During this two-week intensive GP1 course, which was open to both undergrads and graduates, students studied contemporary Japanese society from a social science perspective. The course examined the way social norms and processes of socialization impact daily life and perceptions of the world through a focus on topics such as the Japanese education system, practices of overwork, homelessness in Tokyo, and the trend of Parasite Singles.

Throughout, students conducted individual research projects on an element of Japanese society of their choosing, and analyzed the topic with the concepts they were learning in class, and on the last day students presented their research findings to their peers.

Although the students had to work very hard to learn a semester's worth of material in just two weeks, everyone prepared well and contributed enthusiastically to class discussions and projects. Congratulations to our students who completed this course!