Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
13282:[2025 Spring]IR18‐GE202 Japanese Society (RA) § 13283:IR-FS202 Japanese Society (RA) § 13284:RUIR-2615 Japanese Society(RA) 2025 Spring Wed3 College　Of　International　Relations CABANA ROJAS ISABEL MARGARITA 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

MEIGAKUKAN　MG002

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by April 1. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

This course will provide detailed analysis of a number of social and cultural phenomena in an attempt to construct a comprehensive picture of Japanese Society today. Topics addressed through this course include family, gender, race, work, education, economics, stratification, and inequality. Series of lectures will elaborate on how these aspects of Japanese society have been changing in the face of rapid globalization and the aging of the population. Rather than looking for some sort of general explanation, this course aims to demonstrate the multifaceted reality of Japanese society and different perspectives with which to view such reality. This course is also an opportunity to study Japanese Society in English language and from an intercultural perspective.

The course consists of face-to-face classes. Students are required to participate in all in-class activities and small-group discussions, as well as to complete the assigned readings and respective assignments before each class.

Details on weekly readings and classes will be informed via Manaba+R. More details on the different evaluations and the final essay will be given at the beginning of the semester. At the end of the semester, students will submit a final essay about their research interest.

Student Attainment Objectives

Students will be able to:
- Obtain a comparative perspective to understand the complex and multifaceted reality of Japanese society.
- Understand the basic issues and problematics of twenty-first century Japanese Society from a historical perspective.
- Develop analytical and critical thinking tools that will help them to interpret their lives in Japan and abroad.
- Express and share their ideas about Japanese Society and receive written or verbal feedback throughout the semester.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
Week 1

Introduction

An overview of the system and major objectives, evaluations, grades of this course

Week 2

The Lost Decades of Japan

Bubble Economy, Demography, Aging Society

Week 3

Education and Social Stratification

Middle-Class, Social Mobility, 'Kakusa-Shakai,' Education System

Week 4

Work

Job Market, Life-Time Employment, Non-Regular Employment.

Week 5

Family

Marriage, Family, 'Ie', 'Hikikomori,' 'Single Parasite'

Week 6

Gender

Gender Gap, Welfare System, Gender Roles

Week 7

Discourse on Japanese Culture

'Nihonjinron,' Japaneseness, the Myth of Homogeneity

Week 8

Emigration and Immigration

Pre-War and Recent Emigration, Colonial immigration, Nikkeijin, Newcomers, Labor Immigration

Week 9

Racism in Japan

Ethnic Minorities, Indigenous Populations, Lower Caste

Week 10

Globalization and Japan

Global City, Global Flow of Commodities, Post-Colonialism

Week 11

Multiculturalism in Japan

Multicultural Coexistence, Tabunka-Kyousei, Disaster, Grass-Roots Multiculturalism

Week 12

Popular culture and Everyday life

Media, entertainment, 'Cool Japan', Religious Life

Week 13

Intersectionality in Contemporary Japan

Gender and Race, Experience of Otherness, Mixed-Roots, LGBTQ

Week 14

Peer review of Final Essay

Wrap Up, Final assessment
Course Conclusion and Finals Submission

Class Format

Course will be conducted face-to-face

Recommendations for Private Study

This course requires weekly readings and participation out and in-class. Students should work the assigned reading materials beforehand, and come prepared to every lecture to discuss in small groups. Readings are between 10 to 15 pages depending on the week and the difficulty of the text. Students are expected to critically engage with the week topics through the readings, and write their reflections in Manaba+R. Students should expect to spend between 2 to 4 hours preparing for each class.

By the end of the semester, students will have a cumulative set of knowledge and readings about Japan and Japanese society that will contribute positively in the elaboration of the final essay.

As for preparation for the final essay, students will be encouraged to start working from the beginning of the course. The final essay should take about 15-20 hours to complete.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Students will be graded on their participation in class activities, their preparation for classroom discussion (writing reflections), and their performance on the final essay.

These assignments are weighted as below:

Class participation: 40%
Final essay: 60%

Extra grades may be awarded in case of outstanding in-class/essay performance, and vice versa.

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Students must complete all course requirements in order to receive a passing grade.
- More details on each item and evaluation criteria will be given at the beginning of the semester.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

The quality of our conversation and dialogue each week is entirely dependent on your commitment to reading, and thinking about the readings, prior to every class. Please come prepared.
This course encourages students to actively engage in group discussions.
Weekly readings will not only provide you with a better understanding of the contents of the class, but will directly contribute to your final essay.
You are always welcome to communicate directly with the instructor via email.

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
An Introduction to Japanese Society Yoshio Sugimoto Cambridge University Press 9781108724746

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

This textbook will be used as a reference throughout the semester. Other readings will be provided in class via Manaba.

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/