At the end of fifteen weeks of instruction, students enrolled in HIS 373/573, CONTEMPORARY JAPAN IN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE should be able to --  

• identify and explain the significance of basic terms, personalities and concepts associated with the study of contemporary Japanese civilization and culture.
  
• discuss with insight the major characteristics of modern Japanese social, political, economic and religious systems, institutions and beliefs.
  
• discuss with insight aspects of contemporary Japanese popular culture, the traditional Japanese fine arts and literature as maintained in Japan today and the impact of the postmodern on both popular and traditional cultural constructs.
  
• characterize the impact of both past traditions and the modern West on contemporary Japanese life and culture.
  
• discuss with insight contemporary affairs, issues and problems (both internal and external) involving Japan.
  
• demonstrate control of the tools of inquiry useful in undertaking the study of any unfamiliar cultural tradition in historical perspective.