65820001 Cultural Anthropology

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 65820001 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name 文化人類学

Subject Name
（Katakana）ブンカジンルイガク

Subject Name in
English Cultural Anthropology

Instructor TAGUCHI YOKO

Instructor
(Katakana) タグチ　ヨウコ

Campus Higashi-Senda Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2nd) Tues11-12：Higashi-Senda Lecture Rm M204

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

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

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 11 : Cultural Anthropology

Eligible Students

Keywords cultural anthropology, ethnography, qualitative research, fieldwork, observation, ethics, interview, data analysis, autoethnography

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education To relativize their familiar viewpoints and deepen insights into the diversity of humans and worlds, students will learn basic anthropological attitudes and qualitative research methods.
Expected Outcome Students will understand the basic ideas and methods of qualitative research and apply them to their own projects.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline In this course, students will learn the basics of ethnographic fieldwork: a critical method and attitude for exploring the contemporary world anthropologically. After learning essential ideas, ethics, and case studies, students will practice ethnographic observation, interviews, and data analysis. Ethnographic fieldwork has been applied to many fields, including education, medical practices, and the business world. Through practical fieldwork training, this course will help students: 1) listen to people ethnographically, 2) relativize familiar views, and 3) gain anthropological perspectives.

Class Schedule Lesson 1: Guidance and introduction
Lesson 2: Case studies of ethnographic fieldwork
Lesson 3: Studying symbols 1: Making the familiar strange
Lesson 4: Studying symbols 2: Representations and ethics
Lesson 5: Studying symbols 3: Making and changing boundaries
Lesson 6: Campus observations and reflections
Lesson 7: Photo observation: presentation and discussion
Lesson 8: Ideas of ethnographic interviews
Lesson 9: Searching topics and informants
Lesson 10: Practicing ethnographic interviews
Lesson 11: Reading ethnographies
Lesson 12: Qualitative data analysis
Lesson 13: Analyzing ethnographic movies
Lesson 14: Analyzing ethnographic movies
Lesson 15: Final presentation 2

*The final presentation and essay will be based on students' original fieldwork

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Necessary readings and materials will be shared in class.
Further readings for your reference:
Lareau, Annette. 2021. Listening to People: A Practical Guide to Interviewing, Participant Observation, Data Analysis, and Writing It All Up. University of Chicago Press.
James P. Spradley. 2016 (1979). The Ethnographic Interview. Waveland Press Inc.
James P. Spradley. 1980. Participant Observation. Waveland Press Inc.

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

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Fieldwork / Survey, Project Learning

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Class slides and references will be shared on Class Team before each class, so read them and prepare questions and points of discussion for the class. Active engagements are required for fieldwork and interview assignments are assigned outside of class time.

Requirements Please join the first class if you wish to take this course. Prior knowledge is not required, but active engagement with field observation and interviews is expected.

Grading Method Assignments and class contribution (30%), Presentation (30%), Final essay (40%)

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

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	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	65820001	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	文化人類学
Subject Name （Katakana）	ブンカジンルイガク
Subject Name in English	Cultural Anthropology
Instructor	TAGUCHI YOKO
Instructor (Katakana)	タグチ　ヨウコ
Campus	Higashi-Senda	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2nd) Tues11-12：Higashi-Senda Lecture Rm M204
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	11 : Cultural Anthropology
Eligible Students
Keywords	cultural anthropology, ethnography, qualitative research, fieldwork, observation, ethics, interview, data analysis, autoethnography
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Liberal Arts Education	To relativize their familiar viewpoints and deepen insights into the diversity of humans and worlds, students will learn basic anthropological attitudes and qualitative research methods.
Expected Outcome	Students will understand the basic ideas and methods of qualitative research and apply them to their own projects.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	In this course, students will learn the basics of ethnographic fieldwork: a critical method and attitude for exploring the contemporary world anthropologically. After learning essential ideas, ethics, and case studies, students will practice ethnographic observation, interviews, and data analysis. Ethnographic fieldwork has been applied to many fields, including education, medical practices, and the business world. Through practical fieldwork training, this course will help students: 1) listen to people ethnographically, 2) relativize familiar views, and 3) gain anthropological perspectives.
Class Schedule	Lesson 1: Guidance and introduction Lesson 2: Case studies of ethnographic fieldwork Lesson 3: Studying symbols 1: Making the familiar strange Lesson 4: Studying symbols 2: Representations and ethics Lesson 5: Studying symbols 3: Making and changing boundaries Lesson 6: Campus observations and reflections Lesson 7: Photo observation: presentation and discussion Lesson 8: Ideas of ethnographic interviews Lesson 9: Searching topics and informants Lesson 10: Practicing ethnographic interviews Lesson 11: Reading ethnographies Lesson 12: Qualitative data analysis Lesson 13: Analyzing ethnographic movies Lesson 14: Analyzing ethnographic movies Lesson 15: Final presentation 2 *The final presentation and essay will be based on students' original fieldwork
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Necessary readings and materials will be shared in class. Further readings for your reference: Lareau, Annette. 2021. Listening to People: A Practical Guide to Interviewing, Participant Observation, Data Analysis, and Writing It All Up. University of Chicago Press. James P. Spradley. 2016 (1979). The Ethnographic Interview. Waveland Press Inc. James P. Spradley. 1980. Participant Observation. Waveland Press Inc.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Visual Materials, Microsoft Teams
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Fieldwork / Survey, Project Learning
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Class slides and references will be shared on Class Team before each class, so read them and prepare questions and points of discussion for the class. Active engagements are required for fieldwork and interview assignments are assigned outside of class time.
Requirements	Please join the first class if you wish to take this course. Prior knowledge is not required, but active engagement with field observation and interviews is expected.
Grading Method	Assignments and class contribution (30%), Presentation (30%), Final essay (40%)
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
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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