ESOPExchange Students from Overseas Program

We will draw on a "social constructionist" framework and examine how certain social problems have been discovered, defined, and dealt with in post-war Japan. We begin the course by providing an overview of sociological approaches, in particular, a social constructionist approach to social problems, and critically examining Nihonjin-ron (theories of Japanese-ness) to provide frameworks for approaching Japanese social problems. We will then discuss specific Japanese social problems around the issues of race, social class and gender.
The aim of this course is to take critical perspectives into representations of Japanese social problems, particularly in the media, through taking a constructionist approach.

By the end of the course, students will be able to explain the "social constructionist" framework and apply it for making sense of Japanese social problems in post-war Japan. It is expected that students will develop a nuanced understanding of contemporary Japanese society through critically examining the social problems from sociological/ anthropological perspectives.

英語 / English

Classes will primarily be based on discussions rather than lectures. It is therefore expected that students come to class having done the assigned reading and ready to discuss them. There will be some reading or thinking notes due for each class to aid students in class discussion and their final assignment. Every student will make a presentation or write a paper on a chosen topic. Feedback will be given on the Learning Management System for assignments submitted on the Learning Management System, and in class for work done in class (e.g. presentations).

あり / Yes

あり / Yes

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1.[対面/face to face]：Introduction

Review of full course material and introduction of analytical practice

2.[対面/face to face]：Sociological Approaches to Social Problems

Introduction to the social constructionist perspective on social problems (self introduction due)

3.[対面/face to face]：Approaches to Japanese Society: Nihonjin-ron

Overview of key concepts in Nihonjin-ron

4.[対面/face to face]：Critical Approaches to Japanese Society

Overview of critiques against Nihonjin-ron

5.[対面/face to face]：A Case Study of a Japanese Social Problem

Lecture and reading by professor, and students' generated materials

6.[対面/face to face]：Approaching Japanese Social Problems

Discussion of media reports on Japanese social problems

7.[対面/face to face]：The issue of race and its development in Japan.

Readings on the idea of race as a theoretical concept as it exists in Japan.

8.[対面/face to face]：Contemporary race and ethnicity

Readings and visual contemporary representation of race students will get a chance to apply the concepts from the previous class

9.[対面/face to face]：Socio-economic differences in Japan

Looking at the social consequences of "bubble" Japan and affluence.

10.[対面/face to face]：Appearance of poverty

Looking at the shifting economic differences as compared to the social construction of class differences

11.[対面/face to face]：Gender in Japan

The social construction of gender across cultures including Japan

12.[対面/face to face]：Shifting femininity

Looking at the differences of postwar housewives to working working women

13.[対面/face to face]：New masculinities

Salaryman to post-bubble new types of manhood

14.[対面/face to face]：Summing up

Summary and discussion of media reports on Japanese social problems

Students are expected to complete regular reading assignments prior to class and to be ready for productive discussions on the assigned readings. They will need to prepare reading/thinking notes for each class. Students will make a presentation and do a final project to be decided based on the skills and interests of the students. Students should expect to spend roughly 4 hours per week for preparation/review outside of class.

We will not use a textbook. Required readings will be provided by the instructor.

Goodman, Roger, Yuki Imoto, and Tuukka H. I. Toivonen. A Sociology of Japanese Youth: From Returnees to NEETs. London: Routledge, 2012.

Active class participation: 40%
Reading notes: 50%
Presentation(s): 10%

Students gave positive feedback on discussions and flexibility of topics, so I will continue to include discussions and topic flexibility in the course.

We will use the Learning Management System available from the university.

You must attend the first class if you are interested in the course. We may have student selection in the first class, depending on the number of interested students.
Students must be ready to bring in and share their reading and/or research notes for each class. They must be ready to discuss, and work collaboratively with other students on reading questions and small research projects in each class. Non-participation will lead to grade penalty. Come to this class ready work share and talk.