JPNB49 Problems and Prospects of Contemporary Japan

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jan Lichý (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jiří Matela, M.A., Ph.D.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each odd Monday 10:00–11:40 J31, each odd Monday 14:00–15:40 B2.43, except Mon 11. 4. ; and Mon 11. 4. 14:00–15:40 B2.43
Prerequisites (in Czech)
JAP215a Japanese language IV.-theory || JPN221 Japanese language IV - Theory
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course objective is to familiarize students with realities of contemporary Japan through a debate conducted in Japanese. The course will give students an opportunity to learn about selected social, economic and political issues in contemporary Japanese society and discuss them in the language they study. The course aims to develop students’ communication and listening skills as well as to raise their awareness of the latest developments in Japan.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course students should be able to describe and give a critical analysis of certain phenomena and mechanisms that are typical of the contemporary Japanese society and determine its nature. As part of each class will be conducted in Japanese, students will acquire new vocabulary and learn to discuss the aforementioned phenomena in the language that is the subject of their study.
Syllabus
  • Block 1
  • 1. Introductory Class (introduction of course content, teaching methods, scientific literature etc.)
  • 2. Basic Concepts Determining the Mentality of Japanese Society (amae, uchi – soto, honne – tatemae etc.)

    Block 2
  • 3. Dynamics of Japanese International Relations: Repercussions of Japanese Imperialism and its Effects on Regional Relations
  • 4. Gender Inequity in Japanese Society and Marginalization of Women in Labour Market

    Block 3
  • 5. Xenophobic and Discriminatory Sentiment in Japanese Society
  • 6. Internationalization of Japan: Myth or Reality?

    Block 4
  • 7. Phenomenon of Hikikomori (Social Withdrawal) and Its Causes
  • 8. Japanese Education System and Its Issues

    Block 5
  • 9. Fukushima Nuclear Disaster and Its Consequences
  • 10. Current Trends in Japanese Pop Culture

    Blok 6
  • 11. a 12. Final Presentations

Literature
    recommended literature
  • DOI, Takeo. The anatomy of dependence. 1st trade pbk. ed. Tokyo: Kodansha International, 1971, 180 s. ISBN 9784770028006. info
  • Critical issues in contemporary Japan. Edited by Jeff Kingston. First published. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2014, xv, 309. ISBN 9780415857451. info
  • SUGIMOTO, Yoshio. An introduction to Japanese society. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003, xiii, 316. ISBN 0521529255. info
  • DALE N., P. The Myth of Japanese Uniqueness, Routledge, 2012.
  • ZIELENZIGER, M. Shutting out the Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation, Vintage, 2007.
  • KERR, Alex. Dogs and demons : tales from the dark side of Japan. 1st pbk. ed. New York: Hill and Wang, 2002, xi, 432. ISBN 9780809039432. info
    not specified
  • PILLING, D. Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival, Penguin Press, 2014
Teaching methods
Each class will be introduced by a short lecture in Czech on a selected topic. This will be followed by a presentation of an audio-visual material or a text and discussion on the given topic conducted partly in Japanese and partly in Czech. Audio-visual materials, as well as texts to be used in each class, will be provided in advance. With regard to the proposed form of the course, students will be required to prepare at home (watching videos and reading texts provided to them in advance) and take active part in class.
Assessment methods
Final evaluation consists of two parameters:
Final presentation in Japanese on the chosen topic between 8 and 10 minutes – 50%
Active participation in class – 50%
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Teacher's information
In case of on-line teaching MS Teams is used as the main tool.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2022/JPNB49