This seminar aims to discuss the social / historical bases on which a modern legal system might operate in various East Asian societies, and to provide an introduction to some of those problems involving the integration of different legal traditions into a pluralistic yet coherent legal regime. We will focus on the tensions experienced by these societies, involving the importation of what were presented as "universal" values and norms, and the near-universal resistance to these values and norms, such resistance being based on the notions of custom and tradition. While the initial focus will be mainly on the experiences concerning the formation of legal institutions in China and Japan, students will be encouraged to bring in perspectives from other societies as well. The problems discussed will include: the difficulties regarding what exactly can be identified as East Asian legal traditions; how legal regimes were structured through the actions of actors exploiting the plurality of legal traditions; and how the relationship between legal arrangements and the political power-structure played out. Particular attention will also be paid to the issues of colonialism, and the uneasy relationship between Modernisation, Westernisation and Colonisation in these societies. The ability to read source materials written in Chinese and/or Japanese would be of much help, but will not be essential.

This course introduces qualitative research methods and provides hands on opportunities to experience research practice, focusing on five major qualitative research approaches (narrative approach, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case study). It involves thorough discussions of qualitative research methodology including its nature, design, data collection procedures, and conceptualization. The course further familiarizes students with and guides them through the process of conducting their own pilot study related to each student s discipline and interests. At the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. define what qualitative research and data are 2. design effective qualitative research in relation to their research questions 3. collect and organize qualitative data under ethical consent practices 4. analyze qualitative data and ensure its validity 5. report their conceptualization of qualitative data as research findings

This course introduces qualitative research methods and provides hands on opportunities to experience research practice, focusing on five major qualitative research approaches (narrative approach, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, case study). It involves thorough discussions of qualitative research methodology including its nature, design, data collection procedures, and conceptualization. The course further familiarizes students with and guides them through the process of conducting their own pilot study related to each student s discipline and interests. At the end of this course, students will be able to: 1. define what qualitative research and data are 2. design effective qualitative research in relation to their research questions 3. collect and organize qualitative data under ethical consent practices 4. analyze qualitative data and ensure its validity 5. report their conceptualization of qualitative data as research findings

This graduate-level seminar provides a comprehensive exploration of contemporary media and communication studies, emphasizing the intricate relationship between theory and practice in our rapidly evolving digital landscape. The course navigates key paradigms in media and cultural studies, from classic frameworks to cutting-edge concepts, equipping students with a robust theoretical foundation while encouraging critical engagement with real-world media phenomena. Through in-depth readings, lively discussions, and applied analysis, students will develop the critical thinking skills necessary to interrogate complex media texts, platforms, and practices using a range of theoretical approaches. By bridging the gap between abstract ideas and concrete media practices, the course prepares students to understand the historical development and current state of media and communication studies, apply theoretical frameworks to emerging technologies, and develop original research questions that contribute to the field. This seminar serves as a foundation for fostering the ability to engage in informed discussions about the role of media in shaping society, culture, and individual experiences. Students will emerge from the course well-equipped to analyze and interpret the complex media ecosystems that characterize our contemporary world, laying the groundwork for advanced research and analysis in the field.

This course aims at providing understanding of issues of civil and political rights in Japan and how those issues are discussed at United Nations human rights machiery. この講義は日本における人権の状況（市民的・政治的権利）について議論し、日本の市民的・政治的権利がどのように国連人権機関で議論されるかについて理解を深めることを目標としている。

This course aims at providing understanding of issues of civil and political rights in Japan and how those issues are discussed at United Nations human rights machiery. この講義は日本における人権の状況（市民的・政治的権利）について議論し、日本の市民的・政治的権利がどのように国連人権機関で議論されるかについて理解を深めることを目標としている。

This course examines the issues, actors and processes that shape environmental governance at the transnational and global scales. Interactive lectures on the global environmental policy process introduce different scholarly perspectives informing recent and current research, with an emphasis on Earth System Governance (main theoretical debates, conceptual innovations and empirical findings). Through classroom discussions based upon pre-assigned readings and the elaboration of a joint mini-project, students further explore a variety of regulatory frameworks, decision-making processes, institutional arrangements, and mechanisms, at the interface of science, policy and law. In so doing, they engage in a critical examination of the relevance and legitimacy of these emerging forms of governance in an era of anthropocenic planetary transformation and disruption.

This course examines the issues, actors and processes that shape environmental governance at the transnational and global scales. Interactive lectures on the global environmental policy process introduce different scholarly perspectives informing recent and current research, with an emphasis on Earth System Governance (main theoretical debates, conceptual innovations and empirical findings). Through classroom discussions based upon pre-assigned readings and the elaboration of a joint mini-project, students further explore a variety of regulatory frameworks, decision-making processes, institutional arrangements, and mechanisms, at the interface of science, policy and law. In so doing, they engage in a critical examination of the relevance and legitimacy of these emerging forms of governance in an era of anthropocenic planetary transformation and disruption.

In this seminar we practice foundational ways of thinking about the complex relationship between digital technology and society, with a focus on recent developments in software such as AI and automated decision-making and their underlying technical infrastructures. How do artificial intelligence and the pervasive use of algorithms affect culture and society? How is the need for rare earths to drive chip production connected to geopolitical shifts and conflicts? The seminar combines readings of recent studies in software studies and science and technology studies with hands-on exercises.

This course provides a critical and interdisciplinary overview of the major legal and political developments that have shaped - and continue to shape - Japanese society. Drawing on perspectives from political science, law, history, and sociology, the course emphasizes both top-down and bottom-up processes in Japanese governance. It focuses on how law operates within society, particularly through constitutional, criminal, and civil law. However, the aim is not to analyze these laws in isolation, but to explore how they function within the social fabric of Japan. Law is a fundamental aspect of everyday life in all societies: it provides predictability, helps avoid anarchy, and secures cooperation among members of society by prioritizing the common good over individual gain (law as a tool for stability in society). Law is also a tool for action when people or groups feel excluded, discriminated against, or believe they are being treated unjustly (law as a tool for social change). This course examines the central features of Japan's legal system, viewing law as a social institution and exploring its relationship with other societal systems. We will focus on the role of key actors in the legal system and the interplay between social stability, and change. Additionally, the course emphasizes the relationship between law and broader economic, political, and social processes. From the perspective of the sociology of law (or socio-legal studies), we will examine how law serves as both a practical resource for addressing social issues (a tool for change) and a set of shared representations and aspirations (for stability). The course will explore how legal professionals (lawyers, judges, law enforcement officers) and ordinary citizens mobilize and use law. Due to time constraints, we cannot cover every aspect of Japan’s legal system or every actor involved. Instead, we will focus on key topics that illustrate the situational and systemic demands placed on actors within the legal system. At the same time, we will seek to identify patterns in how law interacts with and influences society. Some of the topics we will address include Japan’s exceptional record in economic development, crime control, and its low litigation rate. These topics exemplify why Japan's legal system is so efficient; not only by examining how it functions today, but also by tracing its historical roots and understanding why it evolved in this way. We will also address topics such as the death penalty, wrongful convictions, same-sex marriage, and other areas of social activism where law is used to drive social change. These topics reflect the "reverse side of the coin," where law may not function effectively, and social activism seeks to change the situation. In sum, we will analyze the actual evolution of the rule of law in both the past and present, with an eye on the future of Japan and its place in a globalizing world. Therefore, this course combines methodologies from the sociology of law and legal history. We will also critically assess the limitations of law in Japan, asking which social issues remain unresolved by the legal system. Is Japan’s legal system an example for other countries to follow, or not? Ultimately, the goal is to critically examine both the merits and flaws of Japan's legal system in an informed and balanced manner. By studying how conflicts are resolved, how social order is maintained, how movements for social change emerge, and how legal frameworks operate within Japan’s socio-political context, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of Japan’s legal system from the Meiji era (1868–1945) to the present day. Each class will begin with a methodological introduction, providing students with tools from the sociology of law, followed by the analysis of primary materials (e.g., court decisions, political speeches, legislative texts, personal diaries) and secondary readings that offer academic context.