From the list of possibilities, select a role (or devise one of your own definition) to assume in an exploration of Contemporary Japan in a role playing exercise which will conclude the course of study. (Your choice most profitably might be related to the topic selected for your Research Essay).  After making your role choice, write a fictional autobiography of your assumed character of between five and seven pages in length (seven to nine pages for those in HIS 573) following the instructions below: 

• Based on your assumed contemporary role in Japanese society, give us your name, age, address and marital status.
• Discuss your place of residence, including a characterization of your living situation (rural, small town, city; apartment block, detached dwelling; traditional-style or modern).  Describe the layout of your residence and the neighborhood in which you reside.
• Note your educational background and employment history, including your occupation, current situation and job title (if appropriate) together with a description of your work duties and responsibilities.
• Tell something about your life, your family and other social ties; discuss your responsibilities within the community, your current social standing, political views and economic position.
• Include a consideration of your religious or philosophical orientation and the degree to which you adhere to its beliefs.
• Identify a characteristic that sets you apart as unique -- hobbies, interests, passions; unusual personal attributes; uncommon background experiences. 
      USEFUL SOURCES describing "everyday life" in contemporary Japan. 

Be prepared to discuss contemporary Japanese life from the perspective of your chosen role in our role playing exercise. The role you have assumed should be constructed as well so as to provide you with an appropriate and cohesive background from which to respond to questions asked of you in a MOCK PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY concerning major issues of the day. Your assumed personality also should be developed enough to allow you to formulate an appropriate rationale for whatever position(s) you adopt in your responses to the survey questionnaire.  Be sure to include enough "background information" in your written autobiography to permit these given reasons to sound "realistic".

Your autobiography will be judged on how well you have developed a unique, believable and rational contemporary Japanese personality and how reasonable it would be to assume the particular expertise with which that character is imbued. During the in-class discussion of the results of the MOCK PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY, you will also be assessed on how closely your responses and justifications accord with the expected responses from someone in your situation in "real life". 

The ROLE-PLAY EXERCISE CHOICE is due no later than WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5 2005.

A series of questions appropriate for inclusion in the MOCK PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY mentioned above is part of the assignment; these survey questions are due MOMDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2005.

The AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ESSAY should be in the hands of the instructor no later than MOMDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2005 as well.

The MOCK PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY itself should be completed and readied for discussion as part of the role-playing exercise scheduled for WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2005.