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Japanese Language and Culture

This course is designed to be more than the traditional foreign language course of reading, writing, and speaking. Scholars will be provided with a broad exposure to the culture, customs, religion, politics, economy, arts, and educational system of Japan. The US-Japanese relationships will be also discussed.

Instructor: Akehiko Takahashi
(Retired from Wentzville School District)
BS in Mathematics and MA in Political Science
Email: edokko@hotmail.com or taisomaster@yahoo.com

There is a need for a deeper exploration on things Japanese in order to understand the dynamics and dimensions of confrontation, competition, and cooperation that have characterized the relationships between Japan and the US. The US and Japan are two of the largest economic superpowers of the world, and together they are responsible for 45% of the world's GNP. Therefore, there is a serious need for people who possess expertise on Japan. Gifted students are more likely to appreciate learning about the impact, challenges, and opportunities created by cultural and economic differences and overcoming stereotypes, and misinformation and look for possible solutions for reducing tensions between the two countries.

Major Topics:
Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana
Cultural Differences
Daily Expressions
Bonsai Viewing (Columbia)
Shodo Calligraphy
Elements of Japanese Garden
Origami and Kirigami
Japanese Educational System
Trade Relations
Manners and Customs
Americans of Japanese Ancestry

Pre-requisite knowledge: none

Learning Objectives:
Recognized 250 Kanji
Master Hiragana, Katakana
Understand basic elements of Bonsai and learn to appreciate the
beauty of living arts
Create Origami and Kirigami Objects
Discover and Identify Cultural Differences
Practice on Japanese Calligraphy
Learn daily conversational expressions
Understand the historical relationships between US and Japan
Zen and meditation and the role of religion in society

Primary source
Japanese for Everyone by Gakken
Introduction to Japanese Culture editor: Sosnoski

Supplementary materials
Paper Architecture by Chatani
Bonsai by Harry Tomlinson
Various Origami Books
Easy Kanji by Kaneda

Computing and the Internet
Students will spend some time looking for useful websites on
Japanese topics and make a list for references.

Typical classroom strategies
Students will learn Hiragana and Katakana using flash cards.
Kanji characters are learned through pantomime. Students will
form two groups in order to study and research US-Japanese relationships. They will then present their case on trade issues as well as others. Cultural information is presented by lecture.