Writing Centers in Japan

Abstract

Since 2004, writing centers have increased in Japanese universities. At that time, Osaka Jogakuin College started operating its writing center daily. Writing centers will likely increase in Japan as more courses are being taught through English. Thus, we felt a need to examine the writing centers in Japan and their similarities and differences in order to understand the shapes that writing centers take in the Japanese context. This article draws on data from three writing centers in Tokyo in addition to the writing center at OJC. We found that while all the writing centers had English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students, some also had English as a Second Language (ESL) students. There was no one Japanese model. Rather, institutions designed and organized their centers around their needs.