Japan (May - June)

IRE332Y0 Resolving Workplace Conflict While Employing a Cross-Cultural Perspective

Japanese society and its emphasis on harmony, group identity, and lifelong employment has fueled tremendous economic success and resilience during national crises. This course examines these national traits through the lens of Japanese culture, governance, and workplace ethos by reading and discussing scholarly works, as well as through immersive field trips and excursions. After analyzing these characteristics, the course culminates in developing strategies for resolving workplace conflict.

Prerequisites

None

Distribution Requirements

Social Science

Breadth Requirements

Society and its Institutions (3)

2026 Course Outline (Tentative)

Field Trips (Tentative)

Field trips are integral to understanding Japanese workplace culture and governance. Planned visits include:

• Kimono, Tea Ceremony & Asakusa Temple Visit
• Asahi Printec Factory Tour
• Tokyo Day Trip: National Diet, Tsukiji, Meiji Shrine
• Japan Exchange Group (Tokyo Stock Exchange)
• Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building – Observation Deck
• Mount Fuji, Oshino Hakkai & Gotemba

Note: Field trip schedule may change based on availability and cost considerations.

Instructor 

Bob Thompson lectures on Employment and Labour Law, Negotiations, Industrial Relations, and Collective Bargaining at the University of Toronto and other institutions. He brings extensive practical experience from roles such as Senior Employment Law Counsel at Canada’s largest financial institution, Manager of Labour Relations at Canada’s largest grocery retailer, and articling lawyer at a leading litigation firm. Bob holds an LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School, a joint LLB/MBA from the University of Ottawa, an MBA from Kent University (UK), and an Industrial Engineering degree from Kettering University (USA). He is a former board member of Ontario’s HR regulatory body and is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging learning experiences. 

RLG290Y0 Religion and Popular Culture in Japan

How can we understand the clothing styles of Harajuku using ideas from Buddhism? What can Shinto tell us about Miyazaki’s Spirited Away? This course explores connections between religion and popular culture in Japan. Students will learn about Shinto and Japanese Buddhism and examine their intersections with movies, J-Pop, anime, fashion, manga, shopping, and sports. Our discoveries will be enhanced by excursions in and around Tokyo, as well as day trips to Hakone and Kamakura, visiting temples, shrines, shopping districts, and one of Japan’s most sacred spots: Mount Fuji.

Prerequisites

TBD

Distribution Requirements

TBD

Breadth Requirements

TBD

2026 Course Outline (Tentative)

Field Trips (Tentative)

• Meiji Shrine & Harajuku District
• Studio Ghibli Museum
• Grand Sumo Tournament & Sumo Museum
• Kamakura
• Hakone
• Tea Ceremony with Kimono (Asakusa) & Sensoji Temple

Note: Field trip schedule may change based on availability and cost considerations.

Instructor

Dr. Ken Derry is a professor (Teaching Stream) in the Department of Historical Studies at UTM, Dr. Derry specializes in comparative religion and modern culture. He has taught at U of T since 1996 in areas including religion, literature, popular culture, violence, and film. His research spans topics from Margaret Atwood to Star Wars. Dr. Derry has received numerous awards, including the 2013 UTM Faculty Teaching Excellence Award, the 2022 U of T President’s Teaching Award, and the 2023 3M National Teaching Fellowship.