For Individual Writings

Don Wright, RJC Academy Director
Naoko Brown, Assistant Director
Anne Crescini, Course Director

Text: The Japanese Mind, edited by Roger J. Davies and Osamu Ikeno

Week 1 Family/Gender Issues

Conference Call: The time for the call will be arranged so that the participants will all be able to get acquainted.
Reading: 1. The Japanese Mind: Family/Gender Issues

  • Ch. 22, Pg 179-186 “Good Wives and Wise Mother: The Social Expectations of Women in Japan,” Ryosaikenbo 良妻賢母
  • Ch. 7, Pg 61-70 “Male and Female Relationships in Japan,” Danjyo Kankei 男女関係
  • Ch. 16, Pg 135-142 “Childrearing Practices in Japan,” Ikuji 育児
  • Ch. 14, Pg 119-126 The Japanese Ie 家 System

Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

  • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
  • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.
  • 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 102.
  • 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. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

Extra Suggestions:

Week 2 Communication

Reading:

  • Ch. 6, Pg 51-60 “Silence in Japanese Communication,” Chinmoku 沈黙
  • Ch. 1, Pg 9-16 “Ambiguity and the Japanese,” Aimai 曖昧
  • Ch. 11, Pg 103-108 “An Implicit Way of Communicating in Japan,” Haragei 腹芸

  • Anne Crescini’s weekly blog.

    Pray:
    Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

Extra Suggestions:

Week 3 Rituals, Religion

Reading:

  • Ch. 20, Pg 163-170 “Arranged Marriage in Japan,” Omiai お見合い
  • Ch. 25, Pg 201-216 “Japanese Funerals,” Soshiki 葬式
  • Ch. 11, Pg 153-159 “The Japanese Sense of the Seasons,” Kisetsu 季節
  • Ch. 15, Pg 127-134 “Adopting Elements of Foreign Culture,” Iitoko-Dori いいとこ取り
  • Ch. 21, Pg 171-179 “Folktales of Japan,” Otogibanashi おとぎ話
  • Interviewing:

    • Interview a Japanese.
    • Discuss various topics from the book.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 4 Cultural Concepts

    Reading:

  • Ch. 28, Pg 233-242 “The Japanese Custom of Gift Giving,” Zoto 贈答
  • Ch. 27, Pg 223-232 “Simplicity and Elegance as Japanese Ideals for Beauty,” Wabi-Sabi 侘び寂び
  • Ch. 4, Pg 35-40 “The Japanese Sense of Beauty,” Bigaku 美学
  • Ch. 3, Pg 23-34 “Descent from Heaven,” Amakudari 天下り
  • Visit a Japanese Church. Observe different ways that the cultural characteristics in the book are seen at the Japanese church.

    • (If that is not possible, interview someone who has attended.)

    Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 5 Cultural Concepts


    Reading:

  • Ch. 5, Pg 41-50 “The Way of the Warrior,” Bushido 武士道
  • Ch. 8, Pg 71-82 “The Do Spirit of Japan,” Do 道
  • Ch. 17, Pg 143-152 “The Japanese Virtue of Modesty,” Kenkyo 謙虚
  • Ch. 9, Pg 83-94 “Japanese Patience and Determination,” Gambari 頑張り
  • View:

    Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 6 Human Relationships

    Reading:

  • Ch. 12, Pg 109-114 “Japanese Personal Space,” Hedataru to Najimu 隔たると馴染む
  • Ch. 13, Pg 115-118 “Private vs. Public Stance in Japan,” Honne to Tatemae 本音と建て前
  • Ch. 19, Pg 159-164 “Laying the Groundwork in Japan,” Nemawashi 根回し
  • Ch. 2, Pg 17-22 “The Concept of Japanese Dependence,” Amae 甘え
  • Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”

    • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
    • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    Extra Suggestions:

    Week 7 Human Relationships

    Reading:

  • Ch. 23, Pg 187-194 “Seniority Rules in Japanese Relations,” Sempai-Koha 先輩ー後輩
  • Ch. 24, Pg 193-200 “Japanese Group Consciousness,” Shudan Ishiki 集団意識
  • Ch. 26, Pg 217-222 “Dual Meanings in Japanese Human Relations,” Uchi to Soto 内と外
  • Ch. 10, Pg 95-102 “Japanese Social Obligations,” Giri 義理
  • Interview: a non-Japanese who has visited Japan. Discuss their impressions. Offer insights from your Japan 102studies.

    • Writing: Weekly Paper: “Impressions and Points from Your Reading”
      • 1. Interact with the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
      • 2. Discuss how these cultural characteristics might affect your ministry with Japanese people.

      Pray:

      • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

      Extra Suggestions:


    Week 8 Review

    Conference Call: Participate in a final conference call.

    Pray:

    • Pray daily for Japan and Japanese, using Operation Japan. Make a note in your blog concerning the information and/or your prayer.

    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.