Japan

WHY STUDY ANIME AND MANGA IN JAPAN?

Learn from the best as you attend an authentic anime school in Tokyo, one of the safest and largest metropolitan areas in the world. Develop your artistic ability and style through classes taught in Japanese by design and animation professionals. Learn voice-acting in Japanese from a professional voice actor and experience dubbing a scene in a studio. 

Practice animation techniques such as color blending with Copic markers; inking with fountain pens; and screen-toning, a method of applying textures and shades to drawings. Work on character development; then take your characters from paper to the screen through digital animation using programs like Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and After Effects. 

Immerse yourself in Japan’s pop culture with visits to vibrant neighborhoods. Play games in the colorful arcades in Akihabara, the city’s anime, manga, and tech district, or Ikebukero, known as the Pokémon Center. See the famous alternative street fashion of the Harajuku neighborhood. 

Broaden your perspective on Japanese culture during home visits with local families. Spend time with peers by participating in local high school activities. Learn about Japanese history by visiting shrines, and hot springs and participating in a traditional tea ceremony or learning the art of wearing a kimono. 

LEARN BY DOING

The Experiment’s programs are designed to build skills that will help you succeed. In Japan, you will learn: 

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Japanese language  
• Voice acting 
• Digital animation  
• Anime techniques, i.e., color blending, inking  

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Resourcefulness  
• Intercultural communication and understanding  
• Problem-solving  
• Adaptability  
• Relationship-building  

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Physical activities may include hiking. 
• Explore urban life by foot (lots of walking!) and learn to navigate the public transit system.  
• Meat, seafood, rice, and noodles are staples of Japanese cuisine and may require some planning ahead for vegan and vegetarian diets.   
• Access to the internet is limited and internet speeds and connectivity will vary.   
• The diverse personal and social identities of participants may, in part, shape their experience abroad. In-country partners will discuss cultural norms and the local context during orientation. Please read our approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for further information. All students will have a safe space within the program spaces and with the local staff and group leaders.  
• The Experiment program structure is rooted in experiential learning and cohort-based learning. The participant group experience is a major source of learning for Experimenters and is facilitated by trained Experiment group leaders.