For Individual Writings
Don Wright, RJC Academy Director
Naoko Brown, Assistant Director
Week 1 (September 22-28, 2014) Japan – A Brief Review
Conference Call: The time for the call will be arranged so that the participants will all be able to get acquainted.
Reading: 1. Understanding Japan: Part One Japan–A Brief Review
- Chapter One: Origin of the Japanese People
2. Japan-Guide
- As you have time and interest, read Historical Section-Early Japan through Azuchi-Momoyama Period.
- You may read as many sections as you have time for.
Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
- There is no minimum or maximum amount for this assignment. Use this as an opportunity to reflect and apply what you have read. This is to be written in your comment section of Japan 101.
- Read as many of the other students’ writings and comment on at least two of them.
Pray:
- Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. The prayer notes center on Radio & TV ministries and also Mie Prefecture, so if you have time, do an internet search concerning Mie, and learn more.
Extra Suggestions:
- Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese) Daily Yomiuri and Japan Today
Here are some of the links that others have shared:
- Arimasa Kubo’s Israelites Came to Ancient Japan
- Concerning the Gion Matsuri
- Concerning Japan-Israel Connection
Week 2 (September 29-October 5, 2014) Japanese History
Reading: Understanding Japan: Part One: Japan – A Brief Review
- Chapter Two: The History of Japan
- Japan-Guide. Read any of the historical sections.
Pray:
- Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. The prayer notes center on Mie and Shiga Prefectures. Be sure to follow some of the links to learn more.
Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
- Reflective Writing
- Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.
Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
Extra Suggestions:
- Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese) Daily Yomiuri, and Japan Today
Week 3 (October 6-12, 2014) Part Two: Japanese Society
Reading: Understanding Japan: Part Two: Japanese Society (32 pages)
- Chapter Three: Japanese Family. If you have time, please view this presentation on “Hikikomori,” called The Lost Generation.
- Chapter Four: Japanese Working Life
- Chapter Five: Social Stratification in Japan
If you have time: Japanese Culture 101: Why Japanese and Americans Seem Rude to each Other, by Darien Reinman.
Interviewing:
- Interview a Japanese.
- Discuss each of the above three topics from the book.
- How does his/her experience match or disagree with Samuel Lee’s analysis?
Pray:
- Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. The prayer notes center on Shiga and Kyoto Prefectures.
Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
- There is no minimum or maximum amount for this assignment. Use this as an opportunity to reflect and apply what you have read. This is to be written in you comment section of Japan 101.
- Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.
Extra Suggestions:
- Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese) Daily Yomiuri, Japan Today
Week 4 (October 13-19, 2014) Religion in Japan
Reading: Understanding Japan: Part Three: Religion in Japan
- Chapter Six: Religious Consciousness in Japan
- Chapter Seven: Main Religions in Japan
Visit a Japanese Church
- (If that is not possible, interview someone who has attended.)
Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
- Reflective Writing
- Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.
Pray:
- Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. The prayer notes center on Kyoto and Osaka. If you have time, do an internet search concerning these areas.
Extra Suggestions:
- Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese) Daily Yomiuri and Japan Today
Week 5 (October 20-26, 2014) Christianity and Japan
Reading:
- Chapter Eight: A Brief History of Christianity in Japan
- Chapter Nine: Christianity in Contemporary Japan
- Chapter Ten: Japanese Theology
Listening:
- Cultural Barriers to Belief. Please follow along with this manuscript Cultural Barriers to the Gospel, as you listen to Gordon Kaneda’s Audio lecture.
- If you have time, please listen to the panel presentation on this theme which took place at the 2009 International RJC Conference.
Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
- Reflective Writing
- Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.
Pray:
- Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. The prayer notes center on the family and the Protestant Church, so if you have time, do an internet search concerning these needs, and learn more.
- Using Google Maps or Google Earth to actually see the prefectures sometimes helps you pray more fervently.
Extra Suggestions:
- Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese) Daily Yomiuri and Japan Today
Week 6 (October 27-November 2, 2014) Japanese Culture and Christian Faith
Reading:
- Chapter Eleven: Elements in Japanese Culture
- Chapter Twelve: Spiritual Culture in Japan
- Chapter Thirteen: Socio-Cultural Problems
- How to Share the Good News With Your Japanese Friend by Mark Reasoner Page 1-26
Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
- There is no minimum or maximum amount for this assignment. Use this as an opportunity to reflect and apply what you have read. This is to be written in your comment section of Japan 101.
- Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.
Pray:
- Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. The prayer notes center on Nara and Wakayama Prefectures, so if you have time, do an internet search concerning that prefecture, and learn more.
Extra Suggestions:
- Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese) Daily Yomiuri and Japan Today
Week 7 (November 3-9, 2014) Conclusions and Analysis
Reading:
- Understanding Japan: Part Six: Conclusions and Analysis
- Chapter Fourteen: Analyses and Strategies
- How to Share the Good News With Your Japanese Friend by Mark Reasoner Page 27-49
Interview: a non-Japanese who has visited Japan. Discuss their impressions. Offer insights from your Japan 101studies.
- Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
- Reflective Writing
- Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.
Pray:
- Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. The prayer notes center on Wakayama and the Church in Japan.
Extra Suggestions:
- Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese) Daily Yomiuri and Japan Today
- Concentrate your interview on their religious background and perception of Christianity. Discuss problems concerning their understanding of the Bible.
Week 8 (November 10-16, 2014) Review
Conference Call: Participate in a final conference call.
Interview: a Japanese.
Writing:
- Try to use this last assignment to summarize your course experience and share your goals and desires for further study and applications.
- Read as many of the other students’ writings as you have time and comment on at least two of them.