JAPN306: Japanese Mind
Course Description:
A project-based course that looks behind the Japanese social mask to understand how Japanese people build relationships, community, and lives worth living. Covers modes of thinking and communicating, negotiating, and decision making; ethical systems; the central role of social status and hierarchical relationships; patterns of making friends and influencing others; psychological factors such as dependence and duty; and the Japanese aesthetics and ideology. Taught in English. (Credit/No Credit Available) (Prereq: Junior or Senior Standing)
Along with JAPN310, I often credit this course with preparing me for my time abroad in Japan. I took it the semester before I traveled, so its lessons stuck with me more easily than other classes I had taken before. Our teacher covered a wide range of perspectives on Japanese culture, from art and philosophy to behavioral patterns. The one I studied most was the concept of Aimai, or cultural vagueness. Seeing as I hail from a culture that prides directness, studying the reasons why a culture like Japan's values the opposite was intriguing, and vital for success in my future interactions. The other interesting aspect I devoted my studies to was the concept of amae, or dependence. Some argue that the concept of amae is what caused the unique build of Japan's business practices, and hierarchical systems. One can clearly see the seeds of dependence in a kouhai's relationship with their senior classmate, co-worker, boss, etc. Such a concept in America, the land of 'independence' would be seen as weak. In Japan, on the other hand, the value encourages someone to build close relationships with those around them and keeps the collective minded society working smoothly. While I first looked at the concept with disdain, viewing the idea from different perspectives, and seeing the pros as well as the cons to both habits encouraged me to think again.
A project-based course that looks behind the Japanese social mask to understand how Japanese people build relationships, community, and lives worth living. Covers modes of thinking and communicating, negotiating, and decision making; ethical systems; the central role of social status and hierarchical relationships; patterns of making friends and influencing others; psychological factors such as dependence and duty; and the Japanese aesthetics and ideology. Taught in English. (Credit/No Credit Available) (Prereq: Junior or Senior Standing)
Along with JAPN310, I often credit this course with preparing me for my time abroad in Japan. I took it the semester before I traveled, so its lessons stuck with me more easily than other classes I had taken before. Our teacher covered a wide range of perspectives on Japanese culture, from art and philosophy to behavioral patterns. The one I studied most was the concept of Aimai, or cultural vagueness. Seeing as I hail from a culture that prides directness, studying the reasons why a culture like Japan's values the opposite was intriguing, and vital for success in my future interactions. The other interesting aspect I devoted my studies to was the concept of amae, or dependence. Some argue that the concept of amae is what caused the unique build of Japan's business practices, and hierarchical systems. One can clearly see the seeds of dependence in a kouhai's relationship with their senior classmate, co-worker, boss, etc. Such a concept in America, the land of 'independence' would be seen as weak. In Japan, on the other hand, the value encourages someone to build close relationships with those around them and keeps the collective minded society working smoothly. While I first looked at the concept with disdain, viewing the idea from different perspectives, and seeing the pros as well as the cons to both habits encouraged me to think again.
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