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2020　Political Science C

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Nakajima Takeshi 
Class Format
Lecture    (ZOOM)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Tue7-8(W541)  Fri7-8(W541)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.S304
Credits
2
Academic year
2020
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2020/9/18
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

Modern day Japanese politics ・Lecture on the relationship between diplomacy and nationalism. Adopting the point of view of spiritual history in particular, discuss the process by which Japan proactively inclined toward totalitarianism. Meiji Japan aimed for a feudal system through the Restoration of Imperial Rule based on the thesis of "Ikkun Banmin Ron (One Ruler and Everyone Else)", but the government which was created was a clannist government monopolized by a portion of former members of the fiefdom. The armed conflict and debates which aimed for a "Second Restoration" against this system gave birth to a source ultranationalism. Furthermore, entering the latter Meiji period, worried elite youth (worried youth) emerged who could not self-identify with the national goals of wealth, military strength, and new industry policies, leading to a new era in intellectual history. And a new ultranationalist was born from among them to lead the Showa Restoration terrorist coup d’état. In this course, by also analyzing literary works and social phenomenon, we discuss the process by which people were charmed by the vision of "Hakkō Ichiu". Following this process leads to the relativization of modern Japan. In the lectures, recognize the outlook toward modern society and discuss methods for abstracting the true essence of issues from history. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　This course has three aims. The first is to accurately grasp the route which modern day Japanese politics have followed. The second is to become able to explain the process by which Japan inclined toward totalitarianism. The third is to consider the issues of anxiety common in modern societies through intrinsic criticism of those who became ultranationalists. By learning these abilities, students will acquire the outlook to discuss modern Japanese politics.

Student learning outcomes

Students will acquire the following abilities by taking this course. ①Become able to explain the progress of modern day Japanese society (especially in contrast to East Asian contemporaries in China, Korea, etc.)②Become able to critically relativize the dangerous appeal of totalitarianism by grasping the intellectual history of modern Japan. ③Acquire the outlook toward the issue of rightism in modern Japanese society by understanding journalism, ultranationalism, and Asianism in modern day Japan.

Keywords

Totalitarianism, Asianism, Modern Japan, Nationalism, Ultranationalism

Competencies that will be developed

✔ Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Before coming to class, students should read the course schedule and check what topics will be covered. Required learning should be completed outside of the classroom for preparation and review purposes.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Class guidance and Intro Understand the general idea of the course and its aims
Class 2 Meiji Restoration and Modern Day Japanese Journalism: Why did Saigo Takamori attempt to overthrow the Meiji government which he himself created? Grasp the characteristics of the Meiji restoration and understand the causes behind the armed anti-government rebellion which occurred during the Meiji Era
Class 3 Western Impact and East Asia: Why did rightism and Asianism derive from the Freedom and People's Rights Movement? Learn the changes in international order in modern day East Asia and understand the background of the birth of Asianism
Class 4 Modern Korea and Japan: Why did solidarity change to aggression? Understand the framework of modern Korean history and be able to explain the process leading up to the annexation of Korea
Class 5 Modern China and Japan: How was Chinese nationalism born? Understand the process behind the birth of Chinese nationalism focusing on Sun Yat-sen
Class 6 Worry and Ultranationalism: Clouds were waiting atop the hill Understand the worries of young people which actualized around the time of the Russo-Japanese War
Class 7 Reformed Taisho: Why the right wing believed in Lenin Perceive the existence of the reformist movement born from the worried youth and grasp the logic behind their right leaning tendency
Class 8 Recession, Violence, and Gloom: The rise of terrorism Intrinsically grasp the logic of the political terrorism which occurred under the recession after the first World War
Class 9 The Manchurian Incident and Utopia: The reign of Kanji Ishiwara Understand the religious ideology of Kanji Ishiwara, perpetrator of the Manchurian Incident
Class 10 Hakkō Ichiu and Ihatove: Kenji Miyazawa "Ticket That Can Go Anywhere" Understand the ideology of Kenji Miyazawa, who belonged to the same Kokuchūkai party as Kanji Ishiwara
Class 11 Showa Restoration Terrorism : The League of Blood Incident and "mysterious assassination" Understand the logic and mentality behind the League of Blood Incident which occurred in 1932
Class 12 Suppression of speech: Koushi Mitsui's "Fundamental Japan" Grasp the logic behind the Fundamental Japan Group which caused the Suppression of Free Speech incident in the 1930s
Class 13 Hakkō Ichiu and the World Federation of Nations: Yasaburou Shimonaka before, during and after the war Learn the logic of progressives becoming ultranationalists and becoming pacifists through Yasaburou Shimonaka
Class 14 Conclusion Conclusion

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None required.

Assessment criteria and methods

Students’ course scores are based on midterm (50%） and final papers (50%)　

Related courses

  • LAH.S103 ： Political Science A
  • LAH.S203 ： Political Science B

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

No prerequisites.

Other

Should the number of applicants for this course exceed the limit, a lottery system will be used to determine which students are admitted. Be sure to attend the first class.

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