Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
52043:[2025 Fall]Liberal Arts Seminar (9) § 52044:Theme Study (9) 2025 Fall Tue3 College　Of　Law,College　Of　Economics,College　Of　Business　Administration,College　Of　Social　Sciences,College　Of　International　Relations,College　Of　Policy　Science,College　Of　Letters,College　of　Image　Arts　and　Sciences,College　of　Comprehensive　Psychology,College　of　Science　and　Engineering,College　of　Gastronomy　Management,College　of　Information　Science　and　Engineering,College　of　Life　Sciences,College　of　Pharmaceutical　Sciences,College　of　Sport　and　Health　Science　(tentative　name) NAKAMURA AKINORI 2

Campus

Shochiku

Class Venue

RITSUMEIKAN SHOCHIKU STUDIO　RS201

Language

英語

Course Outline and Method

【Class Method】
This course will be conducted online except for the time when it was notified as mandatory to
 participate on site for special activities designed for the class.


【Class Theme】Japanese Pop Culture Studies
【Keywords】Japanese Pop Culture, Japanese Idols, Japanese Anime, Japanese Videogames
【CAMPUS】This course will be taught at Ritsumeikan Shochiku Studio
       (Inside of Shochiku Kyoto Studio) https://cutt.ly/FlyR61H

This course explores themes that are of benefit to students　who　are　interested　in　International　Relations and that focus on topics and issues not covered in general education courses. As an introduction to international studies of an academic nature, this course goes beyond the region and academic field to explore a range of topics that instructors and students examine together. The topic of the focus for this course is the soft power of Japan or Japanese pop culture. This course offers insights into and deepens students' interest in the multifaceted character of international studies, particularly in the field of aforementioned subjects. Assessment is formative, summative, or both.
Students in this course are expected to select topics of interest in the field of Japanese pop culture, study them further, discuss findings, and submit a final research paper.

Student Attainment Objectives

Students will examine various points of controversy and acquire a deeper intellectual interest in a range of issues concerning international studies, particularly in the arena of soft power and soft power diplomacy.
Students will acquire a basic knowledge of and learn methods for examining a range of issues concerning international studies and gain the ability to scrutinize Japanese pop culture from multidisciplinary perspectives, including its role in public diplomacy.
-Learn how to work cooperatively within a group from diverse range of social, cultural as well as national backgrounds.

Recommended Preparatory Course

【Stage 2】授業言語は英語です。TOEFL ITP ®400～480、TOEFL iBT®テスト32〜55、TOEIC® 380～580、IELTS4.5〜5.0、などと同スコア程度を想定しています。
This class is open for the students with the following English ability :a TOEFL ITP®test score between 400 and 480, a TOEFL iBT®test score between 32 and 55, a TOEIC®test score between 380 and 580, an IELTS score between 4.5 and 5.0, or equivalent
＊TOEIC®, TOEFL®はEducational Testing Service(ETS)の登録商標です。

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
１ (Sep 30)

Contemporarily Issues and Topics Regarding Japanese Pop culture and soft power diplomacy

Digital Contents White Paper, Government Policies, Soft Power and Cultural Communication　【+ R Lecture- detailed can be found in Manaba+ R Section】

２ (Oct 7)

Discussions on Contemporarily Issues and Topics Regarding Japanese Pop Culture and soft power diplomacy

Group Discussions

３ (Oct 14)

Resource and Methodology in regards to Japanese Pop Culture and soft power diplomacy

Qualitative Analysis

４ (Oct 21)

Resource and Methodology in regard to Japanese Pop Culture and soft power diplomacy

Qualitative Analysis

５ (Oct 28)

Research Proposal Presentation Part ONE

Presentation Skills, Literature Review, Working Hypotheses

６(Nov 4)

Research Proposal Presentation Part TWO

Presentation Skills, Literature Review, Working Hypotheses

７ (Nov 11)

Convergence culture, Emergent Narrative, Cross- Media, Pop-Culture Community and Communication
/ Volunteer Participation Briefing

Convergence culture, Emergent Narrative, Cross- Media, Pop-Culture Community and Communication

８ (Nov15 or 16)

テーマ/Theme Uzumasa Pop-Culture Fan Participation　＋R　Class

Japanese Entertainment, Toei Uzumasa Film Theme Park, Soft power. テーマ/Theme
Special Participation Observation Class (Select One Day).

９ (Nov 25)

Group ONE and　GROUP TWO

Readings, Group Work, Selected Topics, Participation Studies

10 (Dec 2)

Group Workshop THREE/GROUP FOUR

Readings, Group Dynamics, Selected Topics

11 (Dec9)

Guest Lecture

Global Digital Game Industry And IP Creation
　

12 (Dec 16)

Group Workshop GROUP FIVE/GROUP SIX

Readings, Group Dynamics, Selected Topics　

13 (Dec 23)

GROUP/SEVEN/ Selected Presentations　

Tentative Research Results, Future Perspectives

14 (Jan10 )

Participative Learning Event

Kyoto Film History and Local Promotion Program/

Class Format


This course will be conducted via online. But those which need to be experience on site
the teacher will announce it during the class.

Recommendations for Private Study

You will be assigned either as an individual or a group to work on certain tasks during each 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

Participation in whole-class discussions 30%
-determine whether or not students are attentive during class
-determine whether or not students can provide an insight that enhances the entire experience o the discussions
Class Assignment 15%
- submitted materials must balance opinions, general impressions, and specific and thoughtful criticisms or contributions.
Research Proposal 　 10％
- Issues need to be clearly communicated
-Presented in a way that is easy to understand and raises interest.
-Visually appealing
-Clearly explain the research methodology
Research Presentation 15 %
- Findings need to be communicated
-Presented in a way that is easy to understand and raises interest.
-Visually appealing
-Clearly explain the research results and future prospects of the research
Group Workshop 15%
-the theme must be clearly stated
-the material must clearly show the team effort
 by showing the roles that each member played
- Presentation Material needs to be visually appealing
  to enhance the understanding of the subject
Research Paper 15%
The paper needs to include the following
-A brief explanation of the subject of research
-the central research inquiry
- include proper references, a bibliography, and citations
-the central argument needs to be clear

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

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

【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
【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/