Faculty of Global Culture
Department of Humanities Society Course 社会専攻

Exploring solutions to contemporary issues in society

Students on the Society Course study the problems that arise in relationships between individuals and groups. These include education, the environment, media, gender, immigration, religion, poverty, war, and other topical themes that have become global issues. The first step in shedding light on these issues is the ability to understand society from different perspectives. To develop this ability, students study sociological theories and methodologies in their historical context and learn basic methods of social investigation. Some problems require analytical techniques that go beyond numbers and data. At Kyoto Seika, students develop the skills needed to find solutions using approaches that include questionnaire surveys and fieldwork that engages all five senses.

Subject Highlights

  • Peace Studies

    Peace studies is an interdisciplinary academic field where students examine how peace can be achieved, either as negative peace, through the absence of violence, or as positive peace, where people have the freedom to explore and demonstrate their potential.

  • Gender Studies

    Gender is no longer bound by its role as a social and cultural construct. Instead, it is now seen as something that actively shapes the very fabric of society and culture. In Gender Studies, students gain an understanding of the development of gender theory and its relationship to contemporary thinking.

What you will study

  1. 1STYEAR

    Learning the Basics of the Humanities

    Study aspects of all four courses
    In their first year, students do not focus on one specific course but learn the basics of literature, history, society, and Japanese culture. They explore topics that interest them while learning about the structure of modern society and the building blocks of culture.

    Understanding yourself through broad-based learning and language
    Students deepen their understanding of themselves and others through language. Students learn the skills needed for research starting with the basics, including picking a suitable topic from among their interests, reviewing past research and conducting fieldwork, and logically summarizing and presenting their ideas.

  2. 2NDYEAR

    Choosing a Course

    Deepening your understanding of your specialization
    In year two, students choose to specialize in one of four courses: Literature, History, Society, and Japanese Culture. Students develop their skills under academic supervisors with specific areas of expertise through lectures that cover introductory topics or cultural history and practical exercises such as literature readings in class.

    Learning research methodologies in seminars
    Students explore their research topics in small-group seminars with other students who share their area of interest. In addition, students develop a research plan for their third-year fieldwork program under the guidance of their supervisor.

  3. 3RDYEAR

    Learning outside the university

    Conducting research through fieldwork
    Students go out into the field to test all that they have learned from their course. Students gain a genuine understanding through firsthand experience during a two-month period outside of campus, immersed in a different culture and society where they come in contact with diverse value systems. This experience gives them new perspectives, expands their horizons, and helps them develop original ideas.

    Verifying research findings
    After completion of the program, students return to campus to reflect on their research. They collate the data and material collected in the field and compile this into a report. Students report their research findings to faculty members and their peers, and further deepen their understanding based on feedback and discussion.

  4. 4THYEAR

    Graduation Research

    Giving shape to ideas
    Students prepare a graduation thesis on their ideas based on the deep knowledge they gained in the first three years. For students to write a logically coherent and readily comprehensible thesis on a topic they are interested in, supervisors provide one-on-one guidance every step of the way, from research planning to proofreading.

What You Will Learn

  • The ability to explore social issues
  • The ability to think critically, generate ideas, and find solutions to issues
  • The ability to make decisions quickly and act decisively

Past Theses

  • Being Both A Mother and a Woman: Family Through the Fashion of the “Millennial Mom”

    The “millennial mom” is a familiar concept in today’s media. She is young and fashionable, and at first glance, it can be difficult to tell that she is a mother. This trend largely reflects increasing individualization among younger Japanese women. The paper discusses the impact of individualization on fashion for mothers and the role of “millennial mom” fashion in family life today.

  • Studying Ethnic Culture: Mystical Tourism and the Fascination with Sacred Objects

    As tourists, we are often interested in discovering the unusual. This interest is usually focused on ethnic peoples and culture, with sacred items in these communities a particular source of interest to some tourists. Based on the current tourism commodification of two ethnic cultures, Thai ethnic minorities and the Amish, this paper explores our desire to rediscover the “sacred” through tourism at a time when our society is becoming increasingly secular.

  • Overcoming Barriers in the Awamori Market in Okinawa and Mainland Japan - Exploring the Challenges of Marketing Awamori Outside Okinawa

    Shipments of awamori, Okinawa’s local alcoholic beverage, outside the prefecture rose sharply in the late 1990s and early 2000s. There are many differences in the way awamori is distributed compared to shochu. Liquor distributors in mainland Japan tend to think of awamori as a difficult product to market. This thesis analyzes various reasons for this: the grip of Okinawan wholesalers on the market, special liquor tax measures associated with US military rule, and the reversion of political control of Okinawa to the mainland, as well as differences in consumers’ alcoholic beverage preferences in mainland Japan and Okinawa.

Academic Faculty

Careers

 

Career Opportunities
Editor, journalist, civil servant, NPO/NGO worker, arts curator, school teacher, educational personnel, sales, and many more.
 
 
Major Employers
Financial services, online content design and production companies, NPOs and NGOs, medical and welfare services, manufacturing companies, distribution and retail companies, and many more.
 


Voice

  • SHINDO Takumi Current Student

    Uncovering and Addressing the Challenges of Living in Japanese Society

    I'm focusing on the challenges of living in Japanese society. My studies focus on individuals with disabilities, in particular, with consideration to issues I've noticed personally,　In 2016, an incident occurred at Tsukui Yamayuri-en, a facility for people with disabilities in Kanagawa Prefecture, where residents were killed by a former employee who "told investigators he believes people with disabilities should disappear." The cause was attributed to the culprit's bigotry, but was that really all there was to it? As a former employee, he would have been used to being around people with disabilities. Online, there were also voices of support for the perpetrator. You have to wonder, what were they thinking? To me, it seems that there is an oppressive environment where people are only viewed in terms of productivity or whether they are "making money," which can lead to dehumanization.
     
    How did our society end up here? What can we do to make it easier to live in society today?
    　
    When I think about the challenges we face in living, I remember my "Gender and Society" class, which I found very interesting and thought-provoking. The class began with the history of philosophy and worked up to the recognition that even the biological distinction between men and women is a construction, shaking the foundation of the worldview I held until this realization. Subsequently, I plan to keep reflecting on social issues while continuing to challenge my own perspectives.
  • TAMURA Yuka Academic Faculty

    A stimulating academic journey to discover the truth

    In my seminars, we consider contemporary society from the perspectives of culture, geography, and life. We trace the origin and meaning of the things we experience in our daily lives, looking at where they come from and where they go. Students choose a topic and, through written research, fieldwork, and collaborative activities in the community, explore its origins, unique cultural identity. current circumstances, and ideas for the future. My aim is to help you experience a stimulating academic journey to discover the truth.
  • YAMADA Sohei Academic Faculty

    Today's struggles drive future change

    At Kyoto Seika, we consider social issues, such as social exclusion and discrimination, through the lenses of art and creative expression. My message to those struggling in their daily lives is that your thoughts and feelings can be an important force for change in the world. University is a place where you have as much time as you like to reflect on the issues that mean something to you. I look forward to working with students who are passionate and understand that the issues that society faces are issues that we all face.