Japan 101 Summer 2014

For Individual Writings

Don Wright, RJC Academy Director
Naoko Brown, Assistant Director
Jason Hinds
Stephen Crofts

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): Japan Times 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 (July 7-13, 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”
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): Japan Times and Japan Today

Week 3 (July 14-20, 2014) Part Two: Japanese Society

Reading: Understanding Japan: Part Two: Japanese Society
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”
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): Japan Times and Japan Today

Week 4 (July 21-27, 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”
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): Japan Times and Japan Today

Week 5 (July 28-August 3, 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”

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 Osaka, Hyogo and Nara, 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): Japan Times and Japan Today

Week 6 (August 4-10, 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”

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:
Using Google Maps or Google Earth to actually see the prefectures sometimes helps you pray more fervently.
Read daily a Japanese newspaper (English or Japanese): Japan Times and Japan Today

Week 7 (August 11-17, 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: 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”
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): Japan Times and Japan Today

Week 8 (August 18-24, 2014) Review

Conference Call: Participate in a final conference call.

Interview a Japanese
Concentrate your interview on their religious background and perception of Christianity. Discuss problems concerning their understanding of the Bible.

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.

CONGRATULATIONS! We hope that the Lord has taught you much through this course!