Course Overview

In this course, through group research and participating in the Akita Kanto Festival, international and Japanese students will learn about the relationship between traditional festivals and local communities.

Learning Achievement

Through learning divergent backgrounds and opinions in different cultures, the student becomes capable of understanding the relationship between Japanese traditional festivals and local communities.

Competence

4. Practical Social Skills

Course prerequisites

1. Students are required to attend the orientation on Tuesday, April 25, at the 6th period.
2. This course is limited to students who belong to the College of Japanese Language and Culture.
3. This course is mainly conducted in Japanese. Intermediate Japanese skills are needed.
4. The student is able to come to the Kanto Festival for two days from August 3 to 6. (One day is for observing the festival, and another is for attending the parade.)
5. The student is able to walk for three to four hours with setta (leather-soled sandals) when attending the festival parade. Please consult the instructor in advance if there are any physical and health concerns.

Grading Philosophy

Class activities and group research: 30%, Fieldwork: 30%, Term paper: 40%

Course schedule

Through learning divergent backgrounds and opinions in different cultures, the student becomes capable of understanding the relationship between traditional Japanese festivals and local communities.
Tue, April 25: Orientation
Tue, June 20: Grouping and decide research topics
Tue, June 27: Group research
Tue, July 11: Group research
Tue, July 18: Group presentation
Tue, July 25: Online meeting with the Kanto Festival Club and confirming schedule
Thu, August 3 to Sun, August 6: Attending the Kanto Festival (two days) and fieldwork in Akita
End of August: Term paper submission

Course type

Class Exercises

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Eguchi Maki

Other information

1. Students should be responsible for their expenses for staying in Akita and attending the festival. The instructor will explain about the transportation and accommodation in the class.

Approximate Cost
・Round-trip transportation
Shinkansen (Tsukuba Sta. to Akita Sta.): 36,000 yen
Express bus (Tokyo area to Akita Sta.): 20,000 yen
・Accommodation (two days, group reservation)
Farm Inn: 5,000 yen per night with breakfast
Hotel: 10,000 yen per night without meals
・Festival participation fee: 2,000 yen
・Costume rental price: 3,000 yen

2. When participating in the festival parade, please follow the instructions from the local festival club members.

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university