ASB09201 Modern and Contemporary Japanese Society

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year School/Graduate School School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences

Lecture Code ASB09201 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name 日本近現代社会論

Subject Name
（Katakana）ニホンキンゲンダイシャカイロン

Subject Name in
English Modern and Contemporary Japanese Society

Instructor YOKOYAMA TAKASHI

Instructor
(Katakana) ヨコヤマ　タカシ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 2nd-Year, Second Semester, 3Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (3T) Tues5-8：IAS K110

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 13 : Area Studies

Eligible Students

Keywords Drinking Culture, Alcohol Regulations, Brewing Industry, Alcohol Tax, Temperance Movement, Alcoholism

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline ［Theme: The Socio-Cultural Theory of Drinking and Prohibition］
This course examines modern and contemporary Japanese society from the perspective of drinking and prohibition, considering their connections to earlier periods and their place within a global context. In addition to exploring how alcohol has been consumed and discussed, the course will trace the historical transformations of sake brewing, brewing techniques, and the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages.
At the same time, drinking has consistently been subject to regulation by social and political authorities throughout human history. This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to both aspects, aiming to analyze Japan’s alcohol culture—including that of Saijō, known as the "Sake Capital"—and the social issues surrounding alcohol within a global historical framework.

Class Schedule lesson1：Introduction: Understanding Japan and the World Through Drinking and Prohibition
lesson2：The Early Stages of Sake Brewing and Drinking Culture
lesson3：Islamic Prohibition and Drinking Culture: Its Spread to the West
lesson4：Distilled Spirits in Early Modern Europe and Their Expansion to the New World
lesson5：Alcohol, Power, and Economy in Ancient and Medieval Japan: Banquets and Prohibition
lesson6：Sake Brewing Regulations and Distribution in the Edo Period
lesson7：The Ryukyu Kingdom and Awamori Distillation: Distilled Spirits in Southern Kyushu and East Asia
lesson8：The Development of Liquor Tax Laws in Modern Japan
lesson9：The Improvement and Research of Sake Brewing and the Changing Centers of Production: Focus on Saijō and Tamashima
lesson10：The Western Liquor Industry in Modern Japan: Wine, Whiskey, and Beer
lesson11：The Rise of the Temperance Movement and Prohibition in the United States
lesson12：The Temperance Movement Under Nazi Germany: Prosperity and Limitations in an Ultra-Medicalized State
lesson13：The Discovery of Alcoholism and Temperance Movements and Policies Across Europe
lesson14：The Temperance Movement in Modern Japan and the Underage Drinking Prohibition Act
lesson15：The Sobriety Movement and Alcohol Policies in Contemporary Japan / Conclusion

A regular examination will be conducted.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. A textbook will not be used. Instead, handouts will be distributed during lectures, which will be conducted based on them. Details of the reference materials will be provided in each lecture.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Visual Materials, moodle

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Lesson1：Understanding the Foundations and Objectives of the Course
Lesson2：How Humanity Discovered Fermentation and Developed Drinking Cultures
Lesson3：Questioning the Notion that Islam Implies Total Prohibition and Exploring Its Influence on European Drinking Culture
Lesson4：Understanding the Diverse Impacts of High-Alcohol Distilled Spirits
Lesson5：Alcohol Consumption in Ancient and Medieval Japan: The Role of Public Authority and Religious Restrictions
Lesson6：Understanding Drinking Culture, Sake Brewing Regulations, and Alcohol Distribution and Consumption in the Edo Period
Lesson7：Examining the Connection Between Ryukyu’s Awamori and Kyushu’s Shōchū in the Context of East Asian History
Lesson8：Why Did Alcohol Tax Become a Key Financial Resource in Modern Japan?
Lesson9：When, Why, and How Did Saijō Become a Renowned Sake-Brewing Region?
Lesson10：The Development of Western Liquor Companies Like Kirin, Sapporo, Asahi, and Suntory Since the Meiji Period
Lesson11：What Were the Consequences of Prohibition in the United States?
Lesson12：How Did the Health-Focused Nazi Regime Address Alcohol?
Lesson13：Understanding the Medicalization of Alcoholism and the Expansion of Temperance Movements Across Europe
Lesson14：Exploring the Diverse Ways in Which the Temperance Movement Developed in Regional and Occupational Communities in Modern Japan
Lesson15：How Did the Postwar Sobriety Movement Differ from the Prewar Temperance Movement, and What Are Its Present-Day Activities?

Requirements It is not necessary to study Japanese history or world history in high school or general education courses.

Grading Method Final Exam: 80%
Minute Papers after Lectures: 20%

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message I will structure the lectures so that they can be understood even without prior knowledge of Japanese or world history. However, reviewing high school textbooks before or after the lectures will further deepen your understanding. Additionally, I recommend checking out any interesting references mentioned in the lectures at the library and reading them.

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2025Year	School/Graduate School	School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Lecture Code	ASB09201	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	日本近現代社会論
Subject Name （Katakana）	ニホンキンゲンダイシャカイロン
Subject Name in English	Modern and Contemporary Japanese Society
Instructor	YOKOYAMA TAKASHI
Instructor (Katakana)	ヨコヤマ　タカシ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	2nd-Year, Second Semester, 3Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(3T) Tues5-8：IAS K110
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	2 : Undergraduate Low-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	13 : Area Studies
Eligible Students
Keywords	Drinking Culture, Alcohol Regulations, Brewing Industry, Alcohol Tax, Temperance Movement, Alcoholism
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	［Theme: The Socio-Cultural Theory of Drinking and Prohibition］ This course examines modern and contemporary Japanese society from the perspective of drinking and prohibition, considering their connections to earlier periods and their place within a global context. In addition to exploring how alcohol has been consumed and discussed, the course will trace the historical transformations of sake brewing, brewing techniques, and the distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages. At the same time, drinking has consistently been subject to regulation by social and political authorities throughout human history. This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to both aspects, aiming to analyze Japan’s alcohol culture—including that of Saijō, known as the "Sake Capital"—and the social issues surrounding alcohol within a global historical framework.
Class Schedule	lesson1：Introduction: Understanding Japan and the World Through Drinking and Prohibition lesson2：The Early Stages of Sake Brewing and Drinking Culture lesson3：Islamic Prohibition and Drinking Culture: Its Spread to the West lesson4：Distilled Spirits in Early Modern Europe and Their Expansion to the New World lesson5：Alcohol, Power, and Economy in Ancient and Medieval Japan: Banquets and Prohibition lesson6：Sake Brewing Regulations and Distribution in the Edo Period lesson7：The Ryukyu Kingdom and Awamori Distillation: Distilled Spirits in Southern Kyushu and East Asia lesson8：The Development of Liquor Tax Laws in Modern Japan lesson9：The Improvement and Research of Sake Brewing and the Changing Centers of Production: Focus on Saijō and Tamashima lesson10：The Western Liquor Industry in Modern Japan: Wine, Whiskey, and Beer lesson11：The Rise of the Temperance Movement and Prohibition in the United States lesson12：The Temperance Movement Under Nazi Germany: Prosperity and Limitations in an Ultra-Medicalized State lesson13：The Discovery of Alcoholism and Temperance Movements and Policies Across Europe lesson14：The Temperance Movement in Modern Japan and the Underage Drinking Prohibition Act lesson15：The Sobriety Movement and Alcohol Policies in Contemporary Japan / Conclusion A regular examination will be conducted.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	A textbook will not be used. Instead, handouts will be distributed during lectures, which will be conducted based on them. Details of the reference materials will be provided in each lecture.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Visual Materials, moodle
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Lesson1：Understanding the Foundations and Objectives of the Course Lesson2：How Humanity Discovered Fermentation and Developed Drinking Cultures Lesson3：Questioning the Notion that Islam Implies Total Prohibition and Exploring Its Influence on European Drinking Culture Lesson4：Understanding the Diverse Impacts of High-Alcohol Distilled Spirits Lesson5：Alcohol Consumption in Ancient and Medieval Japan: The Role of Public Authority and Religious Restrictions Lesson6：Understanding Drinking Culture, Sake Brewing Regulations, and Alcohol Distribution and Consumption in the Edo Period Lesson7：Examining the Connection Between Ryukyu’s Awamori and Kyushu’s Shōchū in the Context of East Asian History Lesson8：Why Did Alcohol Tax Become a Key Financial Resource in Modern Japan? Lesson9：When, Why, and How Did Saijō Become a Renowned Sake-Brewing Region? Lesson10：The Development of Western Liquor Companies Like Kirin, Sapporo, Asahi, and Suntory Since the Meiji Period Lesson11：What Were the Consequences of Prohibition in the United States? Lesson12：How Did the Health-Focused Nazi Regime Address Alcohol? Lesson13：Understanding the Medicalization of Alcoholism and the Expansion of Temperance Movements Across Europe Lesson14：Exploring the Diverse Ways in Which the Temperance Movement Developed in Regional and Occupational Communities in Modern Japan Lesson15：How Did the Postwar Sobriety Movement Differ from the Prewar Temperance Movement, and What Are Its Present-Day Activities?
Requirements	It is not necessary to study Japanese history or world history in high school or general education courses.
Grading Method	Final Exam: 80% Minute Papers after Lectures: 20%
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	I will structure the lectures so that they can be understood even without prior knowledge of Japanese or world history. However, reviewing high school textbooks before or after the lectures will further deepen your understanding. Additionally, I recommend checking out any interesting references mentioned in the lectures at the library and reading them.
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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