JAP4515 – Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The Heisei period has given way to the Reiwa period, and Japan is standing at a crossroads. The social structures that contributed to the post-war economic miracle (e.g., life-time employment and the competitive education system) have lost their self-evidence, and growth has long stagnated. Contemporary Japan has been characterised as a "post-growth society". It faces challenges such as a rapidly ageing population, ongoing rural decline, far-reaching gender inequality, and serious environmental problems. The authorities appear unable to solve these problems, and political participation is low. Popular myths about Japanese society as homogeneous and egalitarian are challenged by scholars and activists, yet remain popular.
Despite these challenges, Japan continues to be an important player internationally, both politically and economically. Japanese popular culture has spread throughout the world, and the "Cool Japan" brand remains strong. Meanwhile, authorities and local actors actively seek to revitalise "traditional culture" and "national heritage" in a bid to promote tourism and prevent depopulation. The disasters of 2011 and the pandemic of 2020-2022 have caused serious crises, but they have also given way to new types of social activism, community outreach, and environmental advocacy.
This is a research-based course that requires active participation from all students. Each semester, we focus on one overarching topic, which is approached from various theoretical and thematic angles. This topic serves as a prism for the study of contemporary Japanese culture and society.
In previous years, these topics were "Indigenous Minorities in Contemporary Japan","The Production of Heritage in Contemporary Japan", "Multispecies Japan", "Japan in the Anthropocene", "Coastal Communities in Contemporary Japan: Coping with Social and Environmental Change", "Food, Sociality, and Power", and "Popular Culture: From Godzilla of Post-War Japan to Rilakkuma of Precarious Japan."
In the autumn of 2024, the overarching course topic will be "Ritual transformations in contemporary Japan". Some scholars have argued that Japan is a secularised society, in which religion no longer plays an important role. Others disagree, arguing that ritual traditions and associated beliefs are subject to change, but continue to be important. In this course, we read recent anthropological and sociological studies that discuss the changing significance of ritual practices in the Reiwa period. Topics that will be discussed include rural depopulation and ritual transformations, religious heritage-making and tourism, the changing meanings of festivals (matsuri), ritual responses to disaster, changing funeral practices and memorial rites, religious responses to environmental crises, legal conflicts surrounding "religion" and "spirituality", Shinto nationalism, the transformations of so-called "new religions", Indigenous ritual practices, and migrant religions.
Learning outcome
This course uses both Japanese- and English-language materials.
- You will practice reading and translating Japanese texts of a variety of genres, and improve your skills in using Japanese materials for your own writing.
- You will critically read English-language articles, both on broader, theoretical issues and on Japanese cases.
- You will be asked to reflect upon these readings and learn how to apply them, in written texts as well as oral presentations and discussions.
- You will improve your academic writing skills by means of several writing assignments, in which you are expected to integrate different theoretical perspectives, relating your findings to relevant academic debates.
- You will practice your presentation skills and learn to present your research orally.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Please see the admission requirements defined by the programme option Japan Studies.
Students enrolled in other MA programs (e.g., social anthropology, religious studies, or Chinese studies) who do not master Japanese may request admission to this course if it is relevant for their studies. They will be given additional readings and assignments to make up for the fact that they cannot read the Japanese texts.
Teaching
The course consists of 10 classes of 3 hours each. Students are expected to be prepared for classes and to participate actively in discussion.
Compulsory activity:
- Compulsory activity: Oral assignment: Several oral presentations in the course of the semester
- Compulsory attendance: You are required to attend 80% of the seminar teaching. In this course, you must attend 8 out of 10 seminars
You will find more information about the requirements for the compulsory assignment(s) and the deadlines in Canvas.
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.
Absence from compulsory activities:
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:
The approved compulsory activity remains valid for the two following semesters in which the course is offered. However, exceptions may arise if the course undergoes changes in its assessment format, teaching, or other significant modifications.
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Portfolio exam
The exam is a portfolio consisting of several writing assignments, to be submitted at different moments during the semester. A detailed description of the assignments and deadlines will be provided during the first class and on Canvas.
One standard page is approximately 2300 characters without spaces, including references. The front page and bibliography are not included in the page count.
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.
All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.