The course has finished. These materials will remain online as Open Courseware until the course is taught again.
This is the course webpage for Introduction to Japanese Society (2022), Friday Period 3.
Syllabus: 19J2003-日本社会入門
Grading Rubric: Introduction to Japanese Society Rubric 2022
Active Learning Hours Portfolio: ALHP for IJS
Class Text:
The following open access book is the basic resources for this course: Statistical Handbook of Japan 2022
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 (7 October, ONLINE) : 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: IJS2022 Week 01.
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 (Socrative): Submit your questions about the lecture/materials via Socrative (or Zoom chat for online classes). These will be answered towards the end of the lesson. Log in to Socrative here.
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 (14 October, ONLINE): Population – population shrinkage, rural depopulation, aging society
Lecture: .IJS2022 Week 02 A, IJS2022 Week 02 B
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk2.
Q&A (Zoom).
Week 3 (21 October, IN THE CLASSROOM): Multicultural Japan – minorities, urban vs rural, prefectural characteristics
Mini exam question 1. Watch the video lecture by Kate Raworth. With reference to her key arguments, give one or more examples of how Japan can “thrive” given its shrinking population.
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 03.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk3.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 4 (28 October, IN THE CLASSROOM): The State – parliament, bureaucracy, local authorities
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 04.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk4.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 5 (4 November): The Economy – industry, agriculture, business
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 05.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk5.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 6 (11 November): Work – full-time work, part-time work, male-female (in)equality
Mini exam question 2. With reference to a specific problem caused by gender inequality in Japan, how might Japanese society positively benefit from having gender balance quotas (50-50) in regional and national parliaments.
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 06.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk6.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 7 (25 November): Households – family structure, housing, declining birthrates
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 07.
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 (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 8 (2 December): Class – “middle class Japan”, wealth and poverty
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 08.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk8.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 9 (9 December): Education – compulsory education, higher education, qualifications and training
Mini exam question 3. “Class differences in Japan are created mainly by unequal access to education.” What are some of the arguments for and against this statement?
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 09.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk9.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 10 (16 December): Leisure – sport, pop culture, entertainment
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 10.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk10.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Active Learning Hours Report Deadline, Friday 16 December, 14:10.
Week 11 (23 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 (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 12 (20 January): The Movement of People – relocation, migration, tourism
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 12.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk12.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
Week 13 (27 January): Japan in International Society – international relations, defense, contributions to international society
Mini exam question 4. What are the two most important measures that the Japanese government can take to protect the lives of people living in Japan in the 21st century?
Lecture: IJS2022 Week 13.
On-demand materials & discussion time: This week’s materials are here: Wk13.
Q&A (Socrative): Log in to Socrative.
お疲れ様でした！