Japanese

This class is designed for students to learn basic Japanese (CEFL, A1 level), focusing on Japanese language necessary for living in Japan. The class aims to help students to: 1) Communicate using basic words and expressions; 2) Convey information about themselves, their experiences, and simple comments in conversation; and 3) Understand basic Japanese syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation, and gain familiarity with Japanese notation.

This course is a continuation of Ritmál II. Students gain greater proficiency in Kanji and Katakana, as well as improving reading and writing skills in Japanese.

This class is designed for students with advanced Japanese proficiency to identify the author's perspective based on the tone of academic texts in Economics. The course provides opportunities for students to develop academic writing and oral communication skills for logically constructing academic arguments. Participants select their own research topic; present seminar-style; prepare summaries and presentation slides, and deliver mini-presentations. 

This course provides opportunities for students to learn Japanese vocabulary, grammar and conversation that are useful in university life. Participants are expected to express what they want to say in basic Japanese; learn about Japanese language culture and values, and expand their world through learning Japanese language. This class offers blended learning: a self-directed learning (SDL) session in which students are required to learn individually using online materials (equivalent to one 100 min period/ week), and a real time session (Zoom) in a classroom with other students (one 100-min period/ week).  

Using New Express Plus: Burmese by Masahiko Katō as the course textbook, this course teaches the fundamentals of spoken Burmese. 

This course examines the relationship between the Enlightenment and the crisis of the Old Regime in 18th century France. During the decades from the mid-eighteenth century to the French Revolution, the Enlightenment reached its peak, and social, political and cultural changes became evident.  The course deals with not only the writings of several major philosophers but also their life and activities in order to understand the social and political problems with which they were faced at the time.  

The course teaches the implementation of basic data management and statistical/econometric analysis methods using Stata. 

Course Prerequisite: Completion of Introductory Econometrics or a more advanced course in econometrics.

This course is designed for students with advanced Japanese fluency to learn Japanese terms used in economics. The class discusses materials selected from books, magazines, and newspapers to expand one's vocabulary in the field of economics and gain a broad knowledge of current events related to the Japanese economy. 

This course explores the poetic techniques of classical Japanese literature, especially waka poetry, where expressions of natural beauty across the four seasons are often closely linked with human emotions such as love. Through reading and interpreting classical texts centered on waka, including the Kokin Wakashū, Hyakunin Isshu, and Uta Nikki, the class gains insight into these literary traditions.

The course begins with the fundamentals of classical literature, so no prior knowledge is required.

This lecture course traces the history of cinema from its inception to the present day, while examining its characteristics as a “new yet old” medium. By comparing film with “older” media that existed before its birth and “newer” media that have emerged since, we will explore the evolving nature of cinema. The course also pays close attention to how advancements in media technology related to film have transformed the modes of exhibition and distribution. 

In the spring semester, the course focuses on the period from the dawn of silent cinema to the emergence of talkies and the eventual establishment of what is commonly known as “classical Hollywood cinema.” However, the course does not strictly adhere to chronological divisions; rather, it examines several key themes, exploring how they have been represented and how they have changed over time in cinematic history.