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。

Basic of Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Security

The aim of this module is to introduce students to key concepts and issues that constitute the agenda of Security Studies today. It stresses different approaches to understanding security; and the key ongoing transitions and drivers within the global system, which has led to a mix of so-called ‘old’ and ‘new’ security challenges to be addressed. Various historical and theoretical debates on what might be termed ‘classical’ or ‘old’ security concepts in the 21st century are examined, such as the return of Great Power competition and major war, the Security Dilemma, Arms Races; territorial disputes and geo-political rivalry. At the same time, it also enables students to understand current issues such as climate change; trans-national terrorism; and infectious diseases. It is anticipated that students will develop a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the complexities of the global system in the 21st century. Through prescribed academic writings, students are directed to the linkage between emerging global events and to think critically about how the global security agenda of the new millennium will be shaped by drivers of change such as globalisation and major power transitions. The following outcomes are emphasized: 1.An ability to approach both theoretical debates and foreign policy outcomes with diverse analytical tools 2.The ability to collate and evaluate arguments from different sources and perspectives 3.The ability to formulate and articulate views coherently in written and oral forms 4.Critical thinking, analytical and reading skills

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 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.

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.

Learn about individual energy sectors from global energy security perspective. Find out public policy issues for each sector and develop policy responses to enhance secure, affordable and sustainable energy supply.

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.

法学を必ずしも専攻しない学生も対象に、「日本国憲法」の基本的原理を、その歴史的背景にも配慮しつつ講義する。

COVID-19 has starkly reinforced how the world faces global risks, not just to health but also the disruption of integrated supply chains. Why does the World Economic Forum publish its annual Global Risks Report and how does it arrive at its findings? And what are so-called “Existential Risks” that supposedly imperil humanity’s very survival? As governments such as the United Kingdom issue National Risk Registers to guide policy makers, this module enables students to examine the security dimensions of living in what sociologists have termed a ‘World Risk Society’. It highlights the new nature of vulnerability in an era of contested and often politicised science, as well as the impact on how we conceptualise and think about security. The module shows how key stakeholders such as industry, media, governments and politicians have to play crucial roles in not only shaping responses to these perceived risks, but also how to appropriately manage them. Students will be introduced to how risks of all types have challenged policy makers in the post-Cold War era from ethnic conflicts in Kosovo, the 9/11 terror attacks, Afghanistan, Iraq and so-called Islamic State. Most recently so-called existential risks such as AI and climate change and systemic risks to critical infrastructure such as the Suez and Panama Canals, disruptions to supply chains and concepts such as Economic Security have captured attention. While these issues are not necessarily new in a historical sense, this module shows how they have garnered renewed attention through the prism of risk. Policy responses are finally examined such as capacity-building for “futures literacy” and National Risk Assessment Exercises. The following outcomes are emphasized: 1.An ability to understand and evaluate a range of new security challenges and policy responses interconnected through globalization and technology 2.The linkage between industry, media, politics, and science and its relevance to global security affairs 3.The ability to collate and evaluate arguments from different sources and theoretical perspectives 4.The ability to formulate and articulate views coherently in written and oral forms 5.Critical thinking, analytical and reading skills