CIEE High School Summer in Tokyo, Japan: Anime, Manga & Gaming Recently Updated

It’s hard to think of a place more passionate about pop culture. In Tokyo you’ll find multi-story arcades, galleries, cinemas, libraries, shops, and museums dedicated to gaming and your favorite pop art forms. On this 3-week cultural immersion, you’ll follow both tracks (one after the other) to gain a broad knowledge of all three creative arts and industries.

TRACK 1 – JAPANESE ART: ANIME, MANGA, AND TRADITIONAL ARTS

Manga (Japanese comics) and anime (Japanese animation) have become a global phenomenon. What’s the draw for fans and creators? What makes them so compelling and unique? In classroom sessions you’ll study manga and anime up close, comparing and contrasting them with traditional art forms. In interactive workshops, you’ll engage with professional artists and create artistic works of your own. On field trips in the city, you’ll visit museums and cultural sites related to your studies, and learn about careers in the anime and manga industries from insiders.

TRACK 2 – JAPANESE VIDEO GAMES: HISTORY AND DESIGN

Study up on the classics — from Pac-Man and Pokemon to Super Mario and Final Fantasy — and learn about game design, evolving technology and industry careers. You’ll start from the beginning, tracing the history of video gaming in Japan from the “golden age” in the 1970s through the different generations of consoles to the current renaissance.

Looking for a longer term program? Check out our trimester, semester, or academic year programs for high schoolers.

Graduating high school soon? Visit the CIEE First Year Abroad and CIEE Gap Year Abroad pages to learn more about our post-graduation options.

We award millions in scholarship funds every year. Check out our Scholarship page for more information, including how to apply.