International Christian University

An introduction to environmental studies, this course covers what the environment is; what kind of situation we are currently in, and how one's daily life influences the environment in the local and global scale. The course presents the basic system structure of the environment and current efforts of balancing human well-being and environment.

This course aims to help students learn spoken and written Japanese for academic purposes through a variety of familiar topics about society and culture. The target level is CEFR B1.1. Prerequisite: “J3:Japanese” or equivalent. Ten class hours/week. 

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
express their idea and understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters, 
exchange information, and understand and convey one’s feelings and intentions.

This course explores the important roles media play in our everyday life, and considers a wide range of issues, including (but are not limited to): 
How do we incorporate various forms of media into our daily lives? 
How does media influence our perceptions of ourselves, others, and society?
What is so “new” about “new media”? 
What is so “social” about social media?
Why does media matter? 

This course provides an opportunity to reflect critically on one's media use, and helps them investigate the relationships between media, individuals, and society. 

Globally, regional governance at both the transnational and national levels demonstrates that new forms of governance are being explored to meet the needs of states in various regional groupings. NAFTA and the EU represent regional governance that transects politics, economics and security. In contrast, initiatives such as the Kita-Kyushu Initiative are demonstrative on non-state regional governance to meet local needs. This course discusses regional governance from a comparative and multi-tiered perspective by investigating regional governance at the transnational state level and non-state level. Empirical cases studies related to economic, political, traditional, and non-traditional security will be employed to develop students' understanding of regional governance, especially within an East Asian context.

East Asia is the most economically dynamic, strategically significant, and politically significant region on the planet. In addition, the budding regionalism, along with the rise of China, ensures that the region will be a more crucial influence on international relations. The main aim of this course is to explore whether East Asia is heading towards greater peaceful and cooperative region, or of a war- and conflict-oriented region. This is to be carried out: 1) by delving into the theorization of regionalism in world politics; 2) by examining the weights of history of East Asia; 3) by exploring the distinctive character and evolution of the regionalism of East Asia, and 4) by investigating the prospects for the development of a more unified East Asia region in the context of the unique historical circumstances under that China is experiencing its remarkable rise over the last few decades.

The course surveys Japan’s international relations with China, Korea, and Europe between the 15th to 17th century. First, the course looks at the development of diplomacy and trade in East Asia, focusing on the “sea-closing policy” of China during the 14-16th centuries; the activity of Japanese diplomatic and trade missions to China, and the collapse of the tribute system. Then it investigates the relations with Europe during the 16th century, examining the new quality of foreign relations during the Edo Period; the development and role of the port cities Hirado and Nagasaki, and the trade with the Europeans and the Chinese.