Department of Humanities: Courses of Study
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Japanese Studies"Learning About Japanese Culture and Rethinking Your Sense of Self" |
To Look at Yourself
It is said that it is necessary to know your own culture in order to develop true international understanding, but why? Before you can really understand the cultures of people in other countries, namely, what they believe, like, fear and wish, you must first examine the culture of your own country, which has helped you form your sense of self, so that you can then compare and contrast it with the cultures of others. Japanese Studies not only cherishes ancient traditions and an appreciation of history, but also encourages students to search for the soul of contemporary Japan, and to think about the nature of the self in the present cultural context.
Multiple Viewpoints
In Japanese studies, we approach Japanese culture from different angles such as philosophy, history, society, topography, language, and literature. Though many different research paths may be undertaken, all can be seen to wind through the familiar area of Mie. We can find this ancient name in the old myth of Yamatotakeru in the Kojiki; throughout history, Mie has prospered as an important regional crossroads, and as one of the greatest bases of Japanese spiritual beliefs, as can still be seen at Ise Shrine, and in the southern area of Kumano. Furthermore, this district is a treasury of local dialects, and retains precious traces of Japanese history. Many literary figures and Japanese classical scholars such as Basho Matsuo and Norinaga Motoori have appeared in great numbers in this historical context. In more modern times, the dangers of the national rush to modernization have been clearly revealed through local social concerns, such as air pollution in Yokkaichi. At the Department of Japanese Studies, we investigate various cultural and social issues both at the local and national levels, from both particular and more comprehensive viewpoints.
A Variety of Research Methods
Culture is multi-layered and has many sides, so here at Japanese studies we employ several different types of research methodology. We read existing references such as historical records and literary works. In archaeology, sociology, topography and Japanese linguistics, we do various kinds of fieldwork including archaeological digs and the collection of dialect samples, both for coursework and for graduation theses. During vacation periods, we organize visits to temples, shrines and other places of historical interest, extending our knowledge and investigating the cultural heritage we find there. Thus in Japanese studies we make use of several kinds of research methods to deepen and broaden our knowledge of Japanese culture, which has been nurtured in a rich social climate over many years, and in which we still live today.