AP/JP 2700 6.0 Contemporary Japanese Culture and Society
Term: F/W 2009-2010
Note: THIS IS ALSO A CREDIT COURSE IN THE EAST ASIAN STUDIES PROGRAMME 東亞研
究系
Course Director: Professor Jay Goulding 歐陽劍博士
Office: S739 Ross, (416) 736-2100 x 20236
Office Hrs: Thurs. 2:30-4:30 pm or by appointment
Class Time: Tues. 1-2:30 pm/Thurs. 1-2:30 pm
Catalogue: D95X01
Location: 115 Vanier
Description:
This course provides an overview of contemporary Japanese culture and society, to help students in understanding Japan and its people in the age of globalization and cross-cultural communication. The course
explores samurai philosophy and culture (especially from Yamamoto’s Tokugawa Shogunate) which acts
as a spiritually grounded template for anime アニメ (animated films and television programs) in the present era (both East and West) as discussed by McCarthy and Poitras. For instance, Shinobi 忍, Basilisk:
Koga Ninja Scrolls バジリスク～甲賀忍法帖～, and Ninja Scroll 獣兵衛忍風帳 are classic philosophical examples of the intersection of cultural, political and social realities as they disclose the cosmologies of
Japanese (and Chinese) civilization to a contemporary global audience. Anime’s rich historical detail reveals the intricate interactions of samurai warriors 侍, Edo officials, chonin 町人 , and Ninja 忍者. The
heart throbbing story of Chushingura 忠臣藏 (the Treasury of Loyal Retainers) becomes the most popular
of contemporary popular culture, yet happened over 300 years ago. The intertwining philosophies of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shinto serve as backdrops to Chushingura and consequently to much modern
popular culture. Almost every aspect of Japanese popular culture has some deeper philosophical connections to Chushingura. For example, Miyazaki Hayao’s 宮崎駿 animation films Princess Mononoke 物の怪
姫 and Spirited Away 千と千尋の神隠し combine martial arts action with Confucian virtues, Buddhist
cosmology and Shinto rites of purity replete with stories from Kojiki 古 事 記 and overtures to
Chushingura’s Lord Asano Naganori 浅野長矩. Hence, Ikegami, Nishiyama, and Varley help flesh out the
philosophical connections between the old world and the new through the medium of culture and society.
In terms of global inter-culture, the course will also emphasize Chinese and other East Asian origins of
Japanese philosophy and culture as they interact with the West. Commentaries include Davies and Kelts.
Format: 90 min. seminars and discussions Tues. 1-2:30 pm and Thurs. 1-2:30 pm
Course credit exclusions: None; Prior to Fall 2009: AS/JP 2700 6.00; Prior to F/W 2003-2004: AS/JP2800A 6.00
Academic Honesty:
Please be careful to thoroughly read and take note of the York University regulations on Academic Honesty
(see www.yorku.ca/secretariat/legislation/senate/acadhone). Please be careful to express all ideas in your
own words. If you are quoting from or paraphrasing from secondary sources, you must use appropriate
quotation marks and references. Please refer to the MLA Handbook for Writers or Kate L. Turabian, A
Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. Both books are in the York University’s
Scott Library.
Assignments and Grades (totally 100%):
Ist Term Essay (12 pgs.) 25%; Ist Term Take Home 20%;
2nd Term Essay (12 pgs.) 25%; 2nd Term Take Home 20%; Class Participation 10%
Required Readings:
1. Roger J. Davies and Osamu Ikeno (eds.) The Japanese Mind: Understanding Contemporary Japanese
Culture. Tokyo: Tuttle, 2002. ISBN 0-8048-3295-1
2. Roland Kelts, Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the U.S. New York: Palgrave,
2006. ISBN 1-4039-8476-X
3. Helen McCarthy, Hayao Miyazaki: master of Japanese animation: films, themes, artistry. Berkeley, Cal.:
Stone Bridge Press, 1999. ISBN 1-880656-41-8 NC 1766 J32 M5786 1999
4. Gilles Poitras, The Anime Companion: What’s Japanese in Japanese Animation? Berkeley, Cal.: Stone
Bridge Press, 1998. ISBN 1-880656-32-9
5.Gilles Poitras, The Anime Companion 2: More What’s Japanese in Japanese Animation? Berkeley, Cal.:
Stone Bridge Press, 2005 ISBN 1-880656-96-5
6.Ikegami Eiko, The Taming of the Samurai: Honorific Individualism and the Making of Modern Japan
Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-674-86809-9 DS 827 S3 I54 1995
7.Nishiyama Matsunosuke, Edo Culture: Daily Life and Diversions in Urban Japan, 1600-1868. Honolulu:
University of Hawaii Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8248-1850-4 DS 822.2 N558 1997
8. Paul Varley, Japanese Culture. 4th edition. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2000.
ISBN 0-8248-2152-1 paperback DS 821 V36 2000
9.Yamamoto Tsunetomo, The Art of the Samurai: Yamamoto Tsunetomo’s Hagakure (The New Illustrated
Edition) London: Duncan Baird, 2008. ISBN 978-1-84483-720-5
Recommended:
1. Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy, The anime encyclopedia : a guide to Japanese animation since
1917 Berkeley: The Stone Bridge Press, 2006. ISBN 1-93-333010-4 NC 1766 J3 C53 2006
2. Wolfram Eberhard, A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought
London: Routledge, Chapman and Hall, 1988. ISBN 0-415-00228-1 DS 721 E32613 1986
3. Jay Goulding, “Tokugawa Traces in 21st C. Japan” Ch. 12 pp. 159-174 in Masao Nakamura (ed.) Japan
in the Global Age: Cultural, Historical and Political Issues on Asia, Environment, Households
and International Communication Vancouver: UBC, 2001. ISBN 088865748X DS 806 J358 2001
4. Jay Goulding , “Kuki Shuzo and Martin Heidegger: Iki いき and Hermeneutic Phenomenology”
pp. 677- 690 in Joseph F. Kess and Helen Lansdowne (eds.) Why Japan Matters! volume 2,
Victoria, BC: University of Victoria, 2005. ISBN 15-505-83042 DS 802 J363 2004
3. Jeff Yang, Dina Gan, Terry Hong et al., Eastern Standard Time: a guide to asian influence on American
culture from astro boy to zen buddhism. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.
ISBN 0-395-76341-X E 169.1 E22 1997
Ist Term Essay 25% due Nov. 10, 2009
The first term essay is worth 25% and is 12 pages in length (3000 words) typed and double-spaced, plus a
bibliography and title page. It asks you to answer the question: what is popular culture and how does it
relate to contemporary Japanese culture and society. You would spend a few pages explaining popular
culture (6 pgs.) and a few pages with examples from Japanese culture (6 pgs.). You might wish to distinguish between general culture, high culture and popular culture. In the global era, Eastern and Western societies might have different views or similar views of popular culture that you would discuss. Refer to all
course discussions, and readings that we have taken in the first term. Use at least 10 scholarly sources
(books and journal articles written by professors) beyond course readings. Internet sources do not count as
scholarly sources except for on-line scholarly journals. If you are not sure about a source, ask Dr. Jay.
2nd Term Essay 25% due March 9, 2010
The second term essay is worth 25% and is 12 pages in length (3000 words) typed and double-spaced, plus
a bibliography and title page. Building upon the first term work, the second essay asks you to examine the
impact of one form of popular culture on both contemporary Japanese culture and society, and the
Western world. You would spend a few pages explaining one form of popular culture (6 pgs.) and a few
pages with examples of the impact on Japanese culture and society, and the Western world (6 pgs.). For
example, you might look at anime アニメ or manga 漫画,and explain their importance to both Eastern and
Western audiences. The impact might be different or similar. Make sure to refer to all course discussions,
and readings that we have taken in the course. Use at least 10 scholarly sources (books and journal articles
written by professors) beyond course readings. Internet sources do not count as scholarly sources except for
on-line scholarly journals. If you are not sure about source, ask Dr. Jay.
Sept. 10
Sept. 15
INTRODUCTION
Discussion: Japanese Culture Part I
Readings: Varley pp. 1-45
Sept. 17
Discussion: Japanese Culture Part II
Readings: Varley pp. 45-90
Sept. 22
Discussion: Japanese Culture Part III
Readings: Varley pp. 90-135
Davies pp. 1-45
Note: last day to enrol without permission of course instructor is Sept. 24
Discussion: Japanese Culture Part IV
Readings: Varley pp. 135-180
Davies pp. 45-90
Sept. 29 Discussion: Japanese Culture Part V
Readings: Varley pp. 180-225
Davis pp. 90-135
Oct. 1
Discussion: Japanese Culture Part VI
Readings: Varley pp. 225-270
Davies pp. 135-180
Oct. 6
Discussion: Japanese Culture Part VII
Readings: Varley pp. 270-315
Davies pp. 180-225
Oct. 8
Discussion: Japanese Culture Part VIII
Readings: Varley pp. 315-360
Davies pp. 225-280
Oct.13-15 Ist Term Reading Week – no classes
Oct. 20
Discussion: Edo Culture Part I
Readings: Nishiyama pp. 1-50
McCarthy pp. 1-40
Oct. 22
Discussion: Edo Culture Part II
Readings: Nishiyama pp. 50-100
McCarthy pp. 40-80
Sept. 24
Oct. 27
Oct. 29
Nov. 3
Nov. 5
Note: last day to enrol without permission of course instructor is Oct. 23
Discussion: Edo Culture Part III
Readings: Nishiyama pp. 100-150
McCarthy pp. 80-120
Discussion: Edo Culture Part IV
Readings: Nishiyama pp. 150-200
McCarthy pp. 120-160
Discussion: Edo Culture Part V
Readings: Nishiyama pp. 200-250
McCarthy pp. 160-200
Discussion: Edo Culture Part VI
Readings: Nishiyama pp. 250-309
McCarthy pp. 200-239
Nov. 12
Discussion: Art of the Samurai: Hagakure 葉隠
First Term Essay is due, 12 pages, 25% of final grade; no paper will be accepted after
this date; a grade of F=0 will be recorded
Discussion: Art of the Samurai: Part I
Readings: Yamamoto pp. 1-45
Nov. 17
Discussion: Art of the Samurai: Part II
Readings: Yamamoto pp. 45-90
Nov. 19
Discussion: Art of the Samurai: Part III
Readings: Yamamoto pp. 90-135
Nov. 24
Discussion: Art of the Samurai: Part IV
Readings: Yamamoto pp. 135-180
Nov. 26
Discussion: Art of the Samurai: Part V
Readings: Yamamoto pp. 180-225
Nov. 10
Dec. 1
Dec. 3
Dec. 8
Discussion: Art of the Samurai: Part VI
Readings: Yamamoto pp. 225-270
First Term Takehome Test is given, 20% of final grade; due Dec. 8
Review
First Term Takehome Test is due, 20% of final grade; no paper will be accepted after
this date and a grade of F=0 will be recorded; last day to submit late fall term work is
Dec. 8
Jan. 5
Jan. 7
INTRODUCTION
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part I
Readings: Ikegami pp. 1-50
Jan. 12
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part II
Readings: Ikegami pp. 50-100
Jan. 14
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part III
Readings: Ikegami pp. 100-150
Jan. 19
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part IV
Readings: Ikegami pp. 150-200
Jan. 21
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part V
Readings: Ikegami pp. 200-250
Jan. 26
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part VI
Readings: Ikegami pp. 250-300
Jan. 28
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part VII
Readings: Ikegami pp. 300-350
Feb. 2
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part VIII
Readings: Ikegami pp. 350-400
Feb. 4
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part IX
Readings: Ikegami pp. 400-450
Feb. 9
Note: last day to drop course without receiving a grade
Discussion: Taming of the Samurai Part X
Readings: Ikegami pp. 450-500
Feb. 11
Discussion: Anime Symbols:
Confucius, Buddha, Shinto
Feb16-18
Mar. 16
2nd Term Reading Week – no classes
Discussion: Anime Symbols:
Readings: Poitras vols 1 and 2 selections
Confucius, Buddha, Shinto
Discussion: Anime Symbols:
Readings: Poitras vols 1 and 2 selections
Confucius, Buddha, Shinto
Discussion: Anime Symbols:
Readings: Poitras vols 1 and 2 selections
Confucius, Buddha, Shinto
Discussion: Anime Symbols:
Readings: Poitras vols 1 and 2 selections
Confucius, Buddha, Shinto
Second Term Essay is due, 12 pages, 25% of final grade; no paper will be accepted
after this date; a grade of F=0 will be recorded
Discussion: Anime Symbols:
Readings: Poitras vols 1 and 2 selections
Confucius, Buddha, Shinto
Discussion: Japanese Popular Culture in West Readings: Kelts pp. 1-80
Mar. 18
Discussion: Japanese Popular Culture in West Readings: Kelts pp. 80-160
Mar. 23
Discussion: Japanese Popular Culture in West Readings: Kelts pp. 160-242
Mar. 25
Discussion: Japanese Popular Culture in West Readings: Kelts pp. 160-242
Feb. 23
Feb. 25
Mar. 2
Mar. 4
Mar. 9
Mar. 11
Readings: Poitras vols 1 and 2 selections
Mar. 30
Apr. 1
Second Term Takehome Test is given, 20% of final grade; due April 1
Review
Second Term Takehome Test is due, 20% of final grade; no paper will be accepted
after this date and a grade of F=0 will be recorded; last day to submit late winter
term work is April 5