JDS China 中国年轻行政人员长期培养支援项目

The Graduate School of Law (GSL) has promoted an international cooperation project on “Asian Technical Legal Assistance” since 1998. This program aims to assist the development of legal systems in Asian countries transitioning to market economies and constitutional and democratic nation-states.

As part of the project and to fulfill our educational and research mission as a leading institution of legal and political study in Japan, the GSL established an educational and training program known as the “LL.M. (Comparative Law) Program in Law and Political Science” taught entirely in English in 1999. This program aims to train the next generation of top Asian legalists who contributing to nation-building through the construction of legal systems by providing education in law and expanding networking among legal professionals in Asian countries. We expect that the program will contribute to the human resource developments in these countries and create a structure for new networking potential among former students who can provide feedback to the GSL.

In this way, over the last 20 years, the GSL has built a wide-range of Asian legal networks. In 2023, following the establishment of the above programs and after assuring the sustainability of the networks, the Comparative Law Program was renamed to “A Program to Enhance Human Resources for Sustainable Development in Asia through a Diverse Network of Legal and Development Studies”. Under this concept, the program continues to train human resources in the legal area who can develop and expand the Asian Legal Exchange Network.

We have accepted JDS participants from the targeted countries of China, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The total number of JDS participants in our school is 239(as of April 2025). We are proud to count among our graduates, the officials of core ministries, judges, public prosecutors, counsel in significant corporations, active lawyers, and progressive academics as independent legal professionals responding to the needs of their time, continuing to be engaged in the building of their nations, fulfilling their essential role in this new period.

Our Program emphasizes a curriculum with offerings ranging from basic legal and political theory to specific areas in law and politics. Classes are conducted in English and students proceed under the individual guidance of academic supervisors, along with a wealth of support both from faculty and from the University. Each student can immerse themselves in the joys of learning while building strong bonds with fellow students from various nations and regions. In this way, we seek to provide the conditions for our students to reach their full potential. Each year, overseas students who join our programs enrich us further by bringing their experiences and the latest information about their home countries.

◆ Objectives

The Comparative Law and Politics (LL.M.) Program at our graduate school aims to foster human resources with advanced comprehensive skills and balanced abilities.
The curriculum of the Program is structured to encompass the following elements:

• (1) Basic and broad training in law and political science
• (2) Highly specialized research analyzing the situation in the student’s own country with a view to exploring solutions
• (3) Studies in the principles of the rule of law, human rights, and democracy conductive to a market economy system
• (4) Acquisition of the abilities and techniques needed for theoretical and practical thinking
• (5) Group and flexible individual guidance that enables independent academic writing with appropriate research methods
• (6) The promotion of comparative research in group discussions with Japanese students

◆ Overview of the program

JDS students enter Nagoya University in October of each year. Matched with faculty supervisors, the students begin their legal studies in the Master’s Program to deepen their comparative understanding of laws and political systems in Japan and that of their home countries.
In addition to the course requirements, students are required to write a thesis. Students conduct comparative legal research between their countries’ legal systems and Japan by setting a research topic to address the specific issues in their home countries. To progress with their research topic, students receive individual and specialized tutorials from their supervisors. After completing the mandatory Academic Writing course, students are encouraged to enroll in Academic Writing II and III. Each student receives individual thesis writing guidance to improve their self-initiated research, data collection skills, and critical thinking and analysis.
Along with the courses in legal and political domain, students can also take Japanese language courses at the Nagoya University International Language Center (ILC). As Japanese is utilized both on campus and in daily life, we encourage students to take the first six months in the elementary Japanese language study course at ILC.
Apart from regular courses, legal practitioners and scholars from home and abroad are invited to give JDS special lectures. Under the JDS Special Program, study tours to various places of Japan are offered, which aims at having JDS Fellows understand the actual conditions of Japanese society and culture which has supported the legal and political system of Japan.

◆ Courses taught in English for the 2025 academic year (Reference)

Note:

The academic year of 2025 begins on October 1, 2025, and ends on September 30, 2026.

• * Autumn Term (autumn term): October 1-March 31/ Spring Term (spring term): April 1-September 30.
• * One course for two credits holds 15 classes (90 minutes per class).
• * One intensive course holds 15 classes (90 minutes per class) for 3-4 days.
• * GSES is the abbreviation of 'Graduate School of Environmental Studies' of Nagoya University
• * Visit the following website for the outline of the lectures and seminars of our courses taught in English: (https://gsl.law.nagoya-u.ac.jp).

Courses Offered for the Completion of the Program for Leading Graduate Schools
[The Graduate School of Law implemented the "Cross-Border Legal Institution Design" program under the MEXT Program for Leading Graduate Schools (2011-2017) and has continued to offer the following courses for further development. Those who earn more than eight credits from the following courses including the required courses can obtain “the Official Recognition on Completion of the Program for Leading Graduate Schools”.]

Whether a master's thesis is required as a requirement for completion/degree acquisition (and supplementary information regarding the requirement of a master's thesis)

30 credits are required for completion, including 10 credits from the compulsory subjects of “Special Research I,” “Special Research II,” and “Academic Writing I.” Students must also submit a master’s thesis and pass a thesis examination.

The Faculty Committee officially selects one main supervisor for the JDS China Fellow when he/she enrolls in our School in October. The main supervisor selects one sub-supervisor for the JDS China Fellow.

(Graduated schools and awarded degrees, field of specialty, and research interest)

Accommodation: Our university accommodates newly enrolled students from abroad in one of the four university international residences: International Residence Yamate, International Ohmeikan House, Ishida Memorial International Residence Myoken, and International Residence Daiko. In principle, the period of residency in each residence is limited to six months since the number of international students greatly exceeds the capacity.　For further information on housing for international students at Nagoya University, please visit the following webpage:
http://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/academics/campus_life/housing/index.html

Law Library: The Law Library in GSL contains approximately 270,843 volumes in the field of law and political science, including nearly 113,807 volumes in foreign languages. Additionally, other Japanese language periodicals, and foreign journals in the field of law and political science are available in the University Central Library. The Law School Library, along with other satellite collections within the University, is covered by the OPAC system and, for older books, the comprehensive card catalog is housed in the University Library.

The University Library: The University Library, which possesses all library materials and maintains the union catalog of all books and journals in the university, offers circulation and book retrieval through an ID card system and reference services, including inter-library loan, photocopying, and computer-based information retrieval. For language education and other educational and research purposes, the University Library has access to satellite TV channels, including CNN News, CCTV, and KBS. The Central Library has 1,000 reading desks in the open-stack area. Group study rooms, individual study rooms, computer labs, seminar rooms, an information corner, and an audio-visual room are also available. For further information, please visit this webpage:
http://en.nagoya-u.ac.jp/about_nu/admin/sch/deta/nul.html

Internet Service:
Wireless Internet access is available for all students on campus. The University provides students with a Nagoya University ID upon enrollment. Students are then able to connect to the Nagoya University Wireless Network.

Within your application, the Research Proposal is of critical importance to the admission determination. The application is the basis of the initial document screening. Still, beyond that, it plays an essential role in shaping the interview for applicants who reach the final stage. It can have a determinative effect on the selection.

Accordingly, you are advised to take particular care in the drafting of the Research Proposal within the framework of the issues of the JDS project in your country. Describe your interests, research objectives and originality clearly and in a well-reasoned manner. When reviewing your Research Proposal or conducting interviews, the following factors are evaluated:

• (1) Is there evidence of enough foundation knowledge and research skills to begin work on substantive research immediately upon entering into the study in the Graduate School? The reviewers are concerned with both general knowledge and experience in the field of law and specialized skills and knowledge necessary to the proposed topic. Are you familiar with the prominent scholars in the field? Are you aware of recent trends? Do you have a sense of the critical issues in the area, and are you able to relate them to a broader context?
• (2) Is there a clear, concise, and meaningful research topic? Setting the purpose and objective of a project is one of the most challenging tasks in research.
• (3) Is the topic you propose a good fit for research in Japan? While your proposed issue of a point may concern international matters or the laws of third countries, the reviewers are looking for its connections with Japan, and if it fits the research environment in Japan.
• (4) Do you know the basic outlines of Japanese law, politics and public administration? What is Japan's position or experience within your topic area?
• (5) Suitability for supervision; Have you investigated our faculty members? Information on our Program and our staff are available on the Website of our school. Members of our faculty publish their articles and books in English, Japanese and other languages. Try to be aware of our work and familiarize yourself with the work of members of our faculty who specialize in your chosen area. Please refer to the profile of our professors’ page of the Website of our school.
  https://gsl.law.nagoya-u.ac.jp/about-us/faculty-members.php

In closing, we would stress that whatever the result, your choice to apply to our Program presents an opportunity for learning and personal growth. We encourage you to do your best in preparation and to challenge the application with your skill and effort.