Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
15649:IR18‐GE206 Modern Japanese History (R) § 15650:RUIR-2617 Modern Japanese History(R) 2023 Fall Tue1 College　Of　International　Relations MILNE DANIEL JEROME 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

KOSHINKAN　KS201

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

The political and economic journey of Japan from the Tokugawa period through to the present has been an episode unprecedented in world history, with Japan rising twice to great power status, first from an early-modern society, and second from the ashes of defeat in WW2. In the process Japan became by 1989, without doubt, the most economically successful and most developed non-western nation in the world. This alone makes the study of modern Japanese history essential for understanding the modern world. The addition of the political transition from a decentralised early-modern system to an oligarchy in the Meiji era, followed by moves towards democracy in the Taishō years and then into authoritarianism and finally a functioning democracy (again the first in East Asia) in the Shōwa era make the study of Japanese modern history even more important when seeking to understand recent world history from a political perspective. Finally, a knowledge of the conflicts in East Asia from 1894-1945 and of the legacies of the Japanese empire is essential to understand contemporary Asia.

This course details the events described above, including those connected to sites in Kyoto, and presents an analysis of the scholarly debates and interpretations of modern Japanese history.

Keywords:
Japan, Continuity, modernity, government, monarchy, equality, nationalism, imperialism, war, peace, development, democracy, fascism, economic growth, Kyoto.

Student Attainment Objectives

Primary Aims:
Students will gain knowledge of the major events of and interpretations of modern Japanese history. Within this, there will be some emphasis on local Kyoto history. Students will also broaden their understanding of the political history of Japan in the late 19th and 20th centuries and the impact this has on contemporary Japan.

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 discussion skills, in particular:

• Source and document criticism / analysis
• Participation in group discussions
• Researching topics via the creative use of library and internet sources
• Writing scholarly essays
• Academic presentation

Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

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

Class Introduction

Introduction, syllabus

2

Premodern links with the outside world, 16th-17th C

Premodern links with Asia and Europe, Hideyoshi, Sengoku, Spain, Portugal, guns, trade, 'seclusion (Sakoku)', Netherlands, Dejima

3

The Edo era (c.1600 - 1854)

Class system, shogunate, early modern, pre-modern, vassalage, Christianity, expulsion, economic change.

4

Edo Period and Bakumatsu (1854-1868)

Gunboat diplomacy, Extraterritoriality, Boshin War, unequal treaties, Meiji ishin.

5

Meiji 1868-1912

Modernisation, industrialisation, imperialism, railways, Korea, First Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War.

5

Taishō (1912-1926) and Early Shōwa (1926-1936)

Anglo-Japanese alliance, First World War, Rivalry, Social and Political change, imperialism

6

War in Asia-Pacific 1937-1945

Second Sino-Japanese War, Pacific War, Greater East Asian War, Total conflict, mobilisation

8

The Occupation 1945-1952

Occupation, bases, US-Japan Relations

9

Era of High-Speed Growth 1950s-1970s
 

Korea war, ANPO, economic development

10

Boom, Bust, and Disaster 1980s-2010s

Bubble economy, 'lost decade', recession

11

Gender, Minorities, Environment

Women, Buraku, Koreans, Indigenous minorities

12

Kyoto and Japanese History

Emperor, imperialism, tourism, industry

13

 Review and Presentations, Essays due

14-15

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

 
25% student presentation

50% one 2,000-word essay

25% In class contributions / assignments
 

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Weekly attendance is required as is active engagement with class discussion and activities which itself requires students to do weekly assigned reading.

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. Plagiarised essays will not be accepted.

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）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
A Modern History of Japan /日本の200年 Andrew Gordon Oxford University Press/みすず書房

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/