Introduction to International Law

Being offered as a foundation course for law major students, this course will be a prerequisite for the courses of International Organization, International law I and II, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and International Organizational Law.
 

Introduction to Legal Science

The function of law in society, its nature and historical evolution, and fundamental legal principles of the international community, the state, civil society and the family.
 

Administrative Law I

General principles of administrative law. Emphasis on problems of administrative litigation, civil service and local autonomy. The course extends over more than a single prerequisite to younger number.
 

Administrative Law II

General principles of administrative law. Emphasis on problems of administrative litigation, civil service and local autonomy. The course extends over more than a single prerequisite to younger number.
 

Civil Law I

General principles of civil law and the civil code of Japan; emphasis on the law of property, contract and torts. The course extends over more than a single prerequisite to younger number.
 

Civil Law II

General principles of civil law and the civil code of Japan; emphasis on the law of property, contract and torts. The course extends over more than a single prerequisite to younger number.
 

Civil Law III

General principles of civil law and the civil code of Japan; emphasis on the law of property, contract and torts. The course extends over more than a single prerequisite to younger number.
 

Constitutional Law I

This course focuses on the main issues of the Constitution in the field of human rights and pacifism principle, in line with the case laws and academic theories. By taking together with CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II, students will have better understanding of the relationship of pacifism, democracy and constitutionalism.
 

International Law I

Historical evolution, nature, structure and function of international law; contemporary legal issues relating to foreign affairs. The course extends over more than a single prerequisite to younger number.
 

International Law II

Historical evolution, nature, structure and function of international law; contemporary legal issues relating to foreign affairs. The course extends over more than a single prerequisite to younger number.
 

International Organization

The bases of international organization, its historical development from the international public unions of the 19th century to the United Nations and contemporary patterns of international organizations.
 

Constitutional Law II

This course focuses on the major issues of the constitutional frame of governance, such as National Diet, Cabinet, Courts, Local Government, and Constitutional Amendment, in line with the case laws and academic theories. Strongly recommended to take along with CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I.
 

Environmental Law

This course will examine the topics of the characteristics of Environmental Law and its fundamental principles, creation and development of International Environmental Law, and the culmination of the historical development of National Environmental Law. This course adopts not only a legalistic approach, but also a policy oriented approach.
 

Social Security Law

By reviewing the issues of pension, social allowance, health insurance, labor insurance, social welfare, and public assistance etc., this course aims to reveal the characteristics and challenges of the Social Security Act.
 

Intellectual Property Law

In line with the Unfair Competition Prevention Law, Trademark Law, Patent Law, Utility Model Act, the Design Act, Copyright Law, and international treaties, this course will examine the major issues of Intellectual Property Law. The goal is to follow as much as possible the development of the academic theories and case laws of Intellectual Property Law.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Criminal Law I

Studies of principles and practices of the Japanese Criminal Law: an explanation of its preventive, retributive and corrective theories; its general principles; some case studies. Prerequisites: INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL SCIENCE and CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
 

Criminal Law II

Studies of principles and practices of the Japanese Criminal Law: an explanation of its preventive, retributive and corrective theories; its general principles; some case studies. Prerequisites: INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL SCIENCE and CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
 

Commercial Law

Commercial law of Japan; the commercial code, corporation law, the law of bills and checks, insurance law and transportation law.
 

Comparative Constitutional Law

Comparative studies of some constitutions, especially specified concerning civil liberties and form of government.
 

Economic Law

This class analyses the major areas of economic law especially the anti-monopoly law.
 

International Human Rights Law

Being offered as an advanced course in the International Law category, this course focuses on the legal aspect of international human rights protection. Topics will include: the analysis of international human rights norms, domestic and international implementation of international human rights law, the UN's and regional organizations' human rights protection systems with a particular emphasis on the complaint-filing system by individuals.
 

Labor Law

Labor laws of Japan and other major countries, systems of labor administration, and international labor conventions and their enforcement.
 

Mass Media Law

This course deals with the mass media law and the information law related legislations and case law studies by inquiring the following topics: state secrets and freedom of reporting, individual information protection law, human rights protection bill, criminal reporting and press ombudsperson, freedom of information act, freedom of broadcasting, internet law, defamation and right to personality.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Comparative Law

This course examines not only common law and civil law which are traditionally main areas of Comparative Law. This course also plans to enlarge our perspective on Asian law, African law, and Islamic law in order to understand historical development and modern problems of Comparative Law.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Legal Philosophy

This course is an introductory study of the philosophy of law carried out as a branch of the basic law. It learns from the point of view of various Legal Philosophy, (1) the difference between law and morality, religion, (2) the logical relation of law and justice, (3) the theory of bad law, (4)and the law and life ethics etc.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Law and Society

This course clarifies the various aspects of the transformation of contemporary Japanese law and society by picking up major topics of general theory of sociology of law, law interpretation and sociology of law, state law and customary law, court functioning, law consciousness, market economics and law, and peculiarity and universality of Japanese law.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Advanced Studies in Legal Science I

Study of special topics in legal science. Approval in advance of the instructor in charge required (offered as occasion may require).
(Offered Alternate Years)

Advanced Studies in Legal Science II

Study of special topics in legal science. Approval in advance of the instructor in charge required (offered as occasion may require).
(Offered Alternate Years)

Advanced Studies in Legal Science III

Study of special topics in legal science. Approval in advance of the instructor in charge required (offered as occasion may require).
(Offered Alternate Years)

Advanced Studies in Legal Science IV

Study of special topics in legal science. Approval in advance of the instructor in charge required (offered as occasion may require).
(Offered Alternate Years)

Introduction to Development Studies

Theories policies and problems of development in developing countries are considered. The concept and purpose of development, role of governments in development and economic, social and political factors are covered. Language of instruction differs by year.
 

Law and Economics

The purpose of this course is to clarify phenomena and problems that are inherent in the market economy by an examination of the laws and economic systems that support the internal and contractual structure of the market.
 

Educational Administration

Aim at providing the basic knowledge of educational administration focusing on the nature and meaning of educational administration, its types, and the interaction of educational administration and contemporary educational problems. Required elective course for all the students in the Teacher Certification Program.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Global Civil Society

Examines the theoretical and practical challenges NGOs and other stakeholders encounter in an emerging global civil society. Language of instruction differs by year.
 

Foreign Policy Analysis

Provides an analytical basis for the study of foreign policy.
 

International Political Economy

The course will deal with issues of international political economy such as trade, finance, and capital movement from both theoretical and empirical viewpoints.
 

Studies of the United Nations

This course will study the history of the establishment of the United Nations, its organization and activities, and the solution of various international problems through the United Nations.
 

Peace Studies I

Introduction to the field of peace and security studies. This course will introduce students to all relevant approaches and theories in peace studies from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
 

Peace and Human Rights

The course provides students with a conceptual foundation for the study¡¡of international peace and human rights. It examines the theory and¡¡practice in the field.
 

International Politics

Problems of the world community and the role of the individual. Emphasis on the factors affecting international relations and the basic policies of selected national states.
 

Introduction to Political Science

Covering various fields of political science. Dealing with various methodologies and methods of learning in the discipline of political science. Analyzing basic concepts and main ideas of political science. Language of instruction differs by year.
 

History of Western Political Thought II

This course deals with the development of political thought in the modern age from Machiavelli to Hegel.
 

Political Culture

Analytical and comparative studies of various types of political culture and tradition including Japan.
 

Political Theory

Theorizing contemporary politics, democracy, the state, civil society, identity, and so forth. Emphasis on theories of political institutions, ideologies and types of behaviors.
 

Comparative Politics

The main goal of this course is to examine relationship between state and society in the various political regimes. The main focus will be modernization and democratization processes. Language of instruction differs by year.
 

Japanese Politics

This course aims at exploring political as well as historical, sociological, economic, and cultural aspects of the Japanese state and society.
 

Introduction to Public Policy

Fundamentals of public policy, problem solving approaches, and methodology of policy studies. Dealing with significance, structure and processes of public policy, as well as dynamics relationship between government, citizens, NGOs, or companies.
 

Local Governance

Analyzing the present situation of local governance in Japan in terms of history, institution, policy, personnel, facility and finance, based on the understanding of the idea of local self-government, principle of subsidiarity or decentralization, Major focus will be on the problem solving processes through the collaboration between local government, citizens, NPOs and companies.
 

Policy Process and Political Institutions

Analyzing the policy processes of the cycle of planning, decision, implementation and evaluation, in relation with political actors and institutions. In addition to the understanding of the present situation, the course will prospect the future institutional design and the change in the relationship between actors.
 

Public Administration

Analyzing the structure and function of modern public administration, the functions and dysfunctions of bureaucracy, and the democratic control of civil service system. Main focus will be on the recent trends of administrative reforms, including politics-administration relationship, civil service reform, privatization, NPM, and administrative accountability.
 

Comparative Public Policy and Administration

Advanced, comparative studies of public policy and administration in various countries. In addition to cross-national analysis of Japan, Western and developing countries, this course deals with cross-policy issue comparison, cross-time analysis of administrative development, and categorization based on cultural patterns and differences.
 

Legislative Process

This course studies the limits of legal way of thinking, on the hand, and necessities of policy science oriented way of thinking, on the other, focusing especially on the legislative process, administrative legislation, and local autonomy law.
(Offered Alternate Years)

Senior Thesis

Senior students, under the guidance of an advisor, will select a subject related to their major and prepare a senior thesis. The final product should represent the efforts of one year of sustained and rigorous thinking, research, and writing. Required of all students in their senior year.