Japanese

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	School of Integrated Arts and Sciences Department of Integrated Arts and Sciences
Lecture Code	ASA08001	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	地域文化研究特論Ｂ
Subject Name （Katakana）	チイキブンカケンキュウトクロンB
Subject Name in English	Special Topics in Area Studies B
Instructor	SAITO HAJIME
Instructor (Katakana)	サイトウ　ハジメ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	2nd-Year,  First Semester,  Intensive
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(Int) Inte
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week		Language of Instruction	B : Japanese／English
Course Level	3 : Undergraduate High-Intermediate
Course Area（Area）	23 : Arts and Humanities
Course Area（Discipline）	05 : Literature
Eligible Students
Keywords	Studies of English and American Literature, Literary Study and Society, Genbaku (Atomic) Literature, Hiroshima City, Nagasaki City, Bikini Incident, Rintaro Fukuhara, Miyao Ohara, Haruo Shimizu, Yutaro Ito, Masako Fujii, Ichiro Ando
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)	Integrated Arts and Sciences （Knowledge and Understanding） ・Knowledge and understanding of the importance and characteristics of each discipline and basic theoretical framework. ・Knowledge and understanding of "Japanese and Japanese culture"  and "foreign languages and foreign culture" which are prerequisite abilities for communication with peoples in different culture and areas. （Abilities and Skills） ・The ability and skills to collect and analyze necessary literature or data among various sources of information on individual academic disciplines.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	What has the study of English and American literature meant for Japan? In the publication English Literature in Imperial Japan (2006), I (Saito) argued that between the late 19th century and 1945, English studies functioned as a micro-level tool to instill concepts like "Leaving Asia, Joining the West" and the "Overcoming of Modernity" in students, albeit with limited success. This course focuses on the period from 1945 through the 1960s, analyzing how Japanese literary scholars responded to the direct and indirect trauma of the atomic and hydrogen bombs. Together, we will critically re-examine the purpose and value of studying English and American literature in a Japanese context.
Class Schedule	lesson1   Guidance and Introduction lesson2 Rintaro Fukuhara and the Rejection of John Hersey’s Hiroshima as a University Textbook lesson3 Rintaro Fukuhara and His High Evaluation of Atomic Bomb Literature lesson4 Miyao Ohara’s Critique of Stephen Spender’s Praise of T.S. Eliot lesson5 Miyao Ohara’s Introduction of Hermann Hagedorn’s The Bomb That Fell on America lesson6 Haruo Shimizu and His Research on the “Frontier Spirit” lesson7 Haruo Shimizu’s Letters to A Young American Soldier lesson8 Yutaro Ito and the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing: The Monument Inscription at the Former Nagasaki Medical College and the Introduction of Ernest Robson lesson9 Yutaro Ito’s Lectures on Robert Lynd and Students’ Re-interpretation lesson10 Stephen Spender and the Shi no Hai Shishu (Poetry of the Fallout) Controversy lesson11 Ichiro Ando and His Encounter with Stephen Spender lesson12 Masako Fujii and the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing lesson13 Masako Fujii’s Encounter with William Faulkner lesson14 Summary and Review of the Course lesson15 lesson15 Final Written Examination
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Textbooks No specific textbook is required. The instructor (Saito) will distribute printed materials and handouts before each class. Reference Books Kawaguchi, Takayuki, ed. An Encyclopedic Cultural History of Reading "Atomic Bomb" (Genbaku o Yomu Bunka Jiten). Seikyusha, 2017. Saito, Hajime. English Literature in Imperial Japan (Teikoku Nihon no Eibungaku). Jinbun Shoin, 2006.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Other (see [More Details])
	(More Details)	Media Devices for Class In principle, we will use pre-distributed lecture materials. Please either bring an electronic device (laptop or tablet) to view them or bring printed copies. It is highly recommended to attend the lecture while referencing the materials on an electronic device.
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Advice on Self-Study (Preparation and Review) Preparation: It is expected that students review the pre-distributed materials and come to class with notes on any points of inquiry or questions. Review: After each class, students should re-examine their questions based on the lecture content. Consistent preparation for the final written examination in the 15th Lecture is essential.
Requirements	Note to Students: None in particular.
Grading Method	Final grades will be determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of the response sheets submitted after each lecture (1–14) and the results of the final written examination (15).
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	Message to Students The study of English and American literature (Anglophone literature) is not a meaningless pastime. It is a profound response—in various senses—to society and history. Through this course, I do hope you will come to understand the weight and significance of this academic endeavor.
Other	class schedule: September 1st - 4th
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.