Course Overview

The objective of this course is to help students better understand Japanese politics using the tools and theories of political science. The target of this course is advanced undergraduate students who would like to study Japanese politics in a rigorous manner and/or who would like to study Political Science using Japan as a case. To this end, this course covers a variety of topics including Japanese party politics, policymaking, political institutions, corruption, and gender and politics, during the fairly stable ``1955 System'' of Liberal Democratic Party dominance as well as the more recent and turbulent Heisei era. Students are expected to develop substantive knowledge of contemporary Japan. Moreover, students are expected to understand and critically evaluate the various tools and theories that are used to explain Japanese politics.

Learning Achievement

By the end of this course, students are expected to be able to understand, evaluate, and explain some of the key findings in the studies of Japanese politics. Also, they are encouraged to find their own research idea that contributes to this literature.

Competence

Through the course readings and weekly assignments, students will learn how to write academic papers as well as how to critically eavaluate them. The course readings involve different types of approach and method that are used in social sciences. In-class discussion is an opportunity for students to learn how to effectively deliver their own thoughts as well as how to exchange ideas with others.

Course prerequisites

No course is required, but it is preferable that participants take or have taken "Introduction to Political Science" (or Politics and Society). Students who completed "Fundamentals of Japanese Studies" in Spring 2018 cannot register for this course.

Grading Philosophy

- In-Class Participation (30%)
- Weekly Assignments (40%)
- Final Paper (30%)

Course schedule

Course Introduction
Liberal Democratic Party
Opposition Parties
Voter Ideology
Electoral Institutions and Electoral Reform
Elections, Manipulation and Corruption
Party Manifesto and Constitutional Reform
Gender and Politics
Natural Disaster and Politics
International Affairs

Course type

Lectures

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Other information

Class Attendance:

Although attendance does not factor explicitly in your grade, to do well in this course it is important that you come to class regularly. Most importantly, if you miss class meetings more than three times (i.e., four times or more), your grade becomes D (Fail) regardless of your performance. This is a university rule that I will follow strictly, and therefore I will take attendance at the beginning of each class.

Students with Disabilities

Act to Advance the Elimination of Discrimination Based on Handicap is an anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact Center for Diversity, Accessibility and Career Development, in Dai-Ni Area 2A208, or call +81 (0)29-853-4584. For additional information visit http://dac.tsukuba.ac.jp/shien/en/.

Course Materials Copyright and Plagiarism Statement

The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By "handouts," I mean all materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to syllabuses, quizzes, exams, lab problems, in-class materials review sheets, and additional problem sets. Because these are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy the handouts, unless I expressly grant permission.

As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with the definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of the person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated.

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university