ATS2648 Contemporary Japan
Faculty of Arts
ATS2648 Contemporary Japan is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review ATS2648.
Requisites
Before ATS2648
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2648
No unit lists ATS2648 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prohibition: ATS3648
Overview
In this unit, you will explore the dynamics of continuity and change in the society, culture, and politics of Japan today. You will examine important aspects of contemporary Japan such as employment, education, domestic life, and consumer culture in historical perspective. You will also engage with selected issues currently being debated in the Japanese media and political arena. Throughout the unit, you will be introduced to key theoretical approaches and analytical tools used in the study of contemporary Japan. No knowledge of the Japanese language is required; however, if you are also studying Japanese, you will have opportunities to extend your language skills through optional assessment tasks and class activities.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Weekly quizzesExercise15%
- Structured research activityProject45%
- Team projectPresentation40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify the key institutions and issues in contemporary Japan, and the historical context for their development;
- 2
demonstrate a critical understanding of the concepts and terms used to describe and discuss contemporary Japanese society and culture beyond Japan;
- 3
apply a range of disciplinary approaches to analyse major issues and debates in contemporary Japan, both individually and in collaboration with others;
- 4
reflect on the relevance of Japanese experiences of social change to other national and individual circumstances;
- 5
explore how contemporary Japanese social and cultural phenomena are reflected in, and shaped by, Japanese language use;
- 6
read critically and engage with existing research on Japan.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials24 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit will provide students with opportunities to work with peers in groups and pairs in class. They will have interactive discussions to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the topic and reinforce your learning.
You will engage with a variety of online materials provided through the unit Moodle site. You will be required to complete certain tasks prior to attending class each week: typically, these will involve reading texts and watching introductory videos where the lecturer introduces the weekly topic.
In in-class and online activities, you will be presented with a variety of scenarios and issues and encouraged to formulate questions and investigate them independently.
You will be required to undertake research, using a range of academic literature and primary sources, in group projects and an independent task leading to submission of a short research essay.
You are expected to be active participants in a learning community. Through class debates, group work and individual projects, you will be encouraged to not only to take responsibility for your learning process but also to think creatively and critically the purposes behind it.
Where it fits
ATS2648 is part of 5 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- ANTHROPL11Level 2 and 3 elective units.AnthropologyNo reviews yet
- GLOBASIA03Level 2 and 3 elective unitsGlobal AsiaNo reviews yet
- GLOBASIA04Level 2 and 3 unitsGlobal AsiaNo reviews yet
- JAPANESE05Level 2 and 3 elective unitsJapanese studiesNo reviews yet
- JAPANESE06Level 2 and 3 elective unitsJapanese studiesNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Pepi Ronalds
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Pepi Ronalds
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2648?
ATS2648 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2648 offered?
In 2026, ATS2648 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS2648?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2648 have an exam?
No. ATS2648 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2648?
ATS2648 is part of Anthropology, Global Asia and Japanese studies.