Hiroshima University Syllabus

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Japanese
Academic Year 2024Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences International Peace and Co-existence Program
Lecture Code WMG01301 Subject Classification Specialized Education
Subject Name Politics in Japan
Subject Name
(Katakana)
 
Subject Name in
English
Politics in Japan
Instructor MORIBE SEIICHI
Instructor
(Katakana)
モリベ セイイチ
Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year,  Second Semester,  3Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms (3T) Mon5-8:IDEC 207
Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details)
 
※This lecture is given in English. A course book (text book) is used. Pictures and graphs are shown on a screen. The professor tells a lot and students are required to take part in discussion.  
Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week   Language of Instruction E : English
Course Level 5 : Graduate Basic
Course Area(Area) 24 : Social Sciences
Course Area(Discipline) 02 : Political Science
Eligible Students For students of graduate schools who can speak English
Keywords  Politics, The houses of Diet, The Cabinet, Political Parties, Interest Groups, Local Government  and Bureaucracy 
Special Subject for Teacher Education   Special Subject  
Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
 
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
 
Class Objectives
/Class Outline
 This lecture is aimed at providing an overview of contemporary Japan's politics and promoting an understanding for the structure and key institutions of Japanese Government. Simultaneously students are expected to understand basic concepts and ideas of Politics through the case studies of Japan's politics and comparative political studies.   
Class Schedule lesson 1  Guidance and Introduction for this lecture and to comment the course book.
lesson 2  Constitutional Monarchy: the Emperor of Japan.
lesson 3  Political History "the 1955 System" Part 1.
          Chapter 3 in the course book.
lesson 4  Political History "the 1955 System" Part 2.
          Chapter 3
lesson 5  LDP out of Power and its return, Part 1.
          Chapter 4 in the course book.
lesson 6  Abe Cabinet and after it
          Chapter 4.
lesson 7  Cabinet system and the "Presidentialization" of Politics.
           Part 1.
lesson 8  Cabinet system and the "Presidentialization" of Politics.
           Part 2.
lesson 9  Two houses of Diet (parliament) Part 1.
          Chapter 5
lesson10  Two houses of Diet (parliament) Part 2.
          Chapter 5
lesson 11  Bureaucratic Structure and their Reform;  Part 1
           Chapter 6
lesson 12  Bureaucratic Structure and their Reform;  Part 2
           Chapter 6
lesson 13  Non-State Actors
           Chapter 8
lesson 14  Local Government;
           Chapter 7
lesson 15 Final Discussion: Conclusion

Term paper, an essay, should be required.  
Text/Reference
Books,etc.
Course Book: Ian Neary, The State and Politics in Japan, Second edition. Cambridge, Polity Press: 2019. ISBN 13: 978-0-7456-6048-6 (pb) 
PC or AV used in
Class,etc.
 
(More Details)  The Course book, Power Point or some other visual stuffs are always used. 
Learning techniques to be incorporated  
Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review
 Students are expected to read at least the chapter shown on the schedule in advance of each lecture. I am going to explain more details of the topics and comment the descriptions of the chapter. Then we, students and I will be discussing about topics of the chapter.   
Requirements Students are required to have enough English skill to listen and speak it.
This lecture can be given as a normal in-person lecture. I am going to inform you the detail of the lecture at the beginning of the course.   
Grading Method 1) Course work (It means to read the course book in advance and answer the question from teacher and  take part in discussion about the day's topics. )
2) An essay, the deadline will be in the middle of December. Student will be given more information about it in the way of the course.  
Practical Experience  
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it  
Message Be slowly but surely! 
Other I am going to challenge to tell a joke often, but my jokes have not always caught students' fancy. Very sad!? 
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching. 
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