Japanese

Language Courses

101. Elementary Japanese I

Mitsuko Numata M 9:30 - 10:25, T 8:30 - 9:55, W 9:30 - 10:25, TH 8:30 - 9:55

An introductory course in modern Japanese language. In addition to mastering the basics of grammar, emphasis is placed on active functional communication in the language, reading, and listening comprehension. Context-oriented conversation drills are complemented by audio materials. The two kana syllabaries and 60 commonly used kanji are introduced. No prerequisite. Followed by Japanese 102.

203. Intermediate Japanese I

Vyjayanthi Selinger and Naho Maruta  M 9:30 - 10:25, T 8:30 - 9:55, W 9:30 - 10:25, TH 8:30 - 9:55

An intermediate course in modern Japanese language, with introduction of advanced grammatical structures, vocabulary, and characters. Continuing emphasis on acquisition of well-balanced language skills based on an understanding of the actual use of the language in the Japanese socio-cultural context. Introduces an additional 100 kanji.

205. Advanced-Intermediate Japanese I

Mitsuko Numata T 2:30 - 3:55, TH 2:30 - 3:55

Increases students’ proficiency in both spoken and written modern Japanese. A variety of written and audiovisual materials are used to consolidate and expand mastery of more advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary. Includes oral presentation, discussion, and composition in Japanese.

307. Advanced Japanese I

Naho Maruta

Designed to develop mastery of the spoken and written language. Materials from various sources such as literature, newspapers, and cultural journals as well as TV programs and films are used. Assigned work includes written compositions and oral presentations

Asian Studies Courses Related to Japan

Asian Studies 15c. Orphans of Asia.  Belinda Kong.
Orphans populate the worlds of Asian diaspora literature, roaming the landscapes of precommunist Shanghai as much as post-9/11 New York City, the wartime internment camps of Japanese Canadians and postwar military camp towns of Korea as much as present-day Hong Kong and a futuristic Los Angeles. Explores the orphan figure in contemporary Asian American, Canadian, and British fiction written in English, in relation to contexts of war, colonialism, neoimperialism, multiculturalism, and globalization. Authors may include Chieh Chieng, Kazuo Ishiguro, Cynthia Kadohata, Nora Okja Keller, Suki Kim, Joy Kogawa, Wendy Law-Yone, Indra Sinha, and Wu Zhuoliu. (Same as English 15.)
Asian Studies 19b. East Asian Politics: Introductory Seminar.   Henry C. W. Laurence.
Surveys the diverse political, social, and economic arrangements across East Asia. China, Japan, and North and South Korea are the main focus, but attention is also paid to the other countries in the region. Examines the relationship between democracy and economic change in East Asia, and asks if the relationship is different in Asia than elsewhere in the world. Other questions include: Are there common “Asian values” and if so, what are they? What is the role of Confucianism in shaping social, political, and economic life in the region? How are economic and technological developments affecting traditional social institutions such as families? How is the status of women changing? What lies ahead for Asia? (Same as Government 19.)

213c - ESD. Introduction to Asian American Literature.   Belinda Kong.
An introduction not only to the writings of Asian America, but also to the historical development of Asian American literature as a field of discussion, study, and debate. Begins by focusing on a seminal moment in the formation of this field: the critical controversy sparked by the publication of Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior (1976). Then turns to earlier classics as well as more recent fiction and questions of how to reconceive Asian American literature in light of these works. In addition to Kingston, authors may include Amy Tan, David Henry Hwang, Frank Chin, John Okada, Jade Snow Wong, Carlos Bulosan, Chang-rae Lee, Jhumpa Lahiri, Susan Choi, Lan Cao, and Iê thi diem thúy. (Same as English 271.)
Prerequisite: One first-year seminar or 100-level course in English, or one course in Asian studies.
Note: This course fulfills the literature of the Americas requirement for English majors.

244c - IP. Modern Japanese Literature.  Vyjayanthi Selinger.
As a latecomer to industrial modernity, Japan underwent rapid changes in the early part of the twentieth century. Examines how the creative minds of this period responded to the debates surrounding these sweeping technological and social changes, pondering, among other things, the place of the West in modern Japan, the changing status of women, and the place of minorities. Many of the writers from this period chose to write “I-novels” or first-person fiction. How is the inward turn in narrative tied to modern ideas of the self and its relationship to society? What sorts of quests does this self embark on and how is the end of the journey conceptualized? How do the romantic objects of this (male) self help express notions of stability/instability in a changing world? No prior knowledge of Japanese language, history, or culture is required. All readings in English.

282b - ESD, IP. Japanese Politics and Society.  Henry C. W. Laurence.
Comprehensive overview of modern Japanese politics in historical, social, and cultural context. Analyzes the electoral dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party, the nature of democratic politics, and the rise and fall of the economy. Other topics include the status of women and ethnic minorities, education, war guilt, nationalism, and the role of the media. (Same as Government 232.)
No First Years.