The Japanese program was founded in 1985 and was authorized to confer a Master's degree in Japanese Language and Literature in 2007. Its primary discipline, Foreign Languages and Literature, is a Flagship Discipline of Hunan Province. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, it was ranked among Tier-A programs in Shanghai Ranking's Best Chinese Subjects for three consecutive years and has been designated as a Provincial First-Class Undergraduate Program. The program currently has 12 full-time faculty members, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 1:6. Among them, four hold doctoral degrees and five hold senior academic ranks. All faculty members have overseas study or work experience, forming a highly qualified teaching and research team dedicated to student development.

In recent years, faculty members have led five provincial and ministerial scientific research projects, published more than 10 academic monographs and translations, and produced more than 30 high-quality papers in leading academic journals at home and abroad. Faculty members won two national teaching competition awards and provincial teaching competition awards. Under the guidance of the faculty, students have achieved outstanding results in various academic competitions, winning more than forty regional-level or higher awards.

The Japanese program offers both undergraduate and graduate education. It is characterized by multilingual integration, integrated bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs, industry-academia-research collaboration, and international cooperative education. The program has established student exchange partnerships with Chiba University, Akita University, Kagoshima University, and the University of Shiga Prefecture in Japan, with more than 50% of students participating in the exchange program each academic year. Over the years, students have taken the Test for Japanese Majors (TJM) Band 4 and Band 8, as well as the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N1 and N2, achieving pass rates well above the national average. The graduate school enrollment rate exceeds 40%, and the employment rate has remained at 100% for many consecutive years. Graduates are active in foreign affairs, economy and trade, culture, journalism, education, scientific research, and other fields.

Core courses: Advanced Japanese (I), Advanced Japanese (II), Japanese Speech and Debate, Japanese Interpretation, Japanese Translation, Introduction to Chinese–Japanese Linguistic Comparison, Introduction to Japanese Lexicology, Japanese academic paper Writing

Career Outcomes: Graduates are mainly employed in government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; institutions of higher education such as East China Normal University and Guangxi University; and well-known enterprises at home and abroad such as Huawei and Baidu. In terms of further study, nearly 90% of domestic students enter China’s Double First-Class universities and well-known foreign language universities, such as Peking University, Nanjing University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and Shanghai Foreign Studies University. Students pursuing studies outside mainland China are admitted to prestigious universities and institutions, including the University of Tokyo, the University of Tsukuba, Ochanomizu University, the University of London, and City University of Hong Kong.