Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
50614:[2025 Fall]Policy Science Special Lecture (Field trip)(P) § 50615:Policy Science Special Lecture Ⅰ (Field trip)(P) 2025 Fall College　Of　Policy　Science MIZUNO KEI 2

Campus

OIC

Class Venue

OIC

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

An intensive field-based course provides international and Japanese students opportunities to study about situations and issues on rural community and livelihood in a local city in Japan. A field trip will be conducted in the end of January to early February 2026 in Saijo city, Ehime prefecture, before which a course guidance and preparatory study will take place in the classroom.
*Only students who are residing in Japan at the registration period in September are eligible to join.

Student Attainment Objectives

Students will experience the reality of physical, economic, social, and cultural environment of the village community, through which they will learn about the methods and manners of rural research and deepen their understandings on historical, current and future issues and policy implications for rural society and urban-rural partnerships. A specific focus will be set on the suggestions and implementation designs for continuing acitivities, based on the findings and post-tour achievements of the students from previous years.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

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

Course guidance and preparatory study

Outline of the course and detailed programs of the field trip will be given. Students will be grouped for field works with different topics, and reports of the previous year's students will be studied. In the following descriptions a full-day program refers to four weeks (class meetings), and daily programs may be altered depending on weather and local conditions.

2-3

Day 1: Moving to Saijo city

The tour departs from JR Ibaraki station by a chartered bus. Japanese agriculture and forestry, and resource management will be studied through interpreting landscape along the highway. After arriving in Saijo we'll make orientation visits to museums and gorocery shopping at the local farmer's market for self-cooking, then take a 30-min drive to Ofuki village.

4-7

Day 2: Introduction to the village, field observation, interviews and group survey

History and current situation of the village including typhoon disaster experience in 2004 and recent urban-rural interaction will be introduced. After village walk for orientation, group survey including interview to residents will be conducted.

8-11

Day 3: Attending a traditional ritual, group work wrap-up and presentation

Interviews and group discussions are continued in the morning. After attending the traditional Setsubun (coming-of-the-spring) ritual at the temple, each group will summarize the findings and prepare a poster presentation, which will be attended by the villagers. An exchange dinner with local hotpot is offered.

12-13

Day 4:Local industry tour, returning to Ibaraki

Leave the village and study local industries by visiting the country's largest scale shipyard, the traditional paper-making workshop, and the farmer's market before returning to Ibaraki. An exchange program with local high school students may be included in the morning program.

14

Report writing

Findings from the field research will be summarized into individual reports.

Class Format

Face to Face basis, equivalent to 14 class meetings (pre-tour meetings and a four-day study tour)

Recommendations for Private Study

Not only the theme research and reports but the entire trip incuding the move on the bus and and coliving in the village is our study period and subject to evaluation.

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

共同生活を含むフィールド実習全般およびグループワークへの参加態度と貢献度、全体および個別課題への理解度、ならびに成果発表・レポートを総合的に評価する。
Attitudes and contributions in field trip and group works, understanding on general and selected topics, presentations and reports will be comprehensively evaluated.

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

1. The trip is planned to take place during Feb 1 - 4. Program details will be fixed and announced in December.
2. A participation fee of approximately 20,000 yen per person will be borne by students for transportation, accommodation and meals, after being compensated by the faculty budget and scholarship.
3. Participants must fit themselves with lodging with other students including meal preparation, and take decent attitudes and cheerful communication with local residents.
4. The capacity of participants is 16 students. If the number of applications exceeds this, a lottery will be conducted.

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

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

Other Comments

・英語基準学生以外の受講条件：TOEFL530（PBT)またはTOEIC660以上
・グループワークでの、留学生と地域の方々のコミュニケーションを助けることのできる日本人学生、日本語が堪能な留学生の参加を奨励します。
【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/