The Weatherhead East Asian Institute is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the Columbia Summer in Itoshima pilot program. Offered in partnership with the Unson Foundation, this experimental summer program is set in the mountains, plains, rivers, and coastlines of rural Japan. The immersive 2.5-week pilot brings together students, faculty, and local residents to explore the intersection of history, ecology, and community life. Participants will study history, anthropology, literature, and environmental economics while planting rice, cutting bamboo, and harvesting oysters—reimagining liberal arts education from the roots.
The 2026 theme, “Thinking Like a Watershed,” examines the deep relationship between water and human society. How have rivers shaped the ways people live, and how have humans reshaped the flow of water through landscapes? From traditional irrigation systems to modern coastal management, the program invites students to consider what it means to live with water sustainably.
Built on three core pillars—physical labor, deep reading, and shared governance—adapted from Deep Springs College in California, the program blends hands-on fieldwork with seminar-style discussion and collective living. Students will work alongside farmers, fishermen, and foresters to learn about Itoshima’s environment; read classic and contemporary texts in a remote fishing village; and share responsibility for daily life while living together in a restored farmhouse.
This not-for-credit pilot program runs from May 21 to June 7, 2026, and is open to Columbia, Barnard, and Kyushu University undergraduates and MA students in good standing (minimum GPA 3.0). Japanese language proficiency is not required, though some familiarity with Japanese culture (or other subjects relevant to the course theme) is advantageous.
More information about the application process can be found on the Columbia University Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement website. Interested students can also sign up for one of five online information sessions at the following times.
For undergraduate/MA applicants:
Thursday, November 20, 5:00 – 6:00 pm ET
(Friday, November 21, 7:00 - 8:00 am JST)
Register
Friday, December 5, 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET
(Saturday, December 6, 4:00 - 5:00 am JST)
Register
Tuesday, January 20, 5:00 – 6:00 pm ET
(Wednesday, January 21, 7:00 - 8:00 am JST)
Register
Friday, January 23, 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET
(Saturday, January 24, 4:00 am – 5:00 am JST)
Register
For Unson PhD Fellowships:
Friday, December 5, 2025, 3:00 - 4:00 pm ET
(Saturday, December 6, 5:00 - 6:00 am JST)
Register
Learn more about Columbia Summer in Itoshima
