This class spans the course of modern Japanese history from the dawn of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1600 to Japan's current struggles with economic recession and declining birth rate. Throughout the course, we will delve into topics such as politics, religion, war, economics, media, and the daily lives of the Japanese people to shed light on how Japan has adapted to the onslaught of new domestic and global challenges that have occurred over the past four centuries. By the end of this course, you will have a firm grasp on topics such as the complex nature of Bushido, the first "miraculous" industrialization of a non-european nation, the rise of Japanese imperialism, the postwar path to pacifism, and Japan's global position as a leader in technology, tourism, public transportation, and soft power. No former knowledge of Japan or Asia is required for this course. All lectures, weekly readings, and books included on the list for the comparative book review will be in English. All readings will be provided save for the books for the comparative book review. |