JAPN 306: The 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)
Reflective Narrative:
This course helped me to fulfill my MLO 2 culture requirement. We learned about what could possibly be considered the “Japanese mind.” First we went over the difference of the Japanese aesthetic where simplicity, imperfection, and impermanence are valued. Then we also went over the different thought patterns and ideas that exist in Japanese business in comparison to American business practices. Through this course we were able to learn about how the “Japanese mind” plays a role in the development of Japanese culture. We also found that the differences might not be as definite as some places would lead you to believe, since we’re in a more globalized world now.
For the work that we did in this class; I did a group project at the end of the course where we talked about the importance of harmony within Japanese society. My section was on nemawashi where ideas to be announced in meetings are first brought “unofficially” to the people who will be attending the meeting to get them on your side. Then for the final presentation and paper, I wrote about this concept called the gaijin concept where Japanese are uncomfortable working around foreign people or in foreign environments. These projects helped culminate what we had learned in this class in regards to the “Japanese mind” and its effect on the culture.
The biggest thing that this course did really was show us the real differences within Japan in comparison to America. A good amount of this “Japanese mind” concept is disappearing, but differences in social structure still make cultural differences with America apparent.
I would like to learn more about business aspects of Japan. How it’s different from business practices here.
To help further explore this learning experience, I’m going to be taking further courses on Japanese culture with more business explanations I’m sure.
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)
Reflective Narrative:
This course helped me to fulfill my MLO 2 culture requirement. We learned about what could possibly be considered the “Japanese mind.” First we went over the difference of the Japanese aesthetic where simplicity, imperfection, and impermanence are valued. Then we also went over the different thought patterns and ideas that exist in Japanese business in comparison to American business practices. Through this course we were able to learn about how the “Japanese mind” plays a role in the development of Japanese culture. We also found that the differences might not be as definite as some places would lead you to believe, since we’re in a more globalized world now.
For the work that we did in this class; I did a group project at the end of the course where we talked about the importance of harmony within Japanese society. My section was on nemawashi where ideas to be announced in meetings are first brought “unofficially” to the people who will be attending the meeting to get them on your side. Then for the final presentation and paper, I wrote about this concept called the gaijin concept where Japanese are uncomfortable working around foreign people or in foreign environments. These projects helped culminate what we had learned in this class in regards to the “Japanese mind” and its effect on the culture.
The biggest thing that this course did really was show us the real differences within Japan in comparison to America. A good amount of this “Japanese mind” concept is disappearing, but differences in social structure still make cultural differences with America apparent.
I would like to learn more about business aspects of Japan. How it’s different from business practices here.
To help further explore this learning experience, I’m going to be taking further courses on Japanese culture with more business explanations I’m sure.