COURSE OFFERINGS

HUMANITIES

Survey in LiteratureⅠ

The goal of this course is to study theater and literature in Asia. Specifically, the course will discuss variations on themes and different performance styles in theater and literature under the theme of "how to position and perform theatrical literature in a certain public space. The course will also examine how Asian imagery and themes of "Asianness" have been manipulated and consumed in contemporary (Western) theater, musicals, and other forms of popular culture, and learn to what extent literature and theater can become cross-cultural and ethnographic representations.

History of AsiaⅠ

The goal of this course is to study the history of societies and cultures in Asia. Focusing on the interactions among Asian societies and "globalization," the course will enhance students' understanding of the history of East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia and the impact of globalization on them. The course will also discuss European and Western colonization and the rise of empires in Asia. The following items will also be covered: the transition of Asian societies to modernity, industrialization and economic change, decolonization and nationalism in Asia, war and conflict, and socio-political and economic developments after World War II.

Topics in ArtⅠ

The goal of this course is to provide students with a basic knowledge of traditional Japanese aesthetics, culture, and society. A wide range of design examples reflecting social, political, and economic culture will be examined, and contemporary design will also be discussed in terms of the following perspectives: Japanese aesthetics and prewar, the emergence of design, pop culture, and disaster. Through lectures, discussions, presentations, and museum visits, students will also learn how traditional Japanese aesthetics are reflected in contemporary design and how Japanese designers have uniquely expressed traditional aesthetics in an international style.

Survey in LiteratureⅡ

This course is positioned as an advanced course of Survey in Literature I. Students will learn photography, music, and film from East Asia, including Japan, Korea, China, and Hong Kong by looking at literature. Another goal is to discuss the process of globalization in these regions to learn how cultural productions, such as literature and art, relate to our living environment and how they shape social memory, traditional Asian values, gender roles, nationalism, and historical trauma.

Art Across Cultures

The goal of this course is to examine Japanese art and explore how Japanese art and aesthetics influenced Western art and design. Specifically, students will discuss how Japanese art had a significant influence on Western art and design in the development of modern art and design, including Impressionism, Aestheticism, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco.

Intercultural Communication

The goal of this course is to study theory and research in the field of intercultural communication as applied to the Japanese context. It focuses on perceptions, behaviors, values, and cultural patterns of human interaction, thereby providing students with a clearer understanding of their own communicative perspectives as they relate to life in Japan. In addition, the course will utilize a variety of active learning techniques such as class discussion, group work, lectures, video critiques, storytelling, critical incidents, and reflection to develop practical cross-cultural communication skills.

Topics in Literature

This course looks at various forms of urban culture in contemporary Asian societies (novels, musicals, films, sporting events, the current K-pop fandom and related boy bands and girl groups, to name a few) to examine how people are experiencing patterns of cultural expression that cannot easily be reduced to a single narrative.

Japanese Literature

This course is positioned as an advanced course of Topics in Literature. The goal is to discover the beauty of Japanese literature and to analyze literary works from each period of Japanese history. Specifically, the course will be divided into five sections (Ancient, Classical, Medieval, Modern, and Postmodern) to study their characteristics and focus on and discuss representative works from each period.

History of Asia Ⅱ

This course is positioned as an advanced course of History of Asia I. The goal of this course is to provide a broad overview of the political, economic, social, and cultural development of Japan. Students will learn about the rise and fall of the Shogunate, the opening of Japan to the outside world, economic and technological development under the Meiji government, the Taisho and Showa crises, wars, and the postwar economic "miracle" events. The course also aims to enable students to understand modern Japanese history in the context of world history from multiple perspectives by analyzing and effectively discussing complex issues related to modern Japanese history.

Topics in History

The goal of this course is to learn how historical films portray the past, how they can be historically accurate, and the extent to which they present opinions and interpretations of the past. The course will also include an analysis of various films depicting the history of Asia in the 20th century in terms of its time and place, as well as a discussion of cinematic representation.

Topics in Art Ⅱ

This course is positioned as an advanced course of Topics in Art I. The goal of this course is to study a wide range of visual and performing arts, literature, animation, and film. The course will also explore the significance of the female figure in Japanese art and discuss the production of the most important Japanese female artists.

Media and Culture A

The goal of this course is to study the structure and development of Japanese popular media from pre-modern to modern times. Specifically, the course will focus on how popular media have been instrumental in addressing various social issues and historical transitions. The course will also analyze the structure of the Japanese publishing and television industries and discuss how they have dealt with various social issues such as the dangers of nuclear power, treatment of the disabled, the death penalty, LGBT rights, Japan-Korea relations, and discrimination against Koreans living in Japan.

Media and Culture B

The goal of this course is to provide a broad study of literature, art, film, comics, animation, and other popular media. In this course, religious, social, and political uses of the supernatural in popular media will also be discussed. Moreover, students are expected to learn how monsters, ghosts, and other products of the popular imagination have symbolized and personified the problems, hopes, and fears of the Japanese people from pre-modern to modern times, facilitating their search for meaning and identity.

Religion and Philosophy

The goal of this course is to study representative expressions of religion in Japan. Also, ancestor worship, Shinto, Buddhism, and new religions will be covered, focusing on contemporary beliefs and practices, especially those encountered on a daily basis, and discussing various approaches to the interpretation of religion. Moreover, students are expected to examine fox deities, the Yasukuni Shrine controversy, Tenrikyo, the Soka Gakkai, Buddhist heaven and hell, Buddhist Pure Land, and aborted fetus rituals.

Seminar in Philosophy

The goal of this course is to study the characteristics of historical Japanese warriors and the composition of the Japanese combatant's worldview.
Specifically, the course will analyze and discuss typical warriors who fight exemplary battles using typical weapons through famous literature, movies, and historical accounts.

Seminar in Religion

Shinto, an ancient Japanese religion, is an important part of the Japanese cultural imagination and can be seen everywhere. The goal of this course is to provide a broad study of Shinto. Students will examine Shinto from as many perspectives as possible--religious, philosophical, anthropological, political, etc.--and explore Shinto in Japan today.

Japanese

The goal of this course is to acquire practical skills focusing on speaking and listening in Japanese. Specifically, the main goal is to improve speaking and listening skills, with the aim of acquiring a vocabulary of at least 300 words. By the end of the course, students will be able to use the vocabulary in everyday situations such as making requests, giving reasons, and explaining things, as well as expressing their own opinions, sharing their experiences and giving advice, and learning a wide range of basic and advanced conversational expressions in Japanese. In addition, students will aim to master more than 70 kanji characters.

Japanese Reading & Writing

The goal of this course is to develop the ability to read and write Japanese. Students will acquire the ability to read a wide range of texts, from simple content to journals and newspapers, as well as vocabulary. The course also aims to improve students' writing skills by acquiring more than 150 Kanji characters.

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Survey in International Politics

This course is positioned as an introduction to the history of international politics, with the goal of providing a broad overview of international politics since 1900. Specifically, the major trends in world politics from the preparatory stages of World War I through the end of the Cold War and the post-Cold War era will be discussed, with a specific regional focus on Asia and the ideological innovations and conflicts that have shaped international politics since the last century.

Introduction to Cultural Anthrpology

This course is positioned as an introduction to cultural anthropology. It aims to understand "what culture is," "how it affects both societies and individuals," "how anthropologists study culture," and "how cultural anthropology can be applied to important social issues and everyday life." The course also draws on cross-cultural examples from Africa, Asia, Australia, and the United States to explore different cultures, practices, perspectives, and theories to help students learn about the world in general and their own culture and society in particular.

Survey in Sociology

This course is positioned as an introduction to sociology. The goal is to learn the basics of social theory and empirical research and to develop what Mills calls "the sociological imagination." The course will examine the classical theoretical traditions of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Simmel, as well as their contemporary successors and common sense assumptions about culture, politics, history, and psychology. The course will also emphasize the acquisition of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in the literature, laying the foundation for a deeper understanding of the theory and methods of the social sciences.

Foreign Policy

The goal of this course is to gain basic understandings of traditional theories of international politics. With "who makes the decisions in international politics?" in mind, the course will examine the evolution of foreign policy analysis and how it can be applied to explain real-world cases, particularly those in Asia.

International Politics

This course provides insight into the sources of state behavior and prospects for stability and instability in the region, and examines how history and politics have shaped security in East Asia. The course will focus on the changing economic and military status of China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, North Korea, and South Korea as the basis for tensions between these countries.

Global Service Learning

The goal of this course is to learn about the role of service learning in multicultural society. In addition, by integrating lectures and experiential learning, students are expected to learn about the issues faced by global societies from theoretical and practical perspectives to resolve any social problems.

Comparative Politics I

The goal of this course is to teach the fundamentals of the concept of international politics, including the formation and characteristics of sovereign states. The course will examine how to approach contemporary issues using modern methodological tools (econometrics, game theory, agent-based computing models, etc.) and explanations. Students will also explore and discuss issues related to the empirical and theoretical causes and consequences of democracy and autocracy.

Global Diplomacy and Asia

The goal of this course is to study the major historical developments in global diplomacy since the 19th century and their impact on East Asia. Specifically, the course will analyze major diplomatic strategies such as balance of power, appeasement, deterrence, and containment among states, and examine aspects of decision-making in international crises. The course will also analyze the impact of history on international relations in East Asia today.

History of International Politics

The goal of this course is to study the history of the Asia-Pacific region in the 20th century. How different international systems rose and fell will be examined by analyzing the interconnectedness of China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the United States. Students will also discuss the major sources of the foreign policies of the countries involved in these regions: the role played by central decision makers, the domestic political context, and the constraints and opportunities provided by the international environment.

Cultural Anthrpology

This course is positioned as an advanced course for Introduction to Cultural Anthoropology. Students will learn how people, culture, technology, goods and services, money, religion, and ideology move across porous borders from a cultural anthropological perspective, causing immediate and intense contact. Students will also discuss how this cultural contact affects people across the globe.

Topics in Sociology

This course is positioned as an advanced course for Surveys in Sociology. The goal is to learn and discuss how issues facing global society are projected through analysis of various media such as newspapers, journals, and the English language.

Comparative Politics II

This course is positioned as an advanced course of Comparative Politics I. Based on the theme of "Do Asian countries really prefer strong authoritarian leadership?", this course aims to cultivate new perspectives on the prospects for democracy in Asia, using case studies of China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Through these case studies, the symptoms and causes of authoritarianism in Asia will also be discussed from multiple perspectives.

Globalization and Identity

This course examines the contemporary globalization debate from a historical perspective, examining how East Asian nations relate to each other and to the world. Specifically, the course will focus on how globalization has affected the formation of culture and identity among East Asian nations, and examine the ways in which East Asian communities interact and exchange ideas, cultures, and material goods.

International Organizations

The goal of this course is to learn about social initiatives and issues that encourage multiculturalism. Students will learn about international organizations involved in the development of a sustainable multicultural society through case studies and group work.

Sustainable Development A

The goal of this course is to provide students with the knowledge necessary to realize a sustainable society, including the mechanisms and initiatives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations Headquarters.

Sustainable Development B

The goal of this course is to understand the characteristics of social policies and to acquire the basic knowledge necessary for policy making. Specifically, students will analyze the process of social policy formation and explore its characteristics through case analysis and group work.

Comparative Cultures

The goal of this course is to learn how the Cool Japan (Nichi-ryu) and Hallyu (Hanryu) movements have brought about changes in the global mass media and popular culture markets. Students will gain an understanding of the theoretical basis for addressing the cultural and social principles of the globalization of the pop culture and cultural industries, and deepen their understanding by analyzing manga/anime, J-pop, J-drama, K-pop, K-drama, etc. as case studies.

BUSINESS & ECONOMICS

Introduction to Marketing

This course is positioned as an introduction to the fundamentals of marketing. Students will understand the principles of creating value for customers, building and managing strong and profitable customer relationships, the nature of consumer markets, the role of strategic marketing plans, and the marketing mix of product, price, place, and promotion. Students will also apply marketing principles to contemporary cases/businesses and analyze the marketing plans of Japanese companies' products.

Introduction to Microeconomics

This course is positioned as an introductory course to acquire basic knowledge of microeconomics. Using microeconomic analysis, the course will address a wide range of issues such as "How are prices of goods and services determined in the market?", "What drives the market and is the market efficient?", "What are the true costs of the tax system?", "What is the optimal production level for firms?", "How are wages and earnings determined?"

Introduction to Macroeconomics

This course is positioned as an introduction to the fundamentals of macroeconomics. The goal of the course is to understand about important economic theories and concepts that can be used to understand economic events and questions using macroeconomic analysis. Movements in important aggregate economic variables such as national income, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, and economic growth will be analyzed, and the impact of government monetary and fiscal policies on national income, economic growth, and inflation will be also discussed.

Principles of Business

This course is positioned as an introduction to the fundamentals of business administration. Focusing on the importance of international business and the global marketplace, the goal is to understand broad principles and identify areas of particular interest. The course will also identify the relationships between the various disciplines in management and discuss how successful organizations combine marketing, economics, human resources, ethics, and business strategy in order to compete in the global marketplace.

Global Economics

The goal of this course is to gain a basic understanding of international economics. The course will identify the causes and benefits of international trade and money, and will discuss such questions as "Why do goods, services, and money move across borders?" and "Do people benefit from the international movement of goods, services, and money, and if so, what benefits do they receive?"

Economic DevelopmentⅠ

The goal of this course is to examine the local/regional dynamics of East Asian urban landscapes, focusing on the dynamics of global change, and to learn about current urban challenges and prospects. Emphasis will also be placed on the city as a site of everyday life and socioeconomic change, with discussions on urban socio-spatial exclusion, gentrification, urban peripheralization, and environmental sustainability.

Global Marketing

The goal of this course is to learn about cross-cultural marketing with a focus on Asia. Specifically, students will learn the role of diversity in the global marketplace and the importance of local consumer knowledge and marketing techniques. The cross-cultural approach will also include a comparison of marketing systems and local business practices in different countries.

Economic DevelopmentⅡ

This course is positioned as an advanced course for Economic Development I. The goal of this course is to study topics related to the cultural and creative industries in Japan/East Asia. Discussion will be based on an interdisciplinary approach, including cultural economics, political economy, sociology, and urban planning studies.

Global Management

This course is designed to provide traditional management theories and principles in the areas of planning, organizing, leading and controlling, discuss management innovations to better meet the needs of 21st century organizations, and examine how cultural values and beliefs influence communication, decision-making, leadership, planning, and organization. In addition this course will also look at Japanese management philosophies that have been taken up by businesses around the world.

Topics in Management

In this course, students will explore general aspects of management in Japanese companies, compare them to those in the West, explore the experiences of foreign and Japanese leaders in Japan, and aim to equip foreign leaders with the skills they need to succeed in Japanese organizations. The challenges facing Japanese management styles in an increasingly globalized society will also be discussed.

International Business

The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of international business. Students will discuss why companies do international business, how companies choose their overseas locations, and how to evaluate the benefits and risks of international business activities. Students are also expected to become experts on the cultural, political, legal, and economic factors involved in doing business in various Asian countries, and to explore the strategic and managerial aspects of doing business internationally through case studies.

Topics in Japanese Business

The goal of this course is to learn about Japanese industry and business practices. This course will address: How have Japanese business practices and industries evolved? How have prewar and postwar government economic policies, industrial structures, and cultural influences shaped Japanese industries and business practices? Students will also trace cultural factors and historical changes, and discuss the future of Japanese companies through case studies of innovative firms such as Recruit and Softbank. The course will also touch on typical Japanese companies, cultural business terminology, and etiquette for students who wish to work in Japan/Japan-related companies in the future.

International Negotiation

The goal of this course is to learn about the importance of negotiation and to acquire effective negotiation skills. In addition, through collaborative learning with diverse students, this course will also look at the impact of culture on the negotiation process and the outcome of negotiations.

Global Leadership

The goal of this course is to make demonstrable progress toward becoming a more effective leader. Through a variety of activities, including an examination of leadership in organizations and in-class projects and presentations, the course aims to improve students' self-awareness and acquisition of effective leadership skills.

CAPSTONE

Capstone A

This course is positioned as a culmination of what students have studied with the aim to enhance expertise and acquire practical and application skills based on the knowledge related to humanities and hands-on experience. In this project-based course, each student sets his or her own theme, perceives social issues from multiple perspectives, explores solutions, and presents the results of his or her studies. Through this course, students are expected to gain awareness of their own career development and consider how to engage in a multicultural society.

Capstone B

This course is positioned as a culmination of what students have studied with the aim to enhance expertise and acquire practical and application skills based on the knowledge related to social sciences and hands-on experience. In this project-based course, each student sets his or her own theme, perceives social issues from multiple perspectives, explores solutions, and presents the results of his or her studies. Through this course, students are expected to gain awareness of their own career development and consider how to engage in a multicultural society.

Capstone C

This course is positioned as a culmination of what students have studied with aim to enhance expertise and acquire practical and application skills based on the business and economics knowledge and hands-on experience. In this project-based course, each student sets his or her own theme, perceives social issues from multiple perspectives, explores solutions, and presents the results of his or her studies. Through this course, students are expected to gain awareness of their own career development and consider how to engage in a multicultural society.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Global Internship A

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the internship. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. One credit is awarded for work experience in Japan or abroad from more than 30 hours to less than 60 hours.

Global Internship B

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the internship. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. Two credits are awarded for work experience in Japan or abroad from more than 60 hours to less than 120 hours.

Global Internship C

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the internship. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. Two credits are awarded for work experience in Japan or abroad from more than 60 hours to less than 120 hours.

Global Internship D

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the internship. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. Five credits are awarded for work experience in Japan or abroad from more than 150 hours to less than 180 hours.

Community Engagement A

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the volunteer activities. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. One credit is awarded for volunteer activities in Japan or abroad from more than 30 hours to less than 60 hours.

Community Engagement B

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the volunteer activities. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. Two credits are awarded for volunteer activities in Japan or abroad from more than 60 hours to less than 120 hours.

Community Engagement C

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the volunteer activities. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. Two credits are awarded for volunteer activities in Japan or abroad from more than 60 hours to less than 120 hours.

Community Engagement D

In this course, prior to the activities, students will participate in the guidance to deepen understanding of the significance and purpose of the volunteer activities. After the activities, the student's understanding of learning will be confirmed through reflective learning, leading to future learning. Five credits are awarded for volunteer activities in Japan or abroad from more than 150 hours to less than 180 hours.

Global Service Learning A

In this course, students will participate in the guidance to understand the significance and purpose of service-learning and to develop their awareness as a member of global citizens. After the activity, students' understanding of their learning will be checked through a review study, which will lead to future learning. One credit is awarded for service learning in Japan or abroad from more than 30 hours to less than 60 hours.

Global Service Learning B

In this course, students will participate in the guidance to understand the significance and purpose of service-learning and to develop their awareness as a member of global citizens. After the activity, students' understanding of their learning will be checked through a review study, which will lead to future learning. Two credits are awarded for service learning in Japan or abroad from more than 60 hours to less than 120 hours.

Global Service Learning C

In this course, students will participate in the guidance to understand the significance and purpose of service-learning and to develop their awareness as a member of global citizens. After the activity, students' understanding of their learning will be checked through a review study, which will lead to future learning. Two credits are awarded for service learning in Japan or abroad from more than 60 hours to less than 120 hours.

Global Service Learning D

In this course, students will participate in the guidance to understand the significance and purpose of service-learning and to develop their awareness as a member of global citizens. After the activity, students' understanding of their learning will be checked through a review study, which will lead to future learning. Five credits are awarded for service learning in Japan or abroad from more than 150 hours to less than 180 hours.

・Please note that the course offerings are subject to change