Modern History of Japan
Fall 2010
Syllabus
2011/02/05
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. Kyushu, Sugawara Michizane, and Sumo
8. Social Economic, and Cultural Transformations
Part 3. Imperial Japan from Ascendance to Ashes
Extra
Winter Break
This is the schedule for the last year. The schedule for 2010 will depend on the class size after the students have completed registration.
Students' Presentations: Review of the History of Ancient and Mediaeval Japan
Readings: chapters from A History of Japan, 2nd edition, by Conrad Totman
11 (1/13). Ch. 9. Establishing the Bakuhan Order (1550-1700), pp. 203-235.
Chi Fung, Yoko, Jimmy
12 (1/17, Monday, 4th period). Ch. 10. The Age of Growth (1590-1700), pp. 236-251.
Eujene, Samantha, Thomas
13 (1/20). Ch. 11. Stasis and Decay (1700-1850), pp. 252-284.
Joan, Hoyoon, Eutteum
14 (1/27). Ch. 12. Crisis and Redirection (1800-1890), pp. 285-314.
Da Yeon, Yeong Seo, Soojin
15 (2/3). Ch. 13. Early Imperial Triumph (1890-1914), pp. 322-338
Samantha, Joan, Hoyoon
(Presentation by the students in need of 3 credits)
Final Exam (might be replaced by a Take-Home Exam)
Final Take-home Examination (Due: Monday, February 14).
Readings for 2009
Ch. 4. Establishing the Ritsuryo Order (672-750), pp. 60-86.
Ch. 5. Ritsuryo Adaptation and Decay (750-1250), pp. 87-113.
Ch. 6. Classical Higher Culture (750-1250), pp. 114-139.
Ch. 7. The Centuries of Disorder (1250-1550), pp. 146-174.
Ch. 8. Medieval Higher Culture (1250-1550), pp. 175-202.