Hiroshi Okayama Seminar

This seminar aims to deepen students' understanding of American politics and society, focusing on contemporary domestic politics, and to help them acquire the foundations of theoretical and empirical analysis characteristic of American political studies. At first, students may struggle even to read through English-language papers, but they become accustomed to it through careful reading and discussion. By their fourth year, students are producing full-scale graduation theses by making extensive use of English-language materials. Through this process, I hope they will absorb the intellectual skills necessary in today's highly specialized society—thinking critically, researching, discussing, and writing—and above all, I hope they will come to enjoy thinking freely.

(Published: April 2026)