The Japanese and Eurasian Culture Course examines language, literature, thought, folklore, performing arts, and other cultural aspects of Japan and the surrounding Eurasian region from a multifaceted perspective. The course covers the following fields of study and education Japanese Linguistics, Japanese Literature and Culture, and Eurasian Languages and Cultures.
Japanese Linguistics covers various aspects of the Japanese language, including its origin, history, structure, regional differences, and other characteristics, as well as the relationship between the Japanese language and education, culture, and society.
Japanese Literature and Culture considers literature and culture throughout the ancient, medieval, early modern, and modern periods while simultaneously emphasizing the literature and culture of the base layer, such as traditional literature and performing arts culture. Furthermore, the course aims to provide a comprehensive examination of Japanese culture, taking into consideration literary forms such as rhymes, prose, and drama, as well as ideology and other aspects of Japanese culture.
Eurasian Languages and Cultures examines the languages, ethnic cultures, and oral literature (myths, folk tales, and of various ethnic groups, mainly the minorities and indigenous peoples of Siberia, Mongolia, China, and other Eurasian regions adjacent to Japan, including the Ainu people, from the standpoint of linguistics or cultural anthropology. In linguistics, students learn how to investigate and describe language and analyze linguistic structures. In cultural anthropology, students learn the concepts and methods necessary to study people and their cultures through field research.
These fields of study do not exist independently but are designed to meet the diverse interests of students.
Although this course consists of two concentrations Japanese Language and Literature and Eurasian Languages and Cultures, the actual course curriculum is not divided into these two categories, and students are free to create their own course plans.