Syllabus data

Teacher name ： Kathryn Tanaka
Course Title
Japanese Literature
Course Title in English
Japanese Literature
Course Type
General Courses
-
Eligible Students
School of Economics and Management
Target Grade
All
Course Numbering Code
IA9991GCA1
Credits
2.00Credits
The course numbering code represents the faculty managing the subject, the department of the target students, and the education category (liberal arts / specialized course). For detailed information, please download the separate manual from the upper right 'question mark'.
Type of Class
講義 (Lecture)
Eligible Year/Semester
Fall semester 2026
(Fall semester)
Instructor
Kathryn Tanaka
Affiliation
GBC
Language of Instruction
English
Related SDGs
1／2／5／10
Office Hours and Location
Office hours by appointment

B308

Contact
kathryn.tanaka@em,u-hyogo.ac.jp

Corresponding Diploma Policy
A double circle indicates the most relevant DP number and a circle indicates the associated DP.
Corresponding Undergraduate School DP
ー
Corresponding Graduate School DP
ー
Corresponding University-Wide DP
1-2◎
Academic Goals of Teacher Training Course
ー

Course Objectives and Learning Outcome

This course is a survey of modern Japanese literature. Our overall concern is with the question of how literature is implicated in social change. This concern expands beyond consideration of aesthetics decisions between different kinds of stories and different kinds of presentation (How is the shape, or form, of the text related to its content? How would the story change if it were told a different way?). We will read a range of stories and poems to bring into focus questions of gender, identity, and social issues. Our course centers on close reading of selected texts.

Fundamentally this course is an introduction to modern Japanese literature seminar that will explore literary and historical questions through discussion of short stories, essays, and poetry by Japanese authors and poets. Readings will be provided by the professor. Discussions will be carried out in English.
Students will be expected to read and review all assigned readings and a weekly reading response. In addition they will be expected to participate in discussions and complete two book reports as well as a final exam.
Subtitle and Keywords of the Class
Japanese Literature, critical analysis, reading 
Course Overview and Schedule
**

1. Introduction

2. Meiji period literature: Higuchi Ichiyo, Takekurabe

3. Ero-Guro-Nonsense: Edogawa Rampo, The Human Chair

4. Ero-Guro-Nonsense 2: Tanizaki Jun’ichiro, The Tattoo

5. Modernism: Akutagawa Ryunosuke, In A Bamboo Grove

6. Nobel Prize: Kawabata Yasunari, Snow Country

7. Proletarian Literature: Momotaro

8. WW2: Dazai Osamu, December 8th

9. Atomic Bombing: Hara Tamiki, Summer Flowers 

10. Recovery/Novel Prize 2: Lavish are the Dead, Kenzaburo Oe

11. Toh Kazuko and Disability Poetics

12. Murakami Haruki, Firefly / The Sheep Man’s Christmas

13. TBD

14. Fukushima: March was Made of Yarn 

15. Murata Sayaka, Survival


**There is a midterm book report that is due in Week 8.

**An in-class essay final exam will be given during the final exam period.
In-person/Remote Classification
In-person
Implementation Method and Remote Credit Limit Application
• In-person classes only
• Not subject to the cap on distance-education credits
Uses of Generative AI
Completely forbidden
Precautions for using Generative AI
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)”
Textbook
Readings will be provided by the instructor. They will be bilingual.
References
Recommendations will be provided by the instructor 
Contents and Estimated Time for Pre- and Post- Learning (Preparation and Review)
Two to three hours of review and preparation will be required outside of class. 
Contents of Active Learning
Students will be required to think critically, analyze texts, share their own opinions, and debate in class. 
Grading Criteria and Methods
Students will be evaluated on class contributions in discussions, class reflections, and in class activities (40％）, weekly quiz or in-class writing activity (20%) and final exam (20%)

Failure to complete the final exam results in an automatic failure of the class.
How to Disclose Assignments and Exam Results
Feedback will be provided to weekly assignments, midterm, and final exam as possible in Unipa. Homework will be the basis of discussion in the next class. if students do not wish their resposnes to be shared as a discussion starter with the class they should write "please do not share in class" in the notes submission area in Unipa. 
Precautions and Requirements for Course Registration
履修の手引等を確認
Practical Education
Critical thinking and analysis skills. 
Remarks
In cases where any differences arise between the English version and the original Japanese version, the Japanese version shall prevail as the official authoritative version.