Meiji Gakuin University

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.

The course discusses important issues in contemporary Japanese society, fostering a critical stance towards discourses around Japanese society. The course covers topics such as the low birthrate and aging society; rural and urban Japan; gender, sex, marriage, childbirth, and family; rituals, festivals, and traditions; education and media; the military, police and the prison system, and work and leisure.