(Click on syllabus for more info.)

Course Description:

This course will provide students with an understanding of the unique challenges of starting and leading creative businesses in Japan. The focus will be on Japan-based businesses in fashion, art, music, food, advertising, and design .

Students will understand what is involved in starting and leading a company in one of these fields. We will examine some of the ways of doing business in Japan that are unique, such as the barriers of language and trade, agent arrangements, cultural aspects of creative businesses, consumer expectations, as well as recent efforts at pan-Asian alliances and the impact of globalization.

An important part of this course will be individual research projects to gain a greater understanding of a particular industry and a career plan that includes elements of starting their own creative business.

Students will enhance their communication and leadership skills on group projects with other students

Texts:

• Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life John Daido Loori
  or A Whole New Mind Daniel Pink
• Library research materials, case studies and reference materials and materials to be assigned.

Course Guidelines and Assignments

• 1. Attendance/Participation/Lectures: Regular on-time
  attendance and participation in class is required. The lectures and
  presentations will go beyond the book, rather than focusing on the
  book contents.
  
  
• 2. Due Dates: All papers must be typed double-spaced, and
  submitted in hard-copy on the due date. No late papers or electronic
  submissions are accepted.
  
  
• 3. Handouts/Assignments: No cover sheet is required for
  assignments. Put name, student ID, and Faculty on the upper right hand
  corner of all papers.
  
  
• 4. Class Schedule Flexibility: The class schedule may change
  due to additional topics of interest to be added and the schedule of
  speakers. Changes will be announced in class.
  
  
• 5. Grading Methods
  
  • Exam 20 %
  • Reports and Presentations 60%
  • Attendance, Participation 20%