JAP130 Japan in the 21st Century

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2015
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Barbora Mejzlíková (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Václav Blažek, CSc.
Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Japanese Studies – Asia Studies Centre – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Thu 10:50–12:25 B2.13
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 150 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/150, only registered: 0/150, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/150
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course aims to introduce different fields of Japanese life, which together form contemporary Japanese society. Course also focuses on the foreign relationships of Japan from the international political situation’s point of view. There is a short historical overview as a part of the lecture serving as an introduction and logical starting point for the current situation. Part of the lecture is audiovisual material (maps, photographs, graphs…) At the end of the course the student is able to:
define particular fields and aspects which influence and form the contemporary Japanese society;
characterize and explain the main (also historical) reasons for the current situation;
create a complex image of how are different social mechanisms working in Japan;
name the problems they are creating;
evaluate particular fields and aspects influencing contemporary Japanese society.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Geography of Japan – location, nature, calamities, prefectures
  • 3. Industry and economy (self sufficiency rate, bubble economy), infrastructure
  • 4. Japan and international relationship (territorial dispute over Kuril Islands, Takeshima and Senkaku)
  • 5. Political system (constitution, election model, prime minister, emperor)
  • 6. Population (homogeneity vs. heterogeneity, national minorities, ageing society)
  • 7. Family, marriage, fertility (female role in society)
  • 8. Unemployment (freeters, parasite singles, batteki…)
  • 9. Education system
  • 10. Optional topic
  • 11. Summary
  • 12. Test
Literature
  • JANOŠ, Jiří. Tajemný Nippon. 1. vyd. Praha: Libri, 1998, 312 s. ISBN 80-85983-49-4. info
  • Ota Isamu: The Geography of Japan. Tokyo: The International Society for Educational Information, 1993.
  • Pradyumna, Karan: Japan in the 21st Century: Environment, Economy, and Society. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2005.
  • CRAIG, Albert M. Dějiny Japonska. Edited by Edwin O. Reischauer, Translated by David Labus - Jan Sýkora. Vyd. 2., dopl. Praha: Lidové noviny, 2006, 476 s. ISBN 9788071065135. info
Teaching methods
Lecture, discussions, brainstorming, homeworks.
Assessment methods
Final written test, score 70% or higher required. Students are expected to attend lecture of this course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
General note: Předmět je určen i pro studenty mimo mateřské obory.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2016.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2015, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2015/JAP130