thoughts about session 7 on 7/30 w/Dr. Yamashita

[clay dube]

Eric and others,
The are many critics of The Last Samurai.

Here's one: http://hnn.us/articles/2746.html.

Fred Notehelfer, among those who have previously taught in our seminars, wrote a book about one American soldier in Japan:
American Samurai: Captain L.L. Janes and Japan.

[clay dube]

Social studies courses could certainly include info about vendettas, but it also seems a great opportunity for literature courses. The story of the 47 Ronin has been turned into kabuki and bunraku (puppet) dramas, films, and television mini-series. Given the enduring popularity in the US of the Hatfield/McCoy story, I suspect that vendettas are a theme that would work in a literature class as well.

[Anonymous]

After taking all this information in, I'm thinking maybe have my students do presentations on Kabuki, Geishas, Samurai, WW11, Pearl Harbor etc, something that will be interesting/fun for them.

[Anonymous]

I t was fascinating to see how legalist principles influenced Japanese history. Tokugawa was the epitome of the perfect Legalist ruler. He established clearly communicated laws which were strictly enforced. As a wise legalist he did not depend on the honor of his supporters for his realm’s security, instead he organized society so they posed no threats. He put controls on the Imperial Court. First he reduced power of the lords-especially the power of western lords, by taking away land. Next he limited the number of castles to one in each domain, and ordered the destruction of all the others. Lords who rebelled or broke the rules were punished by losing their lands altogether. To keep lords from becoming too rich and powerful he required lords to complete large public works projects that were very expensive. He instituted a formalized hostage system where his supporters and former enemies had to leave close family members in the capitol to insure their continued cooperation. He insisted his lords spend every other 6 months period in the capitol, and his former enemies had to spend every other year there. He made sure the rules for arrival and departure dates were strictly enforced. As a good legalist he also put strict controls on travel. He set up a new Chinese style government complete with secret police to spy on his vassals.

[Anonymous]

Our textbook does not include Japan at all but after Dr. Y's talk today I'd like to include it this coming year, especially about Pearl Harbor and what led up to the attack.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Yamashita highlighted the Japanese history in six hours from Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 A.C. to post World War II in the twentieth century. I really enjoyed Dr. Yamashita's very informative presentation! I appreciate that he wrote characters next to the key terms when explaining. This helps me to relate to my prior knowledge of the history that I learned in Taiwan (in Mandarin Chinese.)

I also like how Dr. Yamashita uses "histoire problemes" to guide us. It is like the "essential questions" I use in lesson planning. I think this helps students to focus on key ideas and make the learning goal clear.

[Anonymous]

For those of you interested in what can be taught for 7th graders, I believe it was mostly in the first session. I really liked the added bits about the samurai warriors (as I know my students will enjoy them, too). The vendetta stories were interesting, as well. I will definitely check out Twilight Samurai as a potential movie for my students. It was such an interesting topic on the warring period and the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate, I will definitely be referring to my notes. Sadly, the 47 Ronin goes a bit farther than the time described, but I think I could manage to fit it into the class. If you are to focus on the later part of the samurai, I would recommend Masui's Story which is an autobiography of a samurai during the end of the Tokugawa era in the 19th century. It gives a good depiction on the everyday life and is an easy-enjoyable read. http://www.amazon.com/Musuis-Story-Autobiography-Tokugawa-Samurai/dp/0816512566/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343714974&sr=1-6&keywords=samurai

For those looking for videos for this era, you can look up videos relating to the theatre of the time, like kabuki http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67-bgSFJiKc

[Anonymous]

Interesting lecture, many new things to me. I find the difference in morality from westerners interesting, that a vendetta is permitted, even a stab in the back, while the warrior attackers are allowed to commit suicide. How different from us, not allowing vendettas,,especially not a proverbial stab in the back, while not allowing our prisoners to commit suicide before execution, as a punishment, but also how we see allowing any kind of suicide as immoral.

[Anonymous]

I like this idea -- very applicable

[Anonymous]

Although I don't teach Japan, I will incorporate some of their history as a compare and contrast with China (I teach Ancient China). This will give my 6th grade a head start to 7th grade when it is actually taught.

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Hi all,

Please share your thoughts about the 7th session here.

[Author]

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