9:00am-10:00am/ 06:00pm-07:00pm, June 20 (JST: Japan Standard Time)
Orientation
MANDATORY!! For all the students.
June 20-24 (Pair Work)
The time is up to the participants
Students are expected to introduce themselves and their universities to their pairs. The instructor is going to hand a worksheet to be completed and submitted by June 25th.
9:00am-10:00am/ 06:00pm-07:00pm, June 25 (JST) (Seminar 1)
"What is important to work in a Group"
Work in an intercultural group may be difficult for some participants. The instructor is going to offer some hints to work in groups and to succeed on their project. During the first seminar the groups are going to be announced and in groups the students need to discuss the topic that they would like to work on for the final presentation. The topic needs to be linked to the five topics that we are going to learn in this class.
06:30pm-08:00pm, June 27 (JST) (Lecture1)
"Introduction to Critical Issues in Contemporary Japan"
Students will learn current issues that Japan is facing as a nation. This is the introduction for the classes that we are going to have and a very brief explanation on why it is important to learn about Japanese issues now.
06:30pm-08:00pm, June 29 (JST) (Lecture2)
"Rapidly Aging Society"
Japan is aging fast. Its 'super-aged' society is the oldest in the world: 28.7 % of the population are 65 or older, with women forming the majority. The country is also home to a record 80 000 centenarians. By 2036, people aged 65 and over will represent a third of the population. Students are going to learn regarding the consequences of an aging society and the necessary of trying to rebalance the population age groups. We are going to use statistics and as examples some policies took by the Japanese government. Japanese students are expected to give their opinions regarding these policies, and international students should try to critically respond to them.
06:30pm-08:00pm, July 1 (JST) (Lecture3)
"Gender Equality"
Japan's low ranking in the Global Gender Gap Index announced by the World Economic Forum on March 31 has highlighted the nation's failure to close the gender gap in the political and economic spheres. Japan placed 120th out of 156 countries in the index, ranking behind other countries in East Asia, including South Korea in 102nd place and China in 107th. In this class, we are going to focus on gender in the Japanese society, which has been discussed by many experts. We are going to try to elaborate what is the essential problem and what is expected for the young generations.
9:00am-10:00am/ 06:00pm-07:00pm, July 2 (JST) (Seminar2)
"Create a Presentation"
As an assignment, the groups are going to give a very brief introductory presentation regarding their topic. The instructor and the class are going to give their constructive comments to improve the presentation of each group.
06:30pm-08:00pm, July 4 (JST) (Lecture4)
"Immigration and ethnic minorities"
Japan has been known as a homogeneous nation for a long time. Believed that there is only one single language, a single culture and a single value. Statistically, this is true since the percentage of non-Japanese citizen is only 2.0% toward the national population. However, this is not a truth of this country if we focus not only in number but in the reality of the society of this country. There are indigenous and different cultures that has been developed in Japan and brought from different countries. Nowadays, Japan is receiving migrants from different countries and from different reasons. The students are going to learn how Japan has been internationalized and how the Japanese people are reacting to this phenomenon.
06:30pm-08:00pm, 6 July (JST) (Lecture5)
"Renewable Energy Policy"
In October 2020, the former Prime Minister of Japan, Yoshihide Suga declared that by 2050 Japan will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero and to realize a carbon-neutral, decarbonized society. This declaration is a defining moment for Japan’s future energy and climate policies, and the government is developing additional policies and measures to achieve this target. Students will learn the recent policies toward renewable energy and what are the obstacles that prevent to realize an energetic sustainable society.
06:30pm-08:00pm, 8 July (JST) (Lecture6)
"Food Loss"
Japan is estimated to have an annual food loss of six million tons or more. With many people around the world suffering from nutritional deficiencies, reducing food loss is an issue that Japan, which depends on imports from overseas for many of its foods, needs to address in earnest. According to a consumers’ attitude survey conducted by the Consumer Affairs Agency in 2018, public recognition of the food loss issue is 74.5%. In response to the question, “In which dietary setting are you particularly conscious of food waste?,” 55.7% of respondents noted a setting in which they discard food that is past its expiration date without eating it, 48.7% noted a setting in which they see others’ leftovers at restaurants, 37.5% noted a setting in which they see their own or their families’ leftovers, and 21.5% noted a setting in which they throw away waste (kitchen waste in particular). In this class, students are going to learn how the food loss is hidden in the Japanese society and the relation with people’s values and customs.
9:00am-10:00am/ 06:00pm-07:00pm, 9 July (Seminar3)
"Be prepared for the Q&A"
The presentation in groups should be almost ready by this date. In this seminar, students are going to practice how to answer questions to their presentations. Potential questions are going to be asked by the instructor and the groups need to be prepared to answer those questions. Other groups are also free to ask questions to the presenters. Presenters do not need to answer the questions during this session but need to be prepared for the final presentation day.
06:30pm-08:00pm, 11 July (JST) (Lecture7)
"Special Guest (TBD)"
A special guest will deliver a presentation on related topics learnt in previous classes. Participants need to be ready to ask questions actively.
06:30pm-08:00pm, 13 July (JST) (Lecture8)
"Special Guest (TBD)"
A special guest will deliver a presentation on related topics learnt in previous classes. Participants need to be ready to ask questions actively.
06:30pm-08:00pm, 15 July (JST) (Lecture9)
"Special Guest (TBD)"
A special guest will deliver a presentation on related topics learnt in previous classes. Participants need to be ready to ask questions actively.
9:00am-12:00pm/ 06:00pm-09:00pm 16 July (JST) (Final Presentation and Q&As)
Final presentation in groups. All the members need to participate and make their presentation in less than 10 minutes. There are five minutes for Q&As. This session is going to be open to partner universities in other countries that Professors and academic staff are going to participate, too. Presenters need to be prepared to answer to their questions and make comments in the Q&A’s time.
*Lectures are going to be recorded for students who are going to attend from time zones where it is difficult to attend because of the time differences. Seminars are going to hold twice in a day to all the members be able to attend on that time. Japanese students need to attend the same time that their buddies are attending the seminars.
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