How Japan Became Modern
Introduction
This program offers students the opportunity to explore some of the most iconic aspects of contemporary Japanese culture, from anime and film and fiction to the cityscapes of the two most important urban environments in Japan. Students in the program begin with two weeks of immersion in Tōkyō, one of the world’s greatest cities, which grew from a small fishing village to a global metropolis in barely more than a century. The program leads participants through Tōkyō’s past (via visits to shrines and open-air museums) to its present (via visits to Akihabara and the Ghibli museum, the heart of current anime culture, and Harajuku where Japanese youth culture congregates). The program then shifts to Kyōto, the capital city of Japan for more than a thousand years, where history infuses the present, to visit its most important castle and shrine and the Gion district. Day excursions to Yokohama and Hiroshima add emblematic insights into the country’s modern experience and include another dimension by sampling some quintessential local cuisine.
Eligibility
Students from all universities are encouraged to apply. If space is limited, Catholic University students will receive priority acceptance.
Academics
Participants in this program enroll in HIST 210TK, “How Japan Became Modern, From Meiji to Now”. This is a three-credit, English-taught course that combines class meetings in a seminar format most mornings, with excursions to historical and contemporary destinations in the afternoon, along with two one-day side trips. The aim is to explore how, in such a short time, a country that had been closed and tightly controlled became a world economic power and, now, one of the most distinctive cultures on the planet, with enormous appeal to young people especially.
The Catholic University Faculty Program Leader will be Dr. Lawrence Poos, Ordinary Professor, Pre-Law Advisor, and Department Chair in History. Interested students may wish to review a
Tentative Itinerary, though it is still subject to change.
Accommodation & Meals
Students will be housed in Twin Rooms in centrally located hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto. Hotels are conveniently located to public transportation and include Wi-Fi, vending machines, and laundry facilities. There will be breakfast at the hotels every day and participants will also have a Welcome and Farewell Dinner and Group Lunch in Hiroshima.
Finances
The program budget is still being finalized. We anticipate that the costs will include three credits of CUA tuition plus a $2500 program fee, with flights and most meals being a separate expenses. Students are encouraged to seek out internal and third-party scholarships to support their study abroad experience.
