Japanese

This course aims to further develop students' communication skills on daily topics of general interests. It enhances students' socio-cultural awareness and enables them to communicate meaningfully in appropriate manner using more complex grammar structures including passive forms, embedded questions, and a limited set of polite expressions. Approximately 150 kanji will be introduced, and students will be able to write short coherent texts and understand various types of texts including some formal ones.

This class is a comprehensive study of basic beginner level Japanese over the four skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It aims to help students understand and use everyday words and expressions to communicate; convey information about themselves, their experiences, and simple comments in conversation, while understanding basic Japanese syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation and becoming familiar with Japanese notation.

"The essence of humanities is initiation, writes ER Curtius in The German Spirit in Crisis. The humanities provide cultural, social, and ideological segments for each stage of life—from birth, growth, adulthood, maturity, senility, and death—ultimately providing meaning to human existence. Humans do not simply become "babies" or "human beings" upon birth; rather, they acquire their existence only through the cultural segmentation they undergo at each stage.  This course explores the various "initiations" that humans experience when living in communities through guest lectures by researchers and practitioners from various fields.

Historical museums play a role in shaping their local communities - they weave a rich local history based on the historical and cultural resources (local heritage) that remain in the area. These resources are not necessarily limited to the materials stored in museums, but includes the local environment shaped by history itself. This course explores the relationship between museums and local heritage, drawing on the instructor's experience as a museum curator specializing in architectural history in Yokohama. 

Gagaku is one of Japan's traditional musical genres, boasting the longest history. Along with Buddhist chanting, it forms the backbone of Japanese music. Understanding the history and structure of gagaku is fundamental to understanding the diverse forms of Japanese music. 

This course first defines the term gagaku in Japan, grasping its etymology and genres, then studying the basics of the imported music and dance that form the core of the current gagaku tradition (e.g., genres, instrument arrangements, and performance techniques). Then, it traces the history of ancient Japanese songs and dances, as well as music and dances from the continent that were introduced between the 5th and 9th centuries. The course then examines the evolution of gagaku from its peak in the Heian period to its current form from various angles. 

Thus, this class experiences the rich diversity of gagaku, a genre that continues to thrive today. It includes the many variations of traditional pieces preserved in ancient scores, pieces that have been given new life through revivals and restorations, and the possibilities of musical expression that have expanded through the adoption of Western music.

This course is designed for students seeking a comprehensive introduction to elementary Japanese across the four core skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Through interactive classroom activities, it provides opportunities for students to communicate effectively in colloquial spoken and written Japanese; understand fundamental grammatical structures; convey information orally, and express personal opinions.

The class also develops literacy skills by reading and writing paragraphs using Hiragana, Katakana, and approximately 300 Kanji characters. Emphasis is placed on practical usage and foundational fluency to support everyday communication.

Tourists' decisions and behaviors are influenced by their desires and motivations, as well as their personalities. Tourism not only provides job opportunities and money, but also provides opportunities for human interaction and encounters. Hosts and guests meet, discover their differences and similarities, and thus rediscover themselves. This course introduces psychology-based research findings in the field of tourism and explains the mechanisms and influences of modern tourist behavior. 

This course is intended for students with no prior background in Kanji. Students learn approximately 300 Kanji characters and related vocabulary drawn from the JLPT N4 and N3 Kanji lists. The course emphasizes practical recognition and usage, with the goal of students becoming familiar with at least 70% of the introduced Kanji.

This course reviews the development of research in the field of linguistic anthropology and related academic fields, providing an overview of what aspects of language and communication reveal about society and culture. The course also explores concrete examples, sometimes including audio and video clips, to further the discussion. The course aims to gain insight into the complex and reciprocal relationships between language and society as well as language and culture.

This course explains science, technology, and social issues of general interest from the perspective of natural science. In addition, each class meeting explores the latest scientific and technological achievements published in general science magazines.