K0122 Issues of Youth in Contemporary Japan

JPN YOUTH ISSUES

2 credits (Elective)
Fall 2014

INSTRUCTOR: Scott BAILEY

EMAIL: sbailey@dia.ed.jp
Course Description
This course examines the complex and varied set of issues facing young people in
Japan today. We will cover issues like education in Japan, family issues, youth and
their identity, problems of employment and the global economy, new social media,
political activism, gender issues, and the near future of Japan. Students should be
prepared to be active participants in the classroom, as there will be class discussions of
the readings every meeting, as well as student presentations. There will also be a
research paper on one aspect of an issue involving Japans youth.
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is for students to gain a better understanding of the issues
facing young people in Japan today, and to gain better insight into the socioeconomic
challenges that will face people living in Japan in the next few decades.
Students will also develop their skills in reading, writing, researching, presenting, and
discussion through this course.
Course Requirements and Assignments
Attendance:
Class attendance is required and is calculated as part of your grade, it is not optional.
Readings, Participation:
You are required to do the readings for every class. There will be 1 or more lead
readers assigned for each class. The lead reader is responsible for making a brief
reaction statement (minimum 2-3 minutes) on that days reading, then preparing a list
of at least 10 discussion questions to distribute to all of the class members at the
beginning of the lesson. There will be a discussion on the readings nearly every class,
so you need to be well prepared to participate every class. Good participation is
defined as demonstrating that you have read the material and have thought about it
before offering your opinion or questions for discussion.
Presentation:
There will be one required group presentation this term (see the schedule for when).
You are to meet with your group members prior to that lesson to coordinate this
presentation.
Research paper:
You will need to choose one topic to compose a research paper. The paper will need to
document sources using an appropriate manual of style and be a minimum of 1500
words. More information on this paper will be distributed in class.

Evaluation Criteria & Grading

Grading for the course will be determined as follows:
1. Attendance and Participation
30%
2. Lead reader assessment
10%
3. Group presentation assessment
20%
4. Research paper
40%
Additional Information: CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. Be on time and be prepared for every lesson.
2. Let me know if you have an emergency and will not be able to come to class.
3. Please turn off your mobile phones. It is inappropriate to go outside to make calls or
to send or read text messages during class.
4. No sleeping in class.
5. Plagiarism and Cheating
Doshisha University does not tolerate plagiarism, cheating, or helping others to cheat.
These actions will result in an automatic F in the course. Plagiarism is defined as
misrepresenting the work of others (whether published or not) as your own. It may be
inadvertent or intentional. Any facts, statistics, quotations, or paraphrasing of any
information that is not common knowledge should be cited.
Course Materials
Brinton, Mary C. Lost in Transition: Youth, Work, and Instability in Modern Japan,
Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010 (text)
Mathews, Gordon and Bruce White. Japans Changing Generations: Are Young
People Creating a New Society? New York, Routledge, 2012 (text)
Sugimoto, Yoshio. An Introduction to Japanese Society, Cambridge, Cambridge
University Press, 2010 (text)
Goodman, Roger. A Sociology of Japanese Youth: From Returnees to NEETS, New
York, Routledge, 2012 (reference)
Kingston, Jeff. Contemporary Japan: History, Politics, and Social Change since the
1980s, Chichester, Wiley-Blackwell, 2012 (reference)
Zielinzieger, Michael. Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created its Own Lost
Generation, New York, Vintage, 2007 (reference)
Additional news articles to be announced in class from both Japanese and international
media sources.
Course Schedule
Week 1
Topic: Introduction to the topic and the course, go over the requirements of the course;
assign lead readers for each classs readings
Assignment: none

Week 2
Topic: The Lost Generation and Generational Issues in Japan
Assignment: Read Mary C. Brinton, Lost in Transition chapter 1 The Lost Generation
pp. 1-33
Week 3
Topic: Generational Issues in Japan
Assignment: Mathews and White, Japans Changing Generations chapter 1 The
Generation Gap in Japanese Society since the 1960s pp. 15-30 (by Tetsuo Sakurai)
AND Why are Young People so Passive? pp. 31-46 (by Satoshi Kotani)
Week 4
Topic: Institutions and Young People in Japan: Background Study
Assignment: Read Mary C. Brinton, Lost in Transition chapter 2 The Historical Roots
of Japanese School-Work Institutions pp. 34-62.
Week 5
Topic: Education in Japan: Contemporary Issues
Assignment: Read Mathews and White, Japans Changing Generations chapter 6
Guiding Japans University Students through the Generation Gap (by Brian
McVeigh)
Week 6
Topic: Employment in Japan: Background Study
Assignment: Read Mary C. Brinton, Lost in Transition chapter 4 Unraveling
School-Employer Relationships pp. 98-119
AND Jeff Kingston, Contemporary Japan chapter 5 Jobs at Risk pp. 84-100
Week 7
Topic: Employment in Japan: Contemporary Issues
Assignment: Read Mary C. Brinton, Lost in Transition chapter 5 Networks of
Advantage and Disadvantage for New Graduates pp. 119-147
AND Mathews and White, Japans Changing Generations chapter 7 Seeking a career,
finding a job: how young people enter and resist the Japanese world of work pp.
121-136
Week 8
Topic: Demographics, Families, and Japans Future
Assignment: Read Jeff Kingston, Contemporary Japan chapter 3 Defusing the
Demographic Time Bomb pp. 41-65
AND chapter 4 of Contemporary Japan Families at Risk pp. 66-83
Week 9
Topic: Traditional Gender Roles and Young People in Japan
Assignment: Read Mathews and White, Japans Changing Generations chapter 8
Mothers and their unmarried daughters: an intimate look at generational change pp.

137-154 (by Lynne Nakano and Moeko Wagatsuma)

AND current news articles (to be announced in class in advance)
Week 10
Topic: The Family and Youth in Japan
Assignment: Read Sugimoto, An Introduction to Japanese Society chapter 6 Gender
Stratification and the Family System pp. 156-188
200 word abstract and bibliography due for research paper today
Week 11
Topic: Globalization and Japans Young People
Assignment: Read Goodman, A Sociology of Japanese Youth chapter 2 From Pitiful
to Privileged? The Fifty Year Story of the Changing Perception and Status of Japans
Returnee Children pp. 30-53 (by Roger Goodman)
Week 12
Topic: Individual Presentations
Assignment: Meet with your presentation groups to prepare your group presentation
(more information to be distributed in class)
Week 13
Topic: Globalization and Japans Young People
Assignment: Read Mary C. Brinton, Lost in Transition chapter 5 Narratives of the
New Mobility pp. 148-165
AND current news articles (to be announced in class in advance)
Week 14
Topic: The Future of Japans Youth
Assignment: Read Mary C. Brinton, Lost in Transition chapter 6 The Future of the
Lost Generation pp. 166-188.
Week 15
Wrap-up discussion
Research Paper Due in Class Today
Note: This syllabus will be subject to changes and/or revisions