What subjects do FGS students usually take and what do they learn?
This time, we introduce the course “Fieldwork Theory” by Prof. Fukutake.

Comment from Professor:

In this course, we aim to learn techniques and crisis management for conducting fieldwork (on-site research), especially overseas. While learning the research methods of cultural anthropology (participant observation and ethnography), the themes are not limited to ethnic culture which is the subject of anthropological research, but also include examples of research in the fields of development and international cooperation.

To be honest, there are times when I feel that learning fieldwork in a lecture format is quite challenging, but we aim to integrate as much group work, discussion, and role-play as possible so that students acquire practical knowledge and techniques relevant to fieldwork.

Class Interview

There are explanations of the history of fieldwork, the changes in its concepts, and the course includes the experiences of the teacher. You can learn about fieldwork by incorporating elements that are as easy as games. The teacher is kind, and I enjoy attending the classes. (Yu Okuno, Second-year, Faculty of Global Studies)

You can learn techniques, crisis management, and preparation for conducting fieldwork (on-site research) for anthropological studies, especially overseas. I think the charm lies in that there is no absolute answer to how one should think or perceive things. By removing filters such as preconceptions and prejudices you harbor within yourself, you can discover many ways of thinking and perspectives. I became interested after seeing the syllabus, as it was a field I had not touched on in previous courses, and it seemed possible to learn necessary knowledge, ways of thinking, and perspectives to learn about various countries and regions. In class, it's not just a one-on-one with the teacher but also includes exchanging opinions with those around you, and sharing various viewpoints. The teacher's own experiences and anecdotes are also interesting, and the atmosphere of the class is relaxed, so there is no need to worry that you won’t understand anything. If you are interested in Area Studies or overseas research, please take this course.
(Kayano Omiya, Second-year, Faculty of Global Studies)