Course Description

In this lecture, we will read and compare folklores from several peoples and cultures, such as Japan, the Ainu or Europe. Folklores are stories orally transmitted among common people. Different from mythologies and legends, protagonists in folk tales are also common people. We can read general people’s views, values and thought from these stories. By comparing folklores interculturally, we will survey characteristics of Japanese common people's values and mindset. And we will also compare it with that of the present-day Japanese.