Waseda University

This course explores “Mechanism Design, ”is an active research field in economic theory. Mechanism design is an emerging economic theory focused on designing institutions to effectively influence people's behavior. It serves as the foundation for social implementation by addressing social issues through the design of social rules. This course focuses on the challenges and innovations in social implementation based on this theory. Moreover, by applying mechanism design theory, the class gains insights into generating collective Intelligence through the aggregation of people’s decentralized evaluations.

Some math (like calculus) is required, while the necessary math is explained during lectures.

This course explores various social and cultural issues in Korea through reading and discussing Korean-language books and articles published in contemporary Korea. The course focuses on literature, essays,and academic texts on topics such as overseas Koreans; social and cultural discrimination; modern history, and the daily lives of workers in Korea. The course also aims to improve Korean language skills at the academic level. 

All course materials are in Korean.

This course explores the rich musical and cultural traditions of the Silk Road, a vast network of trade routes connecting East Asia, the Mediterranean, and Europe. The course examines how the Silk Road facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and music, shaping world history and cultural development. Through the study of musical genres, styles, and instruments from across the region, the course investigates how music intersects with identity, power, and diplomacy across geographical and historical boundaries. The course also looks at similar cross-cultural projects happening today, such as the Yo-Yo Ma Silk Road initiative.

The course features live performances and interactive workshops, as well as instruments from different regions. No musical background is necessary. 

This course covers theoretical and empirical basics of labor economics, following a globally standard textbook. It explores mechanisms and labor market impacts of various socioeconomic drivers including immigration, labor force participation, college enrollment, racial/gender discrimination, incentive pay system and labor unions. Grounded on theoretical frameworks, it also discusses controversial policy issues such as minimum wage, safety regulations, and various taxes/subsidies, while providing guidance on causal inference and its popular methods. Studying labor economics serves as a great gateway to micro fields (education, health, environment, development, urban economics, etc.)

Coure Prerequisites: Introductory microeconomics is necessary. Familiarity with causal inference or taking a course in econometrics is an advantage. Programming is not required.

This course provides a broad overview of Japanese economy, from postwar economic growth to current issues, and from domestic economic structure to international trade and finance.

Required course prerequisite: Basic understanding of Macroeconomics and mathematics.

.This course offers an overview of modern Japanese political history, focusing on Japan’s domestic and foreign challenges from the late 19th century to the postwar era. It examines key shifts between democratization and militarization, and between unilateralism and multilateralism, highlighting the interplay between domestic politics and diplomacy. Topics include nation-state building, the rise and fall of party politics, Japan’s imperial ambitions, and postwar political developments. The course aims to deepen students’ critical understanding of Japan’s historical trajectory and its impact on Asia.

This course provides opportunities to read, write, and investigate an array of creative nonfiction writing such as personal narrative/memoir, profile, essays on popular culture, and the lyric essay.  The class reads a variety of works, ranging from popular, literary, and experimental, including but not limited to the works of Zadie Smith, Maggie Nelson, Rebecca Brown, Eula Biss, Hanif Abdurraqib, Jenny Zhang, IIya Kaminsky, Virginia Woolf, and others. The course covers the core elements of prose writing: voice, scene, description, and structure.

This course discusses the biological principles that have led to a new understanding of the causes of aging and how these basic principles help one to understand the human experience of biological aging, longevity, and age-related disease. 
The class studies how the rate of biological aging is measured; explores the mechanisms underlying cellular aging; discusses the genetic pathways that affect longevity in various organisms; outlines the normal age-related changes and the functional decline that occurs in physiological systems over one's lifespan, and considers the implications of modulating the rate of aging and longevity.

This advanced course bridges theoretical understanding of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) with practical applications in English language teaching, specifically focused on the Japanese educational context. The class explores the relationship between SLA research and effective pedagogical practices across second language skills.

While the primary language ofinstruction is English, this course is provided in a bilingual format, incorporating both English and Japanese. Some readings will be in Japanese, so students need to be comfortable reading academic Japanese to get the most out of the course.

Recommended course prerequisites: Applied Linguistics (intermediate course) and/or Intermediate seminar to build a basic foundation in SLA. 

This course examines Shakespeare’s plays alongside their film adaptations, exploring the relationship between literature and visual media. Through readings and film screenings, the course analyzes how Shakespeare’s works were influenced by the cultural and social contexts of his time, and how modern adaptations reflect the contexts of their own production and reception. Each week focuses on a Shakespearean play and its significant film adaptations, discussing the nuanced and often innovative ways in which Shakespeare’s timeless texts have been read by scholars, readers, theater practitioners and filmmakers and reimagined through adaptation.