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2020　Special Lecture: Japan's economy, from the point of view of data and various topics

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Yanase Hiroichi  Kurashina Takefumi  Anzai Takumi  Ueda Takashi  Kubota Keisuke  Saijo Kunio  Saito Tetsuya  Tanaka Yo  Tamari Shingo  Nakayama Naoki  Fujita Kazuaki  Maeda Hiroyuki  Matsuo Hirofumi  Murui Masanori  Yamaguchi Akira 
Class Format
Lecture    (ZOOM)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon1-2(W933)  Thr1-2(W933)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.S215
Credits
2
Academic year
2020
Offered quarter
2Q
Syllabus updated
2020/9/18
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

The objective of this course is to start students thinking about issues relating to the Japanese economy and its historical progression. Through study and experiment at the university, students will deepen their awareness of societal needs and the types of solutions to issues that are beneficial.
In the themed lectures, students will carefully read and analyze articles with an experienced working journalist and broaden their understanding of the economy and industry. Using data and articles from media outlets such as The Nikkei as course materials, students will learn reading techniques useful for basic information gathering.
The objective of this course is to start students thinking about issues relating to the Japanese economy and its historical progression. Through study and experiment at the university, students will deepen their awareness of societal needs and the types of solutions to issues that are beneficial.
In the themed lectures, students will carefully read and analyze articles with an experienced working journalist and broaden their understanding of the economy and industry. Using data and articles from media outlets such as The Nikkei as course materials, students will learn reading techniques useful for basic information gathering.

Student learning outcomes

Students will learn to understand the fundamental economic news disseminated via news media, to drill down into themes of interest to them, and to develop critical thinking skills and judgment.

Course taught by instructors with work experience

✔ Applicable How instructors' work experience benefits the course
An instructor with work experience in news coverage and print journalism will provide on-the-job style education in the fundamentals of the Japanese economy.

Keywords

Economic growth, Industry, Personal consumption, Digital, SDGs

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Each lecture will study a theme relating to the economy or industry. Rather than lecturer commentary alone, students are to express their ideas and opinions on areas of interest to them as they see fit, and thereby develop an appreciation of the learning to be accumulated through daily contact with the news.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Why study the economy? The significance study of the economy and its influence on employment and daily life.
Class 2 How science journalists inform us. The role of journalism explained through the experiences of a science reporter.
Class 3 What is economic growth? Reflections on Japan and its journey through postwar reconstruction, the economic miracle, the oil crisis and collapse of the bubble economy.
Class 4 Money drives the economy. The role of money in corporate activity and daily life.
Class 5 Stock price – the expected value of an enterprise. Fundamentals of the financial statement – the stock price and management report card.
Class 6 Consumption is a moving thing. Trends in consumer spending - the engine of economic growth.
Class 7 Will the country go bankrupt? How the budget works and the deficit problem.
Class 8 Can the pension system survive? Fundamentals of the pension system and issues relating to the aging society.
Class 9 Industrial evolution. Transitions in technological innovation and the corporate pillars of Japan's manufacturing culture.
Class 10 The rise of the digital economy. Economic trends arising from advances in digital technology and the rise of GAFA.
Class 11 An image of our energy future. The role, transitions and future issues for energy - a pillar of economic activity
Class 12 SDGs – a focus of world attention. The latest initiatives of the UN proposed SDGs.
Class 13 The rise and fall of Japanese corporations. Companies and leaders in the automobile and electrical equipment sectors – the drivers of the Japanese economy.
Class 14 A perspective from a regional economy. The transition of the Northern Kyushu economy from coal, to steel, to automobiles then semiconductors.

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None

Reference books, course materials, etc.

The Nikkei newspaper morning edition for that day will be distributed at lectures for reading and discussion.

Assessment criteria and methods

The principle focus will be on descriptions of a student's thoughts and observations in the course of attending lectures. Student feedback reports will account for 40% of the grade and the final end-of-course report will account for 60% of the grade.

Related courses

  • LAH.S112 ： Media Studies A
  • LAH.S213 ： Media Studies B
  • LAH.S312 ： Media Studies C
  • LAH.S431 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences35:Media Studies

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

None

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