Modern Japanese Literature
(Every Tuesday from October 7, 2025 - November 11, 2025 except November 4)
Ignite your teaching with a dynamic five-week online seminar exploring modern Japanese literature—from the Meiji era to the present day. Designed specifically for K–12 educators, this program blends literary analysis with historical and cultural context, equipping teachers with innovative strategies to bring Japan’s rich literary heritage into the classroom.
Through engaging discussions, curated readings, and ready-to-use resources, participants will explore how modern Japanese literature reflects—and shapes—Japan’s evolving social, cultural, and political landscapes. This course is perfect for educators in literature, history, social studies, and the arts who want to captivate students with stories that connect past and present.
🗓️ Dates: October 7, 2025 - November 11, 2025
⏰ Time: Weekly 1-hour live discussions (plus self-paced lectures and readings)
💻 Format: Online (Pre-recorded Lectures + Live Discussions + Forum Participation)
🎓 Open to all K–12 educators
📚 Includes primary sources, film recommendations, and teaching guides
Course Structure & Requirements:
Video presentations (1 hour/week) — watch on your own schedule.
Background and primary source readings.
Mandatory online forum participation.
Weekly live discussion with topic specialists (1 hour/week).
Benefits:
1 salary point for Los Angeles Unified School District.
3 Continuing Education Units for other districts (processing fee applies).
Classroom-ready materials aligned with national education standards.
Weekly Topics & Discussions:
Modern Japan in Context — Social, cultural, and economic realities of contemporary Japan.
From Meiji to Early Shōwa — Literature through modernization and into WWII.
Postwar Voices — Literature from 1945 through the 1970s.
The Three Murakamis — Exploring works by Murakami Haruki, Murakami Ryū, and Murakami Takashi.
From Page to Practice — Teaching applications, takeaways, and discussion of classroom strategies.
💬 Interactive Format:
Live sessions include Q&A and peer exchange, allowing participants to adapt literary works for their specific teaching contexts and student needs.
📌 Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of modern Japanese literature while gaining creative tools for student engagement.
Sponsorship:
This seminar is sponsored by the USC U.S.–China Institute and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, with funding from the Freeman Foundation, enabling us to offer the program to K–12 educators at no cost.
Featured Speaker:
Lynne Miyake, Emerita Professor of Japanese in the Department of Asian Languages and Literatures and the Asian Studies Program at Pomona College.