2024 GIC Classes
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Literature I: Gender in a Contemporary and Cross-Cultural
Context
Katsura SAKO, Shannon WELCH
This course will explore gender and gender norms in acontemporary and cross-cultural context through reading literary
and filmic texts from Japan and other areas such as the UK,
Canada, and the US. We will consider a variety of issues that
relate to gender that these texts introduce such as femalesubjectivities, motherhood, ageing, race, transgender, andimmigration. We will also think about specific ways in which thesetexts address these issues and tell stories. Examining language,
narrative form, and cultural context as well as plot, we will ask
how/whether these texts conform to, reproduce and/or question
gender norms. Some key concepts from feminist, queer, and criticalgender studies will be introduced to develop these critical inquiries
and literary analysis.
If you love reading fiction, if you like to learn reading fiction
critically, and most importantly, if you love talking about books andfilms with others, this course is for you!

Literature II: Moving across Borders
Katsura SAKO, Miho WAKO
Globalisation has propelled and has been propelled by people
and things moving across borders. These movements have also
contributed to the dissemination and exchange of knowledge aswell as interactions and conflicts between different cultures andlanguages.
This course addresses issues that arise from these movements.
What may be the contexts that force, motivate or obstruct them?
What would be the impacts of these movements on individuals andsocieties? We think about these questions through reading a rangeof literary and cultural texts that depict and explore crossing
borders. The texts to be considered are mainly from westerncontext and are from the 19th century onwards. Nonetheless, they
introduce various issues that are widely relevant in many andinterconnected societies. We hope that the course will enable
students to reflect upon and critically approach the contemporary
world and their own place in it.
If you love reading fiction, if you like to learn reading fiction
critically, and most importantly, if you love talking about books andfilms with others, this course is for you!

De-centering the Human: Historical and AnthropologicalApproaches to the Environment in the Global South and Global
North
Tatsuya MITSUDA, Mari MIYAMOTO
Against the pressing backdrop of global climate change, ouranthropocentric, or human-centered, assumptions about theenvironment are being questioned as never before. This course,

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No. 5
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Course Descriptiontaught by faculty specializing in history and anthropology,
examines how people have come to construct relationships withanimals in the past and the present. In full recognition of theneed to consider experiences not just of the Global North but
also of the Global South, the course considers case studies
from so-called “developed” and “developing” countries,
investigating how people have viewed, negotiated, andexploited the non-human Other as resources, broadlyconceived. Through group work and discussions, we will come toour own conclusions about our future relationship with theenvironment.
We welcome students with diverse backgrounds and interests who
are willing to discuss and learn from others

Dynamic Post-WW II American Society seen through the Economyand Advertising
Akira ISHII, Tomoko YAGYUThis course focuses on two specific areas in the post-WWII
United States, the “economy and business” and “music andadvertisement”.
By blending these two elements together, students will be able
to contextualize the characters and strengths of American
capitalist development.
Two consecutive sessions on each of the two topics will alternate
throughout the semester.
We welcome anyone who is interested in learning about American
society and culture; however, we would like to remind everyone
that the GIC courses are not language classes and would not
welcome those students who just want to acquire English skills.

Arab Society in Focus: Challenges, Changes, and Charms
Eva Ohbaya, Doaa Zaher
An insightful course aimed at offering a profound understandingof the Arab world in its present context. Drawing from the richhistorical background to the emerging societal structures, thecourse attempts to navigate the complexities of the Arab world
today, which is neither entirely traditional nor completely modern.
The course is carefully designed to explore the diverse facets ofArab societies, emphasizing their dynamic identities within a global
context. It also focuses on the subtle transition from traditionalsocieties to more modern ones, considering their unique contexts.
Through this course, we aim for students to deepen theircomprehensive understanding of the Arabic speaking world and todevelop a broader perspective on the region. To achieve this,regular attendance and active participation in class are essential.

Advanst study of natural science I: Cognition & Design
Shuichiro TAYA, Masaya ISHIKAWA
In this course, students will learn through hands-on activities
how the human 'seeing' mechanisms revealed in psychology andcognitive science have been or can be consciously or unconsciouslyMessage toStudents

No. 7
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utilised in design and manufacturing.
In our daily lives, we use visual representations such as video
and graphics as a means of communication. However, when we try
to create these visual expressions on our own, we may feel thatthe technical hurdles are too high.
In this lecture, you will learn the basics of primitive video
production, including stop motion, while also understanding thecognitive mechanisms involved. Through this knowledge, we will
discuss the concept and expression of communication design using
unique graphics and video, which is different from existing
methods of creation and can be used even when times and toolschange.
In this class, the aim is to understand how things that people find
beautiful and/or interesting are produced, on the one hand from abottom-up perspective based on actual filmmaking experience, andon the other hand from a top-down perspective through a lectureon the mechanisms of human visual cognition. You do not need tohesitate to take this course because you think that you donʼt havea “good sense” of art. Also, you do not necessarily need to haveexperience in drawing pictures or making video works etc. If you
have an enthusiasm for creating and expressing something, or if
you want to think about what kind of expression would better
communicate to others, you are more than welcome, and theteachers will respond to that enthusiasm.
On the other hand, this is a class that is not completed simply byattending lectures. Students are expected to think and investigate
for themselves the necessary problem-setting and problem-solving
methods in order to carry out their projects. Teachers do not guidestudents hand in hand to the goal, while they will do their best tosupport the studentsʼ thinking process.

The Socio-Cultural Aspects of Food
Koichi MIKAMI, Greg de St. Maurice
This seminar course offers students an opportunity to engage
academically with the topic of food and explore its socio-culturalaspects. Any living organism has to eat and gain nutrition necessary
for survival, and we humans are no exception. Yet, for us, food means
more than mere nutrition. Since the beginning of human civilization,
we have developed sophisticated practices for obtaining, processing,preparing, serving and preserving different foods, and these havebecome an integral part of human cultures. In this course, we explore
how food is studied in sociology and anthropology, and examine ourfood(-related) cultures from a range of perspectives.
This co-taught class will meet in person. We encourage interested
students from every faculty, any academic year, and any level ofEnglish proficiency to apply. Motivated students who make an effort toengage with class materials, participate in class discussions, and apply
skills and knowledge learned in class will do well.

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Human Language Understanding and Generative AI: An
Exploration of the Uses of AI in University Classes
Kyoko OHARA, Hisami SUZUKI

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In this seminar, we will be exploring helpful and effective waysof using generative AI in university classes through discussions
among participants and instructors.
The ultimate goal of the seminar is to find effective ways ofusing generative AI for academic work. To achieve this goal, wewill compare and contrast mechanisms of human language
understanding and those of generative AI, and we will discuss andtry to recognize issues and challenges for current generative AI.
By the end of the semester, students will have learned the basic
mechanisms of generative AI, which will enable them to have theirown views on it. This will enhance the quality of their learning inuniversity and will also help them to deal with this technology intheir future workplaces. They will also realize the importance oflearning about the background and basic mechanisms of newtechnologies before trying to quickly adapt to them.
The only prerequisite is to have interest in human languages
and generative AI. Students who are willing to explore new
fields of study other than their own and to use tools in various
ways are encouraged to take this course.

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No. 10
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Translation and Influence in a Global World
Jonathan DＩＬ, Motoko AKASHI
What happens to culture in a global world? As we read andwatch more of the same books and films, do we become moreculturally similar, or is there much which is lost in translation? This
global interdisciplinary course looks at questions of global
influence and translation in literature and film. The popular
Japanese writer Murakami Haruki (b. 1949) provides a focal point,
and we will look at how he has adapted his American and Japaneseinfluences into a brand of fiction that has gained popularity aroundthe world. We will also look at how he has gone on to influence
directors in film and anime. In addition, we will explore how
Murakami has been translated into English, and how he hastranslated such classic works of literature as J.D. Salinger’s The
Catcher in the Rye (1951) into Japanese. In the process, we will
become more critical observers and consumers of global culture
and gain a deeper appreciation of how globalization may beaffecting us all at a cultural level.
While some knowledge of Japanese will be helpful in this course, it
is not a prerequisite. You will need to purchase and read twonovels (in either Japanese or English). All other readings will beprovided.

Modeling and Analysis of Dynamical Systems with Differential
Equations
Keita ANDO, Yoshiaki MIYAMOTO
The target of this lecture is any dynamical systems in whichquantities of concern can change in time. Dynamical systems canbe modeled and analyzed with differential equations. Examples canbe found in both natural and social sciences, including climatechange, logistics, infection, biological systems, psychologicalresponses, and market economy, for example. Students (with high-Message toStudents

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No. 12
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school calculus) are expected to select a topic of their interest andmathematically tackle the problem with the aid of Excel or otherprogramming languages, and finally give a presentation on theirachievement and summarize it as a scientific report.
Students are expected to learn “quantitative” analysis frommathematical modeling and simulation of transient phenomena innature and societies.

Exploring Personal, Social and Planetary Well-being:
Contemplative Arts-based Approaches to Marine Socio-ecology
Yuki IMOTO, Aoi SUGIMOTOThis course approaches well-being from an embodied and multilevel perspective, incorporating arts-based approaches. We willconsider how the wellbeing of ecological systems, community, andourselves, is intricately connected, with a focus on marine socioecology.
We welcome students who are interested in creative, interactive,
field-based approaches to learning about the sea, the environmentand ourselves.

Quantitative Data Analysis for Engineering and Social Science
Linyu PENG, Yuto IMAIThis course offers an elementary introduction to quantitative
data analysis, focusing on its practical applications in bothengineering and social science. Throughout the semester, students
will grasp the fundamental principles of data collection, analysis,and interpretation, alongside a foundational understanding ofprobability and statistics. These skills will empower students tomake informed decisions, conduct research, and tackle real-world
challenges.
Unlock the secrets of data collection, analysis, and interpretation,
gaining a versatile skill set applicable in engineering and social
science realms. Enroll now to empower yourself with the tools to
make informed decisions and tackle real-world challenges headon.

Taller de traducción: traducir literatura japonesa al/del español
Kazunori HAMADA, Yoshiko SUGIYAMA
ことばを別の言語に移し替えるとき、何が問題となるのか？ 翻訳によって何が失われ、何が残るのか？ 「良い翻訳」とは何か？
この授業では、スペイン語に翻訳された日本文学の作品を日本語に再翻訳したり、日本語で書かれた原文をスペイン語に訳してみたりという実践を通じて、上の問いを考えます。普段の生活で自明と見なされている事物を別の言語で描き出すときに生じる「ゆらぎ」を受け止めつつ、自分オリジナルの「作品」に挑んでみましょう。
なお、授業の開講言語はスペイン語です。ただし、場合に応じて日本語での補足も行います。
日本語や日本文化を違った角度から眺めてみたい人、英語と日本語という境界線とは別の「あいだ」に立って物を考えてみたい人、単になんとなくスペイン語が好きという人、この授業でとっくり遊んでみませんか。