62054001 Japanese Contemporary history

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2025Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 62054001 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name 日本現代史

Subject Name
（Katakana）ニホンゲンダイシ

Subject Name in
English Japanese Contemporary history

Instructor YOKOYAMA TAKASHI

Instructor
(Katakana) ヨコヤマ　タカシ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (3T) Mon1-4：IAS K313

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

Lecture, writing on a blackboard

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

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 23 : Arts and Humanities

Course Area（Discipline） 07 : History

Eligible Students For those who want to deepen their understanding of Japanese history, diseases, and healthcare

Keywords Diseases, Healthcare, Bioethics

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status within
Liberal Arts Education Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Anthropology / Geography / History
Expected Outcome The expected learning outcomes are, first, that students will be able to approach Japanese culture and history from a perspective distinct from that of high school curricula, and second, that they will gain the ability to understand the relationship between humans and diseases within a historical context.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline [Theme: Diseases and Healthcare in Modern and Contemporary Japan]　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Diseases like influenza and cancer are not just biological phenomena that impact individuals. As demonstrated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, diseases are a part of the societies to which we belong. This is evident in their being subjects of healthcare administration and mass media coverage. Additionally, diseases caused by society, such as pollution-related diseases, pharmaceutical disasters, and once-widespread diseases like tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, have also played significant roles. Diseases have shaped civilizations, and civilizations have, in turn, led to the emergence of diseases, influencing social movements. These diseases have rich histories that shaped societal structures. This lecture will explore various aspects of modern Japan's history in the context of diseases and healthcare. It will examine these issues from a global historical perspective, considering theories, medical administration, systems, and various educational, social, and cultural aspects to trace their history from multiple angles.

Class Schedule lesson1
lesson2
lesson3
lesson4
lesson5
lesson6Lesson1：The Significance of Viewing Modern Japan from the Perspective of Diseases and Healthcare
Lesson2：The Birth of Headaches and the Transformation of Stomach Ailments – The Historical Transition from the Edo to Meiji Period
Lesson3：Cholera and the Meiji Government's Response to the People – The Birth of "Sanitation" and Traditional Society
Lesson4：The Struggle with Beriberi in the Shogunate, Imperial Court, and Military – In the Context of the Unknown Vitamin B1
Lesson5：From Fox Possession to Mental Illness – The System and Image of the Zashikirou (Room for the Mentally Ill) and Mental Hospitals
Lesson6：The Spanish Influenza During World War I and Japan
Lesson7：Tuberculosis and Industrial Hygiene – Between the Idealization of Disease and Harsh Labor
Lesson8：The Plague and China, Taiwan, and Manchuria – Public Health and Imperial Japan I
Lesson9：Malaria, Military Health, and Tropical Medicine – Public Health and Imperial Japan II
Lesson10：The Establishment of the Ministry of Health and the "Physical Strength" Management Policy

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 Objectives of the Course
Lesson2：Understanding the Differences in Bodily Perception Between the Edo Period and Modern Times
Lesson3：Examining How People in the Meiji Era Responded to One of the Deadliest Epidemics of Their Time
Lesson4：Investigating How Western and Eastern Medicine Approached Mysterious Diseases with Unknown Causes
Lesson5：Understanding the Historical Changes in the Perception and Treatment of Mental Illness
Lesson6：Exploring the Reality of the Deadliest Epidemic in Peacetime
Lesson7：Understanding the Leading Cause of Death in Japan and the Measures Taken to Address It
Lesson8：Understanding the Characteristics of Plague Outbreaks and Countermeasures in China, Taiwan, and Manchuria
Lesson9：Examining the Relationship Between Colonial Administration, Warfare, and Public Health
Lesson10： Understanding the Unique Concept of "Physical Strength" That Emerged During Wartime
Lesson11：Investigating How the Occupation Forces Transformed Public Health in Postwar Japan
Lesson12：Examining the Logic Behind the Establishment and Persistence of Leprosy Sanatoriums
Lesson13：Understanding the Background and Characteristics of Drug-Induced Illnesses That Shocked Society from the 1960s to the 1990s
Lesson14：Analyzing How Advances in Medical Technology Have Transformed Perspectives on Life and Death
Lesson15：Examining What Is Old and New About COVID-19 and How Its Memory Should Be Preserved for the Future

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	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	62054001	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	日本現代史
Subject Name （Katakana）	ニホンゲンダイシ
Subject Name in English	Japanese Contemporary history
Instructor	YOKOYAMA TAKASHI
Instructor (Katakana)	ヨコヤマ　タカシ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, 3Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(3T) Mon1-4：IAS K313
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Lecture, writing on a blackboard
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	07 : History
Eligible Students	For those who want to deepen their understanding of Japanese history, diseases, and healthcare
Keywords	Diseases, Healthcare, Bioethics
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Liberal Arts Education	Area Courses（Courses in Arts and Humanities/Social Sciences)　Category：Anthropology / Geography / History
Expected Outcome	The expected learning outcomes are, first, that students will be able to approach Japanese culture and history from a perspective distinct from that of high school curricula, and second, that they will gain the ability to understand the relationship between humans and diseases within a historical context.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	[Theme: Diseases and Healthcare in Modern and Contemporary Japan]　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Diseases like influenza and cancer are not just biological phenomena that impact individuals. As demonstrated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, diseases are a part of the societies to which we belong. This is evident in their being subjects of healthcare administration and mass media coverage. Additionally, diseases caused by society, such as pollution-related diseases, pharmaceutical disasters, and once-widespread diseases like tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, have also played significant roles. Diseases have shaped civilizations, and civilizations have, in turn, led to the emergence of diseases, influencing social movements. These diseases have rich histories that shaped societal structures. This lecture will explore various aspects of modern Japan's history in the context of diseases and healthcare. It will examine these issues from a global historical perspective, considering theories, medical administration, systems, and various educational, social, and cultural aspects to trace their history from multiple angles.
Class Schedule	lesson1 lesson2 lesson3 lesson4 lesson5 lesson6Lesson1：The Significance of Viewing Modern Japan from the Perspective of Diseases and Healthcare Lesson2：The Birth of Headaches and the Transformation of Stomach Ailments – The Historical Transition from the Edo to Meiji Period Lesson3：Cholera and the Meiji Government's Response to the People – The Birth of "Sanitation" and Traditional Society Lesson4：The Struggle with Beriberi in the Shogunate, Imperial Court, and Military – In the Context of the Unknown Vitamin B1 Lesson5：From Fox Possession to Mental Illness – The System and Image of the Zashikirou (Room for the Mentally Ill) and Mental Hospitals Lesson6：The Spanish Influenza During World War I and Japan Lesson7：Tuberculosis and Industrial Hygiene – Between the Idealization of Disease and Harsh Labor Lesson8：The Plague and China, Taiwan, and Manchuria – Public Health and Imperial Japan I Lesson9：Malaria, Military Health, and Tropical Medicine – Public Health and Imperial Japan II Lesson10：The Establishment of the Ministry of Health and the "Physical Strength" Management Policy 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 Objectives of the Course Lesson2：Understanding the Differences in Bodily Perception Between the Edo Period and Modern Times Lesson3：Examining How People in the Meiji Era Responded to One of the Deadliest Epidemics of Their Time Lesson4：Investigating How Western and Eastern Medicine Approached Mysterious Diseases with Unknown Causes Lesson5：Understanding the Historical Changes in the Perception and Treatment of Mental Illness Lesson6：Exploring the Reality of the Deadliest Epidemic in Peacetime Lesson7：Understanding the Leading Cause of Death in Japan and the Measures Taken to Address It Lesson8：Understanding the Characteristics of Plague Outbreaks and Countermeasures in China, Taiwan, and Manchuria Lesson9：Examining the Relationship Between Colonial Administration, Warfare, and Public Health Lesson10： Understanding the Unique Concept of "Physical Strength" That Emerged During Wartime Lesson11：Investigating How the Occupation Forces Transformed Public Health in Postwar Japan Lesson12：Examining the Logic Behind the Establishment and Persistence of Leprosy Sanatoriums Lesson13：Understanding the Background and Characteristics of Drug-Induced Illnesses That Shocked Society from the 1960s to the 1990s Lesson14：Analyzing How Advances in Medical Technology Have Transformed Perspectives on Life and Death Lesson15：Examining What Is Old and New About COVID-19 and How Its Memory Should Be Preserved for the Future
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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