Japanese University Admission Interview: Common Questions and How to Answer (for International Students)

In a Japanese university admission interview, the panel mainly wants to know three things: why you want to study this subject in Japan at this school, whether your Japanese and academic ability are enough to follow the classes, and what you will do after graduating. Most questions are variations on those themes, and many are asked straight from your statement of purpose, so your spoken answers must match what you wrote. Interviews for Japanese-taught programmes are held in Japanese, and can be in person, online or, at some schools, in your home country.

Common questions, in five groups

The table shows the questions you are most likely to hear, in the Japanese that panels use. The first group decides most interviews.

Questions about who pays your tuition and whether you are sitting other exams are also listed by the international student portal ryugakuat.jp, so prepare honest, short answers to both.

The three admission routes and how the interview differs

Why memorised answers fail

Panels rarely stop at the first answer. They ask “why?” until they reach something you have not prepared, and they compare what you say with your statement of purpose. Three patterns invite follow-up questions:

1. A general reason. “Japan has advanced technology” leads to “Which technology? Why not study it in your own country?”
2. A claim without an example. “I am interested in environmental engineering” leads to “What have you read or done about it?”
3. A gap between the essay and the answer. If your written plan mentions a professor’s research and you cannot explain it, the panel notices.

The same problem appears in job interview practice. In Crystal Method’s AI interview practice tool (Japanese-language sessions from 26 June to 11 October 2026, scored automatically by AI), about 53% of improvement points were about missing specifics and about 10% about not explaining the reason behind an answer. The data comes from job interview practice, not admissions, but the weakness is the same.

Example answers

Written for this guide; replace every detail with your own. Prepare a short version (about 30 seconds) and a longer one (about a minute) of each, because some panels ask you to keep it brief and others ask you to say more. Use polite desu/masu Japanese throughout and avoid casual fillers such as うん or そうそう.

なぜ日本に留学したいのですか (Why study in Japan?)

なぜ本学を志望したのですか (Why this school?)

In an interview, the school you are applying to is often called 貴学 (kigaku) or 御校 (onkō); either is acceptable if you are consistent.

自己紹介をしてください (Introduce yourself)

Keep it to about a minute: name and where you are from, what you are doing now, one thing connected to the subject you are applying for.

日本語はどのように勉強しましたか (How did you learn Japanese?)

Be honest about your level and show how you are improving; a JLPT certificate alone does not prove you can follow lectures.

長所と短所 (Strengths and weaknesses)

学費や生活費はどうしますか (How will you pay?)

International students on a Student visa need permission for part-time work, within 28 hours a week (up to eight hours a day in long holidays), according to JASSO’s Student Guide to Japan. Check the current rules before you answer.

ほかの学校も受験していますか (Other applications?)

Answer honestly; panels know applicants sit several exams. Saying “this is my first choice” only works if you can say why.

入学後に何を学びたいですか (Study plan)

卒業後はどうしたいですか (After graduating?)

Interviews at language schools and vocational schools

Many international students apply first to a Japanese language school, then to a professional training college (senmon gakkō) or university. The interviews are shorter but follow the same logic:

• Japanese language schools: JASSO’s Student Guide says most decide admission by screening documents, but some interview applicants and their guardians or set a written test. Expect questions on why you want to learn Japanese, what you will do after the course, and who will support you financially. Some schools interview overseas or online.
• Professional training colleges: the entrance exam can include document screening, a subject test, an interview, a short essay, an aptitude or practical test and a Japanese test. According to JASSO, it mainly checks whether you are focused on the field you chose, whether your Japanese and academic skills are enough for the classes, and whether you really want to study. Link your answers to the job you want after graduating.
• Graduate schools: selection is mainly by documents, but some add an interview, usually on your research plan.

Manners on the day

• Clothes: wear your school uniform if you have one; otherwise a plain suit or neat, dark, simple clothes. Avoid casual wear even for online interviews.
• Entering: knock, wait for どうぞ (dōzo), say 失礼します (shitsurei shimasu), bow, and give your name and examinee number when asked. Sit when invited.
• Answering: start with the conclusion, speak a little slowly, and look at the person asking. If you do not understand, say 「恐れ入りますが、もう一度お願いいたします」 (“Sorry, could you say that again?”). Asking is better than guessing.
• Online: camera at eye level, a plain background, and log in a few minutes early to test sound.
• Group interviews: listen when others speak and keep your answers short.

Check your answers yourself in three steps

1. Record yourself on a phone answering the five groups of questions, and watch it as if you were the panel. Is the conclusion in the first sentence? Can you understand it without your notes?
2. Ask “why?” three times after each answer and answer out loud. Where you get stuck is where the panel will push.
3. Compare with your statement of purpose. Mark every claim in your written statement and check that you can explain each one in spoken Japanese.

For speaking practice with follow-up questions, Crystal Method’s AI interview practice tool runs an interview with an AI interviewer and gives feedback. It is built for job interviews and is in Japanese only, so it is most useful for practising Japanese answers to the “why” questions.

FAQ

What questions are asked in a Japanese university admission interview?

Mostly why you want to study in Japan, why this school and department, what you want to study, how you studied Japanese, what you did at school, how you will pay for your studies, and what you will do after graduating. Many are asked directly from your statement of purpose.

Is the interview in Japanese or English?

For Japanese-taught programmes, usually Japanese. English-taught degree programmes usually interview in English. Check each school’s application guidelines (募集要項).

How long is the admission interview?

It varies by school and route, and there is no national standard. Comprehensive selection tends to involve a longer, more detailed interview and may add a presentation or discussion. Check the format in each school’s application guidelines.

What level of Japanese do I need?

It depends on the programme. For classes taught in Japanese, MEXT names level B2 or above on Japan’s Reference Framework for Japanese language education as the benchmark schools should make clear.

Can I do the interview from outside Japan?

Often, yes. MEXT allows online interviews in its selection rules, around 200 schools offer pre-arrival admission with the EJU, and some hold interviews in applicants’ home countries. Check each school’s guidelines.

What should I ask if they ask whether I have questions?

Ask about study, not rules you could read online: for example, how first-year students choose a seminar, or what support exists for international students who want to join research early.

Sources

• MEXT: Implementation guidelines for university entrance selection, 2027 entry (令和9年度大学入学者選抜実施要項) (Japanese). Comprehensive and school-recommendation selection, required interviews, admission of privately funded international students and the B2 benchmark.
• JASSO / Study in Japan: Student Guide to Japan 2026-2027 (English PDF) and EJU Guide (English PDF). Entrance exam components, admission flow, pre-arrival admission.
• Ryugaku@JP: Interview test advice for international students. Common question topics.
• Crystal Method AI interview practice tool: usage data from 26 June to 11 October 2026 (Japanese-language job interview practice, automatic AI scoring). Percentages only; not limited to foreign users and not admission interviews.

For job interviews after graduation, see the guide to Japanese job interviews and how to do a mock interview in Japan.