Keio University

This course focuses on the dynamic implications of the links between the prevailing unprecedented global resource extraction and utilization; high input-high output industrial production, and resource scarcity. This allows one to conceive the relationships between the consequences of overexploitation of resources and irreversible material transformation in the production system, and their crucially important implications for resource efficiency and environmental efficiency.  

This course also seeks to guide students to make mental connections across disciplines with real life experiences based on comprehensive synthesis of evidence of the unsustainable resource consumption and sustainability practices in resource management. Here, it places great emphasis in developing critical thinking and analytical skills among students in identifying policy responses to the economic and environmental effects of overexploitation of natural resources.  

The foregoing takes the class to a broad-spectrum of debates relating to the properties of natural resources; the principles of resource efficiency; resource sustainability and environmental efficiency; environmental impacts of irreversible input-output resource conversions, and sustainable resource consumption and conservation, among other subjects of interest. 

This course is designed for students in the second half of the elementary-level course. It provides an opportunity for students to obtain and practice listening and speaking skills. 

"Anime," "Comic," and "Game" are some of the aggressive and innovative forms of popular culture spreading throughout the world. Japan is one of the major countries influencing this unique popular culture moment so much so that enthusiasts of such popular culture have been called “Otaku.” Otaku also delivers a new sense of atmosphere in terms of "Kawaii" and "Moe." 

“Otaku” cultures have created a transnational cultural boom referred to as “Cool Japan,” creating an inevitable cultural influence. Furthermore, political strategy suggests favorable international competitiveness due to these cultural deliverables, seeds of creativity influencing its national branding.

This course aims to understand how the roots of these Otaku cultural activities in Japan have expanded internationally as one of Simulacra with creators, and activists of the fields: How has the technology created and known its real motivation to drive these sub-cultural activities? This course addresses the backgrounds and characteristics as well as the innovative expansion of “Otaku” culture, which is recognized internationally and born in the age of competing creativity from the Social Darwinism inherent during the phase of its economic growth and development of Japan.
 

During 2022 last year, Japanese economy recovered from the Pandemic Shock. But almost simultaneously it faced many uncertainties. Global wave of inflation made Japanese Consumer Price Index rise by 4% compared to the previous year in December 2022, the highest pace for four decades. As many economists have seen long-lasting low inflation or even deflation in Japan as a signal of its stagnated economy, an emerging interesting question is what can result from this external price shock? After all, do firms and working people in Japan change their static mindset of many years and move towards surge of wages, ultimately leading to higher spending and hence, higher growth? On the other extreme, we cannot rule out the concerns of stagflation. 
Higher inflation has triggered rapid interest rate hikes by central banks globally. While this makes economic slowdown inevitable in 2023, how much it will be is still unpredictable. Looking at China, its sudden loosening of corona restrictions from the end of 2022 is likely to mean higher growth for the world. At the same time though, faster demand expansion of China may offset the impact of anti-inflation measures by other countries and force their central banks to tighten even more. Also, no one is sure which way yen’s exchange rate goes. 
These are just examples of the uncertainties for Japanese economy at the time of this writing (January 2023). However, underlying structural problems for Japan do not go away, either. Japanese population leads the world in terms of aging while its size continues to shrink. This poses strains on social security such as pension and healthcare. Geopolitical tension does not seem to subside as well, continuously making firms to rethink and restructure their cross-border supply chains. 
Many industries are under pressure for transformation. Digital innovations such as AI are the source of business creation by many startups, while they disrupt established business models everywhere. Recently the shockwave is reaching finance and automobile industries, bastion of the modern economy as we know it. In addition, environmental concerns require the whole economy to shift towards carbon-free. While this generates many business chances, it can become another source of industrial disruption. 
Observations mentioned above force us to ask a lot of questions for Japanese economy. What is the impact of monetary policy under a new governor of BOJ? Do we have reliable economic-fiscal scenario to deal with fiscal burden increased by the massive spending to respond to the pandemic as well as the need to sustain social security? 
What policies can improve the prospect of economic growth for Japan? What are reforms most urgently needed? Are they labor market reforms, immigration reforms, or strengthening assistance for families to have more kids? How can Japanese private sector grow more vigorously – more risk-taking by corporations or more fast-growing startups, for example? Can we upgrade Japanese manufacturing sector? Is export-oriented agriculture sector possible? 
These are urgent and crucial issues of our day. Drawing on lecturer's experiences at government, international organization as well as in business, the course tries to deepen our understanding of today's economic problems with the help of economics and through interactive discussion based on data. 

This course offers a thorough introduction to the theory, empirics, and practice of monetary policy and central banking. Basic understanding of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics is required. 
 

This class covers standard topics in macroeconomics with a focus on short-run macroeconomic issues. The course consists of two big components: first, the course explains the basic theoretical framework for understanding business-cycles as well as monetary and fiscal policies. The course also consists of presentations and discussion sessions. Students will be assigned short papers on good examples of applications of theories of actual macroeconomic problems.