A zemi (i.e. seminar) is one of the best aspects of Japanese universities. Each zemi focuses on a particular topic, led by a single professor, and is made up of a small group of students. Students apply to a zemi in their second year at Waseda and typically remain a member until they graduate. The zemi meets weekly and students engage in collaborative learning and independent research. There is also a social aspect to the zemi, involving occasional parties and excursions together.
For the English-based Degree Programs at SPSE, the zemi is listed as Advanced Seminar 1 to 4 (plus thesis). My zemi is organized as follows:
The first year of the Advanced Seminar (1 and 2) aims to develop students’ understanding of comparative politics, and to expand students’ knowledge about politics around the globe.
The second year of the Advanced Seminar (3 and 4) focuses on students’ individual research in comparative politics on a topic of their own choosing. While the seminar prepares students for the thesis, it is not a requirement. Typically the thesis is written concurrently with Advanced Seminar 4.
Logging in from Japan, China, Korea, Oman and the USA
AS 1, Spring 2019
AS 2, Fall 2019
AS 3, Spring 2020
AS 4, Fall 2020
In June 2019 we had a Bowling Showdown with the Kurizaki Zemi. It was close, but the Kellam Zemi won!
Thesis Writers, 2018-2019
Thesis Writers, 2019-2020
Malapportionment and Agricultural Support in OECD Countries
Work-Life Balance: Factors that influence the women’s labor-force participation rates of China, Japan and South Korea
The Lack of a Green Party in Japan: An Evaluation of Institutional and Cultural Hypotheses
The Weak Left Wing of Postwar East Asian Democracies
Why Do Some Imposed Democracies Survive While Others Do Not?
Assessing Authoritarian Responsiveness — Evidence from China’s Tax Policy
Micro-Financing Peace
Diversionary Trade War: The Effect of Domestic Political Conditions
The Determinants of Democracy in Southeast Asia
Why do some OECD countries have better Green Economy Performance than other OECD countries?
Overseas Chinese in South East Asia and Trade Relations with China
Internet Shutdowns and Protest Success
Learning English in Japan: A Study Leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
When Are Social Movement Successful: A Comparative Study of Student Movements in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan
Protester Violence: A Quantitative Analysis from 1990 to 2018
A New Political Reality? Determining the Effects of Twitter Fame on the Legislative Success of U.S. Senators
The Shrinking Middle Class, Polarization, and the Global Retreat in Democracy
Evaluating Gender Quotas as a Mechanism for Greater Welfare
The Intrinsic Value of ODA: An Analysis of Japanese ODA and Its Impact on Public Perception of Japan Held by Recipient Countries in Asia
Civil Society and Government Surveillance during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Public Health Care in Post-Communist Countries
Female Labor Force in the BRICS Countries
The Effect of Post-Materialism and Direct Democracy on the Legalization of Marijuana
The Price of Democracy: Taxation and the Quality of Democracy
The Stability of New Regimes: Coming to Power and Staying in Power
Socially Excluded Immigrants and Crime
Water Resource Allocation and Globalization
Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences at the University of Tokyo (JAPAN), the School of Advanced International Studies at John Hopkins University (USA), MSc in Public Policy at University College London (UK), MA in Sociology at National Tsing Hua University (TAIWAN), MSc International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies at the London School of Economics and Political Science (UK), MA in Political Science at the Graduate School of Political Science of Waseda University (JAPAN), MA in Management at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary (CANADA), Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (USA), ...
(for which I take no credit)
Kantar Japan Inc., Deloitte Advisory Hong Kong, Rakuten, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs Singapore, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Bank, AlphaSights, PwC Consulting, Bloomberg, HSBC, Plenum China, Deloitte Japanese Service Group in Shanghai, ...