Useful links
Unit of study_
ASNS3002: Modern Japan
2026 unit information
You will learn the story of the changing life of the Japanese people since the mid-19th century until today, from the momentous Meiji reforms to the emergence of new social forces in the twentieth century, from the devastation of the Second World War to the trauma of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Arts and Social Sciences
| Study level | Undergraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Asian Studies |
| Credit points | 6 |
|
Prerequisites:
?
|
12 credit points at 2000 level in Asian Studies or History or Japanese Studies |
|---|---|
|
Corequisites:
?
|
None |
| Prohibitions:
?
|
None |
| Assumed knowledge:
?
|
None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. explain the major social, political, economic, and cultural transformations that have shaped Japan from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, from a relatively isolated agrarian society to an industrialised imperial power before 1945, and subsequently to a post-industrial global economic power.
- LO2. read, analyse, and interpret historical documents, and communicate your findings through oral presentations.
- LO3. conduct historical research and write an evidence-based essay drawing on primary and secondary sources.
- LO4. critically evaluate the meaning of history, historical perspective, and historical objectivity.
- LO5. demonstrate effective oral and written communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
Find your current year census dates
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
Disclaimer
Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.
To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.