Japan, Asia, and the West, Part I (Takeda Tomoki, Daito Bunka University)

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Professor Takeda Tomoki 武田知己 teaches Japanese history and political science at the Daito Bunka University in Japan. His focus is on Japan’s international relations and he has edited seven books, including ones on foreign relations and the history of Japan’s political parties.

 

 

[Lumi Chan]

I knew that Japan to being with is a big trade state amongst the Asian countries but it's interesting to hear about the comparison of why it's not homogenous. I enjoyed the breakdown of why Japan decided to break off their vassal relationship with China because they see each other as too similar. I had no idea that because they were too similar that Japan decided to break off the vassal relationship, I never even knew that they broke off their relationship at one point. Your explanation of the Ritsu-Ryo made it easy for me to understand the system built and introduced to the Japanese people in the early formation of Japan, this is necessary and thorough information I can pass onto my students when we move onto our literature unit of Japan after China. I did know that many Japanese, historically, were against the idea of Christianity but did not know that many came up rising to and became Christians to stand against the heavy taxing in the society. I also found it extremely interesting how Japan coped with Westernization by creating a new government, making new rules of taxation to run the government which eventually built the parties and constitution of Japan today. Your lecture is extensive and gave clear and coherent history of the formation of Japan and how Asia and the West influenced heavily on the formation of Tokyo from Edo and the Tokyo we know now today. I thoroughly enjoyed this!

 

[Aaron Rabena]

This was a great backgrounder on Japan's geography and history. What struck me in this lecture is when Japan realized that it can no longer look up to China as the West had already become more developed and wealthier than it. Japan's openness to learn from the West was key to its enlightenment and be on the path of industrialization and correct their previous myopic views (due to seclusion). 

Overall, it was an excellent lecture and i enjoyed it very much. Thank you Professor!

[Ryan Carothers]

The use of geography, and cultural context helped us to understand what came next. I am curious how much autonomy the emperor had at various times in history, and how these relations to power were negotiated. In addition to this, I want to learn more about the growth and decline of Christianity in Japan. For instance, did people convert in mass to follow the example of their local Diamyo? Or, was there more movement from the bottom-up? In other words, did peasants have their own reasons to convert in hopes of an afterlife, to escape the local feuds that surrounded them? I am thinking this may have been a revolution against the traditional heirarchy, which had bound the common man and woman for a long time. I look forward to watching Part 2!

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