KIC

RYOYUKAN　RY209

English, with options for use of Japanese language sources/materials.

The seminar offers a space for students to pursue research projects grounded in cultural anthropology with a particular focus on contemporary Japanese society. Students who are interested in topics including but not limited to local communities and cultures, political activism and social movements, multi-culturalism and identity, historical memory and nationalism, migration and globalization, tourism and urban studies, youth culture and subcultures, digital culture and media studies, and topics in urban studies are most welcome. That said, our group is not limited by topic so much as we are united by qualitative method: this seminar aims to create a creative and open space for discussing ideas, learning about theoretical and methodological approaches in anthropology and other humanistic social sciences, and applying them to rigorous thesis projects.

Students who take this seminar will be expected to be open-minded, proactive, and self-motivated. Projects based on fieldwork (i.e. interviews and participant observation) are most suited for our group, but historical and media-centered cultural studies projects are also possible. This seminar aims to enhance each member’s approach to their thesis through mutual interaction, sharing both advice and critique, and collectively developing everyone’s projects. To that end, consistent attendance and participation is expected.

Students will acquire an understanding of essential concepts and theories in anthropology and Japan studies and cultivate skills in qualitative research methods. In order to do so, they will take a critical and theoretical stance on an individual research topic as well as contribute to the development of the projects of other seminar members. Over our two years together, students will develop the skills necessary to:

- Formulate research questions, create and refine arguments, and structure thesis-length writing.

- Identify, evaluate, and apply writing on a given topic and related bodies of academic literature.

- Gather data using mixed methods from the social sciences including surveys, interviews, oral history, archival research, fieldwork and participant observation, and more.

- Understand issues in ethnographic representation and ethics and how to craft effective writing.

-Create excellent original research projects!

Basic knowledge in anthropology, sociology, and Japanese society in general is highly recommended but enthusiasm and willingness to learn is the most important thing.

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors)	Theme
	Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1-15	Seminar Management Method
	In general, we will read and discuss academic work in Japan studies, anthropology, and ethnographic research methods with an eye to how to apply them to members’ projects. Seminar members will make periodic presentations on their research. The specific content of each week will be determined at the start of the semester in consultation with participating students.

Our class is held in-person unless otherwise announced.

Students are required to complete the decided-upon readings and/or their individual research and to come to class prepared to discuss them.

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	Term Paper 40% This term paper is a progress report on your thesis, tailored to your stage in zemi. Continuous Assessment 60% (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class) Each student will be required to give periodic oral research presentations, keep up with readings and assignments, participate in class discussions, and offer feedback to others during our workshopping sessions. The details and timing of readings, presentation(s), and the final paper will be discussed during the first class and will be adjusted to fit the needs of current zemi students. Attendance and active participation is expected.

Your specific topic and the general project of the seminar are intertwined. Students are expected to pursue knowledge specific to their topic, but also help the group collectively engage broader questions. In this sense, it is important that you dig into your topic enthusiastically: read literature related to your topic and think broadly about how you might connect your individual topic to larger issues. We will each be doing the same. To that end, everyone is expected to carefully and critically read the materials distributed in each class and actively take part in discussion.

For written work submitted to this class, the use of ChatGPT and other AI tools is prohibited.

本授業の提出物には、ChatGPTやその他のAIツールは使用禁止です。

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

The instructor may be reached at smith (@) fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

【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:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html