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Course Description

Summary

What is the truth in history?  Is there one truth?  In this course, students learn World War II from the Japanese point of view by reading and examining Japanese history textbooks, novels, essays, and films.  Historical events such as the bombings of Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima can be perceived differently depending on whether you study them in Japan or in America.  In other words, history textbooks in Japan and in America don’t necessarily share the same perspective for the same event. Throughout the course, students will read and discuss the Japanese perspective on World War II to improve their Japanese skills and knowledge as well as reinforce previous knowledge of Japanese language and culture. As a part of the course, students are required to give a presentation on their understanding of how history can be taught differently at a local high school.  Students are also required to revise the Japanese history textbooks based on their understanding of how history should be taught as the final project of the course.