Japan 360: New Voices from Japan

Professor Ted Mack
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9:00-10:20 THO 235

This class will be dedicated to reading works by important contemporary authors that have recently appeared in English translation, including Ogawa Yōko, Tawada Yōko, Horie Toshiyuki, Hoshino Tomoyuki, Kawakami Mieko, and Kawakami Hiromi. Over the course of the term, we will discuss literary responses to a variety of contemporary social phenomena in Japan. Central among these, of course, will be the disaster of 11 March 2011 and the subsequent on-going disaster at Fukushima.

No knowledge of the Japanese language or of Japanese literature is required; all texts will be read in English translation.

The following assignments and schedule are tentative and subject to change.


DATE

ASSIGNMENTS
 
September 24
 Introduction
26
 Ishida Ira, "Ikebukuro West Gate Park" (1998)
29
 Hoshino Tomoyuki, "The No Fathers Club" (2001)
October 1
 Tawada Yoko, "To Khabarovosk" (2002); also read "Yoko Tawada's Magnificent Strangeness"
Horie Toshiyuki, "The Bonfire" (2003)
3
 Tsujihara Noboru, "My Slightly Crooked Brooch" (2004)

6

 Kirino Natsuo, "The Floating Forest" (2005)
8
 Kanehara Hitomi, "Delilah" (2006)
10
 Ogawa Yoko, "The Sea" (2006)
Ogawa Yoko, "Nightcap" (2011)

13
 Tawada Yoko, "The Island of Eternal Life (2011)
Kawakami Hiromi "God Bless You" (1993, 2011)
15
 Kawakami Mieko, "March Yarn" (2011)
Abe Kazuhide, "Ride on Time" (2011)
17
 Shigematsu Kiyoshi, "The Charm" (2011)
20
 Natsuki Ikezawa, "Grandma's Bible"
Kakuta Mitsuyo, "Pieces"
22
 Saeki Kazumi, "Hiyoriyama"
Murakami Ryu, "Little Eucalyptus Leaves"
24
 Review
27
 Mid-term examination
29
 No class (Instructor out of town to give a lecture)
31

Furukawa Hideo, "Sixteen Years Later, in the Same Place"

November 3

 Ishii Shinji, "Lulu"
5
 Catch-up day
7
 Murata Sayaka, "Clean Marriage"
10
 Okada Toshiki, "Breakfast"
12
 Nakajima Kyoko, "Things Remembered"
14
 Kawakami Hiromi, "Blue Moon"
17
 Oyamada Hiroko, "Spider Lilies"
19
 Toh Enjoe, "Printable"
21
 Motoya Yukiko, "The Dogs"
24
 Hoshino Tomoyuki, "Pink"
26
 Catch-up day
28
 NO CLASS: Thanksgiving Holiday
December 1
 Murakami Haruki, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
3

Murakami Haruki, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Two reviews: Patti Smith and Janet Maslin

5

 Review

 

 

10

 Final Exam: Wednesday, December 10, 8:30-10:20

TEXTS

We will be reading from the following three collections:

Granta, issue 127 (Spring 2014), which is available through Amazon (among other retailers) in paper and electronic editions.

March Was Made of Yarn (2012), which is also available in paper and electronic editions.

Digital Geishas and Talking Frogs (2011), which is also available in paper and electronic editions.

Finally, we will read the latest novel by Murakami Haruki:

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (2014), which is available in cloth and electronic editions.
Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism (Off-campus link)
The online guide contains more than 240 alphabetically arranged entries on critics and theorists, critical schools and movements, and the critical and theoretical innovations of specific countries and historical periods.

EXPECTATIONS and GRADING

PARTICIPATION: Participation in classroom discussions is central to successful performance in the class. Each class meeting will be a student-centered discussion of the assigned works.

GRADING: Grades will be determined through a combination of the student's preparation for and participation in classroom discussions (50%), a midterm examination (25%), and a final examination (25%).

STUDY GROUPS: I encourage students to meet outside of class to discuss the films and problems they have encountered in interpreting them.

CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: The presentation of another's words and ideas as one's own is a serious offense; violations will be dealt with according to the University codes of conduct, which stipulate sanctions up to and including expulsion.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS: I will do everything I can to accommodate students with particular needs. To request such an accommodation, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924 (V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating that you require such accommodation, we can discuss ways to meet those needs.

Page last updated on December 2, 2014
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