Hi everyone!! I'm interested in these Japanese universities and I would to know how good are, especially in international law, international relations or diplomacy, also the quality, reputation and admission criteria:
Ritsumeikan University
Obirin University
Waseda University
Saitama University
Hitotsubashi University
IUJ Internacional University of Japan
Tsukuba University
University of Tokyo

Hello. I don't know the ranking in the specific area, but generally the universities you listed will rank as follows:

University of Tokyo (The best university in Japan)
Hitotsubashi University; Waseda University (These are top-ranked universities.)
Tsukuba University; Ritsumeikan University (These are also very good.)
Saitama University (I heard of the name, but I don't know much about this.)
Obirin University; IUJ International University of Japan (I'm sorry I don't know these.)

Good luck!

Hi SoTa!! Thank you so much!! My favorites are University of Tokyo, Waseda University and Ritsumeikan University, but do you know if is extremely difficut to get admitted by these universities? what about the admission requirements and japanese language? Thank you in advanced.

there is actually a useful article on this matter in the LLMGuide. i'm quoting the relevant portion of the article below. it seems from the article that only three universities in japan offer english language masters programs. i know someone who applied to university of tokyo and waseda university but was rejected because her japanese language proficiency was not yet "level 1" (not sure what this means, if there is some exam that you have to take to be considered "level 1").

"Meanwhile, in Japan, there are many official restrictions on what foreign lawyers (gaiben) can and cannot do, but the march of globalization has sustained the demand for foreign expertise at big international firms in Tokyo, such as Baker & McKenzie, Morrison & Foerster, and Clifford Chance.

A few English-language LL.M. programs in Japan such as those at Kyushu University and Niigata University aim to familiarize foreign lawyers with Japanese and Comparative Law, while the bilingual course at the University of Nagoya offers a handful of courses and seminars in English focused on Japanese law. Temple University also teaches an LL.M. in Transnational Law in Tokyo, but without an apparent focus on Japan."

Hi population!! thank you so much for your information. As far as I know, yes, there's few programs in english and I must learn japanese but that won't be a problem since I'm very interested in the language and japanese culture. I would like to study in Tokyo, but anyway, I need more information regarding other admission requirements and the selection criteria. I live in Panama and I don't know if I have to pass an entrance exam or something like that.

Hello again, grisselle27!
I'm sorry, but I don't know how difficult it is for international students to be accepted because I'm a Japanese. As you can imagine, the admission criteria for international students seems different from the one for the Japanese.
I hope you will make it.

Hi SoTa!!! Well yes, the admission criteria for international students is different. Where have you study or applying? If you study in a Japanese University it would be good to know about your experience. At the moment, I'm looking information about universities before made an application for the monbukagakusho scholarship.

Hi everyone !

I graduated from Waseda University.
Tokyo University is No.1 in Japan, followed by Hitotsubashi University and Waseda University.
Hitotsubashi University is small and Waseda University is very big.

In Japan, Top 5 Universities are Tokyo Univeristy, Kyoto University, Hitotsubashi Univeristy (~National University), Waseda University and Keio University (~Private University).

Hi KYSK!!!! Can you share with me your experience in Waseda?? I'm still collecting information and is good to hear from someone who were there.

KInd regards.

Hi grisselle27,
I am Japanese, so a little bit different situation from you.
I graduated from Law of Waseda University.

The top six universities of the number of passing the Bar Exam are Tokyo Univ, Waseda Univ, Keio Univ, Kyoto Univ, Hitotsubashi Univ, and Chuo Univ.
Chuo University is good at only Law.
Japanese prefer the ranking of University, so if you want to study in Japan, you should choose from these universities.

Hi KYSK!! Thank you so much for your suggestions. I'm considering Tokyo Univ and Waseda since I would like to study in Tokyo. I'm still collecting info about Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto i think). I'll apply this year for the monbukagakusho, that's why I would like to know more about japanese universities just in case that I pass the first screening.

Good news that you pass the first screening !

In general, Ritumeikan is a good university, which is within probably top 20 University in Japan.
However, to be honest, the reputation is a little bit lower that the other univerisity and Ritumeikan has turned out not so many lawyers.

Anyway, Kyoto is a nice place where most Japanese want to travel, and RItumeikan is famous in west area of Japan.

Good luck !

Hi KYSK!!! noo, I haven't pass the first screening, actually the process will begin by the end of this month in the Embassy of Japan in my country. I'm looking information of Universities because I have understood that they ask you universities that you're interested and if i pass the first screening, I need to contact the university for an acceptance letters. But until now, I have my eyes on Waseda and Tokyo Univ. I have curiosity for this university: Internacional University of Japan... do you know this one? What about Hokkaido univ? Thanks for your help :)

I'm sorry, and I hope your good luck afresh.

International University of Japan ???
Not at all.
I checked the HP of the University.
Surely, the founders and the present president are very famous business persons, but the univeristy is completely unknown in Japan.
In addition, I don't know the people who graduated from the univeristy.

As regards Hokkaido Univeristy, it is the No.1 university in Hokkaido.
I lived in Hokkaido for around two years, so I know that the excellent students in Hokkaido aim for going to Hokkaido University.
In Japan, famous national (not private) universities are Tokyo univ, Kyoto univ, Osaka univ, Tohoku univ, Kobe univ, Hokkaido univ, Kyusyu univ, Hiroshima univ.
Tokyo univ and Kyoto univ are excellent and Osaka univ follows.
Then, Tohoku univ, Kobe univ, and Hokkaido univ are next, but elite for lacal people.
Kyusyu and Hiroshima are last.

Hi KYSK!!!! Thanks a lot!!! And thanks for your good wishes, too :) with all this information that you have given me, I can start to check the programmes of all these UNiversities. Since you graduated from Waseda, does this univ offer a master degree in international law?

Kind regards.

Hi,

Waseda has a master degree in international law and Prof. Shimada is famous in international law.
However, applicants need the first-grade of Japanese ability exam.
In Japan, the class done in English is rare.

Anyway,
Waseda university has "Graduate school of Asia-Pacific Studies". This course is not Law, but International Relations, and this programme is for international students and Japanese students who are interested in International Relations.
http://www.waseda.jp/gsaps/index_en.html

Hi KYSK!!! That's great since I'm interesting in INternational Law, INternational Relation and Diplomacy. I'm learning japanese, everything is fine except kanjis, I find it quite difficult, but it doesn't matter, I really want to learn the language. Thanks for your help. I'm very convince with Waseda. At the moment, I'll try to focus on the scholarship application and if everything goes fine, maybe I'll be in Japan next year :)

Kind regards,

Hi everybody, Thanks for the information
I am from Thailand and I have some questions.

1.What about KYUSHU U ?
(I am interesting in the English Program there.)
Can give some advice in your opinion please.

2.If I go to japan, should I take the English program or Japanese. How is the different?

Thank you all !.

I would love to attend University of Tokyo but their LLM is 2 years! and right now i spend 2 years doing an LLM if im also planning to do my PHD....good luck to all of you :)