Program Overview
Spirit of Spirit of Japan: Harmony, Reciprocity, and Encounter
This two-semester course explores reciprocity through the lens of traditional Japanese culture, Indigenous Ainu beliefs and practices, and contemporary cultural tourism.
In IDH 4007, you will examine reciprocity in sociocultural and ecological domains across historical and contemporary Japan. You will explore the spiritual relationship between the Ainu people and nature, emphasizing their reciprocal way of life and its broader implications for sustainability, tourism and Ainu culture.
This knowledge is expanded in IDH 4008, where you will examine reciprocity through the lens of observing the Edo period’s ecological lifestyle. You will visit the Edo Tokyo Museum and downtown Tokyo. In Hokkaido, we will discuss the spiritual interaction between nature and the Ainu people. You will visit Sapporo University and Hokkaido University in Sapporo, as well as an Ainu village called Akan Kotan.
Program Start: Monday, May 17, 2027
Program End: Monday, June 7, 2027
Application opens soon
The 2027 Honors Study Abroad application window opens September 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until January 8, 2027, or until all spaces are filled.
PROGRAM DETAILS
What you'll be doing
- Kimono try-on activity with Kimono designer
- Learning traditional Ainu culture, food, dance, and more
- Hiking, Canoeing, and nature immersion
- Collaboration with Japanese University students
- Learning about Japanese reciprocity
This is a living document, meaning that scheduled Free Time may be utilized for in-person quizzes, class meetings, and/or class days. Students should always consult with their Faculty Director prior to scheduling plans during Free Time.
Cost & Aid
- 21 nights in handpicked accommodations
- Domestic flights within program
- Charter bus for airport transfers and few excursions
- English-speaking tour guide for some activities
- Local public transportation with manaca (IC Card)
- 17 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
- 24/7 support from Faculty Director and local guide
- Admission to Kinkaku-ji Temple, Upopoi Museum, Kabuki theatre and so much more
Your Faculty Director
Cesar Evander Castillo is a cultural anthropologist and Faculty Director for the FIU Honors Japan Study Abroad. As Faculty Director, Cesar teaches on Japanese Indigenous Ainu culture, Edo period society, and contemporary Indigenous affairs. As faculty director, Cesar combines his fieldwork experience and intimate knowledge of Ainu culture with broader global perspectives to immerse students in global cultural exchange.
Cesar earned his MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and BA in Sociology and Anthropology at FIU. Cesar’s research is centered around academic tourism and educational experiences between Study Abroad students and Indigenous communities in Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Japan.
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