[In Person] Japanese Culture
From Ancient Tradition to Modern Life by Sidney Harris
Available spots
Service Description
[In Person] Japanese Culture: From Ancient Tradition to Modern Life by Sidney Harris on Thursday evenings, 6:00-8:00 pm CST from 1/21/27-2/25/27 on UT Austin campus In a Tokyo arena, two wrestlers crouch low, stare each other down, and toss a handful of salt into the ring. Across town, a bullet train pulls away from the platform at exactly 9:00. Down the street, a sushi chef presses rice into shape the same way his teacher did decades ago. Japan is full of moments like these, where the ancient and the modern share the same city block. Each week in this course, we will explore a different part of Japanese life. We will learn how a sumo match can be won in seconds, how samurai trained with the sword, why some sushi apprentices spend years making nothing but rice, and how Pokémon became the highest-grossing media franchise in history. This course was inspired by a sumo wrestling session in Sports Around the World: Summer Sports, and the response to that class led to a full exploration of Japanese culture. No prior knowledge of Japan is required. Our sessions will mix lively presentations with plenty of interactive activities.
Upcoming Sessions
Cancellation Policy
Our classes operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, with limited seating for up to 13 participants to ensure a quality learning experience. By registering, you reserve a valuable seat that may prevent others from joining. We understand that plans can change. However, cancellations made within one week of the class start date are not eligible for refunds. If you are unable to attend, we are happy to offer a course voucher, allowing you to apply your registration toward a future class of your choice. Parent/Guardian Attendance Policy Our program is designed to empower adults with IDDs to participate in classes at UT Austin alongside their peers, including both other adult students and college students. We encourage our participants to build self-confidence, practice age-appropriate social skills, and experience the independence of a college environment, just as any neurotypical college student would. To support this mission, parents and guardians are not permitted to attend classes with their student. However, if there are special circumstances—such as a need for assistance with personal care or concerns about behavior—exceptions to this policy may be considered. These exceptions require review and approval by our Executive Director, Kaelin Rubenzer, on a case-by-case basis. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Contact Details
2500 Speedway, Austin, TX, USA
7132487393
lifelonglearningwithfriends@gmail.com