Japanese
Last updated: May 23, 2023 at 2:33 PM
Faculty
Hisae Fujiwara, Director of the Japanese Language Program
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)
Matthew Fraleigh, Director of Graduate Studies for the Master of Arts Program in Comparative Humanities
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)
Yukimi Nakano
(German, Russian, and Asian Languages and Literature)
Courses of Instruction
(1-99) Primarily for Undergraduate Students
JAPN
10a
Beginning Japanese
Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Japanese. This course offers intensive training in the basics of Japanese grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire Japanese language proficiency through various interactive classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and computer-assisted exercises. Usually offered every fall.
JAPN
20b
Continuing Japanese
Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 10a or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Continuation of JAPN 10a. Further development of the basics of Japanese grammar, listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Students acquire Japanese language proficiency through various interactive classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, writing essays, and computer-assisted exercises. Usually offered every spring.
JAPN
30a
Intermediate Japanese
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Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 20b or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Continuation of JAPN 20b. This course aims to further develop a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays. Usually offered every fall.
JAPN
40b
Advanced Intermediate Japanese
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Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 30a or the equivalent. Meets four days per week for a total of four class hours per week and one half-hour tutoring session per week.
Continuation of JAPN 30a. Further refining of a student's four language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing Japanese through various classroom activities, workbook, audio, video, and writing essays. Usually offered every spring.
JAPN
98a
Independent Study
May be taken only with the permission of the Chair or the Undergraduate Advising Head.
Readings and reports under faculty supervision. Usually offered every year.
JAPN
98b
Independent Study
Yields half-course credit. May be taken only with the permission of the Chair or the Undergraduate Advising Head.
Readings and reports under faculty supervision. Usually offered every year.
(100-199) For Both Undergraduate and Graduate Students
JAPN
105a
Advanced Conversation and Composition I
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Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 40b or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of JAPN 40b. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.
JAPN
105b
Advanced Conversation and Composition II
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Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105a or the equivalent. Four class hours per week.
Continuation of JAPN 105a. For advanced students of Japanese who wish to enhance and improve their speaking proficiency as well as reading and writing skills. Students will develop their proficiency in reading and speaking through texts, films, videos and discussions on current issues on Japanese society. Various forms of writing will be assigned to improve students' writing skills. Usually offered every year.
JAPN
120a
Topics in Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society
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Prerequisite: A grade of C- or higher in JAPN 105b or the equivalent. May be repeated for credit.
Further enhances advanced students’ proficiency in four skills through discussion, reading, writing, presentation, and group work. Usually offered every fall.
JAPN
120b
Readings in Modern Japanese Literature
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Prerequisite: JAPN 120a or the equivalent.
Students read, analyze, discuss, and write about Japanese short fiction by a wide range of modern and contemporary authors. Screening of film adaptations and television programs complement class discussion, which is conducted in Japanese. Usually offered every year.
JAPN
125b
Putting Away Childish Things: Coming of Age in Modern Japanese Literature and Film
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Explores the ways in which modern Japanese writers and filmmakers have represented childhood, youth, and coming of age. A variety of short stories, novels, and memoirs from the 1890s to the present day are read, and several recent films are also screened. Usually offered every third year.
JAPN
130a
The Literature of Multicultural Japan
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"Multicultural" may not be an adjective that many associate with Japan, but as we will find in this class, Japan's modern literary and cinematic tradition is rich with works by and about resident Koreans, Ainu, Okinawans, outcasts, and sexual and other marginalized minorities. Why then does the image of a monocultural Japan remain so resilient? Usually offered every third year.
JAPN
135a
Screening National Images: Japanese Film and Anime in Global Context
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All films and readings are in English.
An introduction to some major directors and works of postwar Japanese film and anime with special attention to such issues as genre, medium, adaptation, narrative, and the circulation of national images in the global setting. Usually offered every third year.
JAPN
140a
The World of Early Modern Japanese Literature
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A survey of the most celebrated works of literature from Japan's early modern period (1600-1868). Explores a wide range of genres, including fiction, travelogues, memoirs, dramatic forms such as the puppet theater and kabuki, as well as poetry in Japanese and Chinese. All readings are available in English translation; Japanese knowledge is not required. Usually offered every third year.
JAPN
145a
The World of Classical Japanese Literature
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A survey of some of the most important works of Japanese literature from its origins to the late sixteenth century, including a wide range of genres: fiction, essays, travelogues, poetry, and drama. All readings are in English. Usually offered every third year.
JAPN
165a
The Tale of Genji
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Often called "the world's first novel," The Tale of Genji has captivated readers with its narrative of love, rivalry, friendship, and loss for centuries. This class explores what has given the text its prominent place in Japanese and world literature. Usually offered every third year.
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