Popular Culture in Japan Past Review

By (University of California - San Diego / UCSD) - abroad from 08/05/2017 to 09/09/2017 with

UC San Diego Global Seminars / UCSD: Tokyo - Modern Japan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
The popular culture systems of Japan are different from America because America has corporate injections into the top level of their popular culture, whereas Japan is entirely a reputation economy and things that are popular are also reputable, which is only half true for America. The subcultures of Japan are so vast and deep, integrating a past that was isolated from the rest of the world with a present that is creating the technology for the future of the rest of the world. There’s so many layers to this place, I’m going to keep coming back.

Review Photos

UC San Diego Global Seminars / UCSD: Tokyo - Modern Japan Photo UC San Diego Global Seminars / UCSD: Tokyo - Modern Japan Photo UC San Diego Global Seminars / UCSD: Tokyo - Modern Japan Photo UC San Diego Global Seminars / UCSD: Tokyo - Modern Japan Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Japan is a wonderful country, so much so that being there is such a massive learning experience. So many things are different about a society that is so strongly integrated, which could give anyone a broader perspective of their home country.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $2000 for a one month trip

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Food in Japan is really cheap
  • You can venture across all of Tokyo in just a few weeks because transport is good
  • Everything in japan is labeled in English
* What could be improved?
  • Lecture material
  • Readings
  • Group integration
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Research events in the area beforehand, come up with your own itinerary for your free time

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Visual Technology in Japan

Course Department: Literature
Instructor: Rahimi
Instruction Language: English
Comments: It was a good course and the material was interesting but felt “not rigorous”. People taking the course had the assumption all the way through that it was a free A. We wrote papers in response to the reading, but because lectures were so short, delving into the reading was the only way to actually go about the course.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Popular Culture: Anime

Course Department: Literature
Instructor: Rahimi
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course was really fulfilling and excursions were great, but the professor hasn’t seen anime from 2000-now. We had papers and excursion responses for homework.
Credit Transfer Issues: No