HIST 350: History of Modern Japan

Fall 2024,  MW 3:30-4:45, DHC 210

Professor Jonathan Skaff          

Website: http://webspace.ship.edu/jkskaf/

E-mail:  jkskaf@ship.edu          Telephone: 717-477-1255

Office Hours in Mowrey 246: MW 2:00-3:00, T 1:00-1:50, Th 1:15-3:15, and other times by appointment.

I.  Course Description

This course will explore the history of Japan during the early modern and modern periods. We will address major historical themes including: 1) traditional society and government of the Warring States and Tokugawa eras (1500-1867), 2) the impact of American and European imperialism in the mid-nineteenth century, 3) the Meiji reforms that created a modern nation-state in the late nineteenth century, 4) economic, political and social changes of the early 20^th century, 5) Japanese imperialism and colonialism in Asia from 1894 to 1945, 6) Japan’s defeat in World War II and the U.S. occupation, and 7) postwar recovery, rising and falling economic fortunes, and the Japanese version of democracy.

The class also will concentrate on developing students’ writing, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. Each class session will include at least 15 minutes of discussion of assigned readings, so it is imperative that students do readings when scheduled (see Policy 2 below). All writing assignments are expected to be well argued and written. Writing mechanics, such as grammar and spelling, will be 20% of the grade on each paper. HIST 105 is the only prerequisite.

II.  Requirements

1.  Complete assigned readings, attend class, and participate in class discussion (10%)

2.  Lead a 15-minute discussion during one class session this semester (see Part IV below, 5%)

3.  Write three papers (45%)

4.  Midterm exam (20%)

5.  Final exam (20%)

III. Policies

1. Health and safety: The professor had a bad experience with COVID-19 in 2021 and is wary of reinfection.

• You are strongly encouraged to receive the most recent COVID-19 vaccination for the safety of yourself and the community.
• Students suffering from cold and flu symptoms are strongly encouraged to refrain from attending class until receiving a negative COVID-19 test. Free testing is available at Etter Health Center.

2. Attendance is mandatory. The class participation grade will be based on attendance and contributions to discussions. You will receive a grade for each class session. Grades will be awarded according to the following standards:

90-100:  Student demonstrates mastery of readings by making thoughtful and insightful comments.

80-89:  Student shows that he/she has completed reading assignments.

70-79:  Student participates in discussion without giving evidence of having completed the reading.

65:  Student attends class without speaking.

0:  Student has an unexcused absence, sleeps in class, or uses unauthorized electronic device.

3. Absences will be excused if you can document a serious illness, COVID-19 infection, family emergency, varsity athletic event, military duty or religious observance. Only students with documented excuses can make up in-class assignments and exams. A student with a medical condition that prevents attendance or a COVID-19 infection must submit a note from Etter Health Center or a doctor. For a family emergency, I require a phone call from a parent or guardian, or a death notice. Athletes should provide a memo from the head coach with the team schedule. If you have military duty, inform your dean’s office. They will send notification to all of your professors. The university’s policy on religious observances is the following: “At the beginning of each academic session (fall, spring, summer), the student will be required (in writing) to provide his/her faculty with the dates of scheduled religious observances.”

4. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. All papers must be written in your own words. To check for plagiarism or Artificial Intelligence, all papers must be submitted to the D2L Assignment Folder. Cases of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to the policies in the “Academic Dishonesty” section of the Undergraduate Catalog (https://catalog.ship.edu). Students who intentionally or irresponsibly violate university policies on academic dishonesty will receive a penalty of a grade of “F” for the course.

5. “Smartphones make you dumb in class.” All electronic devices are banned in class, except for those used to take notes or view course readings. Educational research has shown that electronic communications, including text messaging, create distractions that interfere with learning. Violations of this policy will result in a participation grade of zero for that day’s class session.

6. I comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to keep your academic records confidential, and Title IX requirements to, “report incidents of sexual violence shared by students.” To read the full Title IX syllabus statement, click on this link: https://www.ship.edu/EIC/title_ix_statement/

7. I welcome students with disabilities in my classroom. Any student who may require an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR) in Mowrey 252 to discuss the specific needs. For more information, see the website: www.ship.edu/oar

8. I assign letter grades used in the Shippensburg University grading system to the following numerical scores:

A                      93-100

A-                    90-92

B+                    87-89

B                      83-86

B-                     80-82

C+                    77-79

C                      70-76

D                      60-69

F                      Below 60

IV. Discussion Leader of Supplementary Reading (5% of final grade)

FIRST Draft of Questions Due: 8:30 p.m. on the day before you lead the discussion OR at least 24 hours earlier if you are not available to send me revisions on the evening and morning before class.

Send me drafts of questions via email (jkskaf@ship.edu) in MS Word format. I will respond with suggested revisions using the MS Word “track changes” and “comment” features. Plan to revise your questions based on my feedback at least 3 or 4 times.

FINAL Draft Due at 3:00 p.m. on the day of the class discussion: Email the final draft to me and upload it to D2L>Discussion Leader Assignment Dropbox

My FIRST Draft Deadline: Sun./Tues._______________________by 8:30 p.m.

Directions for developing questions: The class discussion should last 15 minutes and be primarily based upon the assigned supplementary reading. Only use the main textbook as a basis for comparison with the supplementary reading. Develop 3 or 4 main questions with additional follow-up questions to be used only as needed. Some main questions should be factual, asking classmates to summarize main themes and arguments of the reading. At least one question should be open-ended, asking classmates to share their interpretations and opinions of the reading.

Your grade will be based on the effectiveness of your written questions and oral delivery:

• “A” grades will be awarded for thoughtful, well-written and organized questions and follow-ups that are read aloud in a clear voice, and encourage classmates to summarize major point(s) of the reading and share opinions.
• “B” grades will be given for clear, well-organized questions that lead classmates to summarize the main points of the reading.
• If your questions are unclear, incoherent, irrelevant or not submitted on time, you will receive a grade of “C,” “D,” or “F,” depending on the extent of the problems.

Some hints on developing good questions (adapted from former professor Vera Reber):

• Prepare: Thoroughly read all assigned material. Review past readings and class notes that may be relevant.
• Organize your ideas by noting major themes and historical debates discussed in the reading.
• Develop factual questions that stimulate classmates to refresh their memories about the main points of the reading. Keep in mind that this is not enough for a good discussion.
• Devise open-ended questions that provoke classmates to think critically about the reading’s main point(s) or argument(s). Good discussions often involve debates and differences of opinion.
• Prepare: To ask follow-up questions to keep the discussion moving.
• Be creative: A stimulating question can be related to a quotation, picture, chart, map, controversial statement, information previously covered in class, or anything else of your choosing.

V.  Readings

A. Main textbook (Available at University Bookstore and Free at Library Reserve Desk)

Gordon, Andrew. A Modern History of Japan: From Tokugawa Times to the Present. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020. Call #: DS881.9 .G66 2020 

B. Supplementary Books and DVD for Class Discussion (Available at University Bookstore, Online Book Sellers, and Free at Library Reserve Desk)

Bumiller, Elisabeth. Secrets of Mariko. New York: Vintage, 1995. Call #: HQ1765.T64 B85 1996x

Hopper, Helen M. Fukuzawa Yukichi: From Samurai to Capitalist. New York: Pearson Longman, 2004. Call #: DS884.F8 H67 2004 

Kaneko, Fumiko. The Prison Memoirs of a Japanese Woman. Translated by Jean Inglis. eBook ed. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1991 or London: Routledge, 2015. eBook: Ship Permalink

Katsu, Kokichi. Musui's Story: The Autobiography of a Tokugawa Samurai. Translated by Teruko Craig. Tucson: University of Arizona Press, 1988. Call #: DS881.5.K285 A3 1988

Yamashita, Samuel Hideo. Daily Life in Wartime Japan, 1940-1945. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2015. Call #: D744.7.J3 Y36 2015

Grave of the Fireflies (Hotaru no haka 火垂るの墓). Directed by Isao Takahata 原作野坂昭如. Sentai Filmworks, 2012. DVD. (DVD is available for purchase on Amazon. A streaming version is not currently available in the U.S.) Call #: PN1997 .G728 2012

C. Supplementary E-Documents (Available on D2L)

Ambrose, Barbara. "Religion in Early Modern Japan." In Japan Emerging: Premodern History to 1850, edited by Karl F. Friday, 378-79. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 2012.

Bender, Ross. "Emperor, Aristocracy, and the Ritsuryō State: Court Politics in Nara." In Japan Emerging, 111-21.

Butler, Lee. "The Sixteenth-Century Reunification." In Japan Emerging, 311-20.

“Charter Oath (of the Meiji Restoration)”

“Constitution of the Empire of Japan”

Goble, Andrew Edmund. "The Kamakura Shogunate and the Beginnings of Warrior Power." In Japan Emerging, 189-99.

“Imperial Rescript on Education”

“Treaty of Kanagawa”

VI.  Schedule

A. Traditional Disorder and Order (700-1850)

Date	Class Content	Readings	Assignments
M 8/26	Introduction;
W 8/28	Japan’s Land and Peoples; Origins of Japan’s Culture and Politics (700-1500)	Gordon xi-xii, xv, 1-9; D2L: Bender, “Emperor, Aristocracy”; Goble, “The Kamakura Shogunate”
M 9/2	Labor Day: No Class
W 9/4	Warring States (Sengoku) & Political Unification (1500-1600)	Gordon 11-13; D2L: Butler, “16^th-Century Reunification” & Ambrose, “Religion”
M 9/9	Tokugawa Political System	Gordon 13-21; Katsu ix-xxi, 1-42
W 9/11	Tokugawa Economy	Gordon 22-34; Katsu 43-108
M 9/16	Tokugawa Society and Thought	Gordon 35-46; Katsu 109-57	Paper 1 assigned

B. Crises and Meiji Reforms (1853-1900)

Date	Class Content	Readings	Assignments
W 9/18	External Threats	Gordon 47-54; Hopper xi-xiii, 1-29; D2L: “Treaty of Kanagawa”
M 9/23	Internal Crisis & Civil War	Gordon 55-59; Hopper 29-54
W 9/25	“Meiji Restoration” & Nation Building Roster of Meiji Leaders	Gordon 61-76; Hopper 55-73; D2L: “Charter Oath (of the Meiji)”
M 9/30	Westernization & Constitutionalism	Gordon 77-94; Hopper 75-90; D2L: “Constitution of the Empire of Japan”	Paper 1 due
W 10/2	Agricultural & Economic Development	Gordon 95-106; Hopper 109-27
M 10/7	Social Changes	Gordon 106-16; Hopper 91-107, 129-38; D2L: “Imperial Rescript on Education”
W 10/9	Foreign Relations & Sino-Japanese War (1894-5)	Gordon 117-122; Hopper 120-27; Kaneko vii-19	Paper 2 assigned
M 10/14	Fall Break: No Class
W 10/16	Midterm Exam

C.  Rise and Fall of an East Asian Power (1900-1945)

Date	Class Content	Readings	Assignments
M 10/21	Russo-Japanese War (1904-5) & Japan’s Colonization of Korea	Gordon 122-29, 178-86; Kaneko 20-60
W 10/23	Changing Political Landscape, 1890-1930	Gordon 129-41, 166-78; Kaneko 62-120
M 10/28	Economic and Social Changes	Gordon 143-65; Kaneko 121-167
W 10/30	Invasion of Manchuria	Gordon 187-97; Kaneko 168-203
M 11/4	Domestic Militarism	Gordon 198-208; Kaneko 204-248
W 11/6	Renewed War in China	Gordon 209-11; Yamashita 1-57
M 11/11	Japan’s Road to Pacific War	Gordon 211-22; Yamashita 61-110	Paper 2 due
W 11/13	Japan’s Road to Defeat	Gordon 222-30; Yamashita 111-54
M 11/18	U.S. Occupation	Gordon 230-51; Yamashita 155-89	Paper 3 assigned
M 11/18, 4:50-6:30	Optional Make-up Class: Wartime Memories with Screening and Discussion of Grave of the Fireflies

D. Post-War Japan

Date	Class Content	Readings	Assignments
W 11/20	Economic Miracle, 1950-89	Gordon 253-77, 309-12; Bumiller 3-63
M 11/25	New Political Order, 1952-1979	Gordon 278-300, 312-16; Bumiller 65-110
W 11/27	Thanksgiving: No Class
M 12/2	The “Lost Decades,” 1989-2008	Gordon 322-50; Bumiller 111-78	Paper 3 due
W 12/4	Crises and Aftermath, 2008-Present [Not covered in Fall 2024:-(]	Gordon 351-75; Bumiller 179-252, 314-318

M 12/9, 3:30-5:30: Final Exam