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In this course, students will engage in a three-week language and cultural immersion experience in Japan. During their stay in Japan, students will participate in a two-week language and culture program at Hosei University in Tokyo as well as trips to Kyoto, Osaka, Kamakura, and Mt. Fuji. Students with various levels of Japanese language proficiency-from beginning (with no previous experience) to advanced-may participate in this course. In addition to the assignments (written and oral) in the Japanese language course, students will engage in reflection on their intercultural experience via group discussions and essays.

Examination of premodern East Asia (to 1644) with emphasis on East Asian philosophical and spiritual traditions and how these traditions affected the development of East Asian civilizations; the contribution East Asia played in the development of European and world history; and to challenge Euro-centric perspectives that often view East Asia civilizations as static. Some particular themes include how Confucianism created a self-regulated society, how Chinese civilization was able to maintain cultural continuity for 3000 years, the role of the Mongols in the making of the modern world, and Japanese samurai culture. This course uses several East Asian films.

This course offers a survey of representative works of modern Japanese literature (1868-the present). We will explore Japanese literature within its cultural and historical contexts and will discuss various literary themes, trends, and styles. We will also examine a few topics of contemporary Japanese popular culture, such as manga and anime. This course consists of four units: the Meiji period, the Taisho period, the post-war period, and contemporary popular culture.

Taught in English, this course introduces students to Japanese film by surveying the works of major directors, ranging from such early masters as Ozu, Mizoguchi, and Kurosawa, to such contemporary filmmakers as Kitano and Koreeda. These films will be examined within their historical and social context. By studying film as an art form, students will appreciate the aesthetic, technical, and commercial development of the Japanese cinematic tradition. Also using cinema as a window into society, the course explores such issues as the changing nature of family structure, values, gender roles, and cultural diversity in Japan.