Japan is Hong Kong's third largest trading partner and there are over 2,500 Japanese companies in Hong Kong. The rise in popularity of Japanese culture in our society is reflected by the gradual but steady increase in the number of students taking Japanese courses for work related or self-improvement purposes over the past two decades.

Japanese culture has also become very popular among secondary school students in Hong Kong through music, comics, dramas, films and video games. The aims of the theme are:

1. To provide students with a broad-based arts education as well as a strong foundation in Japanese studies;
2. To provide students with comparative knowledge and selected skills within the subject;
3. To prepare students with the academic capability and practical training for further education and career development;
4. To enable students to have an innovative mind in observing things and solving problems.

Upon completion of this theme, students will be academically well-prepared for admission to the second year of the BA programme offered by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures in HKU as well as other similar programmes offered by local universities.

Graduates with a good understanding of Japanese culture and language are in short supply. There is of no doubt that they have excellent employment prospects in a wide range of organizations in private corporations as well as community organizations.