This course has now finished.
This is the course webpage for Introduction to Japanese Society, Friday Period 3.
Syllabus (both are the same content, but there are different course codes for students in different faculties): 19J2003-日本社会入門, 312115-多言語・多文化社会論概論B
Grading Rubric: Introduction to Japanese Society Rubric 2021
Active Learning Reading Report: 01234567-IJS-ALHP (Word download file), 01234567-IJS-ALHP (PDF)
Class Management
This is a very complicated course. We have over 90 students and many cannot be in Tokyo because of coronavirus. So, this is actually two parallel courses: one in-person and one online! All students should study the on-demand materials each week for 50 minutes. You are expected to study them before class time.
The lesson time (Friday period 3) is primarily Q&A regarding the on-demand materials. You can ask for more explanations about the on-demand materials or suggest other topics for discussion. Students in Tokyo have Q&A from 12:40 to 13:20 each week. Students online have Q&A from 13:30 to 14:10 each week.
In short: “50 minutes of on-demand materials” + “40 minutes of Q&A” = “one 90-minute class” for everyone, both in Tokyo and outside Japan.
Mini Exams
For homework each week, read more of the on-demand materials and prepare for the mini exams. The mini exams are in weeks 3, 6, 9, and 13.
For students in Tokyo, the exams are in-person.
For students stuck outside Japan taking the course online, the exams are submitted by email as reports (Word files). (Note: the online Q&A sessions in test weeks are to check all people overseas have submitted the essay).
If/when all students are able to be in the classroom in Tokyo, we will switch to a completely in-person lecture course. An announcement will be made if that switch can occur.
On Demand Materials:
On demand materials are available via the pages for each week of the course (see below).
One general resource is the Statistical Handbook of Japan 2021. This is available open access. Relevant chapters to read each week are given in the class pages for each week.
The syllabus lists Joy Hendry’s book Understanding Japanese Society as a textbook. This is not a compulsory purchase, however, it will be useful for preparing for mini exams. Furthermore, you may read one chapter in the book and use it as one paper for your Active Learning Hours Project.
Week 1 (1 October) : The Japanese Archipelago – geography, climate, territory
12:40-13:20: Course explanation for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Course explanation for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 2 (8 October): Population – population shrinkage, rural depopulation, aging society
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 3 (15 October): Multicultural Japan – minorities, urban vs rural, prefectural characteristics
Mini exam question 1. “Given the climate crisis, it is a good thing that Japan’s population is shrinking.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your reasons why.
12:40-13:20: Mini exam 1 for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Checking Mini exam 1 has been submitted (for students outside Japan, on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 4 (22 October): The State – parliament, bureaucracy, local authorities
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 5 (29 October): The Economy – industry, agriculture, business
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 6 (5 November): Work – full-time work, part-time work, male-female (in)equality
Mini exam question 2. “Give an example of a problem in Japanese society caused by gender imbalance in the workplace and/or politics. How can this problem be resolved?”
12:40-13:20: Mini exam 2 for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Checking Mini exam 2 has been submitted (for students outside Japan, on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 7 (12 November): Households – family structure, housing, declining birthrates
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 8 (26 November): Class – “middle class Japan”, wealth and poverty
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 9 (3 December): Education – compulsory education, higher education, qualifications and training
Mini exam question 3. “To be successful in Japanese society, you do not need a good education. You need to be born into the right family.” Discuss some of the arguments for and against this statement.
12:40-13:20: Mini exam 3 for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Checking Mini exam 3 has been submitted (for students outside Japan, on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 10 (10 December): Leisure – sport, pop culture, entertainment
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Active Learning Hours Report Deadline, Friday 10 December, 14:10, by email.
Week 11 (17 December): The Environment – disasters, energy, nature
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 12 (24 December): The Movement of People – relocation, migration, tourism
12:40-13:20: Q&A for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Q&A for students outside Japan (on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
Week 13 (7 January): Japan in International Society – international relations, defense, contributions to international society
Mini exam question 4. “Discuss one challenge facing Japanese society in the 21st century that will require even more internationalization and global collaboration than has taken place so far.”
12:40-13:20: Mini exam 4 for students in Tokyo (in the classroom)
13:30-14:10: Checking Mini exam 4 has been submitted (for students outside Japan, on zoom)
Spend 50 minutes doing on-demand materials: Watch the videos and read the materials in the on-demand materials page.
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