2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Japanese language and culture courses
Japanese Culture:Japanology
- Academic unit or major
- Japanese language and culture courses
- Instructor(s)
- Reiko Sato
- Class Format
- Exercise (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Wed (W9-327(W936))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAJ.C201
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 6, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Students will develop specialized knowledge in selected areas related to Japan and acquire advanced Japanese expressions, while cultivating the ability to present Japanese culture effectively.
Course topics include Japanese geography and its cultural background, and the relationship between traditional Japanese folktales and modern Japanese.
Course description and aims
Students will acquire persuasive Japanese speaking skills and gain the ability to explain topics in Japan-related fields clearly and effectively.
Keywords
Japanese geography, history of Japanese literature, classical Japanese literature, Japanese folktales, and parody.
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Topics vary each week. Each session includes examples and discussion questions, and students participate in sustained group discussions.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation: Japanese Geography (1), Japanese Folktales (1) |
Learn about Japanese popular culture and parody. |
| Class 2 | apanese Geography (2), Japanese Folktales (2) |
Learn about the origins of Japanese folktales. |
| Class 3 | Japanese Geography (3), Japanese Folktales (3) |
Learn about the relationship between Japanese literary history and folktales. |
| Class 4 | Japanese Geography (4), Japanese Folktales (4) |
Learn about Japanese folktales and their regional variations. |
| Class 5 | Japanese Geography (5), Japanese Folktales (5) |
Compare classical Japanese with modern Japanese. |
| Class 6 | Japanese Geography (6), Japanese Folktales (6) |
Compare classical Japanese with modern Japanese. |
| Class 7 | Performance of a parody picture book based on a folktale and a written final examination |
Create a parody picture book based on a Japanese folktale and present it in a five-minute performance. |
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.
Textbook(s)
None.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
None.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Attendance, examinations and reports each with confirmation that they are sufficient, The distribution of the scores will be weighted as follows: 20% for assignments, 60% for written tests, and 20% for presentations.
Related courses
- LAJ.C102 ： Japanese Culture : Multicultural communication
- LAJ.C301 ： Japanese Culture: Language and literature
- LAJ.C302 ： Japanese Culture: Language and society
- LAJ.J101 ： Japanese 1
- LAJ.J102 ： Japanese 2
- LAJ.J103 ： Japanese 3
- LAJ.J104 ： Japanese 4
- LAJ.J201 ： Japanese 5
- LAJ.J202 ： Japanese 6
- LAJ.J203 ： Japanese 7
Prerequisites
It is recommended that students have completed Japanese 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Other
This course is open only to international students.
Credits earned in this course may be applied toward Liberal Arts Courses in the 100, 200, or 300 levels.