Japan: Society and Ideology

Sachihiko KONDO (Center for International Education and Exchange)

Course Objective
   This class explores the relationship between the modern Japanese social structure and the modern Japanese ideology, which determines the life of ordinary democratic minded people. This lecture is, in other words, designed for those who wish to learn how Japanese people have accommodated other members of society and the power structures. Ideology has tended to be thought as a political matter. However, from a social psychological and sociological point of views, we need to think about what determines our everyday lives. Through examinations of Japanese history, culture, religion, language, media and up-to-date social issues, students will formulate ideas on how 'ideology ' has worked to support modern 'democracy', even some of the social structures seem to be problematic from the view points of democracy. Those who wish to discuss 'democracy', 'conservatism', 'egalitarianism', 'liberalism', 'freedom', 'Constitutional monarchy' and modern Japanese history (mainly post-war period) are all welcome.

Course Content

1. Introduction
2. Japanese history (C18-C20)
3. Tokugawa Ideology / Japanese history (pre-war)
4. Mito Ideology / Japanese history (post-war)
5. Ideological dilemma of modern democracy
6. Meiji Restoration to Ultra-nationalism (pre-war and war-time)
7. Dear General MacArthur (Sodei)
8. Chrysanthemum and Sword (Benedict)
9. Psychology and ethics of ultra-nationalistic regime (Maruyama)
10. Right-wing discourse on Japanese post-war democracy (Mishima)
11. Sociological approaches to Japanese monarchism (e.g. Fujitani)
12. Ideological Dilemma of modern democracy
13. Review
14. Examination
15. Summary

Textbooks

• Berger, P. L. and Luckmann, T. (1966). The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. New York: Douleday.
• Billig, M. (1995). Banal Nationalism. London: Sage.
• Billig, M. (1998). Talking of the Royal Family: With New Preface. London: Routledge.
• Billig, M., Condor, S., Edwards, D., Gane, M., Middleton, D. and Radley, A. (1988). Ideological Dilemmas: A Social Psychology of Everyday Thinking. London: Sage.
• Fujitani, T. (1996). Splendid Monarchy: Power and Pageantry in Modern Japan. Berkeley: University of California Press.
• Sodei, R. (2001). Dear General MacArthur: Letters from the Japanese during the American Occupation. London: Rowman & Littlefield
• Maruyama, M. (1963). Thought and Behaviour in Modern Japanese Politics. I. Morris trans. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Grading Policy

• Class participation 40%
• Examination / Report 60%