The purpose of this course is to examine how Japan’s transformation into a modern nation was shaped and represented through visual culture. Great emphasis is placed on group work, as students are expected to actively collaborate with peers to analyze visual materials, share perspectives, and co-construct knowledge. Through these interactive and cooperative activities, students will also have the opportunity to enhance their English communication skills and connect with a community of internationally minded peers. この授業では、日本が近代国家へと変化していく過程を、当時の絵画や写真、広告などの「視覚資料」を通して学びます。授業では、オンライン教材やビデオ講義、歴史資料を用いながら、ディスカッションや課題に取り組みます。特にグループワークを重視しており、視覚資料の分析やプレゼンテーションなどを通して、学生同士が協力しながら学びを深めていきます。これらの活動を通して、視覚的リテラシー、歴史的思考力、異文化理解力を養うとともに、英語によるコミュニケーション能力の向上も目指します。国際的な視野を広げたい方や、英語を実践的に使って学びたい方に適した内容となっています。

　法学を学ぶと、どのような興味深い課題に出会い、かかわることができるのか。その一端がわかるよう、法学部の教員のうち13名が、1人1コマずつ、いま関心を持って取り組んでいる具体的課題を紹介します。質疑応答の時間を多めに取ります。 　法学を学んだ経験が全くなくとも構いません。文科か理科かも問いません。2年生も歓迎しますが1年生を念頭に置いて進めます。 　4月1日頃以後に、UTOLのこの授業の欄を見てください。第1回のアクセス情報を含め、この授業の詳細情報はそちらでお知らせします。

This course investigates the history of Japan from the seventeenth century to today. Students will study the major developments in Japan’s politics, foreign relations, society, and economy since the Tokugawa period. Moreover, students will learn how to critically analyze historical primary sources and to apply this knowledge to Japanese sources of different periods.

現代日本政治の主要なトピックスのうち、いくつかを選んで、さまざまなアプローチを用いて分析します。

This course investigates the history of diplomacy and its contemporary practice. First, students will learn about the different forms that diplomacy has taken over time. This serves as a basis for thinking about contemporary diplomatic practices. Second, students will study contemporary diplomacy, analyzing its foundations as well as the major activities of diplomats, especially information-gathering and negotiation.

This course aims to provide students with a survey of Japanese society and culture in the years between the end ofthe Russo-Japanese War (1905) and the Mukden Incident (1931), often referred to with the term "Taisho Democracy." As this period was marked by social and political trends that anticipated the post-World War II democratized regime, it is hoped that the survey will afford a better understanding of contemporary Japan and its people. The period saw a rapid growth and structural transformation of Japan's economy amidst a disorderly world situation. The major economic change drew people from rural areas to cities, developing the new middle "salaryman" class and its highly Westernized consumer culture; on the other hand, the change led to regional disparities and class distinctions, which in turn created social unrest and cultural divisions on a national scale. This course will explore a wide range of texts taken from such fields as socio-political history, literature, cultural criticism, art history, popular culture, etc., in order to understand the cultural complexity of the era.

It has been almost a century since Japan's first trial by jury system (Baishin-seido 1928) was introduced. More than fifteen years have passed since the introduction of Japan's second trial by jury system (Saiban'in-seido 2009). Both of Japan's trial by jury systems were significant but controversial reforms aimed at incorporating citizen participation in criminal trials in order to improve the functioning of the judiciary and overcome its failures to strengthen the rule of law. This seminar will critically examine why these systems were introduced, what functions these systems actually fulfil and how they operate in reality. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach inherent to law and society studies, we will explore the historical, comparative, political and sociological dimensions of Japan’s trial by jury systems, with a particular focus on Japan's unique trajectory. The seminar will begin by tracing the historical development of jury trials in Japan, from early experiments in the late 19th century, through their pre-war implementation (1928-1943), to their post-war revival under US rule in Okinawa (1945-1972). Through this historical lens, we will contextualise Japan's modern Saiban'in system within broader global trends and compare it with jury systems in other jurisdictions. Our discussions will also incorporate contemporary issues, such as political discourses surrounding citizen participation and trends in statistical data, to provide a basis for understanding jury trials both quantitatively and qualitatively. The jury is often hailed as a symbol of democracy and fairness, but it is also criticised for being biased, unpredictable, and unqualified. To assess these claims, we will analyse a range of primary materials - including court decisions, legislative texts, political speeches, and personal accounts - alongside secondary academic readings. Methodological introductions at the beginning of each class will equip students with sociological tools, such as legal consciousness studies and comparative analysis, to critically engage with these materials. In addition, students will conduct interviews with individuals who have participated in jury trials, fostering first-hand insights into the practical realities of citizen participation in legal decision-making. The course will also include guest speakers from a range of legal backgrounds, such as practising lawyers, judges, and NGO representatives, who will provide practical perspectives on the role of the jury in contemporary society. Through our discussions, students will grapple with pressing questions: How do collective social narratives shape perceptions of justice? Why does Japan's criminal justice system resist deeper structural change? How does the interplay between institutional frameworks and cultural values influence jury systems? By the end of the course, students will have developed a nuanced understanding of the jury as a dynamic yet controversial institution. They will be able to analyse the challenges facing the jury in contemporary society, understand the legal rules governing jury trials, and engage with key social science research on jury systems. In addition, students will apply social science theory, research, and methodology to address complex issues surrounding the jury, equipping them with the tools to critically assess its potential and limitations in Japan and beyond.

This course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of international politics in East Asia. It covers both specific regional issues, such as the U.S.-China rivalry, the Taiwan issue, the Korean Peninsula issue, and the South China Sea dispute, as well as broader themes, including the historical formation of regional order, Japan’s evolving role, and newly emerging transnational challenges.

This course is designed to offer an overview of Japan’s experience in modernization and how it has extended its assistance to other countries’ modernizing efforts. As the first non-western country to modernize, Japan’s experience, both positive and negative, presents an important reference point for other countries to investigate. This course is conducted in cooperation with JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Those taking part in the JICA Development Studies Program are required to take this course, while other students are most welcome to take part.

This course is designed to offer an overview of Japan’s experience in modernization and how it has extended its assistance to other countries’ modernizing efforts. As the first non-western country to modernize, Japan’s experience, both positive and negative, presents an important reference point for other countries to investigate. This course is conducted in cooperation with JICA, the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Those taking part in the JICA Development Studies Program are required to take this course, while other students are most welcome to take part.