Organized by Yoko Demelius

The omnibus course is funded to contribute to CEAS’s research activities to examine current global issues through the lens of Japanese sociopolitical events and phenomena.

The course has two main objectives. First, it aims to dismantle the image of Japanese society based on postwar Japan that has been disseminated through the works of Ezra Vogel and others. Instead of viewing Japanese society as “unique” and “standing in the opposite of the West,” students are encouraged to learn about Japanese society as it interacts with the changing international landscape, thereby cultivating their ability to imagine a more dynamic Japan.

Second, by combining lectures on macro-level social conditions with those focused on individual lives, students will develop the ability to observe Japanese society from multiple perspectives. By exposing themselves to different disciplinary approaches, students will acquire skills to critically approach Japanese society from multiple perspectives in a global context. They will also learn to reflect on contemporary global challenges through the lens of East Asian Studies.