Loosely drawing on the notion of 'everyday politics' advanced by Professor Ben Kerkvliet, the course will illuminate the power relations behind various key issues in everyday contemporary Japanese life. These dynamics may have or may have had significant political implications, but they have not been conventionally dealt with as 'political issues'. Further the course will deepen the understanding of several key issues in Japanese society between the 1960s and now. The course encourages a comparative perspective, and works to make these issues relevant to students' everyday lives.

Essay (2500 words)  40%; Tutorial contribution (attendance / participation / presentation) - 20%; Final Examination (3 hours)  40%

6 University Courses (36 Units).

No preliminary reading required. Students will be provided with handouts and a Reading Brick which contains photocopied materials including extracts from topical articles and books as well as relevant statistics, and a list of recommended literature. The lectures will also be supplemented with various video and photographic materials.