Keiwa College, founded by Christian churches in Niigata in 1991, has a mission to provide a distinctively Christian, liberal arts education for undergraduates. Keiwa strives to cultivate in students a broad vision as responsible citizens in this ever dynamic, international world.

Keiwa, a four-year, co-educational college, has three departments of instruction: Department of English Culture and Communication, Department of International Cultural Studies, and Department of Community and Social Welfare. In addition to the English Language Program, a number of content courses in the English Department are given in English. Keiwa College's aim at academic excellence is supported by the quality of its faculty and the interest of its students.

Keiwa welcomes applicants from all over the world as full-time students, provided they have basic proficiency in Japanese. Applicants must take the Japanese proficiency test "First Class" or "Second Class" given by the Association of International Education, Japan ( AIEJ ) around the beginning of December. Also, application must reach Keiwa by early December. The entrance examination will be given towards the end of January at Keiwa College. The academic year begins in April and ends in March. Keiwa provides a three-level Japanese language program for its full-time foreign students. One professor is appointed as an adviser to each student.

In addition, Keiwa College offers the Japan Culture and Language Program for short-term foreign students. The Japan Culture and Language Program focuses on four main features. The first is Japanese language study, the second, presentations in Japanese life and culture ( all in English), the third is participation in campus life. Finally, JCLP students enjoy a homestay with a Japanese family for the duration of the one-month program. For detailed information, please look at the JCLP page.

College facilities include the college library, audiovisual room, computer room with LAN and internet access, language laboratory, gymnasium with various training rooms, cafeteria, track and field grounds, tennis courts, archery range, and many more.

Keiwa encourages its students to participate in a variety of volunteer works. In addition, there are many extra curricular activities, such as Cinema, Sign Language, Tea Ceremony Club, Drama, Shorinji Kenpo, Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball, Rugby, Golf, Tennis, Badminton, Soccer and Athletics.

Student services include: personal/psychological counseling, off-campus housing information; part-time job information, vocational guidance, and cultural exchange as well as study-abroad programs in the US and UK.

Keiwa's academic community has 34 full-time and 39 part-time faculty members, 4 Visiting Instructors, 27 clerical staff, and more than 600 undergraduates, including about 4 percent foreign students. It's a lively and joyful community.

LOCATION

Keiwa College is near Niigata city, the capital of Niigata Prefecture. Located between the town of Seiro and the city of Shibata, Keiwa College can be reached easily by public transportation from major national hubs. Shinkansen Bullet Express trains from Tokyo connect to Niigata City in less than two hours. A local line to Shibata (30 minutes) puts visitors within an easy bus or taxi ride of the campus.

Shibata and the surrounding area is also served by the Niigata International Airport, only 30 minutes by car from Keiwa College. Air service is available from many cities around the country. International connections from Russia, China, Korea and the US regularly use Niigata Airport, and recent facility expansions will provide for even more extensive international service in the future. Ferry boat service is available from Niigata City to Hokkaido.

Information about train and other transportation schedules is available through Japanese National Tourist Organization (JNTO) in Japan.

ENVIRONS

Keiwa College sits on the northeastern edge of the Niigata Plain, an area historically famous for the richest production of rice in Japan. Excellent rice naturally means the very finest of sake breweries as well. With a dramatic backdrop of mountains and the lush rice fields surrounding the campus, Keiwa College enjoys the best of semi-rural Japanese scenery. Traditionally regarded as the "back country" of Japan, this area retains a great deal of old Japan's rural charm.

Niigata City (pop. about 490,000) is only a half hour away by train or bus and provides many of the attractions of a big city without the lengthy transportation times. Niigata was untouched by WW II so it still has a number of areas of traditional appeal.

Shibata city is an old castle town with winding streets and many charming neighborhoods. Traditional sake production as well as the famous sake breweries themselves are only two of Shibata's attractions.

Seiro township links the campus to the Japan Sea. Its long expanses of beach rimmed by wind swept pine forests are the centerpiece of Seiro town's natural features. In addition, the tidy fruit orchards and rice fields inland from the sea, recall an earlier, less hectic era.

The proximity of many mountains of volcanic origin means that in addition to excellent skiing, hot spring touring and hiking are also easily within reach. The nearby Japan Sea offers clean summer enjoyment: swimming, boating and wind surfing, especially on Sado Island off the coast of Niigata. The two long rivers Agano and Shinano which course through Niigata Prefecture along with their many tributaries provide excellent opportunities for boating and fishing.

Keiwa College in its winter suit.

CLIMATE

Like most of Japan's main island of Honshu, Niigata has warm, humid summers with temperatures rising into the mid-30s C at the hottest times, usually cooling off at night. The rainy season lasts until mid-July, but remains fairly cool during most years. Winter days are often cloudy with snowy conditions common. Lows reach minus 2 or 3 C at night, warming to around 2 C during the day. Winds from the sea provide cooling conditions in summer but add a wind-chill factor to winter temperatures.

Keiwa College on a summer day

EMPLOYMENT

Keiwa College offers 2-year Visiting Instructor positions in TEFL. Applicants should have TEFL/TESL certification or equivalent experience or an MA in TESOL. Those interested in working at Keiwa College are encouraged to check professional journals for advertisements recruiting for these Visiting Instructor positions.