IUC Programs Kanbun

KANBUN PROGRAM

The IUC Intensive Kanbun Program is for students who need to master the fundamentals of kanbun in order to conduct specialized research in various disciplines. This course focuses on reading early modern (kinsei) and modern (kindai) kanbun writings.

KANBUN PROGRAM

Summer Intensive Kanbun Program

IUC offers a three-week intensive kanbun course in Yokohama from mid-June to July. Classes meet for approximately four hours per day, five days a week, including field trips.

Students enrolled in this program should be prepared to fully commit to the intensive nature of the course, which requires substantial engagement with the material and active participation.

The program focuses on developing the skills necessary to read early modern (kinsei) and modern (kindai) kanbun texts using dictionaries, without relying on transliterations or translations (yomikudashibun). Instruction includes learning old kanji forms (kyūjitai) and epistolary style Japanese (sōrōbun), as well as mastering the Japanese methods of reading Chinese texts (kundokutai).

For kanbun texts from the medieval (chūsei) period and earlier, the course will provide training on understanding these texts with reference to yomikudashibun due to the specialized background knowledge required.

This intensive course is designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in kanbun, which is essential for students pursuing research in various academic disciplines.

ELIGIBILITY

IUC's Summer Intensive Kanbun Program is designed for individuals engaged in specialized professional work or an academic field of study for which proficiency in reading kanbun is required. To qualify for admission, applicants must:

be engaged in specialized professional work or an academic field of study for which proficiency in reading kanbun is required;
possess an advanced level of proficiency in Japanese language and have knowledge of classical Japanese grammar;
have an understanding of the grammar and sentence patterns of modern Japanese and be able to read and write at least 1,000 kanji as well as hiragana and katakana.

A high level of proficiency in reading and speaking Japanese is required is required for enrollment since the class will be conducted entirely in Japanese. Applicants must also have knowledge of classical Japanese grammar (bungo bunpō).

Electronic Dictionaries
Students are expected to have their own electronic or other dictionaries. It is desirable that they have a kanji dictionary (either Kanjigen or Shin-Kangorin) and a Japanese language dictionary (either Kōjien or Daijirin, preferably Kōjien) that feature stylus pen input capability.

APPLICATION DETAILS

2025 Summer Intensive Kanbun Program

The 2025 application period opened December 11, 2024.
The application deadline closes at 11:59 PM EST on March 15, 2025.

Application Fee
The application fee is USD 50.

Interfolio
Applications will only be accepted via our Interfolio.com online application portal.

A full IUC summer program application consists of the items listed below.

Degree Background Form (PDF)
One confidential language evaluation submitted by your language instructor in English or Japanese. English (PDF) Japanese (PDF)
Essay - Why do you need to learn kanbun and what previous study of Japanese language have you had? (日本語で400–1000字)
Transcripts
Application fee receipt

Downloadable files can also be found here: https://iucjapan.online/KP-forms

For detailed application instructions, please use the APPLY link below.

APPLY

TUITION

Summer 2025
Tuition for the 2025 Summer Intensive Kanbun Program is USD 2,900.

Payments
Tuition fees are collected through our administrative office at Stanford University. All fees must be paid in US dollars. Payments are processed through the administrative office at Stanford University. Upon registration at IUC, a tuition statement will be available in May. Payment should be completed in full upon receipt of the statement.

We strongly prefer electronic payments. Payments must be made via our secure online payment portal. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards, as well as ACH bank transfers, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. There are no additional surcharges or processing fees.

If you are making payments through your university (e.g., FLAS, departmental scholarship, etc.), or if you have any questions regarding alternative payment methods, please contact the IUC Stanford Administrative Office at iucjapan@stanford.edu.

Please Note
IUC retains the right to cancel or modify the program at any time, for reasons that may include, but are not limited to, natural disasters, emergencies, or health and safety considerations. Program modifications shall not alter the student’s obligation to pay tuition.

SAMPLE BUDGET

Tuition
USD 2,900

Application fee
USD 100 non-refundable application fee

Airfare
Cost will vary depending on the student’s selection.

Short-term international health coverage or continuation of present health coverage plan (mandatory)
Cost varies by individual and choice of plan

Textbooks
Included in tuition (if purchasing books for own use, then please budget accordingly)

Field trip transportation costs
Approximately JPY 4,000

Rent
JPY 140,000 – JPY 200,000 JPY total (for 3 weeks) for fully furnished business apartment or a minimum of JPY 5,000 per day for a single hotel room

Local transportation within Yokohama area
JPY 8,500 – JPY 15,000 total (for 3 weeks)

Food
A minimum of JPY 35,000 – JPY 50,000 total (for 3 weeks)

Cell phone rental (mandatory)

JPY 6,000 – JPY 10,000 (for 3 weeks) plus talk charge for feature phone rental
JPY 12,000 – JPY 15,000 yen (for 3 weeks) plus talk and data charge for smartphone rental
JPY 8,000 – JPY 15,000 yen (for 3 weeks) plus talk and data charge for prepaid SIM card
Using your own unlocked smartphone

Portable Wi-Fi router rental
JPY 8,000 – JPY 20,000 (for 3 weeks)

Application Inquiries
Alice Kada
IUC Program Manager
akada@stanford.edu

Program Inquiries
Email at kanbun@iucjapan.org