The department is one of the few in Japan specializing in the Russian language and Russian and Eurasian studies. In addition to acquiring functional skills in the Russian language, students can study Russia, the former Soviet Union (Baltic States, Belarus, Ukraine, Central Asian countries, Caucasus countries, etc.), and Central and Eastern Europe in a comprehensive manner. After the turmoil following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia and Eurasia have become increasingly important regions as a new world order is being constructed. Our goal is to produce outstanding practitioners and experts in Russian and Eurasian studies who are familiar with the realities of this region, understand the culture and spirituality of its people, and, in particular, who can proactively build their own relationships with Japan, Russia, and the rest of the world.
The Department of Russian Studies has a unique scholarship program, the Harbin Institute Honors Fund, which was established in the fall of 1990 by the Harbin Institute Alumni Association as an endowment for research and education in the Department of Russian Studies at Sophia University. The Harbin Institute was founded in Harbin, northeastern China, in 1920 as an institution of higher education for training Russian specialists. (Its original name was the Japan-Russia Society School.) Although the school no longer exists, some of the teachers and alumni who taught there became faculty members of the Department of Russian Studies after the war, and the alumni donated to Sophia University. The Department of Russian Studies uses the funds created from this donation to hold workshops and symposia, and to award scholarships to students in the department and a few graduate students who are researching Russia.
Students learn the basics of the Russian language in detail during their first and second years of study. The Basic Seminar Russian course consists of six lessons, 600 minutes per week, with first-year students taking Comprehensive, Conversation, and Grammar classes, and second-year students taking Drill, Conversation, and Reading classes, all of which are taught by native Russian speakers. In the third and fourth years, students study intermediate to advanced Russian language courses to acquire advanced communication skills. In the first year, students take courses such as Basic Russian Language Courses, which aim at understanding Russian ideas as well as the politics, economy, culture, and art of Russia and Eurasia, leading to specialized studies in one of nine research courses.
as of 2026
* Please refer to the syllabus for more information on the courses.
The goal of this course is to provide students with the basic language skills necessary for studying the Russian language and the Russian-Eurasian region. To learn deeply, six classes per week are offered in both the first and second years.
Students will learn the information literacy necessary to research the Russian region, from computer skills for inputting Russian, to techniques for gathering information on the Russian region, to methods for writing papers and reports.
By learning about the writing, speech, and grammar of Slavic languages other than Russian (Ukrainian, Belarusian, Polish, Bulgarian, etc.) among the languages of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the linguistic culture behind them, students will gain a relative understanding of the linguistic position of the modern Russian language.
Students will improve their speaking, writing, and listening skills through presentations in Russian. They will also learn the expressions necessary for question-and-answer sessions.
The course is designed to develop skills in translating the original language (original Japanese text) into the target language (Russian text). Students also gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Russian-speaking countries with the help of materials in various genres.
Lectures will be given on all aspects of Russian and Eurasian culture, including language, ethnicity, history, art, literature, music, theater, and film. Students will learn the basics of Russian and Eurasian culture.
Curatorial courses are available.
To cultivate advanced proficiency in the Russian language, and impart a broad base of knowledge (of humanities, social sciences, and the basic features of the Russian and Eurasian regions) that will provide the foundations for specialized research in fields such as area studies and linguistics.
To produce individuals capable of contributing to increasingly globalized societies through advanced proficiency in the Russian language, and experts in research related to area studies and linguistics.
The Department of Russian Studies sets standards for the skills and knowledge students should acquire before graduations as described below. Those who fulfill the graduation requirements shall be deemed to have acquired these qualities and will be awarded a diploma.
The Department aims to have all students reach a level of proficiency equivalent to “B2” (level sufficient to study at an overseas university) under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the timing of graduation and furthermore to have as many students as possible reach a level equivalent to “C1” (level sufficient to study at an overseas university).
In accordance with the Diploma Policy, the Department of Russian Studies constructs its curriculum with courses aligned with the following purposes:
Shinichi AKIYAMA Professor
Yuko ADACHI Professor
Naoki AMANO Professor
Takeshi YUASA Professor
Nobuyoshi ADEGAWA Associate Professor
Gota SAYAMA Associate Professor
Varvara MUKHINA Associate Professor
Svetlana LATYSHEVA Associate Professor
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