Keiko YOSHIDA

After the bursting of the bubble economy in the early 90’s, how have the working conditions in Japan changed? What are the newly amended laws to resolve current working issues in Japan? What are the labor power projections for Japan in the future? In this lecture, the annual report, white paper and Labour Standards Law publicized by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare will be used to help understand the real meaning of working in Japan in the past, present and future.

Marian WANG

Hafu (half) refers to an individual born to one ethnic Japanese and one non-Japanese parent. Recently, the Japanese media has been highlighting the successes of famous Hafus in professional sports such as tennis player Naomi Osaka, whose father is from Haiti, and NBA basketball player Rui Hachimura, whose father is from Benin. In the fashion industry, there are Hafu models who represent the ideal image of beautiful people with mixed roots.
With the rise in the number of Hafus being integrated into Japanese society, Japan must reconsider some of its fundamental values of what it means to be “Japanese”. In this class, we will examine problems that Hafus face in Japan including bullying and social expectations of how an ideal Hafu should look, act, and talk. We will also discuss the controversies surrounding the promotion of idealized Hafu images that are not necessarily inclusive of Hafus who may not be able to meet the expectations of what it means to be mixed roots in Japan. We will watch parts of a documentary on Hafus in Japan and delve more deeply into living in a Japanese society that may appear homogeneous on the surface, yet could be more inclusive of mixed roots individuals who are trying to embrace diverse values, languages, and customs while juggling multiple identities.

Stanley KIRK

Although known as a homogeneous society, in fact Japan is home to a number of ethnic minorities, and as a major port city, Kobe is no exception. This class will consist of a mini-lecture which gives a short historical overview of some of the main ethnic minority groups in Kobe, as well as several Japanese NPOs in Kobe that are involved with these groups and are seeking to promote a more multicultural and diverse society. Following the mini-lecture, one or two guest speakers will tell their own stories about living as a member of an ethnic minority in Japanese society and the progress they have noticed over the years.

Midori IBA

Japanese Flower Arrangement had its origin in early Buddhist practices and has developed into a unique art form since the 15th century and now has many styles and schools. Following a lecture on the history and meaning of Ikebana, a hands-on demonstration of the art of flower arrangement will be given. Students are supposed to arrange flowers by themselves after the demonstration.

Thomas MACH

Japan’s rapid industrialization in the 20th century was an economic success story but also in some ways an environmental tragedy. Nevertheless, these days, whether we look at rural villages or crowded cityscapes, remnants of this country’s traditional approach to living lightly are not hard to find.
In this class, as we explore the Japanese variant of earth-friendly living, we’ll touch on a wide variety of topics including home design, rice cultivation, food stalls, and human waste. We’ll start in the Edo era when Japan, closed off from the rest of the world, achieved full self-sufficiency while supporting a relatively large population on limited resources. We’ll also look at modern equivalents of Edo innovation and discuss prospects for the wider applicability of sustainable living as practiced in Japan.