Modern History of Japan
Fall 2009
Syllabus
2010/01/26
Ryoichi Imai
International Student Center, Kyushu University
imryoichi@isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp
http://homepage3.nifty.com/ronten/JTWhome.htm
Contents
The course is designed to provide some introductory knowledge of Japanese history. The course will cover the history of Japan's political and economic system from Edo era to the end of World War II.
Organization, Attendance, and Other Requirements
Students are expected to buy the text book.
Gordon, Andrew (2003), A Modern History of Japan. Oxford University Press.
Some lecture notes will be uploaded on this website. The course consists mainly of a series of lecture given by the instructor. Depending on the number of the students who register this course, they may present some selected reading materials in the late half of the course. Each course attendant is supposed to do at least ONE oral presentations of the reading assignments. The presenter must make a set of PowerPoint slides. If too many students take this course, individual presentations will be replaced by group ones. There is one final examination, closed-book or take-home.
None.
Class Attendance and Discussion 20%
Presentation 40%
Midterm or Final Examination 40%
Schedule and Readings (subject to Change)
Part 1. Crisis of the Tokugawa Regime
2. Social Economic Transformations
3. The Intellectual World of Late Tokugawa
4. The Overthrow of the Tokugawa
Part 2. Modern Revolution, 1968-1905
5 (11/5). Kyushu, Sugawara Michizane, and Sumo
6 (11/12). The Samurai Revolution
7 (11/26). Participation and Protest
8 (12/3). Social Economic, and Cultural Transformations
9 (12/10). Empire and Domestic Order
Part 3. Imperial Japan from Ascendance to Ashes
10 (12/17). Economy and Society
Extra
Winter Break
Students' Presentations: Review of the History of Ancient and Mediaeval Japan
Readings: chapters from A History of Japan, 2nd edition, by Conrad Totman
11 (1/7). Ch. 4. Establishing the Ritsuryo Order (672-750), pp. 60-86.
Kuseul, Chayon, Young Eun, Jiyoun, Hee Eun
12 (1/14). Ch. 5. Ritsuryo Adaptation and Decay (750-1250), pp. 87-113.
Jihoon, Kyong Mee, Sunny, Marc
13 (1/21). Ch. 6. Classical Higher Culture (750-1250), pp. 114-139.
Loren, Allen, Rong Yi, Seo Yejin, Coralie
14 (1/28). Ch. 7. The Centuries of Disorder (1250-1550), pp. 146-174.
Allessandra, Liz, Pang, Mark, Hari, Jack
15. (2/4). Ch. 8. Medieval Higher Culture (1250-1550), pp. 175-202.
Chui Ying, Tsz Hin, Young Wha. Quentin, Paul
16. (2/4: 5th period) Extra presentations by the students who need 3 credits.
Ch. 9. Establishing the Bakuhan Order (1550-1700)
Final Exam
Final Take-home Examination due by Friday, February 12.