This is the course webpage for Introduction to Japanese Society (2023), Friday Period 3.
Syllabus: 19J2003-日本社会入門
Grading Rubric: Introduction to Japanese Society Rubric 2023
Active Learning Hours Portfolio: ALHP for IJS 2023
Class Text:
The following open access book is the basic resource for this course: Statistical Handbook of Japan 2023
Video Lecture Archive 2020:
In 2020, when this course had to be completely online, I made video lectures. They are collected together in the Video Lecture Archive 2020. You may also consult these for revision purposes.
Week 1 (6 October) : The Japanese Archipelago – geography, climate, territory
Course explanation. Each class includes the following components:
Lecture: A short lecture (10-25 minutes). The lecture materials (slides and script) are available by clicking the link:
On-demand materials & discussion time: Read/watch the materials in the on-demand materials pages. You may navigate around the materials page using this navigation bar:
On-demand materials navigation bar: IJS homepage, Wk1, Wk2, Wk3, Wk4, Wk5, Wk6, Wk7, Wk8, Wk9, Wk10, Wk11, Wk12, Wk13
Or use the links in each week below. Discuss in small groups and prepare questions. This week’s materials are here: Wk1.
Q&A: We will have time each week to answer your questions (decided in your groups) about the class materials, and more generally about Japanese society.
Mini-exams: These are 30-minute tests in Weeks 3, 6, 9 and 13. They are the main part of your assessment for the term. See below for the questions.
Week 2 (13 October): Population – population shrinkage, rural depopulation, aging society
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk2.
Q&A
Week 3 (20 October): Multicultural Japan – minorities, urban vs rural, prefectural characteristics
Mini exam question 1. The summer of 2023 was the hottest on record in Japan. The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is clear. Give 1 reason why Japan’s shrinking/aging population will make it easier to reduce Japan’s CO2 emissions. And give 1 reason why Japan’s shrinking/aging population will make it more difficult to reduce Japan’s CO2 emissions.
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk3.
Q&A
Week 4 (27 October): The State – parliament, bureaucracy, local authorities
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk4.
Q&A
Week 5 (3 November): The Economy – industry, agriculture, business
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk5.
Q&A
Week 6 (10 November): Work – full-time work, part-time work, male-female (in)equality
Mini exam question 2. “Japan should force companies with over 100 employees to have equal numbers of female and male managers”. Give some arguments for this statement, and some arguments against it.
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk6.
Q&A
Week 7 (17 November): Households – family structure, housing, declining birthrates
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: Discuss in groups the types of household in this PDF file: IJS Week 07 Household types. This week’s other materials are here: Wk7.
Q&A
Week 8 (1 December): Class – “middle class Japan”, wealth and poverty
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk8.
Q&A
Week 9 (8 December): Education – compulsory education, higher education, qualifications and training
Mini exam question 3. “The Japanese education system is not fair. It gives a huge, unfair advantage to the wealthy.” What are some of the arguments for and against this statement?
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk9.
Q&A
Week 10 (15 December): Leisure – sport, pop culture, entertainment
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk10.
Q&A
Active Learning Hours Report Deadline, Friday 15 December, 14:10.
Week 11 (22 December): The Environment – disasters, energy, nature
Lecture: See the on-demand materials page …
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk11.
Q&A
Week 12 (12 January): The Movement of People – relocation, migration, tourism
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk12.
Q&A
Week 13 (19 January): Japan in International Society – international relations, defense, contributions to international society
Mini exam question 4. “In the 21st century, the Japanese people will be safer if the government uses taxpayers’ money on fighting climate change rather than on strengthening the Japanese military.” Discuss arguments for and against this statement.
Lecture:
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk13.
Q&A
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