Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Are you a fan of manga, anime, J-pop, or video games from Japan? Can you name some of your favorite characters from Japanese media?

Japanese pop culture has become a global phenomenon, but what makes it distinctly Japanese? How does it express—and shape—everyday life in present-day Japan?

The course introduces key cultural concepts such as seikatsu (everyday life), honne/tatemae (private vs. public self), and omoiyari (consideration for others) through examples from anime, manga, J-pop, film, and other forms of Japanese popular media.

Students will read short excerpts about Japanese culture and examine how these ideas appear in pop culture and everyday life in Japan today. Through discussions and reflection activities, students will consider these cultural concepts and become more aware of their own cultural perspectives.

The class is conducted in English. No prior knowledge of Japanese is required.

A list of required manga, readings, films, and music used in the course will be included in the syllabus. Students are encouraged to look for lower-cost options, such as e-books or borrowing materials from the library. Some materials will be provided by the instructor.

This is an in-person class that meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 – 2:20 PM at the Rock Creek Campus. While instruction takes place in person, the course also includes an online component. Students are required to have regular access to a computer or tablet with a reliable internet connection to use D2L Brightspace, where course materials, announcements, quizzes, and other online activities are provided.