Research Seminar 1

Research Seminar 1

Major Courses／-

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School of Economics and Management

2Year

KCCBG2MCA3

2.00Credits

演習 (Seminar)

Fall semester 2026

(Spring semester)

Kathryn Tanaka

 This course is the first in a series of classes designed to train students in research and thesis writing. It does so around the topics of the intersections of culture and Japanese business media as represented in global media. The syllabus will be adapted to reflect students' research interests and thesis projects. Through this research seminar, students will understand business concepts as represented in popular media as well as intersections of business media with human rights concepts and frameworks (e.g., Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights). In addition, students will learn to analyze the role of businesses in upholding or violating human rights and how this intersects with popular media discussion about business ideas or practices, in part through discussions of real-world cases critically, considering different stakeholder perspectives. Throughout all of this, students will also develop language skills related to ethical debates, presentations, research skills and academic English writing. There is a significant amount of reading required in this class.

This course is the first in a series designed to train students in research and thesis writing, with a focus on media debates surrounding ethical capitalism and Japanese culture. It explores how Japanese business practices and culture are portrayed in global media and how these portrayals engage with broader questions of ethics, responsibility, and human rights. The syllabus will be adapted to reflect students’ individual research interests and thesis projects, so it is subject to change. 

Through this research seminar, students will analyze how popular media shapes public understanding of business ethics, particularly in relation to Japanese culture or Japanese business practices. They will examine how media narratives engage with international human rights frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, or issues of sustainability or ethical capitalism, and how these frameworks shape discourse on capitalism and corporate behavior in a global context.

By using real-world case studies and media coverage, students will explore how businesses are portrayed as either upholding or violating human rights, and how these portrayals contribute to ongoing debates about the ethics of capitalism in society. Emphasis will be placed on understanding different stakeholder perspectives, including those of companies, workers, consumers, and activists, and looking at business from "outside" by using popular media. 

In addition, students will develop essential skills in ethical debate, critical media analysis, academic writing, research methods, and presentation. Please note that this course involves a significant amount of reading.

 

English

Students are encouraged to do research in multiple languages.

16／17

By appointment in B308. Please email kathryn.tanaka@em.u-hyogo.ac.jp

 kathryn.tanaka@em.u-hyogo.ac.jp

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Each lecture is led by student interests and discussion topics. 

 business media, cultural studies, human rights 

Week 1. Course and self introduction. What are social justice and human rights, and how do they relate to culture and business practices? What are our values and the things that shape us?

Week 2. Historical contexts of business interests as represented in or connected to media

Week 3. Systems of power, privilege, and discrimination and their intersection with business media

Week 4. From Darwin and Kropotkin to Capitalism and Mutual Aid as Economic Systems and World Views

Week 5. Labor issues and global supply chains in media: sweatshops, slavery and fair trade

Week 6: Business ethics in the digital age in media: data privacy, surveillance capitalism, AI ethics

Week 7: Business and Media Representation: Identity, Advertising, Media Analysis

Week 8:  Midterm project/fieldwork

Week 9: Globalization and Cultural Imperialism: Local cultures in an age of multinational corporations

Week 10: DEI in Japanese media

Week 11: Pop Japanese business 1: Japanese culture as "business keywords" abroad (ikigai, kintsugi, and more!)

Week 12:  Pop Japanese business 2

Week 13-14: Pop Japanese Business 3: Reading Kohei Saito and analyzing  his popularity overseas
(Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito (translated by Brian Bergstrom) )

Week 15: Students present final project 

In-person

• In-person classes only
• Not subject to the cap on distance-education credits

Completely forbidden

In this course, the use of generative AI is strictly prohibited. Any use during class is forbidden, and if a violation is discovered, credits may not be granted or may be revoked.
Regardless of whether generative AI is used or not, students must pay attention to the contents described in “Guidelines on the Use of Generative AI in Education at the University of Hyogo (For Students)”

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto by Kohei Saito (translated by Brian Bergstrom)

斎藤幸平『人新世の「資本論」』

List will be provided by the instructor 

Students will be expected to spend at least two hours outside of class reviewing materials, doing research, and preparing their own work. 

Classes are heavily student centered and discussion based. 

Contributions to class discussion, class reflections 30%
Homework 20%
Midterm project 20%
Final project 25%

Materials will be available in the Seikyo or provided by the instructor. 

Case study analysis, PBL