Module manager: Alexander Rotard
Email: a.p.rotard@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module examines the transformation of Japan from the mid-nineteenth century to the end of the Second World War. Beginning with the final decades of the Tokugawa Bakufu, students will explore the political, social, and economic structures of early modern Japan, as well as the internal challenges that contributed to its decline. The course then traces Japan’s encounter with Western powers in the 1850s and the profound restructuring that followed, as Japan re-emerged as a “modern” nation-state and imperial power. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
This module aims to equip students with a deep and nuanced understanding of the historical forces that shaped “modern” Japan between the mid-nineteenth century and the end of the Second World War. Through close examination of key events, figures, ideas, and international encounters—including Japan’s engagement with Western imperialism and its emergence as an imperial power in its own right—students will move beyond simplistic or culturally deterministic interpretations of Japan. Instead, the course emphasises Japanese agency, highlighting the contested debates, political choices, and intellectual currents that informed Japan’s transformation within a Western-dominated global order. The module encourages students to critically engage with multiple perspectives on modern Japanese history, drawing on primary source materials and current scholarly debates. In doing so, students will develop the ability to analyse and evaluate competing interpretations, construct evidence-based arguments, and appreciate the complexity of historical change. A further objective of the course is to enable students to connect historical developments to present-day international relations in East Asia. By understanding the historical roots of tensions involving Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan, students will be better equipped to critically assess contemporary geopolitical issues and consider how historical legacies continue to shape regional and global dynamics.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to
1. Explain and analyse key events, actors, and ideas that shaped Japan’s transformation from the late Tokugawa period to the end of the Second World War.
2. Evaluate Japan’s encounter with Western imperialism by assessing domestic debates, and forms of agency that shaped its path to modernisation
3. Critically assess the development of Japanese nationalism, imperialism, and colonial expansion within both domestic and international contexts
4. Interpret primary sources and evaluate competing historical interpretations by integrating evidence with relevant historiography
5. Develop a well‑structured, evidence‑based argument by synthesising ideas and information from a range primary and secondary sources
6. Communicate complex ideas and information clearly and appropriately, using academic conventions and upholding the standards of academic integrity.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 180 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students receive ongoing formative feedback during seminars, where both staff and peer input support the development of critical thinking and analytical skills. Seminar activities, including discussion-based tasks and reflective feedback sessions, are designed to enhance students’ understanding of key themes and their ability to engage with historical arguments and evidence. In addition, students receive written feedback on their Primary Source Analysis, which is intended to support their academic development and can be directly applied to their subsequent essay. This staged approach enables students to reflect on and respond to feedback, strengthening their argumentation, use of evidence, and overall performance in the final assessment.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Primary Source Analysis | 40 |
| Coursework | essay | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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