HIST 490/590 Modern Japan
Course Description
Office Hours: MW 10:30-12 and TU 2-3:30, and by appointment, in 327 McKenzie.
Phone: 346-4837; E-mail: hanes@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Course Policies
Requirements: Two short essays (20% each), a mid-term examination (20%),
class
participation (10%), and a final examination (30%).
Required Texts
Andrew Gordon, A Modern History of Japan
Ishimitsu Mahito, ed., Remembering Aizu: The Testament of Shiba Goro
Nakano Makiko, Makiko's Diary: A Merchant Wife in 1910 Kyoto
E. Taylor Atkins, Blue Nippon: Authenticating Jazz in Japan
Haruko Taya Cook & Theodore F. Cook, Japan at War: An Oral History
Course Schedule
| Week 1 |
Reading |
|
Week I. Introduction.
March 31. Chronology: Premodern, Early Modern, Modern.
April 2. The Tokugawa Peace.
|
Reading: Gordon, xi-45.
|
| Week 2 |
Reading |
Week II. Internal Troubles.
April 7. Ronin, Rebels, and Rupture.
April 9. The Regime Unravels. |
Reading: Gordon, 45-59.
Begin Ishimitsu, ed., Remembering Aizu.
|
| Week 3 |
Reading |
Week III. External Threat.
April 14. Black Ships, Black Future?
April 16. Meiji Ishin. Paper on Remembering Aizu due.
|
Reading: Gordon, 60-114.
Complete Ishimitsu, ed., Remembering Aizu.
|
| Week 4 |
Reading |
Week IV. Meiji Modern.
April 21. Rich Country/Strong Military.
April 23. Civilization and Enlightenment. |
Reading: Gordon, 115-137.
Begin Nakano, Makiko's Diary.
|
| Week 5 |
Reading |
|
Week V. Making Progress.
April 28. Capitalism and Imperialism.
April 30. Taisho Democracy.
|
Reading: Complete Nakano,
Makiko's Diary.
|
| Week 6 |
Reading |
Week VI. Modernism.
May 5. Midterm Examination.
May 7. Celebrating Modernity.
|
Reading: Gordon, 138-203.
Atkins, Blue Nippon, xi-126. |
| Week 7 |
Reading |
Week VII. War and Empire.
May 12. Imperial Designs: Colonizer and Colonized.
May 14. Waging War.
|
Reading: Gordon, 204-225.
Cook & Cook, Japan at War, 1-257.
Atkins, Blue Nippon, 127-163.
|
| Week 8 |
Reading |
Week VIII. Pacific War,
Pacific Peace.
May 19. Occupation.
May 21. Life in the Ruins.
|
Reading: Gordon, 226-245.
Cook & Cook, Japan at War, 259-479.
Atkins, Blue Nippon, 165-219.
|
| Week 9 |
Reading |
Week IX. The Postwar World.
May 26. Memorial Day Holiday.
May 28. From Production(ism) to Consumption(ism).
Essay on Cook & Cook due.
|
Reading: Gordon, 246-269.
Atkins, 221-264.
|
| Week 10 |
Reading |
|
Week X. Millennial Japan.
June 2. Forever Blowing Bubbles?
June 4. Future Shock.
Final Examination: 15:15-17:15 Wednesday, June 11, in 214 McKenzie
Hall.
|
Reading: Gordon, 270-332.
Atkins, Blue Nippon, 265-276.
|
|
