SUETSUGU Satoshi
- Specialization
- Ryukyuan Culture / Language and Culture (Songs)
Gaining a well-rounded understanding of all four courses
In their first year, students learn the basics of literature, history, society, and Japanese culture to understand the different features and research methods employed in these fields before choosing their course. Students learn about elements of culture and the formation of modern society before pursuing a research topic that interests them.
An extensive knowledge and language base as inspiration for self-reflection
Students deepen their understanding of themselves and others through language and acquire 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 summarizing and presenting their ideas in a logical manner.
Building expertise
Students choose to specialize in one of four courses: literature, history, society, or Japanese culture. They deepen their specialist knowledge by participating in lectures covering introductory topics or cultural history and seminars examining the literature under leading authorities in their chosen field and time period.
Learning research methodologies in seminars
Students explore their research topics in small-group seminars with peers 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.
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 off-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 completing their program, students return to campus to reflect on their research. They collate the data and material they 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 through feedback and discussion.
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.