THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures : Asian Studies

Undergraduate Course: Modern Japanese Society (ASST10112)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Literatures, Languages and Cultures CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe course focusses on the nature of society in modern Japan, from the mid-19th century but with particular emphasis on the present day. In particular we will investigate a range of social issues that have become key talking points in Japanese media, academic and political circles.

Course description Week 1 - Introduction
Week 2 - The Lost Decade and Issues in Contemporary Japanese Society
Week 3 - Risk and Surveillance in Contemporary Japan
Week 4 - Challenges in Japanese Education
Week 5 - Economy and Work: Freeters and kakusa-shakai
Week 6 - Religion, Civil Society and the State
Week 7 - Gender Trouble?
Week 8 - Mental Health in Japan
Week 9 - The Politics of Memory
Week 10 - The Korean Minority in Japan
Week 11 - Youth Protest and Risk


The course focusses on the nature of society in modern Japan, from the mid-19th century but with particular emphasis on the present day. The distinctively Japanese forms of social organization will be assessed, as will the far-reaching effects of Western influence and social forms. Where appropriate, analysis of pre-modern forms of Japanese society will be presented.

All students will be given a formative feedback exercise that will be helpful for the assessment for this course and students' general academic development.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Japanese Language Programme and Study Abroad 3 (Single) (ASST10069) OR Japanese Language Programme and Study Abroad 3 (Combined) (ASST10070) OR Japanese Year Abroad 3 (Single) (ASST10127) OR Japanese Year Abroad 3 (Combined) (ASST10129)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Recommended course books; contribution to photocopying costs.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesEquivalent of U01730 or successful completion of a second- or third-year level course in Japanese society.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Identify and explain the key challenges to emerge in Japan's two lost decades
  2. Critically evaluate popular discourse on Japan's social and political issues
  3. Analyse recent trends in Japanese society in the context of neoliberal economic reform and risk
  4. Critically historicise current issues in Japanese society
  5. Design and conduct autonomous research on contemporary Japanese
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsAS Mod Jap Soc,japan,society,modern
Contacts
Course organiserMs Lauren Richardson
Tel: (0131 6)50 4098
Email: Lauren.Richardson@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr David Horn
Tel: (0131 6)50 4227
Email: david.horn@ed.ac.uk
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