Modern Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Why you should go
The seminar explores the blurred outcome of the political culture established in Reconstruction Japan. The seminar explores two questions: How has Japan navigated the narrow straits between perpetrator and victim during WW II? To help explore this question, the seminar also asks: how have other countries dealt with profound historical trauma and nation building?
Courses
- MMW 15GS: The Contemporary Era: Conflict and Aspirations in a Globalized World
- SOCI 148GS: Political Sociology
- See course descriptions (PDF)
Faculty Leader
Ivan Evansievans@ucsd.edu
Ivan Evans is a professor in the Department of Sociology at UC San Diego and has been provost of Eleanor Roosevelt College since 2015. He is a graduate of University of the Western Cape in South Africa and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His areas of specialization include social movements, African studies and disaster resilience in the age of global warming. He received the Eleanor Roosevelt College teaching award two years in a row.
Who should go
While students from all colleges are welcome, this program will be particularly relevant to Eleanor Roosevelt College students who want to make progress toward their Making of the Modern World general education requirement while exploring Japan region through a series of historically-focused tours. It satisfies MMW 15 for four-year students, or MMW 122 for transfer students. SOCI 148GS is an upper division sociology course appropriate for any student interested in the connections between state and civil society. This second course fulfills a number of college's social science requirement, as well as major requirements for the Sociology and International Studies majors as well as for the African Studies minor. Consult your college academic advisor to determine how the courses will apply to your graduation requirements.
Information Sessions
- General (choose one):
- Tue, Sept. 30th, 3-4 pm (zoom)
- Tue, Oct. 21st, 3:30-4 pm (in-person)
- Program: Tuesday, October 14th, 3:30 - 4:30 PM
- Register here for the live Zoom link, and/or to get the post-session recording.
Dates
| Departure from U.S.: | Sat., June 27, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Arrival: | Sun., June 28, 2026 |
| Mandatory Orientation: | Mon., June 29, 2026 |
| First Day of Class: | Mon., June 29, 2026 |
| Last Day of Class: | Fri., July 31, 2026 |
| Departure for the U.S. (or personal travel): |
Sat., August 1, 2026 |
Flight Information
- You will be responsible for purchasing your own airplane tickets, and your program coordinator will provide guidelines and resources during the pre-departure process to help you find an appropriate flight.
- Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the contract has been signed.
Global Seminar Fees
All fees subject to change. See https://summersession.ucsd.edu/tuition/tuition.html for current tuition and campus-based fees.
| UCSD | Other UC | Non-UC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Cost: (includes $500 administrative fee) |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Estimated Tuition and Campus-Based Fees: |
$2,520.49 | $2,570.49 | $3,580.49 |
| Total: (not including airfare or personal expenses) |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
Calculate the Full Cost
- Calculator coming soon!
Funding Options
See the funding options page to learn how financial aid and scholarships can help you pay for this program.
Local Site Visits
- Showakan - National Showa Memorial Museum
- Edo-Tokyo Museum
- Tokyo National Museum
- Imperial Palace & East Garden
- Yasukuni Shrine
- Zojoji Temple
- Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
- Meiji Jingu
- Mt.Fuji
Overnight Excursions
- Kyoto/Nara (5 days, 4 nights)
- Nara Park
- Todaiji Temple
- Horyuji Temple
- Hiroshima
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial
- Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum
- Fukuyama City Holocaust Education Center
- overnight in a Buddhist temple
Excursions are subject to change without prior notice. No refunds are possible.
Housing
- Double-occupancy rooms at a 3-star hotel
- Rooms have wifi & air conditioning
- Housing arrangements are subject to change based on local circumstances without prior notice. No price adjustments are possible.
Included Meals
- Welcome dinner upon arrival
- Farewell dinner at end of program
Classroom and Computer Access
- Classroom space is to be confirmed.
- It will have wifi & air conditioning.
- Wireless access may be intermittent due to local conditions. No refunds or price adjustments are possible.
Transportation
- Transportation by private bus to and from Haneda airport to the student housing is included in the program. Two different pick-up times will be arranged based on the most common flight arrival times.
- Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the contract has been signed.
- A local transportation pass for Tokyo will be provided for each student.
- Transportation for all out of town excursions
Phones
- Information about how to obtain a local SIM card will be provided at the pre-departure orientation.
- Students will be responsible to purchase their own calling time/minutes.
Insurance, Health, and Safety
- An in-depth orientation will be given on the morning after arrival, including health and safety procedures.
- Program partner staff will be available by telephone after hours.
- All students will be registered for UC travel insurance valid for program dates + 14 days cumulative.
- Students travelling more than that should obtain independent travel insurance.
