This is a high level advanced language course (higher than the Advanced Japanese Language courses). It serves three purposes. First, it serves as an intermediate stage between the advanced group and the independent research stage. Second, it allows students to familiarise themselves with key concepts and issues of Japanese history. Third, it improves the students' ability to read Japanese historical texts.

Using history textbooks and popular history writings, which are written in both contemporary and classical language, the course introduces students to the basic conceptual terminology in the field of history, and to the major happenings in Japanese history, and how these relate to more recent social and political issues. The topics may cover a variety of historical periods, ranging from samurai to modern soldiers, from Japanese creation myths to the foundation of the modern state, from imperialism to nationalism, from Kabuki theatre to soccer in contemporary Japan.

By the conclusion of the course, students should be familiar with the appropriate Japanese language tools necessary for Japanese history reading and for writing research essays in Japanese.The specific topics offered in a given year will depend on the lecturer(s) who will teach the course.

This course will be useful to students interested in history and current Japanese social and political issues.

On satisfying the requirements for this course, students will have the knowledge and skills to be able to read historical Japanese texts, including classical Japanese texts, on their own with dictionaries.  Anyone who is seriously doing some research in Japanese history should feel confident to use authentic historical documents in a printed form.  However, this course does not provide students with special skills to be able to decipher and read hand-written historical materials.  The number of students taking this course, including undergraduate students, is normally less than ten and individual guidance from the lecturer for each student is assured .

1 Japanese Essay (20%) (3-5 pages of genkooyooshi)

1 Japanese-English translation of  texts  (25%)

Attendance (10%)

Presentation of a project (15%)

Take home exam (30%)

Self assesment (10%)

Three contact hours per week

This course is available to both undergraduate and graduate students. No background in Japanese history is expected or required. However, undergraduates have to fulfil the following prerequisites:

Students who obtained D or above in at least one of the Advanced Level Japanese Language Courses  JPNS3005, JPNS3006,  JPNS3007 or JPNS3008.

course materials will be prepared by the lecturer and available as handouts or as an e-Brick