Japanese Popular Culture in Tradition

  Japan

• All Other Areas: 
Okazaki

Term: Summer 
Dates: June 27-July 26

Description: The program "Japanese Popular Culture in Traditions" promotes insightful understanding of how the Japanese contemporary culture has developed in the traditions and history. It offers students one of the most unique opportunities to explore Japanese twentieth-century popular culture such as modern live-action and animated films, theater, music, popular literature, manga-comics, music and advertisements. The program also covers the educational, industrial, historical and economic overview of how one culture grows and shifts its focus. It is enriched with numerous fieldtrips to both contemporary and historical cultural sites, and extra curricular activities such as Japanese calligraphy, tea ceremony and flower arrangement. The program is carefully designed, so that students can gain knowledge of the Japanese popular culture, learn to analyze it with a critical mind, and taste the essence of Japan within a short time frame.

Courses offered:

* Japanese 109 (5 units) - Japanese Popular Culture
    - Japanese popular culture, from its medieval/early modern precedents to contemporary incarnations. Emphasis on the major forms of twentieth-century popular culture, including genre films, popular theater, TV manga (cartoons), animation, music and advertisements.
    - Prerequisite: None
    - GE credit: Arts & Humanities, Diversity

* Japanese 198 (3 units) - Directed Group Study
    - GE credit: None
    - P/NP Grading only

Highlights: Field Trips: Most field trips are half-day-trips.

Week 1 - Topic: History: the Pacific War & Postwar
* Two giant retail markets
* Okazaki Castle
* Shogun Tokugawa Museum
* Rokusho Shrine

Week 2 - Topic: Gender: Images of Women and Men's Role
* Two schools: elementary and junior high (class observations)
* "Sumo"(traditional sport) Nagoya Tournament

Week 3 - Topic: Heroes and Evil: Influence of Religions and Nature
(a whole day trip) Ise Shrine and ancient neighborhoods
* Osu Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) Temple

Week 4 - Topic: Technology, Humanity and Japanese Identity
* Toyota Motor Corp. (factory tour)
* Kewpie Mayonnaise Corp. (factory tour)
* Bowling alley and game arcade

Activities: Every week students will experience different Japanese traditional culture. Well-trained talented masters will provide hands-on lessons.

Traditional Cultural Lessons:
* Tea Ceremony
* Japanese Martial Arts
* Flower arrangements
* Japanese calligraphy
* "Zazen" meditation

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: TBA (Total fees charged to students)

Fee Breakdown

* UC Students - You are a UC student if you are currently enrolled at any of University of California main campuses: (UC Berkeley, UC Merced, UC Davis, UCSB, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UCSF). All other students are considered Non-UC students.

1200.00    Program Fee (includes 300 non-refundable deposit)
1392.00    Course Fee (174.00/unit X 8.00 units)*
TBA             Accommodations and Activities Fee**

* Non UC Students

1200.00    Program Fee (includes 300 non-refundable deposit)
1952.00    Course Fee (244.00/unit X 8.00 units)*
TBA             Accommodations and Activities Fee**

Students who enroll before the Accommodations and Activities Fee is posted will be notified via email as soon as the fee is available. If they choose to withdraw within 10 days of this notification, their deposit will be refunded.

* This fee level is based on the proposed governor's budget. The fees are subject to Regental, legislative, and gubernatorial action and may change without notice.

** This fee is subject to change based on fluctuating exchange rate and unexpected change in activities.

Experience Required: yes

Upper-division standing or consent of instructor.

This Program is open to American and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Japan Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 16-25

Scholarships are Available.  Please contact us for application details.

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Job and Internship Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home