Temple University, Japan Campus - Setagaya City, Tokyo

Grant Arnold

Temple University – International School in Tokyo
While studying at Temple University Tokyo offered an opportunity to experience Japan, the program’s high cost and divisive DEI-focused curriculum detracted significantly from its educational value. Employment support and practical language instruction were minimal, leaving students with little guidance in finding work or integrating effectively in Japan.
• Employment Support: Temple University claims to assist international students in finding work in Japan, but my experience, along with that of my classmates, suggests otherwise. I actively sought employment for nearly a year, making multiple visits to the career center and participating in the International Careers Seminar. However, I received no practical guidance for jobs outside of English teaching. Most American students in my class eventually returned to the U.S., unable to secure work in Japan even with fluency in Japanese. The career center was not equipped to provide meaningful support in navigating the Japanese job market, leaving students largely on their own.
• Japanese Language Course: Temple offers Japanese language classes, but these were overpriced at over $2000 per course and failed to provide quality instruction. Class placement was often inaccurate, with students ending up in levels too advanced or too basic for their skills. Grading focused on minor details like punctuation and kanji stroke order, rather than real-world language abilities, creating a frustrating environment. The lack of effective language instruction made it difficult for students to acquire practical skills for living in Japan.
• DEI Training and Political Curriculum: The DEI curriculum was both mandatory and intensely ideological, promoting views that were often divisive and inflexible. While debates were technically allowed, assignments required alignment with the professors’ ideologies, which ranged from leftist to far-left, often including communist perspectives. The works of Karl Marx and Marxist ideology were presented in multiple classes as positive frameworks. Additionally, specific faculty members regularly introduced political opinions into the classroom. For example, the head of the Asian Studies department openly joked that then-President Donald Trump would start a nuclear war with North Korea—a prediction that turned out to be entirely unfounded, given that Trump pursued more diplomatic engagement with North Korea than any other president in history. Many classes, such as “Politics of Identity,” “Racism and Discrimination in Japan,” and “Dissent in America,” focused almost exclusively on left-leaning perspectives. East Coast students frequently expressed disdain for Republicans, Christianity, and Trump, with professors often reinforcing these biases. In classes like “Racism and Discrimination in Japan,” discussions became so heated that one Japanese student was reduced to tears over accusations that Japanese people were inherently racist. Peer evaluations discouraged students from sharing differing opinions, leading to a stifling, one-sided academic environment.
• Cost: Temple University Tokyo is the most expensive university in Japan, with fees that are not justified by the limited job support, poor language instruction, and divisive DEI curriculum.
Summary and Advice: Temple University Tokyo’s high costs, ineffective career support, and problematic DEI focus make it unsuitable for students seeking a balanced education and genuine cultural immersion in Japan. Prospective students should carefully consider other programs that offer practical language and career support to maximize their experience abroad.

SK CAND

I am extremely disappointed with the university's scholarship committee. It's incredibly unfair that students with higher GPAs are not being awarded the higher scholarships they deserve. It seems like the committee is biased and not recognizing the hard work and dedication of those who excel academically. Why should students strive for a high GPA if it doesn't even help them secure better scholarships? This system needs to be more transparent and fair to all students.

Paul Dawson

My experience at TUJ has been awful. After 1.5 years of studying here at TUJ I'm glad to say I am leaving here and looking for a new school.

Visa office-
Academic Advising-
Majority Staff-
Seemed to extremely lack passion, work ethic and understanding of their responsibilities.

There website also always Sucks !!!

Bursars office and Library were the ONLY staff that seemed to have work ethic and understanding of their job. & they were actually excellent.

For example
Visa office & Academic Advising
would seriously answer my questions with "I don't know"

Other major problems for me were the
Dorm- (mold)
School Gym- not a gym
Study spaces on campus- lacking

The dorms were ridiculously expensive and smelt like mold.
460,000 yen a semester.
I moved out of the dorm and felt it was disrespectful for them to charge that price. For location and smell.
(It's not even a convenient location,
they're all almost 1hr from university by train)

School gym is size of closet.

And I simply don't need to explain there is not enough space on campus to find a quiet place to study at all.
(it's definitely not ideal to study on campus)

With such high tuition prices I would not imagine to have any of these problems with staff, professors and functionality of the campus.

I had 2 professors that positively impacted my life and inspired me others just read PowerPoint every class.

Japan is amazing I think there are other English university's if interested in visiting here.

NIKO RAUT

The Ambience is superb,
Words have a magical power
(Temple)
GREAT ?

covert misnomer

Funded by Amway and makes GI Bill students fend for themselves. No real support and they deleted my last comment. For shame! Their majors will not prepare you for any kind of job in Japan if you don’t speak Japanese N1 already. They shun alumni from future events. I could go on but really find another school.

Nicholas Murphy

Not bad but at the same time has room for improvement. New campus is nice, some of the classes are really regulated by main campus which makes things a little more difficult from my experience. Lots of diversity and a good social experience as well as studying. More pros than cons in my opinion.

Nakano Rengo

I was attending here for two years and transferred to the states because this University is really does not worth the money. Experience American university in japan is their theme but they failed in my opinion in terms of college life and education programs. Also, their ESL program is broken. My class, English711 we had 10 students and only two students passed the class. (Not only my class) Professors were making it so complicated even they don’t know what they’re doing. I visited them every office hours but they did not give me any critical advice that could help me. They let students fail to suck out their money from pocket. Also they have only few majors and classes. Small campus and theres not enough sheets in cafeteria.

Basil

To be frank, for the most part TUJ was great but sadly the good does not outweigh the bad.

Backstory, I have a pretty bad disability which I have registered to the office of disabilities and have given the letter to each of my teachers. Personally, in addition to this I talk to each for my teachers individually about their class and the what I will face.

On multiple occasions I have been graded poorly despite the teachers saying my registered disability will not be a issue. But one teacher stands out above all others in this situation.

Professor Mock. I followed the steps I have to take every semester perfectly and I talked to him before the first class about my disability. He told me he never grades on people talking in class only on if they are there and paying attention. I was there every single class, first row, taking notes, never missed an assignment, and was never late. So, I was shock to see that he failed me in "class participation." When asked to clarify this, he didn't respond to me for 4 weeks so I asked again to which he told me that my presents in class was "neutral" and that I was being ridiculous and sent me to the Dean. Who apparently is not the correct person to send me to. When I got to the correct person about changing unfair grades they held a meeting and decided that my grade (despite my disability) was fair but he grading was not.

Meaning for ever other student after that point they would not be graded like my class yet I am stuck with a failing grade despite it being voted an unfair system and going against my disability that I was told will be a problem.