20th Century East and Southeast Asia and Politics of Memory： Focus on Japan

【Title（English）】
20th Century East and Southeast Asia and Politics of Memory： Focus on Japan

【Goals of the course】
Students will learn the large structure of the 20th century world history, in particular about East and Southeast Asia. These issues are not simply of the past, observed out of antiquarian interest, but are of the present, creating ongoing but fading tensions both domestically and internationally. In other words, the contents of the course go back and forth between the two periods, i.e. the early and mid 20th century and the turn of the 20th/21st century. Although there are many different ways to look at the past, this course primarily focuses on the issue of war and peace.

【Overview of the course】
History is not really about memorization. It enables us to think how each one of us should perceive the world and check on whether ones perspective is appropriate. Sadly, no one in this age is beyond nationalism. The best we can do is to reflect upon the stance each one of us takes. Although this is a lecture class, I do not mean to preach how you should think, but simply provide food for thought, so to speak. I am expecting active participation from not only 10 percent of you (participating students), but from every single one of you.

For this academic year, we will focus on Japan’s relation to the rest of Asia and its memories.

I will use the following website extensively to post relevant references as well as the contents of in-class discussion.
https://taiheiokada.com/

【Keywords】
20th century, Southeast and East Asia, Empire/Colonialism/Nation States, Gender, War, War Crimes

【Schedule】

  1. Oct. 2, Guidance, Overall Views on the 20th Century History(【】is the topics of politics of memory that we focus on)
  2. Oct. 9, (19th Century) Japan’s expansionism and local societiesＩ, Domestic Colonialism: Ainu and Okinawa 【Hokkaido and Okinawa】
  3. Oct. 16 (Late 19th Century to 1910s) Japan’s expansionism and local societies, Overseas Expansion: Taiwan and Korea 【Korean Peninsula and Taiwan】
  4. Oct. 23 (1920s and 1930s) Crisis of Empires: Manchuria, Southeast Asia, Pacific【Southeast Asia and Manchuria】
  5. Oct. 30 (1930s-1940s) Japan’s Mobilization I【Korean Forced Labor, Chinese Forced Labor, Allied POW, Korean BC Class War Criminals】
  6. Nov. 6 (1930s-1940s) Japan’s War in China: Expansion of War Zones. 【Nanjing Massacre, Second Sino-Japanese War】
    Nov. 11 （Sat.）【Field Work: Shokeikan and Yasukuni Shrine】
  7. Nov. 13 (1940s) Japan’s War in Southeast Asia: Political History and Realities of the War 【Comfort Women, Sexual Violence in the Philippines】
  8. Nov. 20 (1940s) Air Raids and Atomic Bombs 【Victims of Air Raids and A-bombs】
  9. Dec. 4 (1940s) Postwar Development II 【Tokyo Trial and BC Class Trials】
  10. Dec. 11 (1950s) The Birth of Postwar Conservatism and Ethnic Koreans 【San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan’s Compensation Scheme】
  11. Dec. 18 (1950s-1970s) Two International Wars in Asia: Korea and Vietnam 【Student Power】
  12. Jan. 8 (1990s-) Politics of Apology and Compensation 【Memories on 「Showa」】
  13. Jan. 15 【Students’ presentations】Double-Session, 1st and 2nd.

【Grading system for assessment】
Class Participation, Final Presentation

【Preview/review】
I will present references. Please read them in accordance with your own interest.