2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

EAST1271 Japanese History and Society

20 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Dr Irena Hayter
Email: i.hayter@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Module replaces

EAST1266 Japan: A Cultural History from Buddhism to Murakami HarukiEAST1268 Premodern Japan through Modern MediaEAST1269 Japanese Culture and Society

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module introduces the students to key terms and developments in Japanese history and in contemporary Japanese society. Focusing on Japanese history, the first part emphasises larger paradigms, but also keeps in sight the specific socio-political and religious contexts of particular historical periods. The aim is to critique the common stereotypical conceptions of a monolithic and unchanging ‘Japan’ and ‘Japaneseness’ by exploring the rich dynamics of historical and cultural change. Through the seminars the module will also introduce students to the basics of historical analysis. The second part of the module focuses on the social dynamics of contemporary Japan. Reading case studies, the students will learn about some major social challenges experienced by Japanese today. Through seminars, students will have opportunities to apply theoretical concepts to develop a contextualised understanding of the changing social relations and practices and to link daily experiences to larger structural and historical forces.

Objectives

The module aims to introduce the students to key terms and developments in Japanese history and in contemporary Japanese society. Its main goal is to critique the common stereotypical conceptions of a monolithic and unchanging “Japan” and “Japaneseness” by exploring the rich dynamics of historical, cultural and social change.

Learning outcomes
1. a solid grasp of key names, terms, texts, works of art and developments in Japanese cultural history.
2. a solid grasp of the major social challenges in contemporary Japan
3. ability to situate individual works and cultural practices in the historical constellations in which they emerged.
4. an ability to link daily experiences to larger structural and historical forces
5. basic skills for cultural and social analysis

Skills outcomes
Students will be expected to have:
- developed a foundation for critical analysis of the key debates in the field of Japan’s history and society;
- enhanced their skills of expression and communication in both written and oral form;
- developed their abilities to plan, organize, gather, comprehend and analyze materials relevant to the study of Japanese history and society.

Syllabus

The module will cover topics in Japanese history and society which may include, Japanese nationalism and identity, modernity, politics, gender, social inequality and power dynamics, among others.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Seminar	8	1.00	8.00
Private study hours			172.00
Total Contact hours			28.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

1. Background reading in preparation for lectures (4 hours per taught week, 80 hours)
2. Reading and preparation of appropriate presentation material for seminars (5 hours per seminar, 48 hours)
3. Revision for exams (44 hours).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

• Apart from seminar discussions, the seminars will also include unassessed group presentations which will give tutors opportunity to observe the work and thinking of students and offer feedback on the content and delivery of presentations.
• Group presentations will also offer opportunities for peer learning and feedback.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	1500 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) (S1)	2 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:39:00

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