ASIA 453

Japanese Travel Literature

Course Description
This course will equip students with theoretical perspectives and research and writing skills required
for the study of Japanese literature. We will focus on Japanese travel literature from the tenth century to
the present. Regular research and writing exercises and feedback opportunities will enable students to
gain skills necessary for producing research papers and scholarly articles, to share newly acquired
knowledge, and to provide constructive critique on worksinprogress. !tudents will complete a series
of pro"ects framed as reading responses and assignments that allow them to engage with the practices,
resources, and processes that underlie strong research.
Description of Assignments
Reading responses #$,%%% words&' These responses require you to find sources #poetry collections and
travelogues& outside the required readings and to compare the structure, organi(ation, and style of these
works to our assigned readings. )ou are encouraged to introduce these sources to the class during our
discussions.
Research methods assignments' These assignments are designed to familiari(e students with the
methods, approaches, and tools used in the study of Japanese literature and culture.
*or the first assignment #no page limit&, you will select one question among a series of problems and
use resources in the library and online to research this problem. )our submission should show each step
of the research process and provide an explanation of your findings.
The second assignment #$,%%% words& is an opportunity to practice literary approaches to analy(ing
different genres and presentation modes. )ou are asked to examine at least three representations of the
Djji myth and to provide a detailed comparison of one scene.
aterial culture!map description #$,%%% words&' )ou are required to select one ob"ect from the
Tokugawa maps collection and to provide an extended description of the ob"ect, its significance, and its
context, aimed at the general public. #+etails and sample provided in class.&
Research presentation #$, minutes&' -ntroduce the ob"ect you researched to the class and explain what
you discovered.
Research paper proposal #one page&' -ndicate three to five questions that your paper will address,
provide an outline for the paper, list the primary and secondary sources you intend to use, and note any
problems or issues on which you would like feedback.
Research criti"ues #,%% words&' -n the week following our final class, you are required to submit a
draft of your research paper to two classmates #to be determined in class&. -n return, you will provide a
critique of their research papers and advice on how they can be strengthened. #*urther guidelines will
be provided.&

#inal research paper #.,%%% words&' )our essay must address an academic audience and be crafted as
a submission to a "ournal in the field. /lease follow the style and submission guidelines for Monumenta
Nipponica available here' http'00monumenta.cc.sophia.ac."p0submissions.html.
$valuation
Reading responses 12
Research assignments 32
Research presentations $%2
4ap consultation ,2
4ap description 5%2
Research paper proposal ,2
Research paper consultation ,2
Research critique ,2
*inal research paper 5%2
/articipation and preparedness $,2
6ate assignments will be reduced $%2 per day. 4issing assignments will receive %2.
!tudents absent more than three classes will receive %2 on participation.
%rading Ru&ric 7rades will be assigned as follows.
7rade /ercent 6evel of
8chievement
89 :%$%% ;xceptional
8 <,<: ;xceptional
8 <%<1 ;xceptional
=9 >3>: ?ompetent
= >5>, ?ompetent
7rade /ercent 6evel of
8chievement
= 3<>$ ?ompetent
?9 313> 8dequate
? 3%3. 8dequate
? ,,,: 8dequate
+ ,%,1 8dequate
* %%1: -nadequate
Learning 'utcomes
Japanese Travel 6iterature, 5
=y the end of this course, students will have the tools, skills, and approaches necessary to'
#a& write research papers based on literary sources@
#b& present their research in a conference or workshop setting@
#c& productively critique the scholarly writing of others@ and
#d& navigate museum and library collections and identify materials.
They will produce within this course'
$. a research paper that analy(es sources of literary and material culture@ and
5. a description of a source from the Rare =ooks and !pecial ?ollections map holdings that
contributes knowledge about A=? 4aps of the Tokugawa ;ra.
Re"uirements
!ince class content will build on previous sessions, students must be able to attend every class, have
read the works or analy(ed the materials, and be prepared to talk about them.
/articipation counts for a significant portion of your mark. /lease note that participation does not mean
simply attending class. (ou are e)pected to activel* ta+e part in our discussions each session and
,ill &e graded accordingl*- While completing the reading, please take ample notes, including page
number, so that you are able to refer to and cite from the work in class. Bew texts will be introduced by
short lectures, but discussion will be the focus of our class with content structured around student input.
The instructor will provide some discussion questions for each reading which we will take up during
our sessions, but students are encouraged to bring new topics and questions to both the online bulletin
board and inclass discussions.
6ate assignments will be reduced by $%2 per day. -n advance of the deadline, each paper must be #$&
processed via Turn-t-n, and #5& submitted #a& #in the case of the short paper& to the professor in class, or
#b& #in the case of the final paper& to the +epartment of 8sian !tudies #room 1%., 8sian ?entre, $<>$
West 4all& &efore 4.// pm to be stamped with the date. +o not submit your final paper directly to the
instructor.
The instructor asks students to use Turn-t-n not because she assumes that you are guilty of plagiarism,
but because it has successfully prevented plagiarism in past classes. *amiliari(e yourself with how to
properly annotate and attribute your sources. ?ome see the instructor if you are unsure about how to do
so. !tudents are expected to produce original work for all assignments, including postings, exams, and
the final paper, and are sub"ect to disciplinary procedures for plagiarism and academic misconduct.
/lagiarism, cheating on qui((es, examinations, or assignments, and failure to produce oneCs own work
will result in automatic expulsion from the class and possible further disciplinary action. *or the
Japanese Travel 6iterature, .
*aculty of 8rts explanation of plagiarism and its penalties, see' http'00www.arts.ubc.ca0arts
students0plagiarismavoided.html. *or academic misconduct see' http'00learningcommons.ubc.ca0get
studyhelp0academicintegrity0.
Students ,ith Disa&ilities and Academic Accommodations
-n keeping with the AniversityCs policy of providing equal access for students with disabilities, any
student requesting academic accommodations must meet with an 8ccess and +iversity advisor #for
example, accommodations might include a change in the allocation of Aniversity resources, or in
teaching or evaluation procedures, designed to meet the particular needs of a student with a disability
such as course materials in an alternative format, private exam spaces, the use of computers, or note
takers&. The 8ccess and +iversity advisor will provide a letter detailing the academic accommodations
to be made, and assist in the case that agreement between the student and instructor cannot be reached.
8ccommodations should be agreed to as soon as possible, in the first week of class if not before.
Retroactive accommodations are not permitted, so if this applies to you, be careful to seek assistance in
this regard immediately.
Illness and A&sence
-f you experience medical, emotional, or personal problems that affect your attendance or academic
performance, please notify 8rts 8cademic 8dvising or your home *acultyCs 8dvising Dffice. -f you are
registered with 8ccess and +iversity, you should notify your instructor at least two weeks before
examination dates. -f you are planning to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other
commitments, you should discuss your commitments with the instructor before the drop date.
Academic Integrit* and Responsi&ilit*
8s a member of this class, you are responsible for contributing to the course ob"ectives through your
participation in class activities and your written and other work and pro"ects. -n the process of coming
into your own as an independent, responsible participant in the academic community, you are
encouraged to seek advice, clarification, and guidance in your learning from your instructor and0or
Teaching 8ssistant. -f you decide to seek help beyond the resources of this course, you are responsible
for ensuring that this help does not lead you to submit othersC work as your own. -f an outside tutor or
other person helps you, show this policy to your tutor or helper' make sure you both understand the
limits of this personCs permissible contribution.
8cademic communities depend on their membersC honesty and integrity in representing the sources of
reasoning, claims, and wordings which appear in their work. 6ike any other member of the academic
community, you will be held responsible for the accurate representation of your sources' the means by
which you produced the work you are submitting. -f you are found to have misrepresented your sources
Japanese Travel 6iterature, 1
and to have submitted othersC work as your own, or to have submitted work for which you have already
received credit in another course, penalties may follow. )our case may be forwarded to the Eead of the
department, who may decide that you should receive (ero for the assignment. The Eead will report
your case to the +eanCs Dffice, where it will remain on file. The Eead may decide, in consultation with
your instructor, that a greater penalty is called for, and will forward your case to the +eanCs Dffice.
8fter an interview in the +eanCs Dffice, your case may be forwarded to the /residentCs 8dvisory
?ommittee on 8cademic 4isconduct. *ollowing a hearing in which you will be asked to account for
your actions, the /resident may apply penalties including (ero for the assignment@ (ero for the course@
suspension from the university for a period ranging from 1 to 51 months@ a notation on your permanent
record. The penalty may be a combination of these.
8cademic communities also depend on their membersC living up to the commitments they make. =y
enrolling in this course, you make commitments to an academic community' you are responsible for
meeting deadlines@ attending class and engaging in class activities@ guaranteeing that the work you
submit for this course has not already been submitted for credit in another course.
-f you find that you cannot meet a deadline or cannot participate in a course activity, discuss your
situation with your instructor before the deadline or before your absence.
aterials
The following are required and available for purchase in the A=? =ookstore'
8!-8 1,. ?ourse /acket
Feene, +onald. The Narrow Road to Oku. Bew )ork' Fodansha A!8, $::>.
Schedule
Session 'ne -ntroduction to Japanese Travel 6iterature and Research 8pproaches
Session T,o Theoretical /erspectives on Japanese Travel 6iterature
Eerbert /lutschow, GWhat /re4odern Japanese Travel Writing Tells As,H Review of Japanese Culture
and Societ $: #+ecember 5%%>&.
4ac?annell, +ean. G8 !emiotic of 8ttraction.H -n The Tourist! " New Theor of the #eisure Class.
=erkeley' Aniversity of ?alifornia /ress, $::: #pages $%:$..&.
Session Three !ources and ?onventions -' /oetry and Barratives of Travel
!elections from 6aurel Rasplica Rodd, trans., G=ook -I' Travel /oems,H $okinsh%! " Collection of
&oems "ncient and Modern #/rinceton' /rinceton Aniversity /ress, $:<1&.
Japanese Travel 6iterature, ,
!elections from Joshua !. 4ostow and Royall Tyler, trans., The 'se Stories! 'se mono(atari #Eonolulu'
Aniversity of EawaiJi /ress, 5%$%&.
K Reading response $' /oetic structures and organi(ation #52 of total grade&.
Session #our !ources and ?onventions --' Travel 8ccounts
Eelen ?. 4c?ullough, G8 Tosa Journal,H in Classical Japanese &rose! "n "ntholo( #!tanford'
!tanford Aniversity /ress, $::%&.
?hristina 6affin, trans., Diar of the Si)teenth Ni(ht Moon.
K Reading response 5' /oems and places #52 of total grade&.
Session #ive Workshop on the +igiti(ed 4aps ?ollection and Research 4ethods
Session Si) !ources and ?onventions ---' Travel /erformed
4arian Ary, trans., GEow a 4onk of the +L"L"i in the /rovince of Fii ?opied the 6otus !utra and
=rought !alvation to !erpents,H in Tales of Times Now &ast! Si)t*Two Stories from a Medieval
Japanese Collection #=erkeley' Aniversity of ?alifornia /ress, $:>:&.
Mirginia !kord, Tales of Tears and #au(hter! Short +iction of Medieval Japan #Aniversity of Eawaii
/ress, $::$&.
+onald Feene, Twent &las of the N Theatre #?olumbia Aniversity /ress, $,-./0
GFyL Fanako 4usume +L"L"i,H $a1uki Dance! 2and Tamasa1ur #!hochiku ?o., 6td, 5%%.&.
K Research methods assignment $ due' 8naly(ing a research problemNresources for the study of
Japanese literature and culture #.2 of total grade&.
Session Seven Travel and 4aterial ?ulture
Thomas !atchell, trans., Shanks3 Mare! 2ein( a translation of the TO$"'DO volumes of
4'5"$6R'789 Japan3s (reat comic novel of travel : ri1aldr 1 '$$6 J'&&8NS4" ;<-=>*<?@</
#Rutland, Mt.' ?harles ;. Tuttle, $:3%&.
K Research methods assignment 5' ?omparative analysis of a scene #.2 of total grade&.
000Deadline for paper1planning consultations000
Session $ight Miewing of Japanese 4aps of the Tokugawa ;ra #Rare =ooks and !pecial
?ollections&
Japanese Travel 6iterature, 3
2ith 3atherine 3als&ee+
Session 4ine Miewing of Japanese 4aps of the Tokugawa ;ra #Rare =ooks and !pecial
?ollections&
000Research paper proposals due #,2 of total grade&000
Session Ten /remodern Travel Reimagined' Travel in *ilm
Maonokach% no Aaji*san9 $ita*san #Tokyo' Fadokawa ;ntertainment, 5%%,&.
Session $leven 4ap /resentations
Session T,elve Travel /oetry Revisited
+onald Feene, The Narrow Road to Oku #Bew )ork' Fodansha A!8, $::>&.
Session Thirteen Research presentations - #$%2 of total grade&
Session #ourteen Research presentations --
000Research criti"ues due in the ,ee+ follo,ing final class #,2 of total grade&000
000 5ortfolio of material culture!map descriptions #5,2 of total grade&
and final papers #.%2 of total grade& due during e)amination period000
Japanese Travel 6iterature, >