This specialized area studies lecture course on Latin America alternates between English (GIGA subject) and Japanese every other year. Its main focus will be on Latin America, but we aim to adopt a wider perspective on "the Americas" (in plural), and also be conscious about the comparisons with the Japanese society. In the years when the lectures will be in Japanese, we will discuss social, cultural and political issues in long-term historical context. In the English years, contemporary issues on development will be discussed. This year, the lecures will be in Japanese.