BK406002 Seminar on Japanese Present Literature I

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School School of Letters

Lecture Code BK406002 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 現代文学演習I

Subject Name
（Katakana）ゲンダイブンガクエンシュウI

Subject Name in
English Seminar on Japanese Present Literature I

Instructor DALMI KATALIN

Instructor
(Katakana) ダルミ　カタリン

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

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2nd) Weds3-4：LET A152

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

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

Course Level 2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 05 : Literature

Eligible Students

Keywords Contemporary Japanese literature, textual analysis, Haruki Murakami

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) Japanese and Chinese Languages and Literatures
（Abilities and Skills）
・Acquisition of reading skills of original texts related to Japanese or Chinese literature and languages

Class Objectives
/Class Outline Students will learn basic skills to analyze literary works using various texts from Haruki Murakami’s short story collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Japanese edition). They will also improve their communication skills and oral presentation skills.
After giving a brief overview of Haruki Murakami’s literature and its reception in English-speaking countries, the classes will follow the following structure:
Students’ presentation (30-40 minutes), Q&A (40-50 minutes), and summary (about 10 minutes).

Class Schedule Lesson 1: Introduction
Lesson 2: About Haruki Murakami’s literature 1.
Lesson 3: About Haruki Murakami’s literature 2.
Lesson 4: Presentation preparation
Lesson 5: Student's presentation "Blind willow, sleeping woman"
Lesson 6: Student's presentation "Birthday girl"
Lesson 7: Student's presentation "The mirror"
Lesson 8: Student's presentation "A 'poor aunt' story"
Lesson 9: Student's presentation "The seventh man"
Lesson 10: Student's presentation "Tony Takitani"
Lesson 11: Student's presentation "Chance traveler"
Lesson 12: Student's presentation "Hanalei Bay"
Lesson 13: Student's presentation "The kidney shaped stone that moves every day"
Lesson 14: Student's presentation "A Shinagawa monkey"
Lesson 15: Course Review and report submission

Report based on the presentation

Students will be required to fill out a peer evaluation form after each presentation.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Text (in Japanese):
Murakami Haruki, Mekurayanagi to nemuru onna. Shinchosha, 2009.

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

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Lesson 1-4：Read the handouts, check out the schedule and start preparing for the presentation
Lesson 5-14：Read the assigned texts, prepare for the presentation and Q&A session
Lesson 15：Summarize your thoughts and submit your report in time

Requirements

Grading Method Final report (30%) + oral presentation and attitude towards class (70%)

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message Come well-prepared: read the assigned texts and handouts in time. Participation in the Q&A session is required.

Other The language of the class is Japanese; therefore, excellent Japanese knowledge (N1) is required.

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 Letters
Lecture Code	BK406002	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	現代文学演習I
Subject Name （Katakana）	ゲンダイブンガクエンシュウI
Subject Name in English	Seminar on Japanese Present Literature I
Instructor	DALMI KATALIN
Instructor (Katakana)	ダルミ　カタリン
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	2nd-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2nd) Weds3-4：LET A152
Lesson Style	Seminar	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	05 : Literature
Eligible Students
Keywords	Contemporary Japanese literature, textual analysis, Haruki Murakami
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)	Japanese and Chinese Languages and Literatures （Abilities and Skills）・Acquisition of reading skills of original texts related to Japanese or Chinese literature and languages
Class Objectives /Class Outline	Students will learn basic skills to analyze literary works using various texts from Haruki Murakami’s short story collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Japanese edition). They will also improve their communication skills and oral presentation skills. After giving a brief overview of Haruki Murakami’s literature and its reception in English-speaking countries, the classes will follow the following structure: Students’ presentation (30-40 minutes), Q&A (40-50 minutes), and summary (about 10 minutes).
Class Schedule	Lesson 1: Introduction Lesson 2: About Haruki Murakami’s literature 1. Lesson 3: About Haruki Murakami’s literature 2. Lesson 4: Presentation preparation Lesson 5: Student's presentation "Blind willow, sleeping woman" Lesson 6: Student's presentation "Birthday girl" Lesson 7: Student's presentation "The mirror" Lesson 8: Student's presentation "A 'poor aunt' story" Lesson 9: Student's presentation "The seventh man" Lesson 10: Student's presentation "Tony Takitani" Lesson 11: Student's presentation "Chance traveler" Lesson 12: Student's presentation "Hanalei Bay" Lesson 13: Student's presentation "The kidney shaped stone that moves every day" Lesson 14: Student's presentation "A Shinagawa monkey" Lesson 15: Course Review and report submission Report based on the presentation Students will be required to fill out a peer evaluation form after each presentation.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Text (in Japanese): Murakami Haruki, Mekurayanagi to nemuru onna. Shinchosha, 2009.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Forms
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Lesson 1-4：Read the handouts, check out the schedule and start preparing for the presentation Lesson 5-14：Read the assigned texts, prepare for the presentation and Q&A session Lesson 15：Summarize your thoughts and submit your report in time
Requirements
Grading Method	Final report (30%) + oral presentation and attitude towards class (70%)
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	Come well-prepared: read the assigned texts and handouts in time. Participation in the Q&A session is required.
Other	The language of the class is Japanese; therefore, excellent Japanese knowledge (N1) is required.
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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