Japan

This course is for students who have basic knowledge of Japanese and Kanji (traditional /simplified characters).  Students learn about the characteristics of Japanese Kanji while using the knowledge of Kanji they already have. The course aims for students to be able to read elementary to intermediate level of Japanese Kanji and to be able to distinguish between Japanese kanji and traditional / simplified characters.

This course centers around literary translation workshops in which students will be asked to provide constructive feedback to peer work as well as take turns facilitating the workshops.

By the end of the course, students will have produced:
1) a dozen or so translations of selected excerpts (approx. 400 words) from reading assignments (short stories, essays, etc.):
2) written responses to a number of reading assignments:

Given the workload, emphasis on attendance/participation, and class format, this advanced course is recommended for students who:
1) have previously taken writing and/or literature courses at the university level;
2) are capable of handling reading assignments of significant length in English and Japanese;
3) enjoy actively participating in and leading group work and class discussions;
4) are able to work in an organized manner (including submitting weekly assignments beforehand online)

English will be the primary language of instruction/communication in the classroom. However, students will be expected to be able to handle literary texts in both English and Japanese.

This is an omnibus-style course on Japanese culture, featuring lectures and demonstrations on tea ceremony and traditional Japanese musical instruments (Heike biwa, shamisen, sokyoku/Ikuta school).

The tea ceremony is a comprehensive art form in Japan. This course seeks to understand the Japanese spirit behind the tea ceremony, for practice in everyday life.

This course also provides the opportunity for students to experience the charm of Japanese musical instruments and to compose a waka poem.

Is Classical Literature foolish?

Not at all. Love for others is the same today as it was in the past, in the East and in the West. The feeling of cherishing one’s family and friends is the same as the feeling of being moved by the beauty of nature in all four seasons. This course introduces the joys, sorrows, and impressions of the people of the past, while imagining the minds of the ancients, and incorporating classic literary works such as waka poems, stories, and essays. This course also confirms that that spirit has not changed, by introducing appropriate contemporary songs.　

<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.

<Reading Comprehension A>
Goal: To understand slightly complex passages and sentence structures.
Contents: Reading of upper intermediate level passages on current topics, such as newspaper articles.

This course is intended for students who wish to participate in short- or long-term study abroad. The course addresses how students can actively think about their own goals for study abroad and how to prepare for their experience, by examining trends from a micro- and macro-perspective as well as providing examples of international experiences. In addition, through participatory learning, students will deepen their own thoughts about life and cross-cultural adaptation associated with living, whether studying or working, in a foreign country. By the end of the course, students will consider their study abroad experience as part of their career development. The course features experts in overseas study and training as guests speakers. 

This course provides theoretical and practical knowledge of the role and impact of global marketing & new product development (NPD) on business activities in Japan.

The main objectives of this course in marketing are:
・ To learn the principles and key concepts of global marketing.
・ To deepen the understanding of the uniqueness and commonality of Japan in a global market.
・ To explore approaches to designing and implementing global marketing strategies for Japan, emphasizing the impact of environmental factors.

On new product development, students are expected:
・ To understand an overview of the new product development (NPD) process and its success principles for the Japanese market.
・ To understand how to turn consumer insights into prototypes and bring viable products into the market in Japan.
・ To develop analytical and intercultural communication skills to share insights for product opportunities in Japan.

This course examines urban family life and relationships within the family as well aspects of the Japanese education system, including kindergarten, various schools, and universities. The course also addresses the ‘Self,’, cultural identity and the Japanese system in domains such as family, gender, community, education, workplace, sports, and media.

This course considers and seeks to understand contemporary Japanese media culture and urban culture mainly from the perspective of sociology and media theory. Specifically, it examines various cultural texts and phenomena along the themes of "time," "space," and "media." The course aims to enable students to develop the basic ability to examine modern culture.

This course delves into the sometimes-troubled history and present reality of the Japanese free press. It questions the heart of journalism but also seeks to define the notions of "public good" and the health of democratic systems. For example: Is state control of the news media ever justified? Using historical and present-day case studies, students will examine what press freedom means in practice, and the different ways it can be restricted.