Asian Studies

This course delves into the sometimes-troubled history and present reality of the Japanese free press. It questions the heart of journalism but also seeks to define the notions of "public good" and the health of democratic systems. For example: Is state control of the news media ever justified? Using historical and present-day case studies, students will examine what press freedom means in practice, and the different ways it can be restricted.

The diaspora of Chinese migrants is evident in the “Chinatowns” in major cities throughout the worldwide.  Their success have led others to describe Chinese migrants as “cosmopolitan” or “global citizens.” However, it is also true that Chinese migrants are an ethnic group that has involved in international politics and the volatility of national regimes. This course looks at Chinese migrants through different case studies and analyzes their narratives from political, economic, legal, and cultural angles to understand their relationship with global issues. Comparative studies with other diasporas are recommended.

This course covers a roughly 250-year period of Japanese history: the Edo period (1603–1868). It was a time of immense change and vast creativity in visual culture, when the existing forms of representation started to break down, and new forms emerged. The course considers various topics beyond what is commonly considered as art, such as city planning, gardens, religious icons, play space, arts, and artists.

This course examines how South Korea has been enmeshed in transnational flows of peoples and cultures since the 1980s. It turns an ethnographic lens on global processes to analyze some of their meanings and implications for people's everyday lives and, in particular, explore Korea's specific experience of globalization. Topics include promises and pitfalls of in- and out-migration; national and transnational consumption; intersections of love and profit in marriage migration and in entertainment work; migrant labor; nationalism and transnationalism of Korean sports; politics of race, identity and multiculturalism in Korea itself and toward Koreans internationally; transnational adoption; and “Korean wave.” 

This course covers basic historical knowledge about the international relations of Asia since the 19th century. This module examines how a wide range of ideas and ideologies borne in Europe have shaped the norms, practices and institutions of Asia’s politics and international relations. It explores the resilient nature of local norms and culture in the changing dynamics of international relations, particularly in the age of globalization. 

This course introduces learners to various socio-cultural issues and debates impacting schools, universities, and education systems in Asia-Pacific societies. Using case studies, the course aims to provide:

- Debate and discussion of the cultural and philosophical ideas that have shaped education in East Asia.
- An exploration of debates about the purposes of formal schooling, and the role of shadow education (cram schools/private tutoring) in various Asia-Pacific contexts.
- Consideration of how education is used as a political tool to shape national identities through moral, civic, and history curricula.
- An exploration of the tensions between nationalism, internationalization of education and globalization in Asia-Pacific contexts.
- Comparison of cultural approaches to early childhood education in Eastern and Western cultures.
- Observation of the developments in higher education in the region, including participation rates, rising research outputs, regional collaboration, and the possibilities for study abroad to contribute to peace and stability among East Asian countries.
- Consideration of issues of diversity and inclusion with regard to ethnic, gender and sexual minorities in Asia-Pacific contexts.

This course provides some insight into most of the major themes and issues on China and the Korean Peninsula. Topics include Nationalism and Political Cultures in China, The Korean War, China-DPRK Relations, ROK-China Relations: From Normalization to 2020, Korea between Ally and Partner: Trump, Xi, and Moon, US-China Rivalry and Sino-Korean Relations, THAAD and a New Normal in Relations between Seoul and Beijing, Implications of and Responses to the "Rise of China", and The Future of “The Rise of China” and the Korean Peninsula.

This course is a continuation of the course, Critical Social Issues I. This course is focused on the social issues facing contemporary Japan, covering topics such as war responsibility and memory; nuclear energy and waste; issues involving 3/11; media, the imperial family; yakuza, and education. As the course progresses, student interests are expected to generate additional topics for discussion.

Students will be required to do background reading for the class and come to class prepared to discuss a particular issue (or set of issues) each week in the first part of the course. In the second part of the course, students will suggest and present on topics on contemporary Japan for presentation. Each student must participate in these discussions and the assessment will be based on the discussions and written reflections on the issues after each class.

This course provides an overview of Japanese fermented foods, Sendai miso, as well as the overseas expansion of Sendai miso. The first part of the course introduces fermented Japanese and international cuisines and seasonings. The latter part of the course provides guest speaker lectures on Sendai miso, along with factory tours where it is cultivated. Students will be encouraged to make suggestions on how to develop recipes and market Sendai miso to promote it to their countries and regions.

Taught in Japanese, this course is open to domestic and international students. By interacting with students from various backgrounds, students will acquire communication and collaboration skills. 

This course provides a global perspective on the development of dress and fashion in Korea. It offers a look at Korean culture through the medium of Hanbok, one of the cultural symbols of Korea and an important medium and channel for understanding Korea. The course also covers how practices of dress/fashion embodied critical thoughts and ideas, such as the performance of identity in gender, race, and class. It acknowledges ‘dress/fashion’ as a powerful tool in shaping our future society with values such as individualism, inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability through industry and museum practices.