This module aims to develop and extend students’ knowledge and understanding of elements of Japanese society and culture. It will look at issues relating to memory and symbols in Japan by looking at particular case studies. In one semester we examine how the Asia-Pacific War has been remembered in Japanese popular media. In the other semester we examine how aspects of Japan can be studied through the use of symbols. Building upon the book “Empire of Signs” by Roland Barthes a range of symbols will be analysed and considered in relation to their usage in Japan and their broader understanding. Seminars will provide students with the analytical tools (i.e. an understanding of concepts such as collective memory, personal memory and narrative) to enable independent analyses of material. In some seminars students will present and lead discussion on particular topics.

• Explain the main ideas and most details of connected discourse on a variety of topics beyond their immediate personal experience.
• Apply a high level of understanding of Japanese culture and society.
• Describe how the Asia-Pacific War is remembered in various popular media in contemporary Japan.
• Debate the key protagonists and how the war is remembered in Japan.
• Demonstrate an awareness of how Japan can be studied through the use of various symbols.
• Demonstrate an awareness of debates in relation to the use and understanding of symbols in Japan.
• Engage with academic and cultural ‘texts’ (broadly understood) produced in Japanese and in English to articulate independent critical responses to the texts and cultural products that they encounter.
• Explain key theories about memory and apply these to empirical material.
• Lead discussions and engage in respectful debate with peers.

Articulate arguments coherently orally and in writing.

The module will be taught through a blend of live online classes and guided, interactive online tasks and activities, designed to fulfil the learning outcomes. These will be delivered remotely, and on-campus if the University deems it safe and practicable.

There will be lectures, seminars and workshops. Lectures will focus on providing contextual material and identifying key theoretical concepts, while in seminars students apply these concepts to real-world examples. Workshops give students the chance to develop key research skills, discuss projects with the instructor, and gain formative feedback on their projects.

Seminars and workshops be based around class discussion, articulated both in small groups, in which students will be able to develop and explore ideas formulated during independent study of set texts and additional research of the key ideas outlined in lectures. This will facilitate their capacity to develop independent research skills and the ability to work effectively in small and large groups, as outlined in the learning outcomes. Seminar discussion will enable students to develop their ability to fulfil the learning outcomes listed in the ‘knowledge and understanding’ and ‘intellectual skills’ categories. Students will be able to access individual session to help them to prepare for their participation in the student conference.

• Active participation in group discussions
• Ability to present information orally and to lead discussion amongst peers
• Ability to read advanced texts in Japanese and engage with a variety of cultural products and different media.
• Presentation skills and documentation skills will be developed through oral group work and the written assessment.

• Applying theoretical concepts to empirical examples.
• Leading and engaging in discussion and debate
• Critiquing and analysing arguments, and evaluating the use of evidence
• Writing reflectively
• Producing coherent arguments orally and writing
• Research and bibliographic skills
• Ability to analyse arguments and to evaluate the use of evidence
• Awareness of a political debates surrounding war memory in Japan
• Ability to present reasoned arguments in written form under time pressure
• Ability to engage in reflective practice to identify intellectual assumptions

The method(s) of assessing the learning outcomes for this module are set out in the Assessment Table, which also contains the weightings of each assessment component.

Reassessment

You may be required to resit one or more of the assessments in this module if you fail the module. The Examination Board will advise you which assessments you need to resit during the August resit period. Resit assessments that are not supported by extenuating circumstances will be capped at the pass mark applicable to your programme.

Students will work with a variety of materials.

Japanese texts will be used throughout the module and more information about these will be provided in the Course Kit.

In addition to the Japanese texts, the following books are likely to be useful:

• Barthes, R., 1983, Empire of Signs, New York: Hill and Wang.

·         Chirot D., Shin G-W., and Sneider, D. (eds), Confronting Memories of World War II: European and Asia Legacies, Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2014.

·         Hood, C.P., 2012, Dealing with Disaster in Japan: Responses to the Flight JL123 Crash, London: Routledge.

• Miyoshi Jager, S. and Mitter, R. (eds), Ruptured Histories: War, Memory, and the Post-Cold War in Asia, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2007.

·         Hashimoto, A., 2015, The Long Defeat: Cultural Trauma, Memory and Identity in Japan, New York: Oxford University Press.

·         Igarashi, Y., 2000, Bodies of Memory: Narratives of War in Postwar Japanese Culture, 1945-1970, Princeton University Press.

• Mizuki, S, 1973, Sōin gyokusai se yo! Tokyo: Kōdansha.
• Mizuki, S., 2011, Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths, Montréal: Drawn & Quarterly.
• Seaton, P.A., 2010, Japan’s Contested War Memories: The ‘memory rifts’ in historical consciousness of World War II, New York: Routledge.

·         Seraphim, F., 2008, War Memory and Social Politics in Japan, 1945-2005, Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

·         Satō, T., 2014, Hachi gatsu jūgonichi no shinwa: shūsen ki’nenbi no mediagaku, Tokyo: Chikuma gakugei bunko

Topic specific readings and viewings for the seminars and coursework essays, with guiding questions and detailed instructions, will be provided on Learning Central.