2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences14:History
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Shenjie He
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Wed (M-124)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S414
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 5, 2026
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Even in the twenty-first century, issues of historical understanding related to modern East Asian history remain important challenges among the countries of the region and continue to be one of the sources of international tension. This course focuses on East Asia from the mid-nineteenth century to the first half of the twentieth century and provides an overview of the conflicts and confrontations that arose among East Asian societies during the process of modernization. Through this course, students will gain basic knowledge and ways of thinking about issues of historical understanding related to these conflicts.
In addition, the course aims to help students acquire fundamental knowledge of modern East Asian history and to understand the different positions and views of East Asian countries regarding historical interpretation. By comparing and reflecting on these differences, students will develop the ability to think independently and critically about history in today’s increasingly diverse society.
Course description and aims
1.To acquire basic knowledge of the major conflicts and confrontations in modern East Asia, including their key historical facts.
2.To understand the different historical views and interpretations that East Asian countries have developed regarding these conflicts and confrontations.
3.To build a knowledge base that supports cooperation with diverse people in today’s increasingly pluralistic and globalized society, through understanding differences in historical interpretation.
Keywords
East Asia; Modern History;Historical Understanding;War;Atrocity
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course will be conducted in a lecture format using slides. At the end of each class, students will be asked to submit a short reaction comment, including questions or impressions about the lecture. Meaningful comments may be addressed in the following class, with additional explanations or responses provided at the beginning of the next session as needed.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction， East Asia in the Mid-Nineteenth Century |
First, this lecture explains its overall outline, learning objectives, and methods of assessment.Next, as the historical background of the course, it provides an overview of the international situation in East Asia in the mid-nineteenth century. |
| Class 2 | The Meiji Restoration and the Debates over Expeditions to Korea and Taiwan |
This lecture reviews the background and development of the Seikanron debate and the Taiwan Expedition, and examines the factors that led early modern Japan to pursue overseas military expansion. |
| Class 3 | The Sino-Japanese War, the Boxer Rebellion, and the Russo-Japanese War |
This lecture reviews the course of three foreign wars that unfolded from the late nineteenth century onward and aims to understand the differences in historical perceptions of these wars among East Asian countries. |
| Class 4 | The Formation of the “Empire” and the Structure of Colonial Rule |
This lecture examines the characteristics of Japan’s system of colonial rule after it became an “empire” with overseas colonies, following the acquisition of Taiwan and southern Karafuto（Sakhalin） and the annexation of Korea. |
| Class 5 | The Great Kantō Earthquake and the Massacre Issue |
This lecture reviews the damage caused by the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923 and the process of post-disaster reconstruction, and also introduces current research trends on the issue of the massacres of Koreans and Chinese that occurred in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. |
| Class 6 | The Fifteen-Year War and Wartime Atrocities |
Regarding the so-called Fifteen-Year War from 1931 to 1945, there are many issues and debates over historical interpretation among East Asian countries. |
| Class 7 | End-of-term exam/ Summary of the course |
After administering an examination to assess students’ understanding of the course content, this session summarizes the current state of historical memory issues in East Asia in the twenty-first century. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to reference books and other course materials.
Textbook(s)
No textbook
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Sumio Hatano, Japan’s Historical Issues, Chūō Kōron Shinsha, 2022.
Masaharu Katsuta, Ōkubo Toshimichi and East Asia, Yoshikawa Kōbunkan, 2016.
Keiichi Harada, The Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, Iwanami Shinsho, 2007.
Tŏksang Kang, The Great Kantō Earthquake (new edition), Shinkansha, 2020.
Tokushi Kasahara, A Comprehensive History of the Sino-Japanese War, Kōbunken, 2017.
Other books will also be introduced during the lecture if needed
Evaluation methods and criteria
End-of-term exam 80% (closed-book, essay-style), Reaction papers 20%
Related courses
- LAH.H105 ： History A
- LAH.H205 ： History B
- LAH.H305 ： History C
Prerequisites
It is desirable for students to have prior knowledge of modern Japanese history and modern world (East Asian) history at the level of compulsory and upper secondary education; however, the course will proceed by reviewing basic knowledge as needed during the lectures.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
heshenjiefenglin[at]yahoo.co.jp
Replace [at] with @.
Office hours
Students can contact the lecturer in advance.