Tokyo Field School

The Tokyo field school is a research-based study abroad program located in Japan’s largest metropolis. At the center of the field school experience is the opportunity to conduct firsthand mentored research on Japanese culture in Tokyo. Students will pursue their own research projects under the supervision of the field school director. This is an excellent opportunity to conduct research for a capstone project in any major, and to learn about and demonstrate competence in firsthand research in one of the most exciting cities in the world.

Throughout the field school students will have guidance and support in conducting qualitative research methods common to anthropology. Students will also register for a course on the anthropology of contemporary Japan (ANTHR 348) where they will learn about the history of Harajuku street fashion; anime pop culture; Japanese Nationalism; and Buddhist, Christian, and Shinto religions in Japan. During the field school, students will live together in Airbnbs, business hotels, and traditional ryokan.

Students will also have opportunities to take part in various cultural activities such as Shinto shrine devotion in Tokyo and trips to the beautiful nature reserves of Nikko and Mount Fuji. Students will also visit Tokyo Disneyland and the Studio Ghibli Museum as part of a project on representations of cultural difference in Japanese and American cartooning. Professor Haug will also lead interested students through the back alleys of Harajuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Nakano, Akihabara, and Asakusa for all your otaku shopping.

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