Culture of Japan１

授業テーマ	This is a course on Introduction to Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society. Big themes to be quested in this course will be: what makes Japan "con-tempo"? What sociohistorical backdrops and cultural processes set the stage? What geopolitical problems is this nation facing today, and why? Students will analytically and empirically inquire these research issues.
授業のねらい・到達目標	The goal of this course is to enhance students' understanding of contemporary Japanese culture and society at the same time as getting a sense of how to conduct a sociocultural research.
授業の方法	Students are expected to engage in a series of weekly theoretical readings and class discussions, design a research of their own, conduct qualitative research (ethnographic fieldwork in particular), and demonstrate the fruit of their labor in the class.
履修条件	No specific background in social science is prerequired, but students ought to be prepare to get a fast-and-good grip on contemporary Japanese sociocultural phenomena through intra- and extra-curricular investigations. The instructor insists on having students who can demonstrate enthusiasm that can cooperatively and productively fulfil the goal of this course.
事前学修・事後学修，授業計画コメント	Group project will be placed as a core of students' assignment, and students should be ready to work outside of the class as well. Details will be provided at project workshop hours.

授業計画
1	Setting the Ground: “Contemporary Japan” as a Sociocultural Phenomenon
2	Cultural Theories and Japanese Applications
3	American Game, Japanese Rules
4	Sociohistorical Backdrop 1: The Meiji Revolution
5	Sociohistorical Setting 2: Postwar Socioeconomic Development
6	Research Project Workshop 1
7	Research Project Workshop 2
8	Student Proposal Presentations
9	Comformity and Diversity
10	Case Study 1: Investigating Contemporary Tokyo
11	Case Study 2: Investigating Contemporary Okinawa
12	Case Study 3: National Discourses on “Cool Japan”
13	Student Presentations
14	Student Presentations
15	Student Presentations

その他
教科書	A course packet will be assigned in class.
参考書	Will be assigned in accordance with students' needs, interests, and/or research designs.
成績評価の方法及び基準	平常点(20%)、レポート(30%)、授業内テスト(20%)、授業参画度(30%) Will emphasize the level of students' personal efforts and achievements.
オフィスアワー	Before/after the class hour
備考	Open only to students who are seriously willing to acquire socio-scientific knowhows and conduct thorough investigations on contemporary Japan. Thos who are simply curious should avoid the course.