62011001 Japanese HistoryB

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Liberal Arts Education Program

Lecture Code 62011001 Subject Classification Area Courses

Subject Name 日本史Ｂ

Subject Name
（Katakana）ニホンシB

Subject Name in
English Japanese HistoryB

Instructor YOKOYAMA TAKASHI

Instructor
(Katakana) ヨコヤマ　タカシ

Campus Higashi-Hiroshima Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, 4Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (4T) Mon5-8：IAS K109

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

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 Students who did not study Japanese history in high school or who felt unconfident in the subject.

Keywords Japanese History, Political History, Diplomatic History

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 To acquire foundational knowledge of key issues in modern Japanese political and diplomatic history, thereby reinforcing and further developing the historical understanding previously studied in junior high or high school.
To understand how contemporary political and diplomatic issues were historically formed, particularly from a global perspective centered on East Asia.
Gaining this perspective not only helps students interpret current political and diplomatic news but also provides the foundational skills necessary for related courses offered at the university.

Class Objectives
/Class Outline [Theme: Introduction to Japanese Political and Diplomatic History]
This course is designed as an introductory lecture for students who struggled with history or Japanese history in middle or high school, whose classes did not reach the modern period, or who did not take Japanese history in high school. The lectures explain the development of Japanese politics from the impact of the West at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate to the 2020s, with a focus on diplomacy and political authority. Particular emphasis is placed on Japan’s external relations and how political power has responded to foreign policy issues.

Class Schedule lesson1　Introduction — Political characteristics of the Tokugawa system and the impact of the West
lesson2　Building the Meiji state
lesson3　Samurai rebellions and the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement
lesson4　Establishment of the Meiji constitutional regime
lesson5　Consolidation of the parliamentary system
lesson6　The Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars
lesson7　Korea’s annexation, the Manchurian question, and responses to the Chinese Revolution
lesson8　Development of party politics from the post–Russo-Japanese War era to World War I
lesson9　international cooperation and party cabinets in the late Taishō period
lesson10　Rise of the military — From the Manchurian Incident to the February 26 Incident
lesson11　The Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War
lesson12　Defeat, Occupation, and Peace Settlement
lesson13　Development of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) politics
lesson14　Transformation of the international order and the end of the Cold War
lesson15　Political realignments after the Cold War and politics in the 21st century

A final examination will be administered.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. Handouts will be distributed and lectures will be based on them.
A textbook will be designated, but it will not be opened during class, and the lectures will not simply follow it; therefore, purchasing it is not mandatory.
Please refer to the Japanese version of the syllabus for details.

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

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review Lesson 1: Understand how the characteristics of the modern nation-state relate to Japanese political history.
Lesson 2: Learn about the Meiji Restoration and early policies of the Restoration government.
Lesson 3: Consider how the modern international order has transformed East Asia.
Lesson 4: Examine how rule-based decentralization developed around the time of the Constitution.
Lesson 5: Understanding how parliamentary criticism of the government became institutionalized.
Lesson 6: Explore how the Korean Peninsula—Japan’s “line of interest”—became a trigger for the war.
Lesson 7: Consider how the Japanese Empire was formed.
Lesson 8: Examine how the structure of oligarchic politics has changed.
Lesson 9: Understanding the nature and collapse of party cabinets.
Lesson 10: Study how the relations between the military and politics changed before and after the Manchurian Incident.
Lesson 11: Explore how the Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars were triggered.
Lesson 12: Understand how Japan was demilitarized and democratized.
Lesson 13: Learn about the “iron triangle” and the characteristics of the 1955 political system under the LDP rule.
Lesson 14: Understanding the crisis of LDP politics and the process leading to the end of the Cold War.
Lesson 15: Consider why LDP politics remained strong even after the collapse of the 1955 system.

Requirements This course is intended for students who did not take Japanese history in high school or who feel unconfident in the subject matter.
Students who have studied Japanese history and feel confident are encouraged to take Modern Japanese History or the peace studies course Hiroshima: History, War, and Peace.

Grading Method Final exam: 80%
Post-lecture minute papers: 20%

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message The lectures are designed to be understandable without prior knowledge of Japanese history. However, reviewing the assigned textbook or high school history textbooks will deepen your understanding.

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	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Liberal Arts Education Program
Lecture Code	62011001	Subject Classification	Area Courses
Subject Name	日本史Ｂ
Subject Name （Katakana）	ニホンシB
Subject Name in English	Japanese HistoryB
Instructor	YOKOYAMA TAKASHI
Instructor (Katakana)	ヨコヤマ　タカシ
Campus	Higashi-Hiroshima	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, 4Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(4T) Mon5-8：IAS K109
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face

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	Students who did not study Japanese history in high school or who felt unconfident in the subject.
Keywords	Japanese History, Political History, Diplomatic History
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	To acquire foundational knowledge of key issues in modern Japanese political and diplomatic history, thereby reinforcing and further developing the historical understanding previously studied in junior high or high school. To understand how contemporary political and diplomatic issues were historically formed, particularly from a global perspective centered on East Asia. Gaining this perspective not only helps students interpret current political and diplomatic news but also provides the foundational skills necessary for related courses offered at the university.
Class Objectives /Class Outline	[Theme: Introduction to Japanese Political and Diplomatic History] This course is designed as an introductory lecture for students who struggled with history or Japanese history in middle or high school, whose classes did not reach the modern period, or who did not take Japanese history in high school. The lectures explain the development of Japanese politics from the impact of the West at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate to the 2020s, with a focus on diplomacy and political authority. Particular emphasis is placed on Japan’s external relations and how political power has responded to foreign policy issues.
Class Schedule	lesson1　Introduction — Political characteristics of the Tokugawa system and the impact of the West lesson2　Building the Meiji state lesson3　Samurai rebellions and the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement lesson4　Establishment of the Meiji constitutional regime lesson5　Consolidation of the parliamentary system lesson6　The Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars lesson7　Korea’s annexation, the Manchurian question, and responses to the Chinese Revolution lesson8　Development of party politics from the post–Russo-Japanese War era to World War I lesson9　international cooperation and party cabinets in the late Taishō period lesson10　Rise of the military — From the Manchurian Incident to the February 26 Incident lesson11　The Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War lesson12　Defeat, Occupation, and Peace Settlement lesson13　Development of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) politics lesson14　Transformation of the international order and the end of the Cold War lesson15　Political realignments after the Cold War and politics in the 21st century A final examination will be administered.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	Handouts will be distributed and lectures will be based on them. A textbook will be designated, but it will not be opened during class, and the lectures will not simply follow it; therefore, purchasing it is not mandatory. Please refer to the Japanese version of the syllabus for details.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Text, Handouts, Visual Materials, moodle
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Quizzes/ Quiz format, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	Lesson 1: Understand how the characteristics of the modern nation-state relate to Japanese political history. Lesson 2: Learn about the Meiji Restoration and early policies of the Restoration government. Lesson 3: Consider how the modern international order has transformed East Asia. Lesson 4: Examine how rule-based decentralization developed around the time of the Constitution. Lesson 5: Understanding how parliamentary criticism of the government became institutionalized. Lesson 6: Explore how the Korean Peninsula—Japan’s “line of interest”—became a trigger for the war. Lesson 7: Consider how the Japanese Empire was formed. Lesson 8: Examine how the structure of oligarchic politics has changed. Lesson 9: Understanding the nature and collapse of party cabinets. Lesson 10: Study how the relations between the military and politics changed before and after the Manchurian Incident. Lesson 11: Explore how the Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars were triggered. Lesson 12: Understand how Japan was demilitarized and democratized. Lesson 13: Learn about the “iron triangle” and the characteristics of the 1955 political system under the LDP rule. Lesson 14: Understanding the crisis of LDP politics and the process leading to the end of the Cold War. Lesson 15: Consider why LDP politics remained strong even after the collapse of the 1955 system.
Requirements	This course is intended for students who did not take Japanese history in high school or who feel unconfident in the subject matter. Students who have studied Japanese history and feel confident are encouraged to take Modern Japanese History or the peace studies course Hiroshima: History, War, and Peace.
Grading Method	Final exam: 80% Post-lecture minute papers: 20%
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message	The lectures are designed to be understandable without prior knowledge of Japanese history. However, reviewing the assigned textbook or high school history textbooks will deepen your understanding.
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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