GLFP U.S.-Japan Zemi
Japan in Asia / Asia in Japan: An International History
Fall 2014
Koichi Okamoto
(2 credits)
1438, 11th Bldg.
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours:
TBA
Since the advent of Japan as a modern state, the international environment has critically shaped
its domestic and foreign policies.
In the phase of nationalizing state and society, Japan went out
of the danger of being colonized, and then became a colonial power.
In the process of expanding
the Japanese empire, Japan confronted other imperialist powers, and resulted the collapse of the
empire.
Although Japan‟s foreign policy has not always received unanimous domestic support through the
modern period, Asia has been the crucial agenda in formulating its international relations, as well
as intellectual explorations, by interacting the overwhelming presence of the Western powers.
In particular, the current international affairs of Japan deeply rooted in its recent past.
In other
words, without the consideration of Japan‟s historical setting, no one can reach the understanding
of the nature of the issues, as well as the solution of the problems.
This U.S.-Japan Zemi is an occasion for students to acquire the active knowledge of modern Japan
history, in the emphasis of its international relations and perceptions of Asia, and to obtain the
“tools” to historically analyze the vital international issues.
For this objective, this zemi will consist of three components.
First, by using the basic textbooks,
we will briefly overview the history of Japanese international relations.
These sessions are
rather in the style of colloquium.
Second, by examining various historical documents, we will analyze the perception and opinions
of contemporary problems.
Through these sessions, we will understand how and why the
Japanese government decided to take a particular policy option, which determined the latter
course of history.
Third, by taking the current issue of your choice, we will conduct independent research under the
instructor‟s guidance, and deliver an interim report on the progress of your research in a seminar
session.
As a final result, each student write a research paper and give a presentation (possibly
by an integrated group, if the topic is similar to other students) in front of the research public.
Requirements and Grading Criteria:
[Fall Semester]
Active participation in research and class discussion* (30%), **Presentation (30%) and one review
paper** (40%) [Due Date: TBA (April?)].
* Students prepare a short note of questions or comments on reading assignments, in advance of
each zemi session.
** Common readings will be assigned to all students.
In the second phase, the presenter(s) will
be distributed the further materials, which other students are encourage to read.
*** Write a review/research paper approximately ten pages in length examining two books on a
topic of your choice.
1.
Analysis of the author's approach to the subject, the basic premises upon which her/his
research is based and her/his main conclusions.
2.
The author's contribution to our general understanding of modern Japanese and/or
international historical development.
3.
Your personal opinions regarding the author's methodology, style and the validity of their
conclusions.
4.
In addition to this, a bibliography of the topic should be attached. It does not need to be
long, but it should be complete. You will have to decide what is significant and what is not.
Each student should consult with the instructor on her/his paper topic by the end of
December.
[Spring Semester]
Active participation in research and class discussion* (30%), Presentation (30%) and final
research paper / presentation** (40%) [Due Date: TBA].
* Students prepare a short note of questions or comments on reading assignments, in advance of
each zemi session.
In the third phase, each student/group will distribute common readings to the zemi members,
two weeks in advance of his/her/their presentation session.
** Based upon the topic of review and research papers in the fall semester, final paper and
presentation topic will be determined.
The research paper will be approximately ten pages
in length on a topic of your presentation.
Course Schedule and Reading Assignments
First Phase:
Textbook:
Michael A. Barnhart, Japan and the World Since 1868 (St. Martin, 1995)
[Week 1] Orientation
Introduction to Japanese history up to 1868.
[Week 2]
Field Study
[The Edo-Tokyo Museum]
[Week 3]
[Week 4]
[Week 5]
[Week 6]
[Week 7]
[Week 8]
“From Perry to empire” in Japan and the World Since 1868
“Player in the Great Game” in Japan and the World Since 1868
“The Rules Chang” in Japan and the World Since 1868
“The Breakdown of the Meiji System” in Japan and the World Since 1868
“New Order against Old” in Japan and the World Since 1868
“The Quiet Giant” in Japan and the World Since 1868
Second Phase
[Week 9] Reading historical documents. (Basic practice)
Imperial rescript on the termination of the war.
[Week 10] Treaty System in Asia
The Treaty of Nanjing, The Treaty of Bogue
The Treaty of Kanagawa, The Ansei Treaty
[Supplementary Reading]
John K. Fairbank, "The Creation of the Treaty System," in Cambridge
History of China, vol. 10, pp213-263
[Week 11] Asia-ism.
Saigo Takamori, Letters to Itagaki on the Korean Question, 1873
Okubo Toshimichi, Reasons for Opposing the Korean Expedition, 1873.
Fukuzawa Yukichi, Good-bye Asia (Datsu-a), 1885.
[Supplementary Reading]
Beasley, W. G., “Japan and Pan-Asianism; Problems of Definition” in Aspects
of Pan-Asianism (London School of Economics and Political Science, 1987)
[Week 12] On Colonialism (1)
The Treaty of Shimonoseki
The Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902, 1905)
The Portsmouth Treaty
The Katsura-Taft Agreement.
[Supplementary Reading]
Related newspaper editorials from 『国際ニュース事典出版委員会,毎日コミュ
ニケーションズ 編集
『外国新聞に見る日本 : 国際ニュース事典』Vols. 1-4
（東京 : 毎日コミュニケーションズ, 1989-1992）Original text and Japanese
translation.
[Week 13] On Colonialism (2)
William
McKinley,
“The
Benevolent
Assimilation
Proclamation”
on
December 21, 1898.
K. Kaneko, "Japan and the United States: A Proposed Economic Alliance,"
International Quarterly 8 (1903): 399-404
The Taft-Katsura Agreement (1905)
Okuma Shigenobu, "Japan's Policy in Korea," Forum 37 (April 1906): 571-80
Ito Hirobumi, "Japanese Policy in Korea," Harper's Weekly 52 (January 11
1908): 27
"Claims of Koreans," The Outlook 88 (April 4 1908): 762-3
Motosada Zumoto, "The Passing of Korea," The Independent 69 (Sept. 1,
1910): 448-53
Arthur Judson Brown, "The Japanese in Korea," The Outlook 96 (Nov. 12,
1910): 591-5
[Supplementary Reading]
Related newspaper editorials from 『国際ニュース事典出版委員会,毎日コミ
ュニケーションズ 編集 『外国新聞に見る日本 : 国際ニュース事典』Vols. 1-4
（東京 : 毎日コミュニケーションズ, 1989-1992）Original text and Japanese
translation.
[Week 14]
The Washington Treaty System
The Four Power Treaty
The Nine Power Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty
Konoe Fumimaro, Against a Pacifism Centered on England and America
Shidehara Kijuro, A Rapprochement with China,
Report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Sino-Japanese Dispute
[Supplementary Reading]
Iriye, Akira, “Introduction,” After Imperialism: The Search for a New Order
in the Far East (Publisher Harvard University Press
Year 1965)
[Week 15] The 15 Years War (1)
Fundamental Principles of National Policy, 1936
The Tripartite Pact of Japan, Germany, and Italy, 1940.
「帝国国策遂行要領」Imperial Conference, November 5, 1941.
“The Hull Note” on November26, 1941.
[Supplementary Reading]
Bix, Herbert, “Stalemate and Escalation” and “Prologue to Pearl Harbor” in
Hirohito, The Making of Modern Japan (HarperCollins Publishers, 2000).
SPRING BREAK
[Week 16] The 15 Years War (2)
Joint Declaration of the Assembly of Greater East Asiatic Nations
The Cairo Declaration
[Supplementary Reading]
Keene, Donald, So Lovely A Country Will Never Perish (Columbia University
Press, 2010), 1-62.
Dower, John W. “Race, Language and War in Two Culture” in John Dower,
Japan in War & Peace in Japan in War and Peace 257-286
[Week 17] Occupation Years.
The MacArthur note
GHQ draft of the Constitution
The Japanese Constitution
[Supplementary Reading]
Koseki, Shoichi, “Week in a Secret Room: Writing the Scap Draft”, “A Second Defeat
„Imposed on Japan?‟", ”The Struggle to Japanize the American Draft” and “’Behind
the Ashida Amendment‟ of Article 9" in The Birth of the Japanese Postwar
Constitution. (Westview Press, 1997)
[Week 18] Asia and the Cold War
NSC 13-2
NSC 48
NSC 68
[Supplementary Reading]
Schaller, Michael, “NSC 48 and the Renewed Debate over Asian Communism”
in The American Occupation of Japan (Oxford University Press),
[Week 19] Postwar Rapprochement
The San Francisco Peace Treaty
The Japan-Taiwan Pact
The Korea-Japan Basic Treaty
The Joint Communiqué of Japan and China of 1972
[Supplementary Reading]
Wakamiya, Yoshibumi, “Part IIIm Pieces of the Past in Retrospect”
(Chapter1-Chaptr9), The Postwar Conservative View of Asia, (LTCB
International Library Foundation, 1998)
[Week 20]
Field Study, The Yûshûkan (Former war museum)
Third Phase
Independent Presentation
[Week 21]
Interim Report (1)
[Week 22]
Interim Report (2)
[Week 23]
Interim Report (3)
[Week 24]
Interim Report (4)
[Week 25]
Interim Report (5)
[Week 26]
Preparation for the final presentation (1).
[Week 27]
Preparation for the final presentation (2).
[Week 28]
Preparation for the final presentation (3).
[Week 29]
Preparation for the final presentation (4).
[Week 30]
Preparation for the final presentation (5).