Meiji Gakuin University

This course examines politics revolving around historical issues. What is national history? Why can it be a source of political conflict? What is needed to reconcile historical disputes? These questions are explored through the examination of Asian and European cases. 

This course goes beyond the classroom to explore Tokyo, both past and present. Engaging in a variety of field experiences that deepen understanding of smaller communities and neighborhoods within the city, the course explores local customs and traditions, food culture, social institutions of daily life, environment and architecture, and more! The course aims to promote language and culture skills through field observations and task-based encounters with Japanese people. Important note: This course features several out-of-class field experiences during the semester.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to a basic knowledge of the nature and workings of modern capitalist economies (welfare states), particularly in the West European and Anglo-Saxon countries.  The course focuses on government policy and its effects on countries’ economic performance, as measured by economic efficiency and growth; employment (or unemployment); income inequality, and poverty. The course seeks to answer the questions: What kind of policies do governments employ to promote economic performance? Are government policies effective in achieving positive economic outcomes? Is it possible to achieve economic growth and income equality simultaneously? If the answer is yes, what policy mix is instrumental? If the answer is no, why?

This course focuses on current Japanese pop culture. You will learn Japanese culture, language and the Japanese way of thinking in the context of movies, manga and music. You will also see Japan from the past, present and future in a way that is both fun and educational.

The aim of this course is twofold. First, students will examine Japanese pop culture in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of “Modern Japan.” Second, Students will learn to better express themselves. International students will improve their Japanese skills, while Japanese students will polish their linguistic skills, allowing them to communicate in Japanese and English effectively.

This course is designed for students who have completed three years of university-level Japanese. The course aims to improve communication skills to and from intermediate to the advanced level. 

This course provides an understanding of Japanese society by discussing education from an interdisciplinary perspective. It begins with an overview of Japanese education and society, together with the basic approaches for data collection and analysis, and then goes on to discuss the Japanese education system, politics, and practices from both comparative and international perspectives. It ends by discussing recent controversies and issues in education in Japan. Although the emphasis of this course is on current education practices and issues, due consideration is given to the historical context. 

This course is designed for total beginners of Japanese or those who have only studied Japanese for a very short time. Utilizing a topic-based approach, the course instructs on how to interact in Japanese in discussing everyday topics such as talking about oneself, family, favorite things, everyday life, and recent events. Utilizing a situational and functional approach, the course instructs on how to use Japanese in areas of immediate need such as in shopping, ordering food, asking about locations of objects, etc.  Students will also learn 64 basic Japanese verbs and adjectives which are needed for basic communication in the Japanese language.  

The course presents fundamental knowledge (grammar, vocabulary, writing system, and phonetics) and basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, which are needed for basic communication in the Japanese language.

This course is for students in enrolled in Advanced Japanese and provides additional activities to improve Japanese speaking skills.

This is a highly practical course, designed for students who may be considering a career as translators or interpreters. It mainly consists of practice at translating and interpreting between English and Japanese, with plenty of advice on how to improve your skills.

This course addresses how economic and psychological factors affect the economic decisions of individuals, focusing on their bounded rationality. Each class is composed of two parts. The first half of the class addresses the basic concepts and principles of Behavioral Economics, while the second half involves reading research articles and discussing the related research questions.