In today’s increasingly interdependent world, the department aims to develop human resources with expertise and practical skills from the perspective of culture. Students will acquire a wide range of academic methodologies related to intercultural relations based on the five areas of Japanese studies, a co-existence society, language and culture, religion and culture, and arts and media. Each graduate student is expected to complete his/her master's thesis under the responsible guidance of supervisors of a variety of nationalities. Through these activities, the department aims to develop the next generation of highly skilled professionals and researchers who can conduct a wide range of research activities beyond the framework of departments and graduate schools and through open interaction with the academic community both in Japan and overseas.

With globalization rapidly progressing since the end of the 20th century, the world has become increasingly diverse, mobile and interdependent, and faces many multilayered and complex issues. The department supports specialized research focusing mainly on globalization and ethics, and develops leaders who can contribute to the international community with an enterprising spirit by deepening and developing research on various issues corresponding to these two areas and the complex overlap of these areas. In addition, by offering all classes in English and requiring students to write their master's thesis in English, the department plans to actively accept a large number of students from Japan and overseas.

As globalization is becoming increasingly prominent, there is an urgent need to develop human resources that play an active role in communities both in Japan and overseas by demonstrating leadership with high levels of language and communication skills. The department provides a teacher training course to contribute to the development of new language education required in a global society. The course aims to develop not only English teachers with advanced expertise and practical skills but also leaders who can reconsider diverse values from a global perspective, comprehensively and broadly analyze the increasingly interrelated international affairs from multifaceted perspectives, and proactively act with a high level of English proficiency and dialogue to solve problems.