To Those Who Have Been Accepted to the Kobe University Faculty of Law

To those who will be entering the Department of Law at the Kobe University Faculty of Law this spring, first of all, congratulations on your acceptance. I am writing this because I imagine there are many things you are unsure about regarding enrollment, and I hope this will be of some help.

Regarding Commuting Methods

First, I would like to explain the commuting methods. There are the following ways to commute:

1. Walking
2. Train + Walking
3. Bicycle, etc.
4. Bus
5. Train + Bus

Method 1 is mainly for those living near the university, Hankyu Rokko, or JR Rokkomichi. The biggest advantage is that there are no transportation costs. The disadvantage is that it is quite tiring until you get used to it. If you walk from Hankyu Rokko to the Rokkodai First Campus where the Faculty of Law building is located, the distance is about 1.2 km with an elevation difference of about 100m, so you need to be careful as it is a very steep slope. Furthermore, since you have to walk in the intense heat during the summer, do not forget to bring water and a towel.
Method 2 is for those living along the Hankyu line. If you use a commuter pass, you can significantly reduce transportation costs, and depending on the station, the rent may be cheaper than near Rokko, so it may end up being cheaper than living near Rokko. However, since you have to walk from either Hankyu Rokko or JR Rokkomichi anyway, you need to understand the disadvantages mentioned earlier.
Method 3 is an option as long as you do not live too far away. While the biggest advantage is that all movement becomes smooth, there are some points to note. First, commuting by a bicycle without electric assist is almost impossible. As mentioned above, there is an elevation difference of about 100m, which is tougher than you might imagine. Second, Kobe University requests that students refrain from commuting by motorcycle. Therefore, if you wish to commute by motorcycle, please do not forget to follow the prescribed procedures.
Reference: Notes on Commuting | Kobe University
URL: https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/jp/campus-life/general/manners/commute/
Method 4, commuting by bus, is for those living near the city bus routes, especially the 36 line. If you take the bus, you can get off at Shindai Seimon-mae or Rokkodai and go straight to the faculty building, making the commute quite easy. On the other hand, it is crowded before morning classes start, and if you board from an intermediate stop like Hankyu Rokko, it is often crowded or you may not be able to board at all. If you take the bus, I recommend boarding from the bus rotary at JR Rokkomichi Station. Also, you should keep in mind that city bus fares are higher than trains like Hankyu or JR. Moreover, since commuter passes are also more expensive than trains, it may be more expensive to buy a pass than to pay each time. However, there is no doubt that it reduces the effort of commuting, so I recommend deciding after consulting your wallet.
Method 5 is a variation of method 2 where you replace the walking with a bus. Since this method costs a lot in transportation, I think it is best to limit it to specific situations unless you have a lot of financial leeway.

Regarding Course Registration

Next, I will explain course registration. For the 2025 academic year, the graduation requirements for the Kobe University Faculty of Law are 24 credits for liberal arts subjects, 98 credits for specialized subjects, and 2 credits for elective subjects. First-year law students can register for courses once they can use Uribo-Net. Therefore, I have listed below which credits you need to take in advance. Note that I have added a ☆ if the professor has changed since last year.

◯ 1Q
・Introduction to Modern Politics ☆ 2 credits
・Introduction to Positive Law 2 credits
・Introduction to Sociology of Law ☆ 2 credits
◯ 2Q
・Constitution (Governance) 3 credits

The credits above are all specialized subjects. Basically, regardless of which course you are in at the Kobe University Faculty of Law, you need to take the credits above. Also, there are many other credits you can take in 1Q and 2Q, such as special lectures, so it is important to refer to the student handbook and timetable as needed.
What you should be especially careful about is the CAP system. Under the CAP system, the number of credits you can earn in one year is limited to 46, so you cannot earn more than that number of credits.
Also, please be careful as you need to register for 2Q specialized subjects now as well. Please check Uribo-Net carefully for the course registration period.

The procedure for course registration is described below in order.
1. Log in to Uribo-Net from the Uribo Portal
2. Click on "Course Registration/Registration Status Inquiry" from the hamburger menu (≡) at the top left of the HOME screen or "Frequently Used Menus" at the bottom
3. Click on the blue text "Unregistered" on the timetable screen
4. Enter the course code
5. Complete

By the way, general education subjects (so-called 'hankyō') in liberal arts will start their lottery before 2Q, so I will not cover them yet. 1Q only includes the three specialized introductory subjects mentioned above, languages, and other compulsory subjects.

Regarding textbooks for specialized subjects, it is basically better to buy them because there are assignments, but the cost is not negligible, and you will really not use the 1Q textbooks after that, so consult your wallet. You should buy the language textbooks.

Regarding Preparation

At the Kobe University Faculty of Law, full-scale legal studies begin with Constitution (Governance) in the 2Q of the first year. Since Civil Law and Criminal Law also begin in the second semester, preparation is effective if you want to proceed with your studies smoothly. As a second-year student now, looking back on a year of exams and learning, I have shown below what I think is particularly good to prepare for in the first semester of the first year.

・Civil Law (especially General Provisions and Property Law)
・Criminal Law (especially General Provisions)
・Constitution

These are called the three basic laws, and among them, those covered in the second semester of the first year are Civil Law General Provisions/Property Law and Criminal Law General Provisions. Therefore, I think you will not have trouble in the second semester if you prepare at least that range. Note that those aiming for the bar exam or judicial scrivener exam may find this amount of study insufficient, so I recommend referring to the notes of others.

Regarding study methods, the basic method of first reading through and then doing case exercises is typical, but please refer to the notes of experts for study methods aimed at qualifications or the bar exam.

Regarding Masked Ronin (Students studying for re-entrance exams while enrolled)

The Kobe University Faculty of Law has many students who enter in the second semester, and therefore many people have lingering regrets about their entrance exams. There are two options: 1. Accept it and shift to university studies, or 2. Become a masked ronin and overcome your regrets. It is up to the individual to choose which of the two to take. I have pasted some reference notes from predecessors below, so if you are considering becoming a masked ronin, please read them once.

I have run out of things to write, so I will end here. I hope that the university life of those who read this will be a good one.