Food for Thought: Japanese Society, Culture, and Identities (320-0-20)

Instructors

Yumi Shiojima
8474912764
1880 Campus Drive, Kresge Hall, Office 4-349
Office Hours: Varies quarter to quarter, please check with instructor.

Meeting Info

Kresge 4438 Asian LC Sem Rm: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

AY26 This is the 5th year level content based Japanese Language course. This course explores contemporary Japanese society, culture, and identities through the lens of food culture, drawing on a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives. Students will investigate how food intersects with key societal themes, including environment, history, health, labor, education, gender, and cultural identity. Through these themes, students will gain a deeper understanding of how food functions not only as sustenance, but also as a powerful medium for expressing, negotiating, and shaping cultural identities in Japan. Students will engage with the target culture while reflecting on and rediscovering their own cultural identities. Designed to enhance critical thinking skills and overall Japanese language proficiency, it helps students develop a distinctive voice in Japanese through authentic, real-time reading and audiovisual materials.

Registration Requirements

Prerequisite: Two different-numbered JAPANESE 300-level courses or equivalent (placement test required)

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

In Critical Thinking:

Observe and identify key elements of Japanese society, culture, and identity by exploring food

culture and recognize patterns and connections across various societal themes.

Analyze and evaluate the relationship between food culture and societal issues within cultural

contexts and assess the implications of various phenomena and practices.

Reflect on personal cultural perspectives and experiences in relation to Japanese food culture and

consider how these insights can enhance understanding of broader societal themes, while also

rediscovering and deepening awareness of own cultural identities.

Integrate knowledge of Japanese food culture with broader societal themes and synthesize

Information from multiple perspectives to develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Express and articulate observations, critiques, and reflections through well-structured, persuasive

written reports and oral presentations, incorporating narratives, explanations, data, and arguments

supported by strong evidence. Demonstrate advanced language skills and engage in thoughtful

discourse, while developing a unique voice.

In Language Proficiency: To reach Advanced-Mid level per ACTFL proficiency guidelines:

Communicate effectively in various contexts with good control over major time frames.
Demonstrate general accuracy in language use.
Produce connected discourse in paragraph-length utterances and texts.
Understand and convey main ideas and supporting details in both spoken and written forms.
Exhibit fluency and navigate social situations and unexpected complications with ease
Display partial ability to carry out communication tasks that typify the next higher major level, the Superior Level.

Teaching Method

This course is student-centered, interactive, and engaging, offering opportunities for practical language use, discussion, and analytical activities. All course-related communication, both spoken and written, is conducted in Japanese.

Evaluation Method

Class participation and performance, reading/audiovisual material analysis and discussion facilitation, individual research project and oral presentation.

Class Materials (Required)

Prefume, Y. et al. (2023). Diving into Japanese Culture and Society through Food.cTokyo: Kurosio Publishers. ISBN: 978-4-87424-944-4 C0081.
Hatasa, K. et al. (2017). Meshiagare: A Culinary Journey through Advanced Japanese. Tokyo: Kurosio Publishers. ISBN: 978-4-87424-862-1 C2081.

Class Attributes

Advanced Expression
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisites: Two different-numbered JAPANESE 300-level courses or equivalent (placement test required) Prerequisites: Two different-numbered JAPANESE 300-level courses or equivalent (placement test required)