Course Description

In this lecture we will focus on the urban cultural history of Japan. By reading the contemporary description of Edo and its urban society in "Seji kenbun roku" (transl. "An Account of What I Have Seen and Heard in Our Present World"), written by an anonymous samurai, we will examine various topics regarding the urban culture and society of the early modern city.

Students can expect to come out of this lecture with a better understanding of the urban cultural history of Japan. The course participants will be better equipped for engaging in an informed discussion about the past, present, and future of the Japanese urban environment.