This seminar will provide an overview of our knowledge of current climate change, its causes, and its observed and potential environmental and socio-economic impacts. Within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG13: Climate Action) of the United Nations, possible strategies to either adapt to or mitigate climate change will be presented and discussed. The lecture is partly based on information from the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and used in popular scientific works.

Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the issue of climate change and its causes in relation to our development model, which is essentially based on the use of non-renewable fossil fuels and raw materials. They will be able to discuss the issue in English from an informed point of view. This will be done through individual or group projects to focus on a particular aspect covered during the sessions. “Real time” discussions will be organized around the themes addressed by the Conference Of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), held every year in November.

1. (Weeks 1-3)
Introduction: The anthropogenic causes of the current climate change
- The increasing impact of human activities on the environment.
- The fossil fuels: Sources of considerable progress, why have they become a problem?

2. (Weesk 4-5)
An in-depth description of the physical mechanisms responsible for climate change.

3. (Weeks 6-8)
Environmental impacts
- Extreme weather events: floods, droughts, storms, …
- Oceans and cryosphere: sea level rise, acidification, ice melt, ...
- Biosphere: Species migration, habitat loss, extinctions, …
- lands: degradation, wildfires, permafrost melting, …

4. (Week 9)
The potentially most affected regions by the climate change:
- The polar regions
- The coastal regions
- The semi-arid regions

5. (Weeks 10-11)
Socio-economic impacts
- Agricultural disruption and freshwater issues
- Health risks
- Economic losses
- Livelihood, migration, conflicts

6. (Weeks 12-14)
Discussion sessions
- Solutions to climate change?
- How to define responsibilities?
- Adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage.
- The complex issue of “energy transition”

7. (Week 15)
Final examination.

8. (Week 16)
Feedback.

This seminar does not require prior knowledge on the topic and is mainly based on graphics and documents to interpret.

Evaluation will be:
Active participation in class: 40 pts
Assignments/projects at home: 30 pts
Final examination: 30 pts

Materials (pdf files) will be made available before class.
Students are encouraged to study the materials before and after each class in order to assimilate technical or uncommon words.
Depending on the topic, the study of the materials and the preparation of the report for the evaluation may take several hours per week.

Materials (pdf files) are available on the Kulasis website. Email communication is available for questions outside of class time.

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of Japanese legal system by introducing main fields, concepts and institutions of law. Through examples taken from everyday life in modern-day Japanese society, the course aims to set up a bridge between somewhat ambiguous legal concepts and their numerous concrete applications. Modern Japanese law is often categorized under the civil law tradition with six main codes, which were greatly influenced by Germany, to a lesser extent by France and also adapted to Japanese circumstances. After exploring the main fields of law and identifying corollaries in real life issues, at the end of this course the students will have a basic grasp on many legal relationships that they already had and will continue to encounter in modern-day Japanese society.

The course is intended to equip students with the basic framework to reflect upon various cultural phenomena from a legal perspective and also raise their legal awareness with respect to the daily interactions that they either personally have or observe through different means such as media.

1. Introduction, Methodology
2. The Concept of Law, Main Legal Traditions, Main Fields of Law
3. Modern Law of Japan: Periods of development and foreign influences
4. Public Law: Constitutional Law; Administrative Law
5. Civil Law: Law of Persons; Family Law
6. Civil Law: Property Law; Succession Law
7. Civil Law: Law of Obligations
8. Civil Law: Law of Obligations
9. Commercial and Corporate Law
10. Anti-Trust Law
11. Intellectual Property Law
12. Penal Law
13. Procedural Law

14. Appraisal
15. Feedback
*In order to facilitate the progress of the students and especially considering the actual composition of the class, the instructor reserves the right to make slight adjustments on the weekly schedule.

Students must be proficient in English. However, supplementary explanation of technical terms will be given in simple English in class. Since the course is primarily about Japanese law, it is also desirable that the students are willing to explore legal concepts and institutions.

Students are expected to have read the given materials in advance each week before the classes, so that they can actively engage in discussions where possible (30% of the final grade). There will be one final exam regarding the covered topics at the end of the semester (70% of the final grade).

Students are expected to have read the given materials in advance each week before the classes, as well as to review the covered topics afterwards.

Why is rice so expensive in Japan? How do Doctors without Borders send volunteer medical teams to over 80 countries? How have social media networks toppled governments and influenced elections across the globe? Associational life, also known as civil society, is a crucial feature of democratic societies, forming a link between private interests and the state. This course overviews the foundational theories of democratic rights, citizenship, and civil society while engaging with comparative examples from Japan and beyond. Examining the decline in associational participation observed worldwide since the late 20th century, this course concludes by challenging students to consider the relevancy of civil society as a concept in our rapidly changing society.

Students will learn the concepts and perspectives needed to begin developing a critical approach for thinking about the transformative role of civic participation, human rights, and non-governmental organizations in democratic societies. Students will learn the core theories used to study collective action.
Students will develop strategies for reading college-level English-language materials and practice advanced literacy skills with the goal of reading at a level sufficient to engage with academic and journalistic texts for a professional audience. In this session, students will focus on how to distill complex arguments from texts, synthesize them with other ideas, and communicate them effectively.

(15 sessions)

Topic 1 What is Civil Society?
1. What is Civil Society? Why does it matter?
2. de Tocqueville on Democracy and Participation
3. What is the Public Sphere?
4. Gramscian Hegemony and Civil Society
5. Case Study: Thinking About Third Spaces in Student Life

Topic 2 Civil Society and the State
6. Between Contestation, Cooperation, and Co-option
7. When Civil Society is Co-opted by the State
8. State Capture – Lobbying and Private Interest Advocacy
9. Civil Society and the Welfare State
10. Case Study: Japan Agriculture and the State

Topic 3 Civil Society in the 21st Century
11. The Decline of Associational Life
12. Social media, platforms: privatizing the public sphere?
13. Technology and transnational participation
14. Case Study: Natural Disasters and Japan’s NPO Law
15. Review and looking towards State and Civil Society II

Proficiency in English is expected.
This course is an introductory course and does not assume any previous experience with political science or law.

Reading and Participation
Students are expected to read and prepare notes to discuss in class. Students will be offered a range of opportunities to demonstrate active participation. 30pts

Group-led discussion (students, sorted into groups, will be assigned a date on which to present the basic argument and their evaluation and critique of the reading as a group. 20pts

In-person exams
Students will sit two in-person exams with a mixture of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. Midterm 20pts Final 30pts

Total 100pts

Students should be prepared to spend 2-3 hours reading and studying each week. They will be asked to read assigned texts carefully, identify areas they do not understand or find issues with, and be prepared to discuss them in class.

Open office hours will be held for four hours each week. I will share a link and QR code for students to make appointments ahead of time. Walk-ins will be accepted although appointments will be given priority. Students will be encouraged to come (alone or with a group of classmates) and make use of these hours as opportunities to discuss the course or associated topics. I will also respond to email inquiries within two working days.

No one can escape from the consequences of political decisions. However, politics is not just elections, prime ministers, presidents, and endless scandal. Instead, politics may be better thought of as the process of determining "who gets what, when, where, and how". This course introduces students to the basic concepts used and major perspectives of the scientific analysis of politics. Students will begin to think about politics like a social scientist, using the conceptual ‘prisms’ of power, institutions, and ideas. This introductory course will challenge students to reflect upon how political processes have impacted their lives and prepare them to identify the political arena as they begin their lives as adult members of a democratic society.

Students will learn the basic vocabulary and concepts for describing political phenomena. Students will develop an understanding of the main research approaches used in the empirical study of politics as well as major examples of their application.
Students will learn the basics of media literacy, such as identifying the sources of their information and reflecting on how the sources of their media consumption may impact how they view and think about the world.
Students will continue to practice strategies for reading college-level English-language materials and practice advanced literacy skills with the goal of reading professional-level texts with comfort. In this section, students will practice methods of deciphering less-familiar texts, consulting reference materials, and other strategies to efficiently engage with a variety of texts.

(15 sessions)

Topic 1 Power
1. Course Intro: What is Politics?
2. Legitimacy and Sovereignty
3. Political Violence
4 Political Violence Case Study: Ideas, Institutions, and Power in the Rwandan Genocide
5. Power in International Relations. Does Might Make Right?

Topic 2 Institutions
6. The Social Contract
7. The Constitution as a Foundational Institution
8. Nationalism and the Development of the Nation-state
9. Informal Institutions – Studying Behavior
10. Institutions and International Cooperation

Topic 3 Ideas
11. Soft Power, or Why Do Japanese Prime Ministers Wear Funny Costumes?
12. What was End of History? Globalization and the Triumph of Liberal Capitalism
13. What is Ideology? Do we live in a post-ideological moment?
14. The Search for New Alternatives
15. Course Conclusion – Facing Contemporary Challenges to Governance.

College-level English proficiency is required. This is an introductory-level class and assumes no prior knowledge of political science or law.

Reading and Participation
Students are expected to read and prepare notes to discuss in class. Students will also be asked to bring at least one prepared question to class each period. There will be a range of opportunities to demonstrate active participation. 40pts

Students will be asked to submit four short reflections throughout the semester. For each reflection, they will discuss a term or theory introduced in class and relate it to examples from recent media or news events in English or Japanese. 20pts (4 x 5pts each)

In-person exams
Students will sit two in-person exams with a mixture of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. 40pts (2 x 20 pts each)

Total 100 pts

Students should be prepared to spend 2-3 hours reading and studying each week. They will be asked to read assigned texts carefully, identify areas they do not understand or find issues with, and be prepared to discuss them in class.

Open office hours will be held for four hours each week. I will share a link and QR code for students to make appointments ahead of time. Walk-ins will be accepted although appointments will be given priority. Students will be encouraged to come (alone or with a group of classmates) and make use of these hours as opportunities to discuss the course or associated topics. I will also respond to email inquiries within two working days.

Based upon knowledge of calculus, this is an introductory course to the function theory of one complex variable (i.e. introduction of complex analysis), and its goal is to understand fundamentals about holomorphic functions and meromorphic ones, which are dealt through the Cauchy's integral formula. The purpose of this course is not only to understand rigorous theories but to obtain some skills about the residue calculus. The theory for complex functions are not only beautiful in a mathematical sense but also very useful in applied fields e.g. physics, engineering and medical sciences etc. Almost all the mathematical theories in this course are rigorously dealt with, and some examples related with physics are also explained. An additional goal of this course is to give a chance to the students to present and discuss mathematics in English.

The goal is to understand fundamentals about holomorphic functions and meromorphic ones, which are dealt through the Cauchy's integral formula. In addition to learning modern mathematics and proofs, students can also learn how to discuss and present mathematical topics in English through this course.

The course will cover the following topics, and each of them is read in 2 or 3 weeks:
1. complex numbers, the complex number plane and the Riemann sphere
2. differential of complex functions; holomorphic functions and the Cauchy- Riemann equation etc.
3. power series and analytic functions
4. integral; the Stieltjes integral and Cauchy's integral formula
5. fundamental theories for holomorphic functions
6. singularities and residue; the Laurent expansion and the residue calculus.

Total：14 classes, 1 Feedback session

(Eligible students) mainly the sciences of the second grade

Students are required good understanding of both calculus and linear algebra.

The evaluation of the course will take into account the following criteria:
-homework (40%)
-presentation (20%)
-final report (40%)

The students are requested to solve exercises given in class by themselves even though they are not assigned as homework.

This class is an English class for the classes of 「関数論」, and their syllabuses are the same to one another.

Office hours are not assigned and it is advisable to make comments willingly during and after the class.

This class is an introduction to calculus for those who did not study "Mathematics III (of the Japanese high school standard)".

The goal of the class is to solve problems of the same level with those in the entrance examination for science students. An additional goal of this course is to give a chance to the students to present and discuss mathematics in English.

The course will cover the following topics, and each of them is read during 3-4 weeks:
1. Limit of series and continuous functions
2. Differentiation of elementary functions (for example: sine, cosine, exponential etc.)
3. Brief introduction of the Riemann integral and differential equations
4. Applications.

Total：14 classes, 1 Feedback session

特になし

The evaluation of the course will take into account the following criteria:
-homework (40%)
-presentation (20%)
-final report (40%)

Exercises are given in class and students are required to solve them for
clear understanding of the topics in class.

High school text book "Mathematics III (高等学校 数学 III)" based on the Japanese high school standard is useful to understand of the subject of the class.

Office hours are not assigned and it is advisable to make comments willingly during and after the class.

Probability theory is indispensable for understanding and describing phenomena influenced by randomness, as arise across the natural and social sciences. Furthermore, it is one of the foundations of mathematical statistics. This lecture course will provide a fundamental introduction to the modern theory of probability.

1.To understand fundamental notions in probability theory such as events, random variables, independence, conditional probability, expectation, variance and correlation.
2. To understand when and how typical distributions, such as the normal distribution and Poisson distribution, appear, and mathematical treatments of those distributions.
3. To understand limit theorems, such as law of large numbers and central limit theorem. In particular, to understand when and how those theorems can be applied.

1. Introduction to the mathematical theory of probability (2 to 3 weeks): probability spaces, events, independence and conditional probability.
2. Introduction to the notion of random variables and related properties (4 weeks): random variable, distribution, expectation, variance, covariance, correlation, independence of random variables and Chebyshev's inequality
3. Important examples of distributions (3 weeks); Bernoulli distribution, binomial distribution, Poisson distribution, geometric distribution, uniform distribution, normal distribution, exponential distribution.
4. Limit theorems (3 to 4 weeks): law of large numbers, central limit theorem.
5. Random walks and Markov chains (supplementary).

A total of 14 lectures and one feedback class will be given.

(Eligible students) mainly the sciences of the second grade. Students are required good understanding of both calculus and linear algebra.

The evaluation of the course will mainly take into account of the result of final examination, but will also include homework and presentation elements.
The details of the evaluation system will be given by the lecturer at the first lecture.

Strongly recommend to solve exercises given in class to have a deeper understanding of contents of lectures.

Office hours are by appointment.

Biology, or Bioscience, is the study of living organisms and is divided into specialized fields that examine their form (morphology), function (physiology), structure (anatomy), behavior, origin (evolution), distribution, and interactions with the environment (ecology). "Introduction to Biosciences" provides students with a broad foundation in these fields, exploring key concepts in bioscience and their significance for humans and the world around us.
Students will have the opportunity to explore topics of their own interests through class presentation assignments, such as news or journal articles related to cell biology.

Students will gain an understanding of the diversity of Bioscience and its importance in our daily lives.
Students will develop the ability to understand and discuss various aspects of Bioscience in English, as well as to read, understand, and think critically about Bioscience in the media, such as in news reports, newspaper articles, and scientific journal articles.

1. Introduction to the course; Chemistry of life
2. Cell structure
3. Genetics
4. Biological Diversity
5. Viruses
6. Plant Biology
7. Mid-term exam + Feedback,
Explanation of Class Presentations
8. Animal Form and Function
9. The Nervous system
10. Sensory Systems
11. The Immune System
12. Evolution
13. Ecology
14. Class Presentations
15. Final Exam
16. Feedback

This is an introductory course and prior knowledge of the topic is not necessary. All essential knowledge for the class and exams will be provided in class. Students need only to have a curiosity about the study of life.

Midterm exam, 20%.
Class presentation assignments, 20%.
Final examination, 60%.

Review from the textbook, previous lecture content, and preparation for assignments to be presented in class.

The contents of the syllabus are a guide to the content of the course, the exact content may change. Input and suggests from students are very welcome and I am happy to discuss the course material with students via email or in-person meeting.

How do living organisms grow, generate energy, sustain life, and reproduce? These are the core questions we will explore in this introductory biology course, which focusses on the cellular, chemical, and genetic processes that support life. Designed to provide a clear and accessible introduction to fundamental biological concepts and how we study them, this course requires no prior knowledge of cell biology, ensuring students at all levels can comfortably engage with the material.
Students will have the opportunity to explore topics of their own interests through class presentation assignments, such as news or journal articles related to cell biology.
Students are encouraged to continue on to "Introduction to Molecular Cell Biology-E2 (1st semester)" as a follow-up to this course.

Students will gain a foundational understanding of cell structure and function.
Students will acquire an understanding of how basic biological processes influence both simple and complex living organisms.
Students will develop the ability to understand and discuss various aspects of Bioscience in English.

1. Introduction to Cell Biology
2. The Chemistry of Life - Chemical Bonds and Macromolecules
3. Cell Structure and Organelles
4. Cellular Energy - Respiration and Metabolism
5. The Cell Cycle and Reproduction
6. Cell Communication and Signaling
7. Protein Structure and Function
8. Mid-term exam + Feedback,
Explanation of Class Presentations
9. DNA and Chromosomes
10. Gene Regulation - Gene Expression and Epigenetics
11. Cell Ageing and Death
12. Cell Biology in Disease and Medicine
13. Experimental Techniques in Cell Biology
14. Class Presentations
15. Final exam
16. Feedback

This is an introductory course and prior knowledge of the topic is not necessary. All essential knowledge for the class and exams will be provided in class. Students need only to have a curiosity to learn about the biological processes of life.

Midterm exam, 20%
Class Presentation assignments, 20%
Final examination, 60%

Review from the textbook, previous lecture content, and preparation for assignments to be presented in class.

The contents of the syllabus are a guide to the content of the course, the exact content may change. Input and suggests from students are very welcome and I am happy to discuss the course material with students via email or in-person meeting.

Legal disputes that are arising from contracts in which the parties are from different countries are predominantly resolved by procedures that are alternative to litigation. Instead of applying to a state court, parties quite often and intentionally submit their disputes to private dispute resolution professionals known as arbitrators and/or mediators. Many individuals and businesses are bound with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) clauses with regards to the contractual relationships that they're part of. With this course, it is aimed to provide an essential framework in order to understand what these procedures are; how they differ from each other and how they operate in real life situations.

The course is intended to equip the students that may come from all majors with a fundamental basis regarding alternative dispute resolution methods. At the end of the semester, the students will ideally have a clear understanding about the core aspects of each dispute resolution method that they will most likely encounter in their prospective careers at least in the form of contractual clauses.

1.Introduction: Methods and Contents
2.Negotiation: Definitions and Concepts
3.Negotiation: Stages
4.Negotiation: Legal Aspects
5.Mediation: Definitions and Concepts
6.Mediation: The Process-I
7.Mediation: The Process-II
8.Mediation: Ethical Concerns and Legal Aspects
9.Midterm Exam + Review
10.Arbitration: Definitions and Concepts
11.Arbitral Proceedings and the Arbitral Award
12.Annulment of Arbitral Awards
13.Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards

14.Appraisal
15.Feedback
*In order to facilitate the progress of the students and especially considering the actual composition of the class, the instructor reserves the right to make slight adjustments on the weekly schedule.

Students must be proficient in English. However, supplementary explanation of technical terms will be given in simple English in class. Since the course is primarily about the methods for resolving legal disputes, it is also desirable that the students are willing to explore abstract legal concepts.

Students are expected to have read the given materials in advance each week before the classes, so that they can actively engage in discussions where possible (%20 of the final grade).
There will be one midterm exam (%30 of the final grade) and one final exam (%50 of the final grade).

Students are expected to have read the given materials in advance each week before the classes, as well as to review the covered issues afterwards.