Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
15620:IR18‐GE201 Japanese Politics (RA) § 15621:IR-FS201 Japanese Politics (RA) § 15622:RUIR-2613 Japanese Politics(RA) 2023 Spring Tue2 College　Of　International　Relations MILNE DANIEL JEROME 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

YOYOKAN　YY202

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

The last decade has seen a number of significant developments in Japanese domestic politics, from the rise and fall of the Democratic Party (DPJ), through the growing economic, demographic, and health crises, to the rekindling of the debates over nationalism and the nature of democracy in Japan. This course will examine the historical context behind these issues and others through exploring the broader tends to which they connect and interact within the study of politics both inside and outside Japan.

Keywords: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), economic development, bureaucracy, democracy, protest, fascism, nationalism, minorities

Student Attainment Objectives

Primary Aims:

Students will broaden their understanding of the modern political history of Japan from the 1860s to the early 21st century and the impact this will have on Japanese politics in the future. Students will also gain a knowledge of the major parties, minorities, and other actors which influence Japanese politics.

Secondary Aims:

Students will further develop their skills of critical analysis by making sense of the issues through the various conceptual frameworks employed in the module. The teaching methods of the module are designed to develop cognitive, writing and presentation skills, in particular:

• Participation in group discussions
• Researching topics via the creative use of library and internet sources
• Writing scholarly essays
• Academic presentations

Recommended Preparatory Course

N/A

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Class Introduction & Introduction to Japanese Politics

Introduction to course content

2

 Introduction to modern Japanese politics

Liberal Democratic Party, political campaigns

3

 Premodern to Meiji Period
 

Confucianism, Shogunate, Early Modern Japan, Bakumatsu, Meiji Politics

4

Meiji to 1945
 

'Imperial democracy', coup d’état, militarism

5

Occupation and the 1947 Constitution

The Occupation of Japan, political reform, human rights, political rights

6

The Rise of the Liberal Democratic Party

1955 system, Yoshida Shigeru, Hatoyama Ichiro, election system

7

 Nationalism in Japan
 

Identity, nationalism, modernity

8

The Left: the Japanese Communist and Japanese Socialist Parties
 

Socialism, Communism, opposition parties

9

Rural Politics and Construction
 

Construction, country vote, agriculture

10

Protest in Japanese Politics

Demonstrations, riots

11

Minorities

Okinawans, Ainu, Buraku, discrimination

12

Women and politics

Feminism, consumer groups, inequality

13

21st Century Politics & Essay submission

Democratic party, Abe, present

14-15

Student Presentations of Essays

Student Presentations of Essays

Class Format

BCP停止の場合は、BCPレベル0～2の記載どおりに授業が行われます。
During the suspension period of BCP, classes will be as described in BCP levels 0-2.

The class Format for each class will be announced on manaba+R’s course news. Also, the class format for the first class will be notified on manaba+R’s course news before the first class(*).
For “Special Consideration”, please check manaba+R’s College of IR Student Page and the “Study Support Site”.

College of IR Student Page：https://ct.ritsumei.ac.jp/ct/course_1728150
Study Support Site：https://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/pathways-future/eng/

(*)To check the class format for the first class of the course, you will need to apply for the “early use request function.” Refer to the Registration Guidebook AY 2023 for details. Please be careful that applying for the early use request does not sign you up for the course. You will need to register for courses during the designated period separately.

Recommendations for Private Study

Make sure you have some knowledge of the APA style of referencing before the course begins.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

50% One 2,000 word essay
25% In class presentation
25% In class contribution

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

This class will involve a lot of in-class discussion based on readings. Be prepared to both read academic readings each week and to discuss your ideas and knowledge.

The essay will be due in week 13 and must be over 2,000 words. Plagiarised essays will not be accepted.

In class contribution will be measured by weekly discussion sheets filled out by students based on readings and lectures, and by participation in classroom discussion.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

All essays must be written in the APA style.

Class participation score will take into account the following:

- Answers on weekly discussion sheets
- Classroom discussion
- Attendance in class

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

There is no set textbook for the class. Materials will be given out in class and students will have to conduct their own additional research outside the classroom. Materials will include extracts from primary and secondary sources, images, news and documentary films.

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation Richard Sims Hurst

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

Please inform me of any absences due to ill health etc prior to class.

For this and all other non urgent communication my email address is as follows:

kyodaidaniel@gmail.com

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html
【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/