Course Description:

This course uses authentic Japanese-language materials organized around a theme in order to expand students’ vocabulary, cultural literacy, and competency in written and spoken Japanese. Students will develop knowledge and fluency in the thematic area in addition to building self-study habits for continuing toward broader proficiency in Japanese. Class discussions will be conducted mainly in Japanese with occasional use of English, though the balance will be adjusted depending on the proficiency level of students in the course.

The theme for this iteration of the course is Japan’s aging society. Japan’s low birth rate and aging population (少子高齢化, shōshikōreika) have broad social and economic impacts, which are in turn reflected in the literature and popular culture of postwar Japan. Through an examination of literary texts, manga, films, and other materials, we will explore issues related to the problem of an aging population, including poverty, isolation, care labor, gender, migration, and technology.

Syllabus