Admission requirements
None.
Description
This course introduces to postwar Japanese society from a sociological perspective. A sociological approach not only attempts to describe major aspects of a society, but aims to understand and explain them. Hence, our goal is to become acquainted with major topics in postwar Japanese society, but also to acquire tools for critically analyzing these social phenomena. Topics will include the impact of rapid economic growth in the early postwar period on living and working conditions, gender inequality in the workplace, ethnic identities and class inequalities, as well as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and its aftermath.
Course objectives
- To develop a good understanding of central aspects of, and key social issues in postwar Japanese society.
- To acquire an understanding of central sociological concepts relevant to the study of Japanese society
- To learn how to read academic literature, and develop the ability to synthesize assigned reading materials.
Timetable
See timetable
Mode of instruction
Lecture
Course Load
5 ects x 28 hours =140 hours
Weekly lectures: 2 hours x 13 weeks = 26 hours
Preparations: readings approx. 40 pages = 7 hours x 13 weeks = 91 hours
Webpostings and exam preparation 19 hours
Exams: 2× 2 hours = 4 hours
Assessment method
Midterm exam (open questions and essay): 40%
Final exam (open questions and essay): 45%
Assignments (webpostings): 15%
All partial elements (both exams and assignments) of the course must be passed to receive a passing grade for the course. The course grade will be based on the weighted average of all course elements, with the condition that all partial elements must have been completed successfully to receive a passing grade.
Resit
Resits for both, the midterm and final exam will take place during the resit period in January 2017. Students who have failed one of the two exams only need to complete a resit for the exam they failed. Students who failed both exams will need to retake both exams.
Debriefing exam:
Students may make an individual appointment with the instructor within 30 days of the announcement of the exam grades in order to view their exam.
This course is an ‘aanvullende eis’, in other words, a required element of the BA Japanstudies. Students enrolled in the BA Japanstudies program must pass this course in order to proceed to the second year of their studies.
Blackboard
Blackboard plays an essential part in this course. All important information about the course, including the syllabus, course requirements, and information about readings and announcements will be available on the course website. As part of class participation, students will also be required to make postings on the Blackboard website. Blackboard access is therefore essential in order to complete this course.
Reading list
Ishida, Hiroshi, and David Slater (Eds.). 2010. Social Class in Contemporary Japan: Structures, Sorting, and Strategies.
London: Routledge. Available via Tanuki. The book will also be available on the teacher’s shelf in the East Asian library and can be viewed and read in the library.
Registration
Registration through uSis. Not registered, means no permission to attend this course. See also the ‘Registrationprocedures for classes and examinations’ for registration deadlines and more information on how to register.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte via: http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/alacarte
Registration Contractonderwijs via: http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/contractonderwijs/