Asian Studies

This course introduces a number of education policies and projects which have enacted real societal and global change in Asia and the rest of the world. Opportunities to analyze these policies and evaluate these projects will be provided. Subsequently, the class will plan and implement their own education projects to effect social change in the communities and countries in Asia. 

This course introduces Japan’s global political and security role, starting with pre-1945 and Cold War era legacies and then the Post-Cold-War era. It examines Japan’s shift from security isolationism during the Cold War to security engagement; its championing of regional multilateralism in East Asia; its emergence as a global power in development aid, and its contributions to UN peacekeeping and non-traditional security in areas such as humanitarian and disaster relief (HaDR), counter-piracy, maritime security, and counter-pandemic measures. This course focuses on Japan’s relationships with the US, China, Korea, ASEAN, and Europe, and considers how Japan’s foreign policy institutions, including those making security and development aid policy, have changed during the Abe administration. The course concludes with a summary looking at Japan’s trajectory as a middle power.

The notion of ‘elite’ entails hierarchy, and may be perceived on related, interacting and conflicting levels: not only familial, gender, social and political, but moral and intellectual. To what extent does ‘elite’ connote power or wisdom, exploitation or benevolence, privilege or responsibility, and in what blend of relative proportions? Clues to such questions depend on variants of time, space, culture and context. Using key texts in English translation, this course examines various senses of and perspectives on the elites in classical Chinese literature.

This course examines sexuality and gender in Asia, where there are evidences that in pre-colonial societies, gender pluralism and societal inclusivity persisted and celebrated those within and beyond today's ideas of sexualities and genders. From the matriarchal practices in ancient and pre-colonial societies, to promised marriages, to the prohibition of women in artistic and political spaces, to the binding of feet and being leftover women, as well as the various cultural queer realities such as the Bissu, Maknyah, Asog, Sao Praphet sang, Hijra, among others; this course investigates these phenomena and realities. It also explores migration and diasporic narratives as well as how sexualities and gender are practiced and performed in media and culture.

This course aims to understand the current situation, problems, and challenges of the Korean economy. As the population demographics in Korea changes into an aging society, economists are warning that Korea may experience a long recession like Japan’s lost decades. This course discusses various aspects of the Korean economy by examining the data of the following economic variables: GDP, GDP per capita, income disparity, demography, inflation rate, unemployment rate, interest rates, policy interest rate, money, monetary base, household debts, flow of fund, government budget, government debt, balance of payments, current account balance, trade balance, net foreign asset, and corporate earnings. 

This course explores how South Korean state and capital has been nurturing the country’s popular culture industry and promoting its exports. It discusses how South Korean popular culture attracts audiences, both domestically and globally, and what its strengths and weaknesses are, as well as how South Korea popular culture (mis)represents the current conditions of South Korean society. The course deals with the full spectrum of the popular culture developments, with special focus on films and music.

Demons, ghosts, and monsters have populated the cultural landscape in Japan for centuries. Appearing in anime, manga, games, and movies, mysterious creatures continue to form the core of contemporary popular culture, sparking a global obsession with Japanese monsters. This course explores the cultural history of the strange and supernatural in Japanese literary, visual, and performing arts. Engaging with primary and critical sources from the eighth century to the present, it considers the social roles that representations of “the weird” have played in Japan.

This course discusses the traditional Korean dress (Hanbok) within the context of history, culture, philosophy, aesthetics, construction, and design. This course provides both theory and hands-on practice for students to fully understand and apply the elements of Korean traditional dress in building cultural contents and fashion products. The course also aims to develop aspiring global leaders by improving students’ engagement in empathetic communication, convergent thinking, and creative problem solving. 

An exploratory culture course for foreign students, Japanese Culture A offers insights into various aspects of the living culture of Japan. The course comprises of three basic approaches: Discussing certain cultural characteristics of the nation; reading some representative literature and conducting fieldwork at venues of cultural significance. This course examines the interconnection between the history and culture of the Tohoku Region, encompassing the rebuilding efforts from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami to outreach to the rest of the world. 

Students can also enroll in Japanese Culture C; the course contents of both classes alternate between fall and spring semesters. Fall-only students can enroll in one class but may join fieldwork activities of the other class if there are openings available. 

This course is about learning to recognize and see beyond stereotypes in media by examining cultural icons from Japan's past and present. The course examines samurai, geisha, yakuza, and ninja as they appear in popular culture (film, anime, and manga), and compares them with the historical record. Students gain a richer understanding of the realities behind such icons and are equipped to challenge stereotypes of Japan presented by journalism, popular culture, and the humanistic and social sciences.