Bunka Gakuen University opens English-language Graduate School of Fashion in Tokyo!
Bunka Gakuen University, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, Bunka Fashion College is Japan’s most prestigious fashion school. It started as a dressmakers school almost 100 years ago in Tokyo, and now has multiple campuses all over the country. Bunka is located at the biggest train station in the world, Shinjuku Station, only ten minutes away from Tokyo’s famous fashion hubs Harajuku and Shibuya.
The school is comprised of two major institutions- a College and a University. Within either Bunka Fashion College or Bunka Gakuen University, a prospective fashion designer can study every aspect of the fashion industry from fashion theory, trend analysis, wardrobe styling, merchandising, textile design, sculpture, fine art, shoemaking, hat making, and, of course, dressmaking and couture. Please visit Bunka’s Website for more information about the entire range of courses offered.
The two graduate schools within the institution can be differentiated and understood in this way:
Bunka Gakuen University & Bunka Gakuen University Graduate school. The Global Fashion Concentration began in 2012 and has been created specifically for students who wish to gain their MA in fashion and textile studies. All courses are conducted in English and are open to both Japanese and non-Japanese students. Continuing in the long tradition of Bunka Gakuen, the goal of The Global Fashion Concentration is to have our students ‘create new beauty and culture‘, in any media related to fashion using the University’s state-of-the-art tools and research facilities. Students will have access to Bunka’s celebrated fashion library and world-class fashion museum for research and inspiration. An array of trans-disciplinary subjects related to fashion are offered, both in practice and theory, led by specialists and industry partners. As the course is based in Japan, there are also classes offered on Japanese culture and language. Additionally, internships at high profile Japanese brands such as Yohji Yamamoto and Anrealage enable students to implement a real world connection between concept and practical business knowledge. To be eligible to graduate, students are required to choose to complete either a Master’s thesis, or a shorter thesis paired with a practical work. Successful graduates will be candidates for employment in all areas and levels of the fashion industry in Japan and beyond, including design, journalism, fashion buying, curation, and academia For information about government scholarships, please search for the MEXT Scholarship in your home country (or contact your local Japanese Embassy).
Bunka Fashion College & Bunka Fashion Graduate University (BFGU). Executed entirely in Japanese, the courses taught within the walls of these Professional Schools are training people to work in the Japanese fashion industry. Graduates of BFGU receive a Masters in Fashion Creation, Business or Technology (Professional).
If you have questions regarding the Global Fashion Concentration, please don’t hesitate to ask the Admission Office, in English, here: nyushi@bunka.ac.jp.
About the author of this blog:
My name is Daphne Mohajer Va Pesaran. I’ve been living in Japan for many years, graduated from Bunka Fashion Graduate University (BFGU) in the Fashion Design course and am working as a designer, writer and instructor in Tokyo.
I am currently teaching the Advanced Seminar in Fashion Design course in the Global Fashion Concentration Course in the Graduate School of Living and Environmental Studies at Bunka Gakuen University in Tokyo. The masters course is the first of it’s kind taught fully in English at Bunka.
It is technically called ‘Advanced Seminar in Fashion Design’, but I like to call it ‘Creative Design’ :D.
I want my students to assess themselves, think deeply about design and to be able to make conscious, informed decisions when moving forward with their work. I want to support them as best I can to help them get to the next level as designers and creative people.
I’ve created this blog for them to help with the transition to Tokyo, to Bunka and just to share some resources with them. In addition to this, I am hoping that the images and information that I post on this blog will give curious people outside of Japan a peek into the world of being a student at Bunka Gakuen University.
Please feel free to contact me : daphne.mohajer@gmail.com.
Follow the school on Instagram ! @bunka_gakuen_daphne ! xox!
So… The Bunka GAKUEN UNIVERSITY is the one that teaches in English but you need conversational Japanese (technically N2)? Is it still like this? And they teach undergrads, too right?
Hello,
We teach a masters course in English at Bunka Gakuen University, and Japanese language ability is an asset, but not a requirement for entry. Undergrad courses are taught completely in Japanese, unfortunately. Please let me know if there is anything else I can answer for you!
Daphne
I’m applying for Mext scholarship phd course fashion field ,can I answer if there is a phd course in english , I hope you answer my question
Hello,
Yes there is a PhD course in English. What is your topic? Please email me at daphne.mohajer@gmail.com for more information.
Are the junior college courses taught in English? Do you need Japanese N2 to do these courses?
Also the department of fashion technology courses say 3rd/4th year, what do I need to do for the 1st and 2nd year? Also are these taught in English as well?
Thank you!
Hello,
All the junior college courses are taught in Japanese (you need at least N2). The only course available in English is the Global Fashion Concentration MA course. If you have questions about the junior college, please contact nyushi@bunka.ac.jp :)
The applications page says that to apply i need to have an N2 level of japanese, is that applicable for Masters in Contemporary retail management too?
Hello,
I can only answer questions about the Global Fashion Course (taught in English). If you have questions about other courses, please contact the admissions office at nyushi@bunka.ac.jp . Best of luck!
Hi Daphne,
How long is the masters course and is it the only course offered in English? What modules are part of the course?
Dear,
I don’t have any academic degree related to fashion although I already have a master degree in investment risk finance .
However, I would like to get a Fashion course in English , can I apply for the fashion global masters degree in my case ?
Regard
I want to study fashion design,
Now I am learning Japanese langauge in Japan at takamatsu city .
What is the requirements of this collage
And how expensive is this course
Hello to all, the only course in english is this one : http://bwu.bunka.ac.jp/languages/english/study/graduate-school/fashion-living.php
And from this year on, a double degree with ENSAD (Paris) is available. The degree (double or not), has various concentration.
Dear Mam,
I am Abu Shadate Faisal Mahamude, I have completed my B.Sc in textile technology & MBA in textile management. Have any scope for any 15-30 days fashion course for me.