In 2013, the Japanese government budgeted hundreds of millions for a “Cool Japan” fund to promote Japanese pop culture abroad. Recently, Prime Minister Kishida announced plans to revive and update the program, focusing on anime and games as key industries. The new strategy aims to support young creators and artists over many years, making it easier for their work to reach international audiences. This new approach seems to be working, and in 2022, the global success of Japanese content like anime reached a record high, showing its growing popularity.

In this class, we will examine a variety of aspects of this youth culture, both in Japan and overseas, to gain a better understanding of what it is and where it came from. The topics will include music, fashion, film, manga, anime, games, and technology. To add context, we will also consider some aspects of traditional culture, including traditional Japanese crafts and theatre, both of which have experienced “booms” in recent years. Our aim will be to reach some conclusions about the cultural, societal, and political implications of this shift from traditional to popular.

Students will be expected to do individual research on areas of “Cool Japan” that interest them and present and lead discussions on the topics they choose. Students will have an opportunity to develop research, presentation, writing and discussion skills, as well as debate the merits and detriments of “Cool Japan.”

This course explores modern and contemporary cultures in Japan from the late 19th century to today through a variety of genres and media: woodblock prints (ukiyo-e), modern literature, painting, cinema, and animation. The main objective is to develop a narrative that shows both the historical changes and the cultural processes that constitute what we understand nowadays as Japanese Popular Culture. To do so, we will focus on how the image of nature is represented historically in a range of media. 

In this class we will take a look at some of the important cultural moments in Kyoto's long history. We will follow a chronological approach beginning with Pre-Heian Kyoto and ending in the present. We will discuss the religion, geography, art, literature and architecture of Kyoto. The class will visit some of the temples and shrines that we talk about during class time. Students should understand the role of geography and the historical importance of location. Gaining an understanding of Kyoto's central position in the history and culture of Japan is the aim of this class.

This course introduces the Zen culture of Kyoto expressed through its gardens. It focuses on the history of Zen, its philosophy, aesthetics, and attitudes to daily life, as well as understanding its relationship to the history of the garden and the different types of arrangements. Special emphasis is placed on the contribution of famous gardener monks and on the doctrinal approaches offered by the different branches. An exchange with a Zen monk and a guided study tour to relevant temples and gardens in the city of Kyoto are planned to strengthen the debates and discussions, as well as to help the formation of research groups for the final evaluation. The study of Zen, the practice of meditation, and an understanding of ecology, religion, art, and garden design principles are pursued to develop a deeper understanding of Japan and awaken a more sensitive disposition in the student towards nature.