Japan’s Modern Emperor
AEAJ389, Course #9087
Fall 2013
Instructor: Jeff DuBois
Class meetings: MWF 11:30AM-12:25PM, ED120
Office hours: MW 12:30-1:30 and by appointment
E-mail: [email protected]
Course description:
Why does a modern democracy like Japan have an emperor, an ancient figure with no relation
to modern times? Or, should we flip the question and ask, is the emperor a product of
modernity itself? His role was defined for the first time in Japan’s constitution of 1889. Given
that Japan’s post-WWII constitution (1946) further specified rules for the imperial household,
can we even think of the emperor as independent of modern law? In reading prominent
authors who theorize issues of kingship, sovereignty and genealogy (Kantorowicz), and the
nature of Japan’s emperor system historically (Mishima, Gluck, Fujitani), we will aim to develop
analytical skills for thinking of modernity, the nation-state, and nationality.
In this course, we will explore a stylistic variety of texts that all relate to a single theme, Japan’s
emperor system. These texts range from philosophical to legal, literary to academic. With this
diversity of texts, you should strive to synthesize and interpret through careful reading and
response (both in class and with your writing assignments).
Grading policies:
Participation
Quizzes (announced and unannounced)
Paper 1 (4-5 pages)
Paper 2 (4-5 pages)
Final exam (short answer, essay)
20%
25%
15%
20%
20%
Participation will be determined by attendance and productive contribution to discussion
classes. Reading must be completing PRIOR to class on the date listed on the syllabus. There will
be two announced quizzes and multiple unannounced quizzes, the latter of which are meant to
assess whether you have done the readings—if you have done the readings for that day, you
should ace the quiz, if not, you’ll be in trouble. Papers must be submitted on the date due, and
every day late will result in a 1/3rd letter-grade reduction (e.g. If an A- paper is submitted two
days late, it will be graded as a B).
Grades are based on a percentage scale: 93 - 100=A; 92 - 90=A-; 87 - 89=B+; 83 - 86=B; 80 82=B -; 77 - 79=C+; 73 - 76=C; 70 - 72=C-; 67 - 69=D+; 63 - 66=D; 60 - 62=D-; 0 - 59=E
Grades will not be curved, and no extra credit will be given. An “incomplete” will only be
considered in cases of emergency and will require written documentation. If you have
questions and concerns about your grade, or external circumstances that you are worried may
affect it, please consult with me in advance.
You may use laptops or tablets to take notes and reference electronic readings during class.
However, you may not abuse the privilege to perform non-class-related activities such as
browsing the internet, using social media, etc. Cell phones must be silenced and may not be
used for any purpose during class. Inappropriate device usage will result in a lower participation
grade.
Required texts:
Yukio Mishima. Death in Midsummer: And Other Stories. New York: New Directions Publishing
Co. 1988.
T. Fujitani. Splendid Monarchy: Power and Pageantry in Modern Japan. Berkeley: University of
California Press. 1998.
Kenneth J. Ruoff. The People’s Emperor: Democracy and the Japanese Monarchy, 1945-1995.
Cambridge: Harvard University Press. 2001.
** All other readings will be posted on Blackboard (BB).
Detailed schedule:
8/26
8/28
M
W
8/30
F
Lecture and discussion theme
Reading (to be read BEFORE class)
WEEK 1
Introduction and discussion
Japan’s Ancient Emperors
BB: Herman Ooms, Imperial Politics and
Symbolism (selections)
Problems of Succession
BB: Paul Varley, J nn sh t (selections)
WEEK 2
9/2
9/4
M
W
Labor Day: NO CLASS
Interruption of Rule (Kamakura BB: Ivan Morris, Nobility of Failure
period)
(selections)
Rush Hashanah: NO CLASS
WEEK 3
Protesting the King
BB: Thomas Paine, Common Sense. “Of
Monarchy and Hereditary Succession”
(handout)
Medieval Kingship
BB: Kantorowicz, The Kings Two Bodies,
Intro, pg. 3-23
Revere the Emperor, Expel the
Barbarian
WEEK 4
Invention of the Modern
Fujitani, Splended Monarchy. Introduction
Emperor 1
pg. 1-15
Invention of the Modern
Fujitani, Splended Monarchy. Introduction
Emperor 2
pg. 15-28
Two Bodies
Fujitani, Splended Monarchy. "Emperor's
Two Bodies" pg. 155-171
WEEK 5
Meiji Restoration (Saigo and
Sakamoto)
Meiji Restoration 2
Charter Oath
Emperor as limited sovereign
BB: Constitution of the Empire of Japan
WEEK 6
Imperial Education
Imperial Rescript on Education, Imperial
Rescript to Soldiers and Sailors (handouts)
9/6
F
9/9
M
9/11
W
9/13
F
9/16
M
9/18
W
9/20
F
9/23
M
9/25
9/27
W
F
9/30
M
10/2
W
Imperial Education 2
10/4
F
QUIZ ON PRIMARY
DOCUMENTS
10/7
M
Emperor as ideology
10/9
10/11
W
F
(cont.)
Emperor System 1
10/14
10/16
M
W
Columbus Day: NO CLASS
Emperor System 2
BB: Gluck, Japan’s Modern Myths, “Morality
and Nation” pg 102-127
WEEK 7
BB: Gluck, Japan’s Modern Myths, “Ideology
and Imperial Japan” pg. 3-26
BB: Irokawa Daikichi, The Culture of the Meiji
Period, “The Emperor System as a Spiritual
Structure” pg. 245-259
WEEK 8
BB: Irokawa Daikichi, The Culture of the Meiji
10/18
F
10/21
10/23
M
W
10/25
F
10/28
M
10/30
W
11/1
F
11/4
M
11/6
11/8
W
F
11/11
11/13
11/15
M
W
F
11/18
11/20
M
W
11/22
F
11/25
11/27
11/29
M
W
F
12/2
M
Period, “The Emperor System as a Spiritual
Structure” pg. 260-280
Radical nationalism
BB: Kita Ikki, Reorganization of Japan, 211227
WEEK 9
Propaganda
BB: Kokutai no Hongi, pg. 51-68
FILM: In the Name of the
PAPER #1 DUE
Emperor
Imperial ancestry theory
BB: Oguma Eiji, “The Theory that the
‘Japanese’ and Koreans share a Common
Ancestor” in A Genealogy of ‘Japanese’ SelfImages, pg. 64-80
WEEK 10
Japanese Empire and
BB: Leo Ching, Becom ng “Japanese,”
Assimilation
"Between Assimilation and Imperialization,"
pg. 89-109
US role in maintaining the
BB: Nakamura Masanori, The Japanese
emperor
Monarchy, pg. 16-21
Emperor as useful
Reichauer Memo (handout)
WEEK 11
Defeat
BB: John Dower, Embracing Defeat, 34-45
(Listen to recording of
BB: Hirohito’s Surrender Speech
surrender speech)
MacArthur and SCAP
BB: The Constitution of Japan
Comparison of Constitutions
BB: Imperial Household Law
WEEK 12
QUIZ ON CONSTITUTIONS
Human Emperor
BB: Proclamation of Humanity
Symbol Emperor
Kenneth Ruoff, The People’s Emperor, “The
Constitutional Symbolic Monarchy,”
pg. 42-68
WEEK 13
Reaction to new Emperor
Sakaguchi Ango, two short essays
Revisionist Emperor
Yukio Mishima, Death in Midsummer and
Other Stories, “Patriotism” pg. 93-118
Reaction to Mishima
Fujitani, Splended Modernity, “Epilogue” pg.
230-245
WEEK 14
Postwar Emperor System
PAPER #2 DUE
Thanksgiving: NO CLASS
Thanksgiving: NO CLASS
WEEK 15
Imperial Responsibility
Kenneth Ruoff, The People’s Emperor,
12/4
W
Self-restraint
12/6
F
Democratic Emperor?
12/9
M
Summary, review
12/19
Th
FINAL EXAM: 10:30AM12:30PM
“Imperial War Responsibility and Apologies,”
pg. 126-157
BB: Norma Field, In the Realm of the Dying
Emperor (selections)
Kenneth Ruoff, The People’s Emperor, “The
‘Monarchy of the Masses’” pg. 242-253
WEEK 16