2.1. Students develop a comprehensive understanding, appreciation and knowledge of Japanese culture: perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), practices (patterns of social interactions) and products (both tangible and intangible, for example, art, history, literature, music).
2.2. Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
2.2. Students develop analytical and critical thinking in areas such as how Japan’s cultural background influences modern Japanese life, how to compare their own culture with the Japanese culture, or how Japanese culture relates to other world cultures in an age of global inter-relatedness.
The Culture MLO was satisfied by the following courses:
Course Descriptions |
Personal Narrative |
This course explores early Japanese prose and poetry to detect native motifs that continue into modern literature. Dramatic scripts, I-Novels, surrealistic fiction, and contemporary authors including Yoshimoto Banana and Murakami Haruki will be read and written about in a student-created literary online diary. Taught in English.
JAPN 311: Social Issues in JapanAs the drive to rebuild modern Japan after WWII has slowed, latent and new social problems have become visible. This course offers interdisciplinary perspectives on issues such as care of the elderly and homeless, equal treatment of minorities, gender and labor issues, domestic and world ecological concerns, and relevant institutions that promote or attack prejudice towards heterogeneous social groups. Taught in English.
In addition to courses studied abroad at Okayama University. |
JAPN 309 gave students a means of understanding daily life in ancient Japan by way of ancient stories, literature, authors, and movies. We learned about female authors like Murasaki Shikibu and how she was a leader in women's education by becoming a renowned storyteller and author. I was introduced to different Japanese stories and mythology which helped me to understand the cultural background of the country (MLO 2.1, 2.2). Students completed online diaries answering questions about reading and completing discusses with other students comparing our own cultural experiences (MLO 2.2). It was a great experience to read pieces of literature written from different eras.
JAPN 311 helped students to understand and comprehend issues that currently exist in Japan relating to different perspectives (MLO 2.1). We were able to make our own comparisons between our native country and identify similarities and differences between the two (MLO 2.2). I was able to learn about the preservation of nature in Japan, farmer practices, modern technological issues and social issues like hikikomori. |