JAPN 305 - Introduction to Japanese Culture & Civilization
This course introduces various aspects of Japanese culture, including history, geography, religion, government, politics, customs and traditions. After a broad historical overview beginning in prehistory, this course focuses on the Tokugawa period as the bedrock for understanding modern Japanese society as a mass society. Taught in English.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): [Prereq: (GE Areas A1 and A2 and A3 and B4 with a C- or better) and (Junior or Senior Standing)]
General Education: UDC Intergrated Arts and Humanities
Typically Offered: Fall term only - even years
Units: 3
This course introduces various aspects of Japanese culture, including history, geography, religion, government, politics, customs and traditions. After a broad historical overview beginning in prehistory, this course focuses on the Tokugawa period as the bedrock for understanding modern Japanese society as a mass society. Taught in English.
Prerequisite(s)/Corequisite(s): [Prereq: (GE Areas A1 and A2 and A3 and B4 with a C- or better) and (Junior or Senior Standing)]
General Education: UDC Intergrated Arts and Humanities
Typically Offered: Fall term only - even years
Units: 3
Having to take a Japanese course was really nerve-racking for me because I did not know what to expect. It was going to be my first ever class I have taken that had to do with Japanese material, but the first day of class I was really excited to go into the classroom and learn about a new culture. The beautiful part of not having to travel to a certain part of the world to learn about, although it is not the same, but I was going to be able do so in case a I end up going to that country. That way I would be able to go knowing something and not completely blank. What I was able to learn from this course was that not go be sacred of something new. I loved the experience because I was able to see new perspectives of a new culture and had the privilege to see how the Japanese culture became the culture they have today. It was really fascinating because it was really different of the culture of North America. It was very interesting to me because most of my education was based on the European and America culture. A new point of view of history was something I really liked, and this made me be more focused during class. This was good because mid-way through the semester I was able to prove I was doing well in class because I did very well in my mid-term. You can see it here. The work I did was focused in how the religion beliefs played in the Japanese culture. I was able to pinpoint the main things in my point of view that impacted the Japanese religion to what we are able to know today. Overall, I really enjoyed this class and I hoped I had not left it till the end of my career. The lesson I learned was to always confront whatever you are scared of and enjoy the journey.