of the third floor cafeteria.
To use the ticket vending machines, first decide what you want to eat then locate a button for it. If there is no red x, they should have that item available in which case you enter the amount of money necessary for its purchase. On the second floor you would simply take the ticket to anyone working behind the counter but on the third floor there are signs denoting different lines for various sorts of food. For example, there is a line for past, curry, noodles, and desserts. The third floor also offers coffee and some desserts and best of all is open fairly late so you can buy dinner there as well.
Most of the food served at HJU is pretty good although I'm quick to recommend anything related to their curry, especially croquet curry or curry soba.
Both cafeterias have machines that serve mild green tea, hot water (for instant meals or your own tea bags), and cool water for no extra cost. Also, after the lunch hours, the places empty out and become very quiet, making them fabulous to hang out and study in while sipping on free tea.
The fourth floor of the building houses the language and computer lab, as well as a gymnasium. I am not sure when the latter is open (it was closed whenever I went by and I never had need for its services anyways) but the labs are open til the building itself closes. The language lab has a supply of tapes, but you can bring your own to watch and practice if you don’t have the necessary video equipment at the apartment. The computers unfortunately are, or at least were quite old, often froze, and to print you needed a computer-access account which I did not manage to obtain til later in the year. Thus, unless it’s crowded, I would recommend simply using the library for computer needs.
The fifth and final floor of Hinohara has a large auditorium that is used for various events.
Computing at HJU
One thing you will notice when talking to your Japanese friends is how few of them own computers and use email. Most girls utilize their cell phones for everything and resort to PCs only when they have to type reports. Thus, especially around midtdle and end of the term when people have papers to write, the few labs on campus become extremely crowded. Thus, I strongly recommend bringing your own computer to Japan.
One important thing to note is that upon first arriving you will not have access to the HJU network. This means firstly that you cannot print anywhere except the library (which is open to the public and thus you as well), but also that you cannot look at certain portions of the school’s website, important portions that show you cancellations of your classes, exam times, and other such things. Thus, having a password is very helpful.
To get this password, you need to go to the first floor of the Shouei-kan. There’s an office next to the computer lab there where you should be able to ask the people working for a password. It will probably take a day or two to process, but considering that everyone expects you to know the information held on the website and the library isn’t always open, it’s worth the time and effort. You might want to ask the Kokusai center and tutors for further information and help on this issue in case the set up has changed.
Campus events and Extracurriculars
There are a variety of clubs or ‘circles’ at the university. I sadly did not become involved for a lack of information and time, but you might wish to check them out. I would recommend asking the Kokusai Center or your Japanese friends for suggestions. I know there are quite a few interesting sounding circles including tea ceremony, dance team (hip hop music only it appeared), and a variety of sports both Japanese and western.
Even if not formally in a club, you are still considered part of the International Community at HJU. Thus, when it comes time for the Campus Festival in the fall, you are expected to help out. The association cooks a foreign food under the direction of one of the members, and sells it for profit at the fair. While I was there, we made harumaki (spring rolls) at the suggestion of my Thai friend and also sold herb teas. Make sure to break away from the stall for a bit though to try the other foods being sold, and maybe check out the concerts and performances that are going on.
Around Christmas there is a big Holiday Festival you will be invited to. Make sure to go as it’s a lot of fun. There’s free food, a gift exchange, some performances, and music.
Another important event that you might wish to take part of is the Joint Seminar for Peace in the spring. The seminar lasts a week and sessions usually run from early morning til late in the afternoon meaning that you have to skip class for a week: it’s considered a worthy, non-attendance-grade hurting cause however and although the topic can be a bit overwhelming at times, it’s a fantastic experience overall.
Being held in Hiroshima, the dropping of the atomic bomb and the suffering of its victims is central to the curriculum of course, which thus includes a trip to the Peace Memorial and a meeting with a hibakusha (victim of the bombing). The rest of the time however is spent in lectures the topics of which vary but concern the pursuit, maintenance, and various approaches of peace. The year I attended themes included the use of depleted uranium weapons in Iraq, the work of various peace-related organizations, and even the significance of Godzilla in the quest for a peaceful future.
All participants are expected to attend lectures after which thoughts, possible solutions, and other brain-storming related mini-presentations are given. At the end of the course, students are expected to turn in a paper which, with everything else, counts for a final grade.
All of this by the way is in English because the seminar is international, bringing students from at least three schools, one of which is BGSU, to participate. The participation of BG was novel the year I was there but hopefully will continue from here on out.
About the JS
Another time to interact with BGSU students and staff is during their annual spring trip to Japan. I actually was on the first summer session that went from Nagoya to Hiroshima, an experience that looks like it will be kept on the itinerary. Once the students arrive, you will be welcomed to join in any of their activities including the trip to Miyajima, the Peace Park, and even their welcome party, all for free.
In the spring is another event you will probably be invited on, Freshman Orientation. Yes, it’s for first years and you’ve been there a semester at that point, but it’s fun, gets you out of class for a legitimate reason, and helps you meet people. There are also speeches about hygiene, STDs, and religion but hey, it’s good listening practice in a low keyed (and non-testing) environment. However, it’s hard to care about lectures considering that all this takes place in a beautiful resort hotel on the Seto Inland Sea: the scenery is truly breathtaking! You also get 3 meals: a huge breakfast, some lunch bentos, and a delicious, traditional dinner. Bring your own snacks however unless you don’t mind paying through the nose for the vending machines. During the one night stay, you sleep in a Japanese style room with up to 6 or so other girls. You aren’t supposed to use the shower but there is a bathroom in the room. There is also an onsen (hot tub) available. Best of all, the entire trip is free!
HJU also hosts various other events such as plays and performances. During my time there I heard a lecture on Shakespeare and saw a performance of King Lear. Keep your eyes and ears open to learn about these events.
Sometimes however, events will come to you in the form of the flyers that are placed in your personal mailbox in the Kokusai Center. Therefore, be sure to check it at least once a week. I got to participate in some fantastic things in this manner, one of which was going with the Lion’s Club to a lovely mountain park where we planted some saplings then dined on a huge and delicious meal of yakiniku...for free! There were also games and of course lots of people to meet. The man who was in charge of this later invited some of us to a delicious sukiyaki dinner as well.
Another fantastic event I learned about from the flyers in the mailbox was a free noh performance!
(1)Hiroshima Jyogakuin Website. http://www.hju.ac.jp/ Accessed 23 November, 2005.