JAP1501 – Present-Day Japan
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course introduces students to various facets of present-day Japanese society, culture, politics and international relations. We will critically examine key issues and the discourses surrounding them, that may include domestic politics and democracy, social decline and inequality, disasters and precarity, public memory and foreign relations, gender and sexuality, immigration and ethnic minorities. ?
Learning outcome
By means of the lectures and the related readings you will:??
- Have a basic knowledge of central facets of present-day Japan??
- Be able to read and synthesize academic texts about Japan??
- Gain insight into various crucial issues in contemporary Japanese society, culture, politics and international relations??
- Be able to put Japan into a broader global context
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
This course is not available for single course students.
Recommended previous knowledge
The classes will be taught in English and the textbooks and other readings will all be in English, so proficiency in the English language is required.
Teaching
The course consists of 12 weekly lecture classes, including a library seminar.??
Compulsory activities??
Mandatory attendance: In this course, students must have an attendance of at least 80%. This translates to 10 of 12 lecture classes??
Reading the compulsory assigned materials??
You are expected to participate actively in the classes. This does not merely imply that you need to prepare the various readings for each class, but also that you think while you read and formulate questions, and actively contribute to the discussions.??
The obligatory attendance is valid for the next two semesters that the course is taught. ??
All compulsory activities must be approved to qualify for the exam. It is your responsibility to verify that you have obtained approval for all compulsory activities.?
Absence from compulsory activities:?
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the rules regarding absence from compulsory activities, to prevent being excluded from teaching and losing your eligibility to take the exam.?
More information on compulsory activities at the University of Oslo:?
Access to teaching?
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.?
Examination
Written exam: The exam consists of a final four-hour written examination.??
You must submit the exam in Inspera - see guides for digital exams?
You are personally responsible for familiarizing yourself with the requirements and deadlines for the exam.?
All compulsory activities must be completed and approved in order to take the exam.?
You can find more information about the exam on the semester page of the course.?
Language of examination
The obligatory assignments and the written examination can be written in either English or Norwegian.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.