Advanced Seminar in Japanese Culture and Society

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenor: Dr Irene González-López
• Prerequisite: Japanese 3
• Assessment: a class presentation (10%), 3000-word essay (75%) and continuous assessment of post-sessional activities and class participation (15%)

In this module you will develop an understanding of various current issues in Japanese culture and society from interdisciplinary and theoretical perspectives. Topics include politics, international relations, economy, gender/sexuality, religion, and education. You will also develop proficiency in the Japanese language in an academic context, through the study of various key issues in contemporary Japan.

Course materials are taken not only from scholarly writings in English, but also from a variety of up-to-date Japanese language media so that you will be able to engage with 'real' materials.

Indicative syllabus

• Being a foreigner in Japan
• Unfinished history and the rise of nationalism
• Japan-USA relationship
• Left wing - the Dankai Generation wanting to do Sōkatsu?
• 'Gap-Widening Society' and Neoliberalism
• School education
• Religion
• Gender and sexuality
• Ontology of Yankees
• Fukushima - what is 'Nippon'? What is Kizuna?