Saitama University
SUMMER PROGRAM 2018
Course Syllabus
P.2

Contemporary Visual Art and Design in Asia and Japan

P.3

History of Traditional Japan through Film

P.6

Japanese Material Culture

P.7

Global Agenda and International Development in the Japanese Perspective

P.9 Economic Policies in Japan

2
Contemporary Visual Art and Design in Asia and Japan
Zara- Papp Zilia
Credit(s) : 2

Monday and Wednesday 1-2period[F00209]

Related Courses

Learning about visual arts and visual expression modes in the modern tocontemporary periods in the Asia-Pacific and Japan - choosing
individual research topics

Prerequisites

none

Learning Objectives

Exposure to art concepts and art works from diverse regions of Japan,Asia, Australia and Oceania

Keyword(s)contemporary art, media, Japan, Asia, Australia, Oceania

Course Format

Lecture and presentations. Hand-outs will be prepared, readings will beassigned, individual research to be conducted

Weekly Syllabus

1-2. Introduction and overview
Media theory, art historical concepts and curatorial practices
3-4. Japanese influence in Western Art
Western influences in Japanese, Asian and Australian Art
5-6. Modern and Contemporary Art, Japan and East Asia
7-8. Modern and Contemporary Art, China and Central Asia
9-10. Modern and Contemporary Design, Japan, Asia and Australia
11-12. Modern and Contemporary Media of Japan, Asia and Australia
13-14. Student presentations
15-16. Presentations,discussions and evaluation

Grading

Evaluation based on student research and presentations

Grading Standard

Evaluation will be based on active class participation (50%), midsemester presentation and report (50%)

Textbook(s)Handouts, reading materials and visual materials will be provided inclass.

Reference Book(s)Readings will be assigned based on individual student research

Message to Students

Join the class if you are confident in your ability to interpret diverse texts
and sources in English◆Field Trip on June 15th: to NHK Studio Park

3

History of Traditional Japan through Film
Friday, KarlCredit(s) : 2

Tuesday and Thursday 1-2period[F00201]

Designate Class

The purpose of this course is twofold: It seeks first to deepen
understanding of Japan’s society, culture, and people, prior to themodern era, through analysis of various films, produced by Japanese
masters of cinematography. And second, it seeks to give students
practical experience in critical analysis, and to deepen their analyticalskills and their ability to evaluate evidence, through the use of film as
one form of evidence. By reading books and articles, and viewing andanalyzing films, we will develop knowledge and perspectives needed foranalyzing and better appreciating the relationship between history andfilms, and develop a better sense of more than a millennium of Japanese
history.

Related Courses

Premodern Japanese History; Worlds of the Samurai; The Golden Age ofthe Heian Court; Gender & Family in Traditional Japan

Prerequisites

noneThemeHow do modern films portray classical, medieval and early modern
Japan? How can we “read” these films to deepen our understanding ofhistory?
Like newspapers, magazines, novels and other written materials, films
offer scholars an interpretation of the society they depict, through theeyes of the writers and directors who create them. Feature films can beused to study both the subjects they narrate, and the societies in which
they were created and enjoyed. And while movies cannot be as “true”
representations of reality―just like books, articles, diaries, documents or
any other source they are interpretations and, as such, must be subject tocritical scrutiny―when examined carefully, and in conjunction withother information on the subject, films provide us an invaluable sourceof information about the societies they portray, and the societies that
produce them.

Learning Objectives

In general students will be expected to:* Read and view primary and secondary sources critically.
* Polish skills in critical thinking, including the ability to recognize thedifference between opinion and evidence, and the ability to evaluate-and support or refute--arguments effectively.
* Write stylistically appropriate and mature essays using processes that
include discovering ideas and evidence, organizing that material, andrevising, editing, and polishing the finished papers.

Keyword(s)Japan, history, premodern, ancient, classical, medieval, Heian,Kamakura, Muromachi, Tokugawa, Edo, Sengoku, culture, religion,supernatural, superstition, samurai, warriors, literature, romance,marriage, gender, research, data analysis

History of Traditional Japan through Film
Friday, Karl4

Course Overview

The purpose of this course is twofold: It seeks first to deepen
understanding of Japan’s society, culture, and people, prior to themodern era, through analysis of various films, produced by Japanese
masters of cinematography. And second, it seeks to give students
practical experience in critical analysis, and to deepen their analyticalskills and their ability to evaluate evidence, through the use of film as
one form of evidence. By reading books and articles, and viewing andanalyzing films, we will develop knowledge and perspectives needed foranalyzing and better appreciating the relationship between history andfilms, and develop a better sense of more than a millennium of Japanese
history.

Course Format

seminarWeekly Syllabus

Week 1
Tuesday: What Are We Doing Here? Introduction & Course Mechanics“Men Who Tread on Tigers' Tails”
Thursday: “Genji Monogatari”
Week 2
Tuesday: “Hidden Fortress”
Thursday: “Kwaidan”
Week 3
Tuesday: “Ran”
Thursday: Samurai Rebellion
Week 4
Tuesday: “Shinjū: Ten no Amijima” (“Double Suicide”)
Thursday: “Hana”

Grading► Your most important responsibility for this course is to read theassignments (which provide background for the films), watch the films
carefully, and to come to class prepared to discuss the readings and thefilms in depth. This is a colloquium; there will be no lectures. The
success of this course depends on the efforts you put into it from class toclass. As you watch and read, take notes and jot down questions that will
facilitate discussion in class.
Class attendance and participation will count for 50% of your final grade► The rest of your grade will be based on one short "think piece" essay
about 5 7 pages in length, on a topic of your choice relating to historicalissues and interpretations raised in the films.
These should be carefully thought out, well organized, and carefullyargued statements of your thoughts and opinions on the topic you choose.
You may write on individual films, or compare and contrast two or morefilms. You may write on broad themes or on narrowly focused ones.
There are numerous ways in which you can craft your paper. The key
requirement is that it demonstrates familiarity with the film or films,
and that it shows informed reflection on the historical themes and issuesraised or showcased in the film(s).

History of Traditional Japan through Film
Friday, Karl(Grading)5

Please remember that this is not a film appreciation or film history
course, and that your paper is not a film review, critiquing directors,
acting, cinematic technique, and the like (although you may raise thesesubjects, if they are relevant to your discussion of historical issues).
Be sure that your essays show the results of your having done thereadings and involved yourself in the discussions compare and contrast
the perspectives of the relevant books, articles, and films with each otherand with your own. Additional (outside) readings are encouraged but notrequired.
Your essay is due by Thursday, 7/13 (but can be handed in anytime
before this).
Your essay will count for about 50% of your final grade

Grading Standard

Grades will be calculated according to the percentages described above
and Saitama University regulations regarding credit assessment.

Message to Students

How do modern films portray classical, medieval and early modernJapan? How can we “read” these films to deepen our understanding ofhistory?
Like newspapers, magazines, novels and other written materials, films
offer scholars an interpretation of the society they depict, through theeyes of the writers and directors who create them. Feature films can beused to study both the subjects they narrate, and the societies in which
they were created and enjoyed. And while movies cannot be as “true”
representations of reality―just like books, articles, diaries, documents or
any other source they are interpretations and, as such, must be subject tocritical scrutiny―when examined carefully, and in conjunction withother information on the subject, films provide us an invaluable sourceof information about the societies they portray, and the societies thatproduce them.
The purpose of this course is twofold: It seeks first to deepen
understanding of Japan’s society, culture, and people, prior to themodern era, through analysis of various films, produced by Japanese
masters of cinematography. And second, it seeks to give students
practical experience in critical analysis, and to deepen their analyticalskills and their ability to evaluate evidence, through the use of film asone form of evidence. By reading books and articles, and viewing andanalyzing films, we will develop knowledge and perspectives needed foranalyzing and better appreciating the relationship between history andfilms, and develop a better sense of more than a millennium of Japanesehistory.

E-mailkfriday@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp

6Japanese Material Culture
Nomura, NaoCredit(s) : 2

Tuesday and Thursday 3-4period[F00204]

Related Courses

Summer program courses

Prerequisites

Must be enrolled in the summer program or must have the English
proficiency of IELTS 6.0/TOEFL 70 or above.

Learning Objectives

This course will introduce students to the major themes, issues, methods,
and theories relevant to the study of things or material culture. We will
look at the variety of ways in which scholars from diverse fields including
anthropology, sociology, and history, have sought to infer meaning fromthings and apply these ideas to the study of Japanese culture and society.

Keyword(s)Material Culture Studies, Museum Studies, Ethnography

Course Overview

In addition to gaining familiarity with significant literature in material
culture studies, students will engage in artifact analysis with particularfocus on the ordinary objects that constitute the core of daily life inJapan, such as clothing, food, housing, and popular entertainment.

Course Format

We will explore these topics through in-class discussion, scholarly
writings, material culture studies, and museum visit.

Weekly Syllabus

A detailed syllabus will distributed on the first day of class.

Grading

Evaluation will be based on attendance, participation in discussion,
movie review, and a final project.

Grading Standard

Class Participation: 40%
Movie Review: 10%Final Project: 50%

Message to Students

Active participation in class discussion is expected and pre-requisite.

E-mailnnomura[at]mail.saitama-u.ac.jp◆Field Trip on June 15th: to NHK Studio Park

7

Global Agenda and International Developmentin the Japanese Perspective
Tsuji, Kazuto
Credit(s) : 1

Monday and Wednesday 5period[SA0002]

Prerequisites

strong interest in international socio-economic development issues

Themediscuss with other participants in English on major issues ofinternational development

Learning Objectives

enhance a participant's capacity to think over and discuss international
development issuesKeyword(s)absolute poverty, income disparities, child labor, globalization, famines
and malnutrituion, conflicts, mass media, private businesses,
international organizations, sustainable development goals

Course Overview

free discussion including Q&A

Course Format

think over a topic to be given in advance, present your own opinion
verbally in a class, and discuss with other participants for solutions

Weekly Syllabus

The objective of this course is to understand the basic issues ofinternational socio-economic development at present through discussion
among students and with the professor. The tentative plan of discussion
topics is as follows.
Jun. 11: What are the historical or other reasons behind of income
disparities between rich and poor countries?
Jun. 13: What causes child labor in many parts of the world? What arepossible counter-measures to eliminate it?
Jun. 18: What are the merits and demerits of globalization?
Jun. 20: What should be done to avoid famines and malnutrition on theglobe?
Jun. 25: What causes intra- and inter-nations conflicts? Give examples
and counter-measures.
Jun. 27: Can mass media be trusted in their reporting international
development issues in a balanced manner? Give examples.
Jul. 2: Can private businesses contribute to solving international
development issues, such as absolute poverty, income disparities, childlabor, climate change, food security, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and diseases? Give examples.
Jul. 4: Can international organizations solve international development
issues? Give examples.

Global Agenda and International Development in the Japanese Perspective
Prof. Tsuji, Kazuto

8(Weekly Syllabus)

All participants are expected to prepare his/her opinion on these topics
in advance and to make verbal presentation on them in a logical manner.
Course grades are given based upon active and constructive participationin the discussion. The professor, Kazuto TSUJI, has nearly 40 year
working experience in international socio-economic development by theJapanese Government’s foreign aid agencies and resided in Indonesia,
the Philippines, India and Kenya.

Gradingclass participation and dicsussion: 80%
final report: 20%

Grading Standard

see above

Textbook(s)noneReference Book(s)to be given

Message to Students

I expect constructive and innovative ideas from participants to solve
various international development issues.

E-mailkazuto56@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp◆Field Trip on June 22th: to JICA Global Plaza &Tokyo Metropolitan Government observatories by Prof. Iijima

9Economic Policies in Japan
Taguchi, Hiroyuki
Credit(s) : 1

Monday and Wednesday 1-2period[SA0003]

Learning Objectives

to acquire the capacity to understand the theoretical backgrounds ofeconomic policies in Japan and Asia, and to evaluate their performances

Course Overview

1) to discuss and evaluate "Abenomics" from the perspectives of fiscal &monetary policies and growth strategies, 2) to discuss and evaluate Asian
economic policies from the perspectives of "Poverty Trap" and "Middle
Income Trap"

Course Format

lecturing based on power-point slides, which will be represented inadvance in the webclass (self-studies before and after classes by using
the webclass are desirable)

Weekly Syllabus

No.01 Concept of Economic Policies
No.02 Outline of Asian economies
No.03 Japan’s Growth Experience
No.04 Outline of Abenomics: Challenges
No.05 Outline of Abenomics: Policy Evaluation
No.06 Growth Accounting
No.07 Growth Strategies in Asia
No.08 Growth Strategies in Japan
No.09 Growth & Equity and Environment

Gradingclass participation and presentation

Grading Standard

based on GPA（Grade Point Average）

Textbook(s)presentation material (PPT slides prepared in advance in the Webclass)

Reference Book(s)Agnès Bénassy-Quéré, Benoît Cœuré, Pierre Jacquet and Jean PisaniFerry. 2010. Economic Policy: Theory and Practice. Oxford University
Press.
Mankiw, N.G. 2007 Macroeconomics (Sixth Edition), Worth Publishers.

Message to Students

please be positive to access any kinds of information and news on
economic affairs in Japan and Asia, and think for yourselves of theessense of issues and your prescription for them.

E-mailhtaguchi@mail.saitama-u.ac.jp