CLS 165 - Understanding Cultures: Modern Japan

1. Describe the external unity that links East Asian societies together and the diversity that distinguishes East Asian societies from one another.
   • Define the term, “East Asia” and identify the main societies that compose the region.
   • Define the term, “culture,” and explain how the concept of culture applies to East Asia in general and Japan in particular.
   • Explain why it is important to understand the history and culture of the East Asia in general and Japan in particular.
   • Provide specific examples of the historical development of East Asia and Japan in particular and their influence on human behavior in the contemporary era.
   • Compare and contrast the culture of Japan with that of China and other societies of East Asia.
2. Describe and provide examples of the diverse sociocultural and demographic attributes of the Japan.
   • Summarize the main sociocultural and demographic attributes of Japan relating to race, ethnicity, nationality, and language.
   • Summarize the main sociocultural and demographic attributes of Japan relating occupation, education, social class, and rural-urban residency.
   • Describe the sociocultural role of religion in general and Buddhism, Shinto, and Confucianism in particular in Japan. 
   • Identify important minority groups of Japan and discuss the impact of past and present discriminatory policies and perceptions upon them.
   • Identify significant examples of Japanese norms and values, including those relating to marriage and family, gender, social networks, recreation and leisure, political authority, and economic relations in the workplace and society.
3. Explain how geography and the natural environment have impacted the sociocultural, economic, and political development of Japan.
   • Describe the physical geography and natural environment of Japan and how it varies by region.
   • Identify important cities, rivers, mountain ranges, and other geographic points of interest in Japan, and describe the influence of such places in Japanese history and contemporary society.
   • Provide examples of social problems and political issues in contemporary Japan that are related to the natural environment.
   • Analyze the impact of geography and the natural environment on the economy in Japan.
   • Evaluate the impact of geography and the natural environment on the sociopolitical development of Japan.
4. Explain the importance of Japan in the ancient, medieval, and modern world, and summarize the historical evolution of Japan from the earliest times to the present.
   • Describe the early origins, cultural commonalities, and  contributions to the world of Japanese civilization.
   • Trace the cultural, economic, and political development of Japan in the prehistoric and ancient eras.
   • Trace the cultural, economic, and political development of Japan in the medieval eras.
   • Trace the cultural, economic, and political development of Japan in the modern era.
   • Evaluate the impact of Chinese, European, and American intrusion on the cultural, economic, and political development of Japan.
5. Summarize the evolution and development of Japanese society, including the role of social institutions, political institutions, economic institutions, educational institutions, and religious institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Japanese social institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Japanese political institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Japanese economic institutions and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Japanese educational institutions, and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
   • Summarize the evolution and development of Japanese religious institutions and compare such institutions with those found in the West.
6. Explain the significance of the arts and humanities, mass media, technology, and popular culture in the evolution of Japanese society and culture.
   • Summarize the role of the arts and humanities, mass media, technology, and popular culture in Japan.
   • Provide examples of how the arts and humanities, mass media, or popular culture, have influenced the evolution of Japanese society and culture.
   • Evaluate cultural similarities and differences between Japan and the West relevant to the arts and humanities and provide relevant examples.
   • Evaluate cultural similarities and differences between Japan and the West relevant to mass media and popular culture and provide relevant examples.
   • Evaluate cultural similarities and differences between Japan and the West relevant technology and provide relevant examples.
7. Explain the impact of Western imperialism, Japanese imperialism, world wars, and the Cold War, on the historical development of modern Japanese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of Western imperialism on the historical development of modern Japanese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of Japanese imperialism on the historical development of modern Japanese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of World War One on the historical development of modern Japanese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of World War Two on the historical development of modern Japanese civilization.
   • Explain the impact of the Cold War on the historical development of modern Japanese civilization.