Modern Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Why you should go
Experience Japan through this immersive Global Seminar that brings together history, culture, religion, technology, and popular media. Students will explore iconic sites across Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nara, including Sensōji Temple, the Tokyo National Museum, Edo Wonderland, the Kyoto International Manga Museum, the Miraikan National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, and vibrant neighborhoods such as Akihabara and Shibuya.
Lectures and discussions are integrated with site visits, allowing students to connect course concepts directly to Japan's cultural heritage, technological innovation, and everyday life. By engaging with museums, historic landmarks, urban spaces, and visual culture, students gain a deeper understanding of modern Japan while developing valuable intercultural perspectives through a memorable international experience.
Courses
- MMW 15: Twentieth Century Japan (draft PDF)
- RELI 189: Culture, Religion, and Technology (draft PDF)
Faculty Leader
Babak Rahimibrahimi@ucsd.edu
Babak Rahimi is Professor of Culture, Religion, and Technology and Director of the Program for the Study of Religion and the Middle East Studies Program at the Institute of Arts and Humanities, UC San Diego.
He is the author of Theater-State and the Formation of the Early Modern Public Sphere in Iran: Studies on Safavid Muharram Rituals, 1590–1641 C.E. (Brill, 2011), which offers a historical-sociological exploration of the interplay between public rituals, state power, and urban space in the Safavid era. His other publications include Senses of Mourning: Moharram Performances in Shiʿi Iran from the Qajar to the Covid Era (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2026), a sensory-critical study of religion and performance in post-Safavid Iranian history. Rahimi is also the editor of Theatre in the Middle East: Between Performance and Politics (Anthem Press, 2020) and Performing Iran: Culture, Performance, Theatre (I.B. Tauris, 2021). In addition, he co-edited Social Media in Iran (with David Faris, SUNY Press, 2015), The Wiley Blackwell History of Islam (with Armando Salvatore and Roberto Tottoli, Wiley Blackwell, 2018), and Muslim Pilgrimage in the Modern World (with Peyman Eshaghi, University of North Carolina Press, 2019). His scholarly articles have appeared in journals such as Thesis Eleven: Critical Theory and Historical Sociology, Critical Research on Religion, International Political Science Review, International Communication Gazette, International Journal of Middle East Studies, The Middle East Journal, The Communication Review, Journal of the International Society for Iranian Studies, and Utopian Studies.
Rahimi’s research focuses on the intersections of culture, religion, and technology, with particular emphasis on the historical and social contexts of early modern Islamicate societies and the Global South.
Who should go
This program is ideal for students interested in Japanese history, culture, religion, technology, media, animation, manga, film, global history, and interdisciplinary approaches to the humanities and social sciences. Students from all majors are welcome, and no prior knowledge of Japan or the Japanese language is required. There are no prerequisites for enrollment. The courses are designed for students who are eager to combine academic study with experiential learning through lectures, discussions, fieldwork, and cultural excursions in Japan.
Information Sessions
- Program Q&A session: TBD
- Register here for the links to the recordings of the GS Overview & Program-specific information sessions..
Dates
| Departure from U.S.: | Sat., June 26, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Arrival: | Sun., June 27, 2027 |
| Mandatory Orientation: | Mon., June 28, 2027 |
| First Day of Class: | Mon., June 28, 2027 |
| Last Day of Class: | Fri., July 30, 2027 |
| Departure for the U.S. (or personal travel): |
Sat., July 31, 2027 |
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 program has reached minimum enrollment.
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: |
$2,623.34 | $2,673.24 | $3,675.24 |
| Total: (not including airfare or personal expenses) |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
Budget 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.
