(Faculty) Area Studies Division

Area Studies Division

The Area Studies Division is dedicated to studying 21st century regional representations of the world's diverse cultures. The courses use a variety of approaches to understanding how cultures influence each other across national boundaries and create to new ones, and consider the present and future of the world culture.

The division comprises three programs:

• The Japanese Culture Studies Program explores the structure and features of Japanese culture and society. Its courses focus on language, art, literature, customs, lifestyle, thoughts, and values, discussing the process of their change, their current status, and their international significance.
• The two-thirds of the Earth's population is concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region. Focusing on this populous and economically developing region of the world, the Asia-Pacific Culture Studies Program treats such topics as ethnic migration and conflict, cultural and economic interaction across national boundaries, the influence of religion and education on social and cultural change, and moves toward regional political and economic partnerships.
• In the European and American Culture Studies Program, we review the concepts and values originating in Europe and North America that have shaped the modern lifestyle and mind, and assess the significance of Western languages, thinking, arts, and social institutions for the world in the 21st century.

Japanese Culture Studies Program

This program is dedicated to exploring the historical change of and contemporary issues in Japanese culture and society, with emphasis on art, literature, history, and thought. The program is based on the idea that a thorough understanding of one's own native culture and society is essential if one is to play a meaningful role in the international community.

Contemporary Japanese Society (SUZAKI Shin'ichi)

This course traces Japanese history, with special attention to changes in the Japanese 'mind'.

Japanese Traditional Literature (KINOSHITA Motoichi)

An examination of Japanese literature, folkways, and religious practices as the basis for the characteristics of the Japanese mind and behavior.

Japanese Traditional Arts (KAGEYAMA Sumio)

This course explores Japanese traditional arts and their significance in society.

Japanese Intellectual History (UNODA Shoya)

This course explores the history of Japanese thought, with special attention to influence of other parts of Asia as well as the West.

Japanese Performing Arts (TERAUCHI Naoko)

A dynamic exploration of Japanese traditional performing arts in relation to those in other parts of East Asia ant the West.

 

Asia-Pacific Culture Studies Program

This program looks toward the future of the Asia-Pacific region based on an understanding of the history of interactions between different countries and cultures and an assessment of the levels of economic and social development achieved. The instructors represent a broad range of research fields, including history, international economics, international politics, cultural anthropology, and religion. Each of the courses focuses on one of three geographic areas: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, or Oceania.

Economic and Cultural Exchange (ISHIHARA Kyoichi)

An analysis of the structural causes of such issues as intercultural conflicts resulting from globalization, the north-south divide, and resource wars.

Chinese Social System (WANG Ke)

This course discusses issues related to China's culture and politics, state and society, center and periphery, and domestic and international affairs.

Cultures and Societies in North Asia (HAGIHARA Mamoru)

The history of North Asia with emphasis on Mongolia. Qing China, Russia and Japan also receive attention.

Cultures and Societies in Korea (OKADA Hiroki)

This course explores the socio-cultural changes of Korean Peninsula in modernization and the recent expansion of the Korean world by overseas migration.

State-Formation in Southeast Asia (SADAYOSHI Yasushi)

This course discusses on the workings of various types of states in the context of Southeast Asian History.

Religions and Societies in Southeast Asia (ITO Tomomi)

This course focuses on studies of Theravada Buddhist societies in Southeast Asia, especially their traditional social structures and recent socio-religious movements that challenge the structures.

Cultures and Societies in Oceania (SUDO Ken'ichi)

Contemporary topics related to Oceania, including traditional cultures, postcolonial nation building, overseas migration, modernization, ethnicity, and multiculturalism.

 

European and American Culture Studies Program

This program is dedicated to the exploration of the languages, thinking, arts, and social institutions of Europe and North America, which have played a central role in international politics, economics, and culture, and to an examination of the values emerging from those regions that appear to have taken root in our collective mind.

The Atlantic World (YOKOYAMA Ryo)

The history of inter-regional communications, with emphasis on the region of the Atlantic Ocean, the world's principal transportation artery since the Age of Discovery.

European Spiritual Culture (TANIMOTO Shinsuke)

This course discusses the state of human spirit at the turns of 19th and 20th centuries, which are often regarded as times of cultural crisis.

European Civil Society (ISHIZUKA Hiroko)

This course looks at the various problems involved in the transition from aristocracy to democracy in modern Europe, such as those related to royalty, education and leisure.

Contemporary European Culture (SASAE Osamu)

This course discusses the literature and art of 20th century Europe in light of their relationship with the two World Wars.

Women and Literature in Europe (SAKAMOTO Chiyo)

An exploration of issues related to women in the areas of religion, thought, and art.

Slavic Cultures (ISHIKAWA Tatsuo)

This course introduces the culture, history, and society of the Slavic world of Central and Eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic and Russia.

American Arts and Culture (NISHITANI Takuya)

This course explores the characteristics of US culture through an examination of the country's literary, film, music, and art scenes.

American Politics and Society (YASUOKA Masaharu)

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to some of the most controversial and current issues in American politics, society, and foreign policy.