The course will cover the political history of Japan since 1850 serves as the main framework for the study of social change and education in modern Japan. The aim is to explore and analyse transformation of an agrarian society into an urban one, with the attendant reshaping of the life course of Japanese people, is studied within the context of state formation in modern Japan. The lives of representative Japanese, especially that phase of the life course spent "in school", are studied in relation to the political history of the nation-state and the changing place of Japan in the modern world.

2000 word Essay (30%); A review of a chapter in the prescribed reading (15%) Tutorial presentation and participation in tutorial discussion each week (15%) Self assessment (10%); Final examination (30%) Self Assessment (10%)

Late submission of required assignment will incur a penalty of 10 points on each working day.

Students will be expected to evaluate themselves by assessing their understanding of the course content and contribution to the tutorial between the beginning and the end of the course.

3 hours per week (33 hours in total in 13 weeks).

6 university courses (36 units)

Marshall, B.K., Learning to be Modern: Japanese Political Discourse on Education, Westview Press, 1995.