Part-time Lecturer Koji SHIDARA
An exploratory cultural course, Japanese Culture is designed to help the students in the Junior Year Program in English to learn about and share insights into various aspects of the living culture of Japan. The course mainly comprises three fields―lectures on certain cultural aspects of the country, reading and discussion of Japanese literature, and field trips to Sendai-area places of interest. Since the participants in this program come from all around the globe bringing extremely varying cultural backgrounds with them, it is expected that the discussion in class may unfold in such a way as the students realize that they are learning much about each other including their values and sensibility through the medium of Japanese culture.
The subject of lectures includes such topics as the history of Japanese castles, the sustaining of traditional cultural activities, and the development of modern art. Readings will focus on short stories written by such modern authors as Enchi Fumiko, Dazai Osamu, and Miyazawa Kenji. As for field trips, Shiroishi Castle, a sake winery, or local temples make up part of the destinations. Lectures, readings, and field trips are often linked to one another. Students are encouraged to help shed light on each subject matter from the viewpoint of their distinctive cultural background.
For each subject matter that we deal with in the course, our discussion will most likely encompass a broad range of the subject from historical perspective to business implications. Participants are encouraged to help shed light on each topic from the viewpoint of their distinctive cultural background.
Scene of a Class
