The Kyoto Seminar is a one-week intensive course conducted in Japan in February introducing the fundamentals of Japanese law at the graduate level. It offers a unique opportunity to study Japanese law in a global and socio-economic context.
The Kyoto Seminar project is run by Ritsumeikan University as part of a Japanese Ministry of Education special purpose grant for development of graduate programs in Japan. For more information on the Kyoto Seminar, see www.kyoto-seminar.jp.
The course aims to develop the general skills of comparative lawyers, to provide students with advanced knowledge and perspectives to understand and critically assess contemporary developments in Japanese law and society. The course incorporates seven three-hour lecture sessions taught in English jointly by Japanese legal experts (predominately from Ritsumeikan University Law School, one of the top private universities in Japan) and foreign comparative law experts (ANJeL co-directors). The course covers the basic history and structure of Japanese law; the role of law in Japanese society (eg, criminal justice, civil justice, and gender and the law); and a number of select issues in substantive Japanese law (eg, finance law, business law, and constitutional law)
Beyond the classroom, the course also includes field trips to the Kyoto District Court, the local bar association, and one outside legal institution. Furthermore, a large amount of the educational experience occurs in the exchange among the diverse students taking the course from different countries.
Students must apply to undertake this course. Please go to International Opportunities for application information.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Explain, distinguish and apply an integrated body of knowledge, sound understanding and appreciation of the social and cultural basis upon which the law operates in Japan;
- Compare, contrast and reflect on their understanding of Japanese legal history and its contemporary legal system;
- Identify, explain and evaluate specific topics of Japanese Law;
- Use technical comparative law techniques, apply cognitive and creative skills to plan and execute an in-depth, critical analysis and evaluation of contemporary issues of Japanese law through a substantive advanced legal research project.
Other Information
Students must apply to undertake this course. Please go to International Opportunities for application information.
Please note that submitting an application for the course and being accepted into the program does not actually mean you are enrolled officially in the course. After you have been accepted in the program, students are required to
- lodge a separate application with Ritsumeikan Law School directly; and
- enrol in the course once summer school enrolment has opened.
Indicative Assessment
- Attendance and participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- A short-question examination covering the material from entire course (30) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- A research paper (4,000 words). (60) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
- Classes offered in non-standard sessions will be taught on an intensive base with compulsory contact hours (approximately 26 hours of face to face teaching). The course will also require advanced preparation through assigned readings. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours.
- Classes offered during semester periods are expected to have three contact hours per week.
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Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the ANU Law School to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately two weeks prior to the commencement of the course. Alternatively, this information will be published in the Program course list when known.
Preliminary Reading
Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
An e-brick will be available on the Wattle course site.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 34
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $4740 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
