ASF05101 Contemporary World Geography

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences

Lecture Code ASF05101 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 現代世界地誌

Subject Name
（Katakana）ゲンダイセカイチシ

Subject Name in
English Contemporary World Geography

Instructor QU MENG

Instructor
(Katakana) キョ　モウ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 2nd-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2nd) Thur9-10：IAS K314

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 2 Language of Instruction B : Japanese／English

Course Level 2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 12 : Geography

Eligible Students

Keywords Tourism Geography, Tourism Studies, Fieldwork, Hiroshima Prefecture, SDGs

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 In addition to population, economy, and the natural environment, this course examines the transformation of world regions from the perspective of digital space. Drawing on the instructor’s research experience in India, China, and Japan, it comparatively analyzes environments in East Asia and island regions around the world. Finally, through group work focusing on Hiroshima Prefecture, students will develop the ability to apply geographical knowledge to regional revitalization.

Class Schedule lesson1　: Introduction to World Regional Geography
Methods and perspectives of regional studies
lesson2　: Population Geography
Global North and South, demographic change, aging, and urbanization
lesson3　: Economic Geography
Division of labor from global to local scales, trade networks and regional development
lesson4　: Regional Geography of India (1)
Beyond the Himalayas: Society and ecology in high-altitude disadvantaged regions
lesson5　: Regional Geography of India (2)
Beyond the Himalayas: Agricultural landscapes and social transformation in highland regions
lesson6　 Regional Geography of China
Regional disparities in a vast nation, rapid urbanization and the transformation of the “world’s factory,” and urban–rural dualism
lesson7　: Regional Geography of Japan (1)
Satoyama and satoumi culture, regional disparities and regional revitalization
lesson8　: Regional Geography of Japan (2)
The Seto Inland Sea and tourism promotion
lesson9　: Regional Geography of East Asia
Comparative study of islands in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan
lesson10　: Global Island Geography
Comparative study of islands in Scotland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan
lesson11: Relational Geography under Globalization
Cross-border mobility, migration, capital flows, and environmental issues　
lesson12　: Geography of Cyberspace
Redefinition of physical space through the Internet and algorithms, the digital divide, and the intersection of virtual and real spaces
lesson13　: Integrated Discussion
Students from different faculties and academic years will form mixed groups. Based on the content from Lectures 2 to 12, they will engage in group discussions on the relational geography of Hiroshima Prefecture, focusing on population, resources, and industry.
lesson14　: Integrated Discussion
Students from different faculties and academic years will form mixed groups. Based on the content from Lectures 2 to 12, they will engage in group discussions on the relational geography of Hiroshima Prefecture, focusing on population, resources, and industry.
lesson15　: Poster Presentation
Using maps, demographic and industrial structure data, as well as methods from digital and relational geography, students will propose possibilities for regional revitalization in Hiroshima Prefecture over the next three to five years.

At present, the use of Canva (https://www.canva.com/) is being considered for poster creation.
The order and content may be adjusted depending on the number of students and their interests.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Will be announced in class

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Microsoft Teams, moodle

(More Details) Types of audiovisual materials used: Videos, PowerPoint, and other materials will be used in almost every class.
A personal computer is required and will be used for group work.

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, PBL (Problem-based Learning)/ TBL (Team-based Learning), Project Learning, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Preparation will be instructed during class. From Lecture 13 to Lecture 15, students are required to collect materials and prepare for the final group presentation.

Requirements Any emails concerning this course must include “Student ID +世界地誌” in the subject line.
Students are required to bring their own PC to class.

Grading Method In-class assignments: 70%
Assignments submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Poster presentation: 30%
If academic misconduct is detected in reports or assignments (such as the use of unclear sources or copying and pasting from websites or other materials), the final grade will be D.

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message Through a systematic perspective from the global to the local, and by applying spatial and data-oriented methods in geography, students will develop the ability to understand a place. At the same time, they will learn to use scientific and objective information to gain a structured understanding of complex communities.

Other The language of instruction (Japanese, English, or a combination of both) will be determined in consideration of the students’ language backgrounds and announced in the first class.
All teaching materials and assignments will be provided in both Japanese and English.

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.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Lecture Code	ASF05101	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	現代世界地誌
Subject Name （Katakana）	ゲンダイセカイチシ
Subject Name in English	Contemporary World Geography
Instructor	QU MENG
Instructor (Katakana)	キョ　モウ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	2nd-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2nd) Thur9-10：IAS K314
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	B : Japanese／English
Course Level	2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	12 : Geography
Eligible Students
Keywords	Tourism Geography, Tourism Studies, Fieldwork, Hiroshima Prefecture, SDGs
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	In addition to population, economy, and the natural environment, this course examines the transformation of world regions from the perspective of digital space. Drawing on the instructor’s research experience in India, China, and Japan, it comparatively analyzes environments in East Asia and island regions around the world. Finally, through group work focusing on Hiroshima Prefecture, students will develop the ability to apply geographical knowledge to regional revitalization.
Class Schedule	lesson1　: Introduction to World Regional Geography Methods and perspectives of regional studies lesson2　: Population Geography Global North and South, demographic change, aging, and urbanization lesson3　: Economic Geography Division of labor from global to local scales, trade networks and regional development lesson4　: Regional Geography of India (1) Beyond the Himalayas: Society and ecology in high-altitude disadvantaged regions lesson5　: Regional Geography of India (2) Beyond the Himalayas: Agricultural landscapes and social transformation in highland regions lesson6　 Regional Geography of China Regional disparities in a vast nation, rapid urbanization and the transformation of the “world’s factory,” and urban–rural dualism lesson7　: Regional Geography of Japan (1) Satoyama and satoumi culture, regional disparities and regional revitalization lesson8　: Regional Geography of Japan (2) The Seto Inland Sea and tourism promotion lesson9　: Regional Geography of East Asia Comparative study of islands in China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan lesson10　: Global Island Geography Comparative study of islands in Scotland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan lesson11: Relational Geography under Globalization Cross-border mobility, migration, capital flows, and environmental issues　 lesson12　: Geography of Cyberspace Redefinition of physical space through the Internet and algorithms, the digital divide, and the intersection of virtual and real spaces lesson13　: Integrated Discussion Students from different faculties and academic years will form mixed groups. Based on the content from Lectures 2 to 12, they will engage in group discussions on the relational geography of Hiroshima Prefecture, focusing on population, resources, and industry. lesson14　: Integrated Discussion Students from different faculties and academic years will form mixed groups. Based on the content from Lectures 2 to 12, they will engage in group discussions on the relational geography of Hiroshima Prefecture, focusing on population, resources, and industry. lesson15　: Poster Presentation Using maps, demographic and industrial structure data, as well as methods from digital and relational geography, students will propose possibilities for regional revitalization in Hiroshima Prefecture over the next three to five years. At present, the use of Canva (https://www.canva.com/) is being considered for poster creation. The order and content may be adjusted depending on the number of students and their interests.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Will be announced in class
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Microsoft Teams, moodle
(More Details)	Types of audiovisual materials used: Videos, PowerPoint, and other materials will be used in almost every class. A personal computer is required and will be used for group work.
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, PBL (Problem-based Learning)/ TBL (Team-based Learning), Project Learning, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Preparation will be instructed during class. From Lecture 13 to Lecture 15, students are required to collect materials and prepare for the final group presentation.
Requirements	Any emails concerning this course must include “Student ID +世界地誌” in the subject line. Students are required to bring their own PC to class.
Grading Method	In-class assignments: 70% Assignments submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Poster presentation: 30% If academic misconduct is detected in reports or assignments (such as the use of unclear sources or copying and pasting from websites or other materials), the final grade will be D.
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	Through a systematic perspective from the global to the local, and by applying spatial and data-oriented methods in geography, students will develop the ability to understand a place. At the same time, they will learn to use scientific and objective information to gain a structured understanding of complex communities.
Other	The language of instruction (Japanese, English, or a combination of both) will be determined in consideration of the students’ language backgrounds and announced in the first class. All teaching materials and assignments will be provided in both Japanese and English.
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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