I. Introduction
	Aug. 27 F Aug. 30 M Sep. 1 W	Organizational Meeting The meaning of modern Japanese history Traditional Japan in review
	Sep. 3 F	Discussion:	Significance of geographical features on historical developments in traditional Japan
		Readings:	Peter Duus, Modern Japan, 3-20 Mikiso Hane, Peasants, Rebels and Outcastes, 3-11 Mikiso Hane, "Introduction to his Modern Japan, A Historical Survey, pp. 1-5
II. Japan's Feudal Origins, 1600-1868
	Sep. 6 M	Tokugawa Political Control
	Sep. 8 W	Society and Culture in Tokugawa Japan
	Sep. 10 F	Discussion:	What are the significant features in the historical development in traditional Japan? Legacy of Tokugawa Japan.
		Readings:	Duus, 21-60
III. The Meiji Reformation
	Sep.13 M Sep.15 W	Tokugawa Crises and the Western Challenge Meiji Restoration
	Sep. 17 F	Discussion:	To what extent can the western impact be accounted for the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate? Who engineered the Meiji Restoration? What were "restored" and "created" by the Meiji Restoration? How would you characterize the Meiji Reformation? A coup? A reform? A revolution?
		Readings:	Duus, 61-102 Hane, 11-27
	Sep. 20 M Sep. 22 W	Challenges to the new order The Meiji Constitution
	Sep. 24 F	Discussion:	Assess the significance of the Charter Oath and the Imperial Rescript on Education. Assess the contribution of the leaders: Kido Koin, Saigo Takamori, Okubo Toshimichi, Ito Hirobumi, Okuma Shigenobu, and Yamagata Aritomo. Assess the significance of the social and cultural changes.
		Readings:	Duus, 103-133 Sources of Japanese Tradition, 158-171
	Sep. 27 M	Early Industrialization and Economic Growth (Map Exercise due)
	Sep. 29 W	Treat Revision and Overseas Expansion
	Oct. 1 F	Discussion:	How crucial was the role of the Meiji Oligarchy in providing elitist leadership during the early phase of Japan's modernization? What was the rationale for Japan's expansionism?
		Readings:	Duus, 134-168 Hane, 173-204
	Oct. 4 M Oct. 6 W	Readings: Readings:	Kokoro, 1-124 Kokoro, 125-248
	Oct. 8 F	Discussion:	Fulfillment of the Meiji dream. What was the Meiji dream for Japanese of different status and orientation? How did the world look at Meiji Japan? How did the Japanese themselves evaluate their country?
	Oct. 11 M Oct. 13 W	Readings: Readings:	Snow Country Snow Country
	Oct. 15 F	Mid-term
IV. The Taisho Period, 1912-1926
	Oct. 25 M	Political Changes in the Taisho Era
	Oct. 27 W	Crisis in Cultural Identity
	Oct. 29 F	Discussion:	What was the significance of the slogan "enrich the country, strengthen its arms" as a reflection of emergent nationalistic sentiments?
		Readings:	Duus, 169-199 Hane, 103-136
	Nov. 1 M Nov. 3 W Nov. 5 F Nov. 8 M Nov.10 W	Class Presentation I Class Presentation II Class Presentation III The Left Wing and Right Wing Social Movements (Film: To be announced)
	Nov. 12 F	Discussion:	Was Shidehara a "democratic liberal"? Consider the leftist ideological disputes in pre-war Japan: mass versus class appeal; evolutionary versus revolutionary strategy; the significance of the right-wing ideology.
		Readings:	Duus, 200-220
V. The Pacific War
	Nov. 15 M Nov. 17 W	The Road to Militarism: What went wrong? Invasion of China and the Pacific War
	Nov. 19 F	Discussion:	What was the role of the Samurai tradition in the right-wing movement from its origins in the early Meiji Period? Discuss the causes of militarism in Japan. What were Japan's aims and aspirations in seeking to establish a "new order" and a "co-prosperity sphere" in East Asia? What was the context of international relations that led to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor? Was militarism a logical outcome of the Japanese style modernization?
		Reading:	Duus, 220-250
	Nov. 22 M Nov. 24 W	Reading: Reading:	Fires on the Plain Fires on the Plain
	Nov. 29 M	Interpretations of the War (I)
		Readings:	Saburo Ienaga, The Pacific War, pp. vii-xvii; 3-54; 241-256
	Dec. 1 W	Interpretations of the War (II)
		Readings:	Japan Examined, 241-257; 308-315; 323-330 (paper due)
	Dec. 3 F	Japan under Occupation
		Reading:	Duus, 251-273
	Dec. 6 M Dec. 8 W Dec. 10 F	Japanese Modernization in Review (I) Japanese Modernization in Review (II) Retrospect

Requirements and Assessment

Map Exercise Oral Presentation (10-15 minutes) Mid-term Attendance and participation Paper (8-10 pages, due Dec. 1) Final Examination

5% 10% 20% 20% 20% 25%

Readings

Peter Duus, Modern Japan (Houghton Mifflin, 1998)

Natsume Soseki, Kokoro (Regency/Gateway, 1957)

Mikiso Hane, Peasants, Rebels, and Outcastes: The Underside of Modern Japan,
(Pantheon Books, 1982)

Kawabata Yasunari, Snow Country (Widerview/Perigee, 1981)

Shohei Ooka, Fires on the Plain (Tuttle, 1957)

Additional readings may be assigned from time to time. Students are expected to finish the required readings prior to class meetings.