1. Introduction

Difference between clubs and circles

Student activities at Japanese universities are mainly divided into two categories depending on the Level of engagement: clubs and circles. The Level of commitment for a club and circle is extremely different, so please take note of the differences below.

2. How to join?

When you find a club/circle/group of interest, you are encouraged to contact the representative of the group through e-mail or social media. For those who are unsure of how to properly do so in polite Japanese, here is an example message with an English translation for reference.When you find a club/circle/group of interest, you are encouraged to contact the representative of the group through e-mail or social media. For those who are unsure of how to properly do so in polite Japanese, here is an

Example Email for Contacting a University Club

If you are not able to find any contact information or do not receive a reply to your message, you may try directly visiting the group. If you do have the contact and wish to make a visit, it is advisable to schedule an appointment before visiting them.

Things to be aware of:

1. Clubs/Circles may charge additional fees for certain equipment or travel expenses, depending on the activity.
2. Cult groups that disguise themselves as circles. These groups lure students with sweet offerings in the beginning. When involved with them, you may suffer from financial loss, be forced to perform illegal activities, or be pressured to cut ties with family and friends. If you sense anything suspicious, please report to the university immediately.

3. Campus map

Here is a map of the Kawauchi Campus. The blue areas indicate Tohoku University’s main facilities. The red areas indicate facilities related to clubs and circles. You can find the activity locations of each group in the database below, so please refer to it.

4. Clubs and Circles List

The organizations marked with a circle (◯) in the “Detail” column on the far right have their information provided below. For the other organizations, this does not necessarily mean that you cannot join; therefore, we encourage you to contact them individually for more information.