JPN3500 2021 fall, RVC & RVD

Japanese Culture and Society: From Edo to Tokyo

Instructor: Masako Kubota

Global Learning Course

Course Description and Purpose

This course will examine Japan, from 1600 to 1868, focusing on a wide array of perspective on

Tokugawa Japan, their society, government, family life, religion and morality, and recreational

cultural life including Kabuki, Ukiyo-e, Tea Ceremony, and Haikai. Awareness of Tokugawa

years—also known as the Edo period--- social concerns will be highlighted using films as case

studies and evaluating and interpreting primary document of Edo period. The multi-perspective

approach will be used to discuss and analyze the development of Edo period using the

Discussions, film viewing and Wiki Project. No knowledge of Japanese Language required.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• Identify the region, culture, and societal life of Edo.

• Recognize the government, family life, religion and morality of Tokugawa Japan.

• Classify the class, gender, and effect of modernization.

• Evaluate the region, morality, and society of samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

• Analyze the sustainability of Edo and Ainu society.

• Create ideas to inform the contemporary Japanese people about Edo characters.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Policies

Please review the FIU's Policies (Links to an external site.) webpage. The policies webpage

contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU, as well as

additional information about acceptable netiquette for online courses.

Technical Requirements & Skills

One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By

computer literacy, we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently and

learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind

that this is not a computer literacy course, but students enrolled in online courses are expected to

have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the "What's Required (Links to an

external site.)" webpage to find out more information on this subject.

Accessibility and Accommodation

The Disability Resource Center collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community

members to create diverse learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive and

sustainable. The DRC provides FIU students with disabilities the necessary support to

successfully complete their education and participate in activities available to all students. If you

have a diagnosed disability and plan to utilize academic accommodation, please contact the

Center at 305-348-3532 or visit them at the Graham Center GC 190.

Please visit our ADA Compliance (Links to an external site.) webpage for information about

accessibility involving the tools used in this course.

For additional assistance please contact FIU's Disability Resource Center (Links to an external

site.).

Panthers Care & Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

If you are looking for help for yourself or a fellow classmate, Panthers Care encourages you to

express any concerns you may come across as it relates to any personal behavior concerns or

worries you have, for the classmate’s well-being or yours; you are encouraged to share your

concerns with FIU’s Panthers Care website. (Links to an external site.)

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) (Links to an external site.) offers free and

confidential help for anxiety, depression, stress, and other concerns that life brings. Professional

counselors are available for same-day appointments. Don’t wait to call 305-348-2277 to set up a

time to talk or visit the online self-help portal.

Academic Misconduct Statement

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting

knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of

ideas and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable

opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all

students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect

for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students

are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic

misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as

outlined in the Student Handbook.

Academic Misconduct includes: Cheating – The unauthorized use of books, notes, aids,

electronic sources; or assistance from another person with respect to examinations, course

assignments, field service reports, class recitations; or the unauthorized possession of

examination papers or course materials, whether originally authorized or not. Plagiarism – The

use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and the

representation of such work as the student’s own. Any student who fails to give credit for ideas,

expressions or materials taken from another source, including internet sources, is responsible for

plagiarism.

Learn more about the academic integrity policies and procedures (Links to an external site.) as

well as student resources (Links to an external site.) that can help you prepare for a successful

semester.

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Textbook

Edo Culture: Daily Life and Diversions in

Urban Japan, 1600-1868

Matsunosuke, Nishiyama

University of Hawaii Press, 1997

ISBN-10: 0824818504

ISBN-13: 9780824818500

You may purchase your textbook online at the

FIU Bookstore (Links to an external site.)

Voices of Early Modern Japan:

Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life

during the Age of the Shoguns

Vaporis, Constantine Nomikos

Westview Press, 1st Edition, 2014

ISBN-10: 0813349001

ISBN-13: 978-0813349008

You may purchase your textbook online at the

FIU Bookstore (Links to an external site.)

Additional Readings:

There will be an additional reading that you will need to gather from JSTOR, or posted in the

Modules. In order to access JSTOR, follow the steps listed below:

1. Go to library guide (Links to an external site.) of our class.

2. Click 'Find Articles' on the left hand. 3. Click JSTOR.

Additional Readings

There will be an additional reading that you will need to gather from JSTOR. In order to access

JSTOR, follow the steps listed below:

6. Go to library guide (Links to an external site.)of our class.

7. Click 'Find Articles' on the left hand.

8. Click JSTOR.

9. If off-campus, sign-in.

10. When the search window appears, write any subject that you need to research.

Expectations of This Course

This is an online course, which means most (if not all) of the course work will be conducted

online. Expectations for performance in an online course are the same for a traditional course. In

fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills

which can make these courses more demanding for some students.

Students are expected to:

• Review how to get started information located in the course content.

• Introduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self-introduction in the

appropriate discussion.

• Take the practice quiz to ensure that your computer is compatible with Canvas.

• Interact online with your instructor and peers.

• Review and follow the course calendar.

• Log in to the course 3-4 times per week.

• Respond to discussion postings by due dates.

• Respond to Inbox Messages within 24-48 hours.

• Submit assignments by the corresponding deadline.

• Answer weekly study questions for the Weekly quizzes.

• Take weekly quizzes.

• Discuss in discussion posts with peers.

• View films and write reflection papers on the assigned dates.

The instructor will:

• Log in to the course 3-4 per week.

4. If off-campus, sign-in.

5. When the search window appears, write any subject that you need to research.

• Respond to Inbox messages within 24-48 hours.

• Grade assignments within 1 week of the assignment deadline.

COURSE DETAILS

Course Communication

Communication in this course will take place via Canvas Inbox.

Inbox Messages are private and secure text-based communication system which occurs within a

course among its Course members. Users must log on to Canvas to send, receive, or read

messages. The Inbox tool is located on the Course Menu, on the left side of the course webpage.

It is recommended that students check their Inbox routinely to ensure up-to-date communication.

Visit our Writing Resources webpage (Links to an external site.) for more information on

professional writing and technical communication skills.

Discussions Forums

Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will likely be seen by other members of the

course. Care should be taken when determining what to post.

Discussions – Global Awareness

STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE

INTERRELATEDNESS OF LOCAL, GLOBAL, INTERNATIONAL, AND

INTERCULTURAL ISSUES, TRENDS, AND SYSTEM

Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will likely be seen by other members of the

course. Care should be taken when determining what to post.

After reading assigned chapters, students examine and discuss the assigned questions in the

Discussion. This will be graded.

11. The approximate length of a response should be at least 100-150 words.

12. Students are expected to post at least three times. One is your answer and two are

the comments to your peers. Comments could be shorter than 150 words.

13. The grading rubric/ criteria can be found in the course’s Discussion and listed below.

14. Late submission will have points deducted. There will be 3 points deducted per week

the assignment is late.

15. Forums will be graded within a week from the due date.

You will need to post at least 3 analytic opinions for a grade on Discussion. You have a whole

week to discuss with your peers. Discussion due dates are listed below:

Week

Discussion Due Date

Week 3 Discussion 1: Due 09/08 by 11:59 PM

Week 4 Discussion 2: Due 09/15 by 11:59 PM

Week 5 Discussion 3: Due 09/22 by 11:59 PM

Week 6 Discussion 4: Due 9/29 by 11:59 PM

Week 7 Discussion 5: Due 10/06 by 11:59 PM

Week 9 Discussion 6: Due 10/20 by 11:59 PM

Week

11 Discussion 7: Due 11/03 by 11:59 PM

Week

12 Discussion 8: Due 11/10 by 11:59 PM

Week

13

Discussion 9: Due 11/17 by 11:59 PM

Submit Abstract. Examine the sample paper. You need to

attach 5 or more sources for the character. Then start to

write your own character.

Grading Rubric Criteria:

Criteria

Contents Points

Promptness and

initiative

Consistently responds to posting by due date.

Demonstrates good self-initiative. 20

Delivery of Post Consistently uses grammatically correct posts

with rare misspellings. 15

Relevance of Post Consistently posts topics related to discussion

topic. 15

Expression within

the Post

Expresses opinions and ideas in a clear and

concise manner with obvious connection to

topic.

20

Contribution to

the Learning

Community

Aware of needs of community; frequently

attempts to motivate the group discussion;

presents creative approaches to topic. Interacts

with your peers.

30

Assessments

In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important

that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded

quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum

hardware requirements (Links to an external site.).

Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken

through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online

Support Services (Links to an external site.).

Quizzes

Quizzes will cover previous week(s) material and will be available from 12:00 AM – 11:59 PM

on the assigned due date. Quiz due dates are listed below:

Week

Quiz Description

Week 2 Syllabus Quiz: Due 09/03 by 11:59 PM

Week 3 Quiz 1: Due 09/10 by 11:59 PM

Week 4 Quiz 2: Due 09/17 by 11:59 PM

Week 5 Quiz 3: Due 09/24 by 11:59 PM

Week 6 Quiz 4: Due 10/01 by 11:59 PM

Week 9 Quiz 5: Due 10/22 by 11:59 PM

Week 11 Quiz 6: Due 11/05 by 11:59 PM

Week 12 Quiz 7: Due 11/12 by 11:59 PM

Exams

There will be two exams in this course. The format will include multiple choices, fill-in the

blank, and short essays. Exam questions derived from the text books, Weekly quizzes,

Discussions, and Film material. Exams cannot be made up. It is imperative that you contact the

instructor BEFORE the Exam date.

Week

Exam Topics Covered

Week 7 Practice Exam 1 Guide: Available 10/04

Week 7

Exam 1: 10/08 from 12:00AM - 11:59PM

Exam will cover Week 1 - 6

materials and information

provided in the study guide.

Week 13 Practice Exam 2 Guide: Available 11/15

Week 13

Exam 2: 11/19 from 12:00AM - 11:59PM

Exam will cover Week 8 - 12

materials and information

provided in the study guide.

Quizzes and Exams will be taken with Respondus Lockdown Browser.

Please note that the following information only applies if your course requires the use of the

Respondus LockDown Browser to take assessments.

16. Review the Respondus LockDown Browser Instructions (Links to an external site.)

on how to install, access your assessments and view your grades.

17. After installing the browser, please take the Practice Quiz to familiarize yourself with

the testing environment and to ensure that you have downloaded the Respondus

Lockdown Browser correctly.

Film Reflection Paper - Global Perspective

STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT A MULTI-PERSPECTIVE

ANALYSIS OF LOCAL, GLOBAL, INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM

There will be five one-page reflection papers. The students will submit them by Assignment

Dropbox Turnitin. Check the sample format carefully and follow it when you write a paper. Late

submissions will be accepted up until 3 weeks past the due date. 3 points will be deducted per

week for the late assignment.

• Use MLA format for your research paper. For information on MLA format, review the

guidelines (Links to an external site.) (Website)

Week Paper Description Topics Covered

Week

3 Film Paper 1: Due 09/07 by 11:59 PM Japan of a Secret Empire

Week

5 Film Paper 2: Due 09/21 by 11:59 PM Red Beard

Week

7 Film Paper 3: Due 10/04 by 11:59 PM The Sea is Watching

Week

9 Film Paper 4: Due 10/18 by 11:59 PM Ainumosir: Ainu Pride

Week

12 Film Paper 5: Due 11/08 by 11:59 PM The Loyal 47 Ronin

Final Paper - Global Engagement

STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN

LOCAL, GLOBAL, INTERNATIONAL, AND INTERCULTURAL PROBLEM-

SOLVING.

After reading Edo Culture, and Voices of Early Modern Japan, each student selects a character

in Edo period and plays a role of him/her who contributed to form Edo’s cultural life.

Week

Due Date Progress

Week

11

11/01 -

11/07

18. Preparation Process for the final project

19. Choose Edo character from the list that will be provided by the

instructor. Start to research.

Week

12

11/08 -

11/14

20. Group Forming Process

21. Submit Edo Character on Discussion 9, by 11/17. Individually

start to research characters that you want to become. Find about

5-7 appropriate sources for your character. Project Groups are

formed: research together about the general information and the

background. Below is the tentative group list.

• Group 1: Samurai

• Group 2: Doctor, scholar, explore

• Group 3: Artisans, kabuki actor, Ukiyoe-artist

• Group 4: Merchant, economist

• Group 5: woman

Within a group, contact each other and choose a leader and an editor

Week

13

11/15 - 11/21

Exam Week Exam 2 is 11/19

Week

14

11/22 -

11/28

22. As a group, write an introduction and background.

23. Find 5 – 8 effective pictures of your character. These will go

into “individual page.”

24. Start to finalize your paper.

Week

15

11/29– 12/05

During this time, students can keep editing to create an effective paper,

and finalize the drafts into the final paper.

Week

16

12/06 12/12

Finalize the paper. Individual Paper Due date is 12/08, 11:59 PM.

Grading

Course Requirements Number of

Items

Points for

Each Weight

Quizzes, including syllabus quiz 8 100 15%

Exams 2 100 20%

Discussions 8 100 20%

Film Reflection Papers 5 100 20%

Final Paper 1 100 25%

Total 24 N/A 100%

Letter Range (%) Letter Range (%) Letter Range (%)

A 95 or above B 83 - 86 C 70 - 76

A- 90 - 94 B- 80 - 82 D 60 - 69

B+ 87 - 89 C+ 77 - 79 F 59 or less

COURSE CALENDAR

Weekly Schedule

Date Topic Tasks

Week 1

08/23 -

08/29

Introduction to

the Course

• Review the “How to Get Started” information

located in the

• Review the “How to Get Started” information

located in the course content.

• Introduce yourself to the class by posting a self-

introduction with your photo in Discussions.

• Read Syllabus carefully and take the Syllabus

Quiz by 9/03(required) to ensure understanding of

the course format and to verify that your computer

is compatible Canvas.

• Watch film 1, Japan Memoirs of a Secret Empire,

and write one-page reflection paper #1. Submit by

09/07, 11:59 PM.

Week 2

08/30 -

09/05

Introduction to

Edo Culture

Readings:

• Edo Culture, Introduction: The Study of Edo-period

Culture (p. 7-19)

• Voice of Early Modern Japan, Introduction: The

Shogun’s Japan (p.xvii-xxx) Assignments:

• Review Weekly Study Questions in preparation of

Quiz 1.

• Complete film reflection paper 1, Japan Memoirs

of a Secret Empire,and write one page reflection

paper 1. Submit by 09/07, 11:59PM.

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 1:

Due, 09/08 by 11:59PM

Week 3

09/06 -

09/12

Road to Edo

Readings:

• "The Road to Edo (and Back)" Constantine

Namikos Vaporis, University of Hawaii Press

(2008)

• Voices of Early Modern Japan / Chapter 32 (p.170-

174)

Assignments:

• Review Weekly Study Questions in preparation of

Quiz 2.

• Complete Quiz 1: Due , 09/10 by 11:59 PM.

• Complete Discussion 1: Due, 09/08 by 11:59 PM.

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 2: Due

09/15 by 11:59PM

• Watch film 2, Red Beard and write one page

reflection paper 2. Submit by 09/20, 11:59 PM

Week 4

09/13 -

09/19

Warrior’s City

Edo

Readings:

• Edo Culture: Chapter 1/ The Warrior’s City

• Voices of Early Modern Japan/ Chapter 12 (p.68-

73), Chapter 22 and 23 (p.124-133). Assignments:

• Review Weekly Study Questions in preparation of

Quiz 3.

• Complete Quiz 2: Due 09/17 by 11:59 PM.

• Complete Discussion 2: Due 09/15 by 11:59 PM.

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 3: Due

09/22 by 11:59 PM

• Submit Film Reflection Paper 2 by 09/20, 11:59

PM.

Week 5

09/20 -

09/26

Edo Culture

Readings:

• Edo Culture: Chapter 2/ Edokko: the townsperson

and Chapter 3/Iki: The Aesthetic of Edo

• Voices of Early Modern Japan/ Chapter 4 (p.17-

25), Chapter 5 (p.28-33), Chapter 9 (p.51-56)

Assignments:

• Review Weekly Study Questions in preparation of

Quiz 4.

• Complete Quiz 3: Due 09/24 by 11:59 PM

• Complete Discussion 3: Due 09/22 by 11:59 PM.

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 4: Due

09/29 by 11:59 PM

• Watch film 3, The Sea is Watching and write

one-page reflection paper 3. Submit by Turnitin,

due is 10/04, 11:59PM.

Week 6

09/27 -

10/03

Edo Culture

Readings:

• Edo Culture: Chapter 4/ Publishing and Ukiyo-e

and Chapter 5/ Temples and Shrines

• Voices of Early Modern Japan / Chapter 39 (p.208-

212)​

Assignments:

• Complete Quiz 4: Due 10/01 by 11:59 PM.

• Submit Film Reflection Paper 3 due 10/04, 11:59

PM.

• Complete Discussion 4: Due 09/29 by 11:59 PM

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 5: Due 10/06 by 11:59 PM

Week 7

10/04 -

10/10

Exam Week

Readings:

• Review Week 1 - 6 course materials.

Assignments:

• Review study guide and essay questions.

• Review the Practice Exam 1 guide.

• Exam 1 available 10/08 from 12:00AM -

11:59PM.

• Watch film 4, Ainumosir: Ainu Pride. Film

Reflection Paper 4 is due 10/18 by 11:59 PM.

• Complete Discussion 5: Due 10/06 by 11:59 PM.

Week 8

10/11 -

10/17

Ainu Culture

Readings:

• The song The Owl God Sang (selected article)

• Voices of Early Modern Japan / Chapter 30 (p.158-

162)

Assignments:

• Complete film 4, Ainumosir: Ainu Pride. Film

Reflection Paper 4 is due 10/18 by 11:59 PM.

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 6:

Due 10/20 by 11:59 PM

Week 9

10/18 -

10/24

Provincial

Culture

&

Food in EDO

Readings:

• Edo Culture: Chapter 6/ Provincial Culture and

Chapter 8/ Edo period Cuisine

• Voices of Early Modern Japan / Chapter 8 (p.43-

50) Assignments:

• Review Weekly Study Questions in preparation of

Quiz 6.

• Complete Discussion 6: Due 10/20 by 11:59 PM.

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 7: Due

11/03 by 11:59 PM. • Complete Quiz 5: Due 10/22 by 11:59 PM.

Week 10

10/25 -

10/31

Edo Culture

Extra point paper

Readings:

• Edo Culture: Chapter 7/ Itinerants, Actors, Pilgrims

• Voices of Early Modern Japan: Chapter 31

Assignment:

• Write your favorite travel experience, and compare

your trip with the Edo travelers. Submit to

Turnitin by 11/01. 5 extra points to the 1st exam.

Week 11

11/01 -

11/07

Theater art in

Edo, Samurai

Vengeance

Readings:

• Edo Culture: Chapter 9/ The Social Context of Nô

and Chapter 11/ The Aesthetic of Kabuki

• Voice of Early Modern Japan / Chapter 25 (p.138-

142)

• Forty Seven Royal Samurai (Selected article)

Assignments:

• Review Weekly Study Questions in preparation of

Quiz 7.

• Complete Discussion 7: Due 11/03 by 11:59 PM.

• Read Questions and comment Discussion 8: Due

11/10 by 11:59 PM

• Complete Quiz 6, Due 11/05, by 11:59 PM.

• Watch film 5, The Loyal 47 Ronin. Film

Reflection Paper 5 Due 11/08, by 11:59 PM.

Week 12

11/08 -

11/14

Edo Character

group project

Readings:

• Kokugaku Jyuku: Motoori Norinaga’s Suzu no Ya

(selected article)

Assignments:

• Review Weekly Study Questions in preparation of

Exam 2.

• Complete Discussion 9 (Submit Edo Character):

Due 11/18 by 11:59 PM.

• Complete Quiz 7: Due 11/13 by 11:59 PM.

Group Project:

1. Final project’s group will be formed - research together

about the general information and the background of your

genre. Below is the tentative group list.

• Group 1: Samurai

• Group 2: Doctor, scholar, explore

• Group 3: Artisans, kabuki actor, Ukiyoe-artist,

writer

• Group 4: Merchant, economist

• Group 5: women

2. Within a group, contact each other and choose a leader

and an editor by 11/22.

3. Research Individually about Edo characters that you

want to become. Find about 5-7 appropriate sources for

your character.

4. Examine the Library Guide (Links to an external site.).

This library site is designed especially for our class use.

JSTOR has much information about the Edo character.

5. Create Abstract of your character and submit it by

Discussion 9, by 11/17. You need to attach 5 or more

sources for the character. Then start to write your

character in your “individual page.”

Week 13

11/15 -

11/21

Exam Week

Readings:

• Review Week 8 - 12 course materials.

Assignments:

• Review study guide and essay questions.

• Review the Practice Exam 2 guide.

• Complete Exam 2. It is available 11/19 from

12:00 AM - 11:59 PM.

Week 14

11/22- 11/28

Final Paper

Group Project

Assignments:

Work on Edo Character Group Project Paper

• As a group, write an introduction and background.

(Refer “Final Research Paper Information”) and

post it on the “collaboration page.”

• Find 5 – 8 effective pictures of your character and

background. These will go into the “individual

page.” • Start to finalize the paper.

Week 15

11/29 -12/05

Final Paper

Assignments:

• During this time, students can keep editing to create

an effective paper, and finalize the drafts into the

final paper.

Week 16

12/06 - 12/11

Final Paper

Assignments:

• Finalize the Wiki Project Paper: Due 12/08 by

11:59 PM.