JAPANESE SCI-FI

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Subtitle	From Origins to Current Trends Across Cultures & Media
Lecturer(s)	MUELLER, NICOLE M.
Credit(s)	2
Academic Year/Semester	2025 Spring (2nd Half)
Day/Period	Mon.1/Wed.1
Campus	Mita
Registration Number	45234
Faculty/Graduate School	INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Year Level	2, 3, 4
Grade Type	This item will appear when you log in (Keio ID required).
Course Description	-
K-Number	CIN-CO-00113-2-85

Course Administrator	Faculty/Graduate School	CIN	INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Course Administrator	Department/Major	CO
Main Course Number	Level	0	Faculty-wide
	Major Classification	0	Other Course
	Minor Classification	11	International Center Course (Humanities) - Languages and Literature
	Subject Type	3	Elective subject
Supplemental Course Information	Class Classification
	Class Format
	Language of Instruction	2	English
Academic Discipline		85	Comprehensive / Integrated Areas (Humanities)

Course Contents/Objectives/Teaching Method/Intended Learning Outcome

In this class, we will explore the world of Japanese Science Fiction mainly from a literary point of view, but also include popcultural media such as anime and manga which oftentimes employ the same narratives and imaginaries and also have significantly contributed to Japanese Sci-Fi’s world renown. Tracing back the origins of Japanese Sci-Fi to ancient myths and early 20th century pioneers, we will then delve into the rich Sci-Fi scene that developed after the Postwar era, featuring Japan’s 'three greatest SciFi writers' and their longlasting impact. At the same time, we will focus on groundbreaking Sci-Fi works from Japanese popculture, contrast popular formats such as light novels and web novels with Sci-Fi elements in canonized authors‘ works, and explore the multifaceted relationship between Japanese Sci-Fi and technological innovation. Moreover, we will take a look into Western sources of inspirations that have impacted Japanese Sci-Fi and critically examine Western, particularly cyberpunk stereotypes of Japan as a futuristic nation.

The main objectives of this class therefore are:

• Providing students with a comprehensive historical overview of the Japanese Sci-Fi scene, enabling them to identify influential narratives and imaginaries and situate them in a broader cultural context

• Providing insight into utopian and dystopian Sci-Fi imaginations, including their real-life impact

• Enabling students to actively and critically engage with literary and/or popcultural works through discussions, group work, oral presentations, and a written report submitted by the end of the term (this includes reading and discussing scholarly literature on the respective subject)