Kai Xie

This capstone seminar is taught by Asian Studies Program faculty in rotation and is organized around a common theme that integrates the various disciplines and regions of Asia. Through readings, films, guest lectures and other activities, the course leads students to synthesize their academic and personal (e.g., off-campus) experiences in a broader comparative perspective. Students produce work that examines one or more topics of their own interest within the comparative Asian framework. Required for Asian studies concentrators and joint majors. This interdisciplinary course does not count toward the completion of any diversification requirement. No prerequisite. Permission of instructor required. Senior standing. Offered every spring.

This is the first half of a yearlong course that is designed for students who are beginning the study of Japanese. This course introduces basic Modern Standard Japanese and provides students with language skills through intensive practice and with knowledge of various aspects of the Japanese culture. Students also learn three types of Japanese orthography: hiragana, katakana and approximately 70 kanji. This course includes required practice sessions with a teaching assistant, which are scheduled at the beginning of the semester. Students enrolled in this course are automatically added to JAPN 112Y for the spring semester. No prerequisite. Offered every fall.

This second half of a yearlong course is a continuation of JAPN 111Y. The second semester continues to introduce basic Modern Standard Japanese and provides students with language skills through intensive practice and with knowledge of various aspects of the Japanese culture. Students are expected to build a solid foundation in the Japanese grammar while developing communicative skills in Japanese. Students also learn approximately 100 kanji. This course includes required practice sessions with a teaching assistant, which are scheduled at the beginning of the semester. Prerequisite: JAPN 111Y or equivalent with permission of the instructor. Offered every spring.

This first half of a year-long course continues building a solid foundation in the Japanese language while developing communication skills in Japanese. Students also learn approximately 100 kanji. Coursework involves extensive assignments for speaking, listening, writing and reading, which include materials about Japanese culture written in Japanese. This course includes required practice sessions with a teaching assistant, which are scheduled at the beginning of the semester. Students enrolled in this course are automatically added to JAPN 214Y for the spring semester. Prerequisite: JAPN 111Y-112Y or equivalent. Offered every fall.

Manga (Japanese comics) and anime (Japanese animation) have become a global phenomenon, and they serve as a great way to learn about Japanese culture. This course not only covers manga, anime and contemporary films, but also traces back to premodern times, examining illustrated handscrolls, picture books and various forms of performing arts (noh, kabuki and bunraku). For each genre, we read secondary sources and examine representative works such as Osamu Tezuka’s “Phoneix,” Akira Kurosawa’s “Rashōmon” and Satoshi Kon’s “Millennium Actress.” There are seven required screenings on Sundays 7-9 pm. Students gain a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of Japanese visual culture while developing skills in close reading, analytical thinking, presentation and writing. The course is conducted in English. No prior knowledge of Japan or Japanese language is required. This course counts toward the Japanese major and minor, and the Asian and Middle East studies joint major and concentration. No prerequisite. Offered every two to three years.

Japan has been fascinated with supernatural creatures for more than a millennium. Spirits, ghosts and monsters frequently appear in Japanese literature and art, and they can tell us much about Japanese history. This course examines how the supernatural and the strange are represented in works of diverse genres from ancient to contemporary times, and how these representations reflect and interact with Japanese society and culture at the time. Students are exposed to various forms of Japanese literature and art, including myths, folk tales, illustrated handscrolls, picture books, noh, kabuki, fictions, manga, anime and films. In addition to close readings of these works, we situate the conception of the supernatural in broader historical and cultural contexts, discussing its relation to other topics such as gender, religion, identity, war, nation and popular culture. Students gain a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of Japanese literature and culture while developing skills in close reading, analytical thinking, discussion, presentation and writing. This course has a CEL (Community Engaged Learning) component. Students spend two class sessions on reading and discussing related children’s literature with students from Wiggin Street Elementary School. This course is conducted in English. No prior knowledge of Japan or Japanese language is required. This counts toward the Japanese major and minor, and Asian and Middle East studies joint major and concentration. No prerequisite. Offered every two to three years.

In this course, we explore a wide range of topics related to Japanese culture, such as geography, speech style, technology and sports. In addition to deepening students’ understanding of Japanese culture, this course seeks to further enhance reading, speaking, listening and writing skills in research and presentation in Japanese. This course is conducted in Japanese and is repeatable for credit up to 1.0 unit. Prerequisite: JAPN 213Y-214Y or equivalent. Offered every year.

This course introduces Japanese society and culture through authentic materials in Japanese language. We study materials produced for mass consumption, including folk tales from the past, manga, anime, newspapers and science fiction. Students learn concepts essential for understanding contemporary Japanese culture and society, and participate in discussion, presentation and research on related topics. Meanwhile, this course seeks to further enhance reading, speaking, listening and writing proficiency in the Japanese language. This counts toward the Japanese major. Prerequisite: JAPN 213Y-214Y or equivalent. Offered every other year.\n

Gender roles, work environments and education systems are very different in Japan and the U.S. On the one hand, this course discusses cultural differences in regard to these three topics to deepen students’ understanding of Japanese society and culture. On the other, it challenges stereotypical images about Japan, such as salaryman and housewife, rigid hierarchical relationships, and stressful school and workplace environments. We read and watch authentic materials in Japanese, including fiction, essays, manga, anime and TV dramas. Students participate in discussion, presentation and research on related topics. In addition to helping students gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of Japanese society and culture, this course seeks to further enhance reading, speaking, listening and writing proficiency in the Japanese language. Prerequisite: JAPN 321, 322 or equivalent. Offered every other year.