Japan

This course requires two years of prior Japanese language study. The course explores Japanese with the goal of improving comprehensive skills toward advanced level. Students examine various themes such as proper grammatical structures, kanji, vocabulary, and situations described through readings. Through discussion and presentation about various themes, students develop a proficiency that enables them to communicate with native speakers actively on common daily topics. 

The advancement of information technology (IT) has rapidly changed our way of life. While IT encompasses technologies such as television and telephones, it commonly refers to computers and computer networks. 　　
　　
This course is intended for students with no or very little background in computers and will provide the basics of computers and computer networks. The students will acquire knowledge about basic software that would be required in an academic setting (i.e., word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software). In class and homework exercises will allow students to get a hands-on experience with various software. 　　
　　

To study the basic knowledge of molecular biology, biochemistry and structural biology and to understand biological phenomena at the molecular level, students will learn the following contents.

1) Structures and chemical properties of nucleic acids
2) Structures and chemical properties of amino acids and proteins
3) Biochemical methods for analyzing DNA sequence, amino acid sequence, protein structures and functions
4) Mechanisms of enzyme catalysis 

This course aims to provide students with deep insights into the structures and physiological functions of nucleic acids, proteins and other important biomolecules. Also, students will understand molecular mechanisms of several important enzymes. 

An exploratory culture course, Japanese Culture B is offered for foreign students to learn about and share insights into various aspects of living in Japan. The course comprises three basic approaches: discussion of certain cultural aspects of the country; reading literature, and fieldwork at places of cultural significance. Those who took Japanese Culture A in the fall semester should take Japanese Culture B in the spring semester since they make a pair. Culture B and D courses overlap in part due to the nature of certain special events taking place during the semester.

The goal of the course is to provide students a new perspective of Japanese culture by examining the interconnection of various elements, including the history and culture of Tohoku Region; rebuilding effort from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and certain ways people have expressed themselves on different occasions. 

The course comprises of lectures and discussions accompanied by fieldwork opportunities. Twelve years after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, disaster prevention and mitigation has come to hold an important place in the culture of this nation. The Japanese Culture class has been contributing to this cause since soon after the 2011 event and will continue to do so during this semester as well, albeit in a small way.

<Level V>
Target Students: Those who have partially completed intermediate level studies.
Course Goals: To develop understanding and command of the 200 important intermediate sentence patterns for further improvement of the four skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing. To master the 6,000 basic words and 1,000 to 1,200 basic Chinese characters.

<General 1-5>
Goal: To develop balanced, intermediate-level proficiency in reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
Contents: Learning the 100 important intermediate sentence patterns and vocabulary and improving reading comprehension with an upper intermediate level textbook. Developing command of intermediate Japanese through short sentence composition exercises. Mastering the points learned at the intermediate level to proceed to the advanced level smoothly. Increasing vocabulary by learning both the words introduced in the textbook as well as additional related words.
Improving the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing by understanding the textbook and exchanging opinions on it.

This course deals with current trade policy issues in turmoil from the viewpoint of international trade and international laws. After reviewing economic and politico-economic theory on trade policy, the issue of empirical measurement of trade policy will be discussed. Furthermore, the course explores WTO discipline on trade in goods; trade in services; intellectual property rights; safeguards and exception, and government procurement. The relationship between WTO and mega-FTAs such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will also be covered.

This course introduces methods which are necessary for success in sports. It covers major training methods, so students can understand the essential relationship between psychic (psycho-motor), mental, and bodily training. The course looks at the crucial differences between Japanese and German training practices. The instructor will also give advice about correcting problems such as excessive or monotone training practices that students might have conducted since childhood; training practices that are a waste of time; underestimation of the effects of mental training, and ignorance of necessary psycho-motor ability in training.

This class is designed for students with no prior knowledge of Chinese characters and wish to start learning kanji and/or to establish solid foundation for learning kanji. The class covers kanji components, how to use and write kanji, and basic kanji words. At the completion of the course, students will be able to comprehend basic kanji in context. 

This course is designed to explore key issues and current debates in the field of Marketing and International Marketing. The course explains theoretical concepts in the discipline of international marketing and the importance of how to think globally in business. In addition, the impact of political, legal, economic and cultural factors on marketing activities across countries will be discussed. Students will learn to analyze marketing plans and consumer product strategy at the global level.

This course is designed for both international and Japanese students who are interested in the cultures of sports, health, and longevity in Japan and other countries.  The goal of this course is for students to learn how to participate in and enjoy sports as a way of becoming healthy and increasing longevity in their own lives.
 

The course will be taught not as a series of lectures but through student presentations and peer-review based evaluations and suggestions.