2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Japanese language and culture courses
Japanese Culture: Language and literature
- Academic unit or major
- Japanese language and culture courses
- Instructor(s)
- Hilofumi Yamamoto
- Class Format
- Exercise (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAJ.C301
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is for international students.
This course aims to acquire systematic knowledge of Japanese culture than fragmentary knowledge.
In this course, students will learn the basic knowledge to read the more advanced Japanese articles and literature.
Students will study language and culture through discussion.
Literature includes rich cultural background and important assumptions related to the modern language.
It is very beneficial for students who want to acquire higher advanced Japanese.
We will read short works form classical, modern, and contemporary literature.
This course will prepare interesting materials so as to understand three types of Japanese languages.
And each lesson will provide interesting works and we will discuss them with each other so as to introduce the fantastic world of Japanese literature.
In end of the course, we will create a Karuta game of Japanese literature as a review of what we have learned.
Course description and aims
The course aims to learn the historical background of each work, the words which were used in that era; and also old words in materials that are used even now.
It is difficult for international students to master words and expressions of each era.
Therefore, we will discuss how to find old words and expressions in our daily use.
Keywords
classical language, modern language, waka, tanka, haiku, tale, novels, essays, common people culture, food culture, SF, popular fiction, pure literature
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
We will proceed lessons by discussion, related video, and work reading.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The basics of Japanese literature during Yamato and Nara era. | What is classical Japanese poetry? |
| Class 2 | The basics of Japanese literature during Heian era. | What is the Tale of Genji? |
| Class 3 | The basics of Japanese literature during Kamakura and Muromachi era. | What is a recluse? |
| Class 4 | The basics of Japanese literature during Edo era. | What is the theory of falsehood/truth" kyojitsu- and inseparable "himaku" of the two? |
| Class 5 | The basics of Modern Japanese literature. | What is the unification of the written and spoken language in literature? |
| Class 6 | The basics of Contemporay Japanese literature. | What is the popular literature? |
| Class 7 | Creating Karuta of Japanese literature and review with it. | What is Japanese literature? |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Kokugo Binran, Hamashima shoten, 680 yen.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Personal Edition An Introduction to Japanese Literature, Hilofumi Yamamoto, Ph. D
Evaluation methods and criteria
After ensuring that attendance, examinations and assignments, discussions, and presentations are each sufficient, the overall score will be graded with a weighting of 20% for assignments, 65% for examinations, and 15% for presentations/discussions.
Related courses
- LAJ.C302 ： Japanese Culture: Language and society
- LAJ.C201 ： Japanese Culture:Japanology
- LAJ.C103 ： Japanese Culture : Arts
- LAJ.C102 ： Japanese Culture : Adaptation
- LAJ.C101 ： Japanese Culture : Society
Prerequisites
Only 3rd and 4th year of international students can attend the course.
Participation in class should be active and cooperative.
Other
It is recommended to bring a computer or terminal with internet access.
This course can be transferred to Liberal Arts 100, 200, or 300.