KGU Winter School

Courses & Syllabus

Course Information

Japan Studies Seminar B (Cool Japan: Cultural and Creative Industries)

Winter School Syllabus

In this interdisciplinary course, students will learn about various forms of "Cool Japan" by reading and discussing case studies from Japan's cultural and creative industries. Students will also learn about the challenges this industry has to face that come with competing in a globalized and fast-changing world. Beginning with an introduction of the Japanese government's "Cool Japan" strategy, the case studies of this course will cover topics such as Japanese pop music and idols, the anime industry, and the traditional sake and tea businesses.

Japan Studies Seminar D (Cool Japan: Pop Culture)

The purpose of this course is for students to become acquainted and/ or deepen their existing knowledge of anime and manga and how they conform one of the most important cores of pop culture, both in Japan and abroad. Students will learn about the history and characteristics of anime and manga and their inherent transmedia qualities together with how they shape or are shaped by other fields such as games, live action films, television dramas or even kabuki and advertising.

Winter School Syllabus