Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
13288:[2025 Fall]IR18‐GE203 Japanese Culture (RA) § 13289:IR-FS203 Japanese Culture (RA) 2025 Fall Wed1 College　Of　International　Relations YAMAGUCHI TOMOMI 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 September 20. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

This course introduces students to the study of Japanese culture. Through the perspectives of cultural anthropology and other related disciplines, the course is devoted to decomposing the myth of Japan as a unique country, and to re-think the construction of stereotypical ideas about Japan.
With this aim, the primary focus of this course will be contemporary Japanese culture in this course. This course examines the significant socio-historical and political meanings of cultural experiences in people's everyday lives and popular culture in personal, local and global contexts. Students will be able to learn the approaches and skills to critically interpret and analyze a variety of pop culture materials and learn how to connect academic approaches to popular culture to students’ everyday life experiences. We will also discuss how various cultural practices have the potential to cause social change and to challenge the dominant construction of “Japan” and the “Japanese-ness”.

I envision this class to be a combination of lectures and active classroom discussions based on close reading of the assigned texts. Students' active participation is extremely important for their success in this course. This is a multi-media course, with many in-class showings of videos, and images. Regular attendance and participation in class are required. Active and thoughtful participation in discussion will be rewarded.

Student Attainment Objectives

1 Demonstrate an understanding of a set of fundamental concepts and theories related to Japanese culture, especially from the perspective of cultural anthropology
2 Demonstrate an intermediate knowledge of contemporary culture in Japan.
3 Demonstrate a critical understanding of various political and social issues in post-WWII Japan through the lens of popular culture.
4 Demonstrate an understanding of the globalization of Japanese popular culture.
5 Develop a skill to critically analyze the contents of media and popular culture in/out of Japan.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

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

Studying Japan

 Introduction of classmates, academic approaches to the study of Japanese culture

2

Living in Japan

rural/urban Japan, cost of living, space, robots and AI

3

Tourism and Overtourism

Tourism, heritage sites, nature, overtourism

4

Visual Packing Culture, Characters and "Kawaii" Culture

importance of "characters" in Japan, Hello Kitty, kawaii culture, "Cool Japan"

5

Religion and Culture

Religion in people's daily lives in Japan, recent controversies over religions, religion and politics

6

 Groups, Hierarchy, Social Norms, and Resistance

Hierarchy, dominant values, and social norms, education

7

Ethnic Minorities, Migrants and Refugees

ethnic diversity in Japan, racism and xenophobia, globalization, COVID-19

8

Popular Culture: Disaster and Apocalypse

Disasters, nuclear weaponry/energy and apocalypse and Japanese pop culture

9

Popular Culture: manga, anime and fandom

history of manga, globalization and copyright controversies, approaches to studying anime, ethnography of anime production, globalization of anime, labor conditions of animators. fandom, "otaku" culture,

10

Popular Culture: idol culture and media industry

idol culture, "kawaii" culture, gender and sexuality, harassment

11

Popular Culture: games and social media

Pokemon, arcade gaming, Social media and public opinions, generation, hate speeches and online trolls, globalization

12

"Cool Japan" and the Myths of Japanese Uniqueness

"Cool Japan" as the governmental project, political aims of "Cool Japan", food, high tech toilets, etc. critiques of the myths of Japanese uniqueness, diversity in Japan, nationalism, popular media, and "Japan is Great!" boom

13

Nationalism and Transnationalism

nationalism, racism, xenophobia, Japan in the global world

14

Rethinking Japanese Culture

Summary of the course, Discussion of students' final projects

Class Format

This is a face-to-face class. I envision this class as a combination of lectures and active classroom discussion based on close reading of the assigned texts. While I may post some important news items to Manaba+R, I will mostly use Moodle for announcements, class assignments and discussion. Your active participation in class and on Moodle +R is key to a successful completion of the course. important for your success in this course. Active and thoughtful participation in discussion will be rewarded.

The required reading and other materials will be accessible via Moodle. It is extremely important for you to come to class having read the required materials. There are additional materials, including articles, films and videos, to be assigned.

Recommendations for Private Study

Class materials will be posted on moodle+R. You are required to read class materials before each class session. Formulate one question or commentary on the week’s readings and other materials, and post it to manaba+R by 11:59p.m. before your class meeting. You are also required to respond on the class materials and discussion after each class meeting.
It should take about 90-100 minutes per week to read/watch required materials and write your responses.
There will be additional written assignments, which require more time outside of class.

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

Quality of class participation and contribution 10%
Short weekly assignments (Moodle+R) 30%
mini assignments 10%
Group Presentation 20%
Final assignment 30 %

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

I will give you more explanation on the evaluations during the first class meeting, as well as on Moodle +R. The instructions on mini assignments and final projects will be given later in the term.

Late work due to procrastination will not be accepted. Late work due to a legitimate emergency may be accepted. If you experience a legitimate emergency (according to my standards) that will prevent you from completing the required coursework on time, I expect you to communicate with me at the earliest reasonable opportunity.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Japan: The Basics, second ed Christopher P. Hood Routledge 9781032107165

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Godzilla on My Mind: Fifty Years of the King of the Monsters William Tsutsui Palgrave McMillan 9781403964748
Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Trek Across the Pacific Christine Yano Duke University Press 978-0822353638
The Soul of Anime: The Collaborative Creativity and Japan’s Media Success Story Ian Condry Duke University Press 978082235394-2
Robo Sapiens Japanicus Jennifer Robertson University of California Press 9780520283206
Millennial Monsters Ann Allison University of California Press 9780520245655

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)

Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

Instead of manaba+R, this class uses Moodle+R as a learning management system. The use of manaba+R is limited to the announcements on cancellation of classes, and students are required to use Moodle+R for class materials and assignments.
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