KANSAI GAIDAI UNIVERSITY JAPAN

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the history of modern Japan; and be able to understand the history of modern Japan within world history. 20th Century Asian History through FilmFilm is an exciting medium to approach the study of history. In the course, students will engage in debate on how historical films portray the past, whether they can or should strive for historical accuracy, and to what degree they present opinions or interpreta-tions of the past. Students will explore twentieth century Asian history through the analysis of a wide variety of films which portray the history of the time period and place. By the end of the course, students will be able to reference a wide range of historical films and produce an analytical film review essay which places a film in historical context and engage in debate on film representa-tion.Japanese History -- Japan's Search for Identity in the Wider World As a survey of the political, economic, social, ideological, and foreign policy aspects of Japanese history from AD600 to the economic miracle of the 1980s, this course will focus on Japan's attempts to establish a central government prior to 1600, as well as Japan's quest for national identity and security in the 20th century. Key topics include how geography has shaped Japan's history, the legacy of feudalism, the Meiji Restoration, the road to the Pacific War and Japan's defeat, and Japan's post-war economic growth. Understanding these aspects of Japan's history will help students better understand contemporary Japanese society.Turning Points in Japanese History Most historians agree that the Meiji Restoration and the Pacific War were turning points in Japanese history. In order to under-stand the significance of these events, this class will create a frame-work for analyzing a turning point, articulate the domestic and international forces that shaped these events, analyze the depth and breadth of change after these events, read what scholars say, and formulate our own opinions on whether these events are turning points. The course will also look at current issues facing Japan today and discuss whether Japan is currently in the midst of an historical turning point similar to the Meiji Restoration and the Pacific War. Japanese Cultural History: Ancient and Medieval This survey course offers a look at Japanese cultural history from the earliest Paleolithic Era human settlements on the archipelago up until the end of the so-called “Age of the Country at War” circa 1600. We will focus on a number of major develop-ments that took place during this extended period, with a particu-lar emphasis on the creation of a centralized government and the gradual, uneven transition from courtier to warrior rule that accompanied and further complicated this shift. In addition, students will also analyze how these larger trends influenced some of the specific cultural practices developed and maintained by people who lived during these tumultuous times.Japanese Cultural History: Early Modern and Modern The most basic aim of this course is to provide an approachable and wide-ranging survey of early modern and modern Japanese history, a period spanning from the late sixteenth century to the present. In addition, this class is also designed to foster curiosity and compel deeper historical inquiry into the thorny question of how individuals relate to society. Students will examine not only many of the major political, social, economic, and intellectual developments that have accompanied Japan’s emergence as a world power, but also employ methods of cultural history in order to investigate how people ranging from government leaders to average citizens have attempted to define and explain their various roles and responsibilities in early modern and modern Japan.Southeast Asia & Japan: Historical PerspectiveSoutheast Asia is situated at the crossroads of the North-South land bridge linking two continents---Eurasia and Australia, and the waterway linking two oceans---the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. This region has received various influences both from the West and the East as a result of East-West Trade ever since the dawn of its history. In the modern period, it had to endure harsh colonial rule by the major Western colonial powers. During World War II, the whole region was governed by Japanese military rule. In this series of lectures, students will overview relations between the two regions throughout their history. The History and Ideology of the Japanese Warrior Visions of the Japanese warrior in his many forms loom largely through the history of East Asia and through popular culture. Martial arts and the profession of soldiery are described in Japan as a “path” or “way,” implying that they represent an ideology. Indeed, many argue that the spirit of the warrior lies at the very heart of Japanese people and Japanese culture. In this course, students will examine the worldview of Japanese combatants and consider whether such orientations have maintained consistency over time. More specifically, the class will look at archetypical warriors using prototypical weapons in exemplary battles through famous literature, films, and historical accounts.22