GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

This course provides an introduction to Japanese politics, economics, and society. It has four main focuses: 1) the emergence of Japan’s postwar political system and the dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party, 2) Japan’s rapid economic growth and its subsequent decline, 3) the role of citizen activism, interest groups, and bureaucracy in Japan’s politics, and 4) major foreign policy issues facing Japan.

The goal of this course is to provide students with a broad overview of the issues and main questions surrounding the Japanese political, economic, and social system.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

This course will be structured around lectures. Each student will be expected to attend each week’s class. There will be in-class discussions, so students are expected to express their opinions or ask relevant questions.

Although time will be given in class to answer these questions, the questions will be posted on Hoppii each week. Students will be expected to post answers to these questions.

All assignments will be submitted via the Hoppii online system.

Feedback: In the case of assignments submitted on Hoppii, important feedback will be included online when the assignment is graded.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Japan: The Emergence of The Modern State

Syllabus and requirements are introduced, together with some historical background on the emergence of the modern Japanese state

2[対面/face to face]：Historical Overview of Japanese Politics I

Meiji Period Politics

3[対面/face to face]：Historical Overview of Japanese Politics II

Late Meiji and Taisho democracy

4[対面/face to face]：Historical Overview of Japanese Politics III

The Pacific War and Japanese politics 1

5[対面/face to face]：Historical Overview of Japanese Politics IV

The Pacific War and Japanese politics 2

6[対面/face to face]：Historical Overview of Japanese Politics V

The American occupation

7[対面/face to face]：The politics of postwar Japan

Postwar politics in Japan 1 - discussing the rise of the LDP

8[対面/face to face]：Review & Midterm Exam

Assessing the degree to which students understand the subject and Midterm exam

9[対面/face to face]：The politics of postwar Japan 2

Discussing the power of the LDP and how it held power for so many years

10[対面/face to face]：The politics of postwar Japan 3 / Documentary

Discussing the changes in Japanese domestic politics since the 1990s. We will also watch a documentary about election campaigns in Japan.

11[対面/face to face]：Foreign Policy Issues (1)

A discussion of recent issues in Japanese foreign policy

12[対面/face to face]：Foreign Policy Issues (2)

A discussion of the U.S.-Japan alliance and Japan's foreign policy

13[対面/face to face]：Foreign Policy Issues (3) - Documentary

We will watch a documentary about Japanese political activism (and the Okinawa base issue)

14[対面/face to face]：Foreign Policy Issues Today

Most current foreign policy issues in 2022 and a look at major issues that will emerge in the future.

Before each week’s class, students are be expected to read an assigned article (10 to 20 pages in length) and for some of the weeks.
Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

Readings will be uploaded to Hosei's Online Management System (Hoppii).

The following books are not required reading, but can be useful as references.

Curtis, G. L. (1999). The logic of Japanese politics: Leaders, institutions, and the limits of change. New York: Columbia University Press.

Hayes, L. D. (2009). Introduction to Japanese Politics. New York: Routledge.

Samuels, R. J. (2008). Securing Japan: Tokyo's grand strategy and the future of East Asia. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Samuels, R. J. (2013). 3.11: Disaster and Change in Japan. Cornell University Press.

Shinoda, T. (2013). Contemporary Japanese politics: Institutional changes and power shifts. New York: Columbia University Press.

Smith, S. A. (2016). Intimate rivals: Japanese domestic politics and a rising China / Sheila A. Smith. New York: Columbia University Press.

Stockwin, J. A. (2008). Governing Japan: Divided politics in a resurgent economy. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.

Weekly Discussion Question Responses (at least 200 words each, to be submitted on Hoppi): 40%
Midterm exam: 30%
Final Report: 30%

The weekly discussion question response grade has been increased to not make the grade too reliant on a single test or paper.

Students who have completed General Topics II: Japanese Politics can not take this course.

None.