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Environmental Anxiety in Japanese Film

Summer 2012

Tokyo, Japan

May 15 - June 4, 2012 

 

Program Highlights

  • Visit Hiroshima and meet survivors.
  • Visit Kyoto to visit Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines .
  • Stay at a traditional ryokan in the mountain village of Takyama.
  • Watch a sumo meet as well as traditional Japanese theater.
  • Explore Tokyo with Japanese college students.
  • Study Japanese film while in Japan.
  • There is an Intercultural (IC) designation and an Experiential Learning (EL) designation on this course.

Program Description

Tokyo, Japan is one of the largest, most exciting cities in the world.

Students will be living in the Hongo neighborhood in the heart of Tokyo. We are within walking distance of numerous shrines, temples, and markets, as well as our host institution of Bunkyo-Gakuin University. The campus is situated directly next to a subway station that offers students access to the entire city.

While in Tokyo we will have opportunities to explore the city, attend a major sumo tournament, and visit the magical Ghibli museum. We will also be travelling to the mountain village of Takyama, Kyoto, and Hiroshima where we will visit museums and ancient and historically-significant shrines and temples.

The course will be an examination of Japanese environmental anxiety and the way that it is manifested in film. Nature has been a critical element of Japanese religion, culture, and identity. But during the twentieth century the impact of humans on the environment became an increasingly important cultural anxiety. Students will explore the way this anxiety has been treated in Japanese film and study the various implications of how this anxiety is resolved in various films.

Program Cost

The estimated Program Fee is $3520 plus the cost of $970.00 CSB|SJU credits at the reduced summer tuition rate (approximately $485 per credit).

This price includes: 

  • Round-trip international airfare from Minneapolis to Tokyo
  • Accommodations during the program
  • Primary transportation
  • Course related excursions including: admission to museums, cultural attractions, major musical and theatre productions as outlined in the itinerary
  • Program administrative costs and fees
  • Some group meals

This Program Fee does not include:

  • Most meals
  • Personal spending money
  • Activities, housing or transportation not associated with or included in the program.

Housing

For most of our time in Japan we will be staying in the International Student dormitory of Bunkyo-Gakuin University. The rooms have traditional western beds and the floors have traditional western showers. There is also a small kitchen available for student use. While in Tokyo students will be able to eat at the Bunkyo-Gakuin dining hall, or have the option of walking to dozens of different local establishments and markets. We will also be spending approximately four-five days travelling to the mountain village of Takyama, and the cities of Kyoto and Hiroshima. We will stay at a traditional Ryokan for two of these nights where students will sleep on traditional futons and use the traditional Japanese bath (with separate bathing times for each sex).

Director

Dr. Shane Miller will be leading this summer short-term program. He has led this trip previously as well as taught courses on Japanese cinema.