Humanities Area / Literature Program
Program Overview
Literature is not only excellent entertainment, used as material for films, anime, and games, but also an effective tool for considering diverse issues such as humanity, society, language, and history. In the Literature Program, students will learn fundamental knowledge and research methods of literature, and cultivate reading comprehension, problem-solving skills, and expressive abilities through exposure to literature from various countries and regions, primarily focusing on Japanese, Chinese, and English and American literature.
Class Featured
Comparative Literature
The "Comparative Literature" course examines the influences and broad interpretations of Japanese and British literary works from a comparative literary perspective, going beyond the traditional boundaries of each country's literature. By focusing on writers from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the course also deepens understanding of how modern Japanese literature developed under the significant influence of Western literature. The course, consisting of lectures and discussions, is a learning environment where students actively share their pre-prepared interpretations and analyses, fostering mutual stimulation.
Specialized Seminar (The World of Roald Dahl)
In this seminar, we are reading *The Witches* by Roald Dahl, famous as the author of the novel that inspired the film *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*. We enjoy the story, written in relatively simple English, while improving our English skills and learning about English-speaking cultures. We deepen our interactions through group work in each session, where we teach each other and exchange opinions. In the fall semester, we will write a seminar paper, acquiring the fundamentals of research by finding a topic, researching it, and organizing it while adhering to a proper format.
Other classes and subjects
Literary theory / Author studies / Work studies / Comparative literature / Literary exchange studies / World literature / Representational culture studies / History of English and American Literature I & II / English and American Poetry A & B / English and American Drama / English and American Children's Literature / Reading English and American Literature by Theme / Introduction to Chinese Literature / Introduction to Chinese Culture / Studies in Classical Chinese Literature A & B / Studies in Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature and Chinese-Speaking World Literature A & B / Studies in Chinese Culture A & B / History of Classical Japanese Literature / History of Modern Japanese Literature / Reading of Ancient Literature / Reading of Heian Period Literature / Reading of Edo Period Literature / Special Topics in Medieval Literature / Special Topics in Modern Literature, etc.
How seniors learned
Literature & Language Education
The possibilities that literature has given us, depicting a future related to books.
Shingo Kikuchi
I chose literature as my major because I've always enjoyed reading Japanese novels and essays, and after taking a Russian literature class in university, I became fascinated by it and wanted to explore literature from various countries. I chose language education as my minor to obtain a teaching license in Japanese language. My high school homeroom teacher, who taught Japanese, sparked my interest in literature, so my goal is to become a teacher like him. Alternatively, I would like to work in a book-related field, such as a publishing company. Reading literature has allowed me to learn about the lives of many different people, and it has greatly broadened my world. I hope that everyone will have a similar experience.
Literature & Environmental Studies
A combination of literature and environmental studies, driven by a broadening of interests.
Sumire Watanabe
Since childhood, I have enjoyed reading novels, and in high school, I was a member of the drama club and frequently read play scripts. Therefore, I chose literature as my major and am studying mainly Japanese literature. I chose environmental studies as my minor because I became interested in it during a university class. Environmental issues involve various interests of the government, corporations, and local communities, and I found it fascinating that there are many schemes and motives lurking behind the facts. Since I was in the humanities in high school, I was a little apprehensive about studying environmental studies, which has scientific elements, but I decided to take the plunge. I encourage all of you to try out any classes that seem interesting and find the classes and programs that suit you best.
Characteristics of the academic group
Open list of subpages
Content of learning
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Career paths, qualifications, and achievements