A small island off the coast of China, Taiwan occupies an outsized role in global geopolitics. Whether seen as David to China's Goliath or a flashpoint in the South China Sea, Taiwan is frequently in the news but remains poorly understood. This seminar takes students beyond the headlines to explore Taiwan's history, society and culture. The course will examine the island's colonial past, economic rise, the transition to democracy, and social movements such as feminism, LGBTQ and indigenous rights, and environmental activism. Using interdisciplinary methods, students will reflect on Taiwan's complex history and vibrant culture and society.

This seminar, taught at University of Tokyo offers an opportunity to understand contemporary Japanese society through lectures, readings, discussions, and field trips in both urban and rural Japan. In the six weeks, we will cover six important topics in six modules. For each module, we will have a combination of a lecture, a guest lecture, readings, student presentations, and class discussions.