IBUS 6407: Graduate Global Enrichment in Japan
Retailtainment: The Art of Experiential Commerce in JapanProgram Dates:
-Pre-departure classes: Fall B term: Tuesdays, 5:45 - 9:05pm
Program Travel: January 6 - 17, 2026 (tentative)
Program Details
- Remember: Recognize the importance of cultural intelligence in today’s global business environment.
- Understand: Demonstrate comprehension of key concepts relating to retail marketing and Japanese culture.
- Apply: Discuss connections between previously-learned marketing concepts (e.g. the Four Ps) and the dynamic experiential retail landscapes of Japan.
- Analyze: Explain the complex relationships between marketing channel members and their collective impact on brand storytelling.
- Evaluate: Critique and assess various retail marketing strategies, using multiple lenses.
- Create: Make actionable recommendations for selected retailers in Japan to optimize, elevate, and ultimately transform the brand experience for shoppers.
This course invites students into the unique, experiential retail landscapes of Japan. By considering the intersecting roles of art, culture, technology, and commerce, it sheds new light on the design and development of these immersive, multidimensional storytelling spaces. A selection of readings, activities, and assignments will challenge students to reflect upon how retailers from a variety of sectors inform, engage, entertain, and persuade, with the ultimate goal of building brand love and loyalty.
Learning Objectives
In this course, students will become familiar with a range of concepts and frameworks relating to international business and experiential retail in Japan. More specifically, students will be able to demonstrate the following:
As the fourth-largest economy in the world and the fourth-largest importer of U.S. products, Japan is a key member of the international trade system. Japan is also a land of complex contradictions, with centuries-old traditions bumping up against future-forward technological innovations. Nowhere is this more true than in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of retailtainment, which brings shoppers into contact with the items they desire, in physical, digital, and virtual spaces. Japan is at the cutting edge of high-tech omnichannel commerce, reflecting, shaping, and defining the very future of shopping.
Students will stay in double rooms with students of the same gender at a centrally-located hotel in Tokyo and Kyoto. Guests are not permitted during the program. Breakfast will be provided daily at the hotels and some lunches will be provided as part of the program. A welcome dinner and closing dinner are also included in the program fee.
- 4 graduate credits
- Grading is A-F basis
This program is open to 25 Carlson graduate students in good academic standing, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of application. The application process is competitive, and space is limited. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance.
To apply, please visit the Apply page. Students will be charged a $50 application fee.
The application cycle starts on March 1, 2025 and the priority deadline is 12:00 pm (noon) on April 1, 2025.
Applications for programs that do not fill by the priority deadline will be accepted on a rolling basis until full. Applications to competitive programs will be selected via lottery. Students will be informed of their application decision in about seven to ten days after the priority deadline.
Most financial aid may be applied to study abroad. University of Minnesota students are eligible for education abroad scholarships. Please see Financial Aid and Fellowships webpages for more information including deadlines.
Cost
Fees are based on estimates and may change due to international economic factors and all other listed costs are subject to change prior to departure. This information applies to 2025-2026 programs.
| 2025-2026 Tuition for 4 academic credits (included in the tuition plateau unless you are not enrolled full-time in your degree program) | $0 |
| Program Fee (including lodging, program events, in-country transportation, breakfast daily, two group meals, and international health insurance*) | Estimated $2,821 to be approved for 2026 |
| International airfare from MSP to Japan | $2,000 |
| Passport & Photos (based on prices for U.S. citizens)* | $165 |
| Daily Living Expenses (local transportation, incidentals, required international data and calling plan, laundry, etc.) | $400 |
| Meals (lunch and dinners not included in Program Fee) | $300 |
| Total | Estimated $5,686 pending fee approval |
| * Students should also maintain their U.S.-based health insurance plan while abroad. | |
| **Costs are estimated for a new US passport only. Non-U.S. passport holders should check with the Japanese consulate regarding the visa application process and costs if required. |