Asian Studies

The objective of this course is to understand how the roots of Otaku cultural activities in Japan have expanded internationally as one of Simulacra with creators and activists of the fields.  This course shares the history of “Otaku Culture” and its technology in Japan from three perspectives: 1) Potential of expression; 2) Application of digital content technologies, and 3) Breakthrough of “Otaku Culture” influenced by Trans-nationalization and Internationalization.  The course instructs on the creation process of media contents, games, and expressions for the next generation, especially learning and understanding technologies and methods on becoming “Otaku Culture creator and producers.”

This course offers a comparative, transnational study of the dramatic social, scientific, political, and cultural transformations that occurred in the two decades or so following World War II. By focusing on Japan's global moment in the 1960s, it includes some of the following topics: the Cold War and the Space Race, the reshaping of the Middle-East, the Cultural Revolution in China, decolonization in Africa, dictatorship and Liberation Theology in Latin America, the global civil rights movement, the New Right, the environmental movement, consumerism, counter-culture and the student protest movements that took place around the world.
 

This course examines multiple contexts of the Global Sixties in the collective efforts to map out the simultaneity of revolutionary transformation and conflict, while developing a methodological approach for researching and interpreting change from a variety of national/local perspectives. It particularly focuses on the travels of individuals who saw themselves as part of an international community of antiwar activists and antiracism causes.

This class also examines how actual interactions among people from Japan and other Third World countries inspired transnational identities and multiracial coalitions, challenging the political commitments and personal relationships of individual activists.

This course goes beyond the classroom to explore Tokyo, both past and present. Engaging in a variety of field experiences that deepen understanding of smaller communities and neighborhoods within the city, the course explores local customs and traditions, food culture, social institutions of daily life, environment and architecture, and more! The course aims to promote language and culture skills through field observations and task-based encounters with Japanese people. Important note: This course features several out-of-class field experiences during the semester.

This course explores different aspects and contexts of Chinese communication. The various contexts of Chinese communication include advertising, business, the press, social communication, regional usages, pop culture, translations, meaning of Chinese names, codeswitching and the use of Chinese dialects. 

This course analyzes a selection of works by Western writers and film directors from 1990s to the present, with the exception of Ishiguro’s short story) which are set in East Asia and/or contain characters from East Asia. It explores the answers to the following central questions: Is the portrayal of East Asian people and cultures in each of these works fairly accurate, or is it conforming to biased existing discourses? Are there correct and incorrect ways to present East Asia in literary and cinematic works?

The course aims to apply logical reasoning to our examinations of racial and cultural issues and to learn to think for ourselves, instead of allowing existing discourses to think for us.

This course focuses on current Japanese pop culture. You will learn Japanese culture, language and the Japanese way of thinking in the context of movies, manga and music. You will also see Japan from the past, present and future in a way that is both fun and educational.

The aim of this course is twofold. First, students will examine Japanese pop culture in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of “Modern Japan.” Second, Students will learn to better express themselves. International students will improve their Japanese skills, while Japanese students will polish their linguistic skills, allowing them to communicate in Japanese and English effectively.

This course has two main objectives. The first objective is to understand CSR, CSV and Sustainability based on the theory and the history, and the second objective is to think about what we should do from a corporate perspective to make society and the environment better for our time and the next generation.

The concept of Sustainability is constantly innovating. However, the fundamentals of what a company should do to ensure the sustainable development of the company, society, and the environment remain unchanged. The course aims to unravel the concepts that link corporations with society and the environment, such as CSR, CSV and Sustainability, along with their history. The course also considers what companies should do to improve society for the next generation, citing examples from Japanese and overseas corporations.

This course focuses on a statistical approach of Japanese history. Upon completion of the course, students will have improved their critical understanding of using statistical methods in historical analysis; information extraction from primary historical sources, as well as analysis of historical data with the use of a computer.

The kimono is one of the symbols of Japanese tradition and culture, and various traditional cultures are protected through the kimono.　
　
This course first looks at the history of the kimono, a traditional Japanese costume. The sensibility of admiring the four seasons was born from the dyeing and weaving materials that are produced all over the country due to the climate of Japan. Next, through the practice of wearing the yukata and kimono, the course instructs on the meaning of their structure and the way they are worn, as well as the significance of unique colors and patterns of Japan. The course teaches Kyoto culture by visiting Kyoto Yuzen and Nishijin textile workshops and experiencing Kyoto customs. Ultimately, the course aims to provide a learning experience of the movement and aesthetic sense of the Japanese through the kimono that Japan is proud of.　

An exploratory culture course, Japanese Culture D is offered for foreign students to learn about and share insights into various aspects of the living culture of Japan. The course comprises of three basic approaches: 1) The discussion of certain cultural aspects of the country; 2) Reading literature, and 3) Fieldwork at places of cultural significance. Those who took Japanese Culture C in the fall semester should take Japanese Culture D in the spring semester since they make a pair. Culture B and D courses overlap in part due to the nature of certain special events taking place during the semester.

The course aims to provide a new perspective of the culture of Japan by examining the interconnection of various elements including the history and culture of the Tohoku Region; rebuilding effort from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and certain ways people have expressed themselves on different occasions.

The class comprises of lectures and discussions accompanied with fieldwork opportunities. Twelve years after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, disaster prevention and mitigation has come to hold an important place in the culture of this nation. Japanese Culture class has been contributing to this cause since soon after the 2011 event and will continue to do so during this semester as well, albeit in a small way.