Clark University has received some help to expand its Japanese language programs.

On Monday, the Japan Foundation made a gift of $26,880 to support part-time lecturers and help develop the program. Students were able to engage with Shinichi Honda, consul of cultural affairs and public relations with the Consulate General of Japan in Boston, who presented Clark with the check.

Honda said the popularity of Japanese pop music and film have fueled interest in Japanese culture in recent years.

“I am very happy to learn many Clark University students and college students in general in America are interested in the Japanese language,” Honda said. “Some of them find it interesting because they want to learn more about Japanese movies or tv shows … and I hope our government can help them study in Japanese more by providing these grants to universities.”

“As Japan opens up, as the world opens up, we are making sure that our students are going to Japan to study abroad and then coming back to Clark to further their Japanese studies,” Yuko Aoyama, Clark University’s associate provost and dean of research and graduate studies, said. “It is absolutely crucial that we have received this grant.”

Students were unable to travel to Japan for the last two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.