| 回 | 項目 | 内容 |
| 第1回 | Course introduction | We will introduce ourselves and the course outline.
Prior learning (1 hour): review this syllabus
Subsequent learning (1 hour): research timeline of this historical period |
| 第2回 | What is history? | We will discuss student experiences of studying history, and consider some famous ideas about history. We will create a timeline of important events in Japan’s interactions with other countries.
Prior learning (1 hour): select important dates for timeline
Subsequent learning (1 hour): re-read quotes about history |
| 第3回 | A closed country? Sakoku and overseas knowledge | Starting before our period of focus, we will analyse how much interaction Japan had with other countries before the Meiji period. Prior learning (1 hour): complete the reading and questions.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): complete your reflection. |
| 第4回 | The Bakumatsu period and the Choshu Five | Why did five young men risk their lives to leave Japan when it was still illegal? What effects did this have on Japan?
Prior learning (1 hour): complete the reading and questions.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): complete your reflection. |
| 第5回 | Review of previous classes
Presentation introduction and preparation 1 | We will review previous classes and answer student questions. Students will choose presentation topics and begin research.
Prior learning (1 hour): complete your reflections from classes 3 and 4, and prepare questions for the teacher.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): continue presentation preparation. |
| 第6回 | Mori Arinori and the Iwakura Mission | Who was involved with the diplomatic mission to Europe and America, and what were their impressions?
Prior learning (1 hour): complete the reading and questions.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): complete your reflection. |
| 第7回 | Iwakura’s girls: Tsuda Umeko and Yamakawa Sutematsu in the USA | Five young girls were sent to the USA with the Iwakura Mission. What were their experiences overseas and when returning to Japan, and their contributions?
Prior learning (1 hour): complete the reading and questions.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): complete your reflection. |
| 第8回 | Review of previous classes
Presentation preparation 2 | We will review previous classes and answer student questions. Students will continue presentation research.
Prior learning (1 hour): complete your reflections from classes 6 and 7, and prepare questions for the teacher.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): continue presentation preparation. |
| 第9回 | Fukuzawa Yukichi and the benefits of Western Civilization | After the Meiji Restoration, Japan began to adopt Western ideas. What benefits did they expect from this?
Prior learning (1 hour): complete the reading and questions.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): complete your reflection. |
| 第10回 | Natsume Soseki and doubts about the West | In the later Meiji period, rapid change was increasingly criticized. What were the criticisms of Westernization, and how did people respond?
Prior learning (1 hour): complete the reading and questions.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): complete your reflection. |
| 第11回 | Review of previous classes
Presentation preparation 3 | We will review previous classes and answer student questions. Students will continue presentation preparation.
Prior learning (1 hour): complete your reflections from classes 9 and 10, and prepare questions for the teacher.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): continue presentation preparation. |
| 第12回 | Chiune Sugihara and Jewish Refugees | During World War 2, Jewish people were persecuted by Nazi Germany. Why did one Japanese man decide to help them?
Prior learning (1 hour): complete the reading and questions.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): complete your reflection and practice your presentation. |
| 第13回 | Student presentations: Japanese overseas | Students will watch and respond to other student presentations.
Prior learning (1 hour): finish presentation preparation.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): reflect on presentations before final class. |
| 第14回 | Student presentations: Japanese overseas | Students will watch and respond to other student presentations.
Prior learning (1 hour): finish presentation preparation.
Subsequent learning (1 hour): reflect on presentations before final class. |
| 第15回 | Review and discussion | Summary and discussion of main points of lessons.
Prior learning (1 hour): review what we have learned this semester, including in presentations. |
