HISTORY OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE THOUGHT

This course falls within the characterizing teachings of the "Japan" curriculum of the course "Language and Civilisation of Asia and Mediterranean Africa".
Its formative objectives are within the area of cultural and humanistic skills learning.

Knowledge and understanding:
- to know and understand the heterogeneity and complexity of the discourses and languages that make up the religious experience of modern and contemporary Japan.
- to deepen, through the analysis of religious experiences and their textual and ritual expressions, the understanding of the close relationship between religious doctrines and the historical and social context in modern and contemporary Japan.

Applying knowledge and understanding:
- to be able to critically analyse, interpret, and contextualise religious phenomena and sources of various types.

Making judgments:
- to be able to develop personal and well-structured critical evaluations of the religious phenomena examined during the course;
- to be able to subject various types of sources to critical examination.

Communication skills:
- to be able to rework and express the programme content personally, clearly, and in a well-structured manner;
- to be able to write an academic essay based on thorough research of primary and secondary sources;
- to be able to communicate the results of one’s research effectively.

Learning skills:
- to be able to integrate the study of different sources in a personal and critical way;
- to be able to undertake independent study and research.

A general knowledge of Japanese history and religions is advisable.

The course analyses the religious context in modern and contemporary Japan, showing the close interconnections with the social, political and economic spheres. Particular attention will be given to the religious responses to six moments of crisis/change: the Meiji Restoration, the post-war period, the crisis of the 1970s, the Tokyo subway sarin attack, the triple disaster of 3.11, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ambros Barbara, Smith Timothy, “Tenrikyō”, in Lukas Pokorny e Franz Winter (eds), Handbook of East Asian New Religious Movements, Leiden, Brill, 2018, pp. 33-51.
Baffelli Erica, “Aum Shinrikyō”, in Lukas Pokorny e Franz Winter (eds), Handbook of East Asian New Religious Movements, Leiden, Brill, 2018, pp. 193-210.
Baffelli Erica, Reader Ian, “Editors’ Introduction. Impact and Ramifications: The Aftermath of the Aum Affair in the Japanese Religious Context”, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 39 (1), 2012, pp. 1-28.
Cavaliere Paola, “Religious Institutions in Japan Responding to Covid-19-Induced Risk and Uncertainty. Some Preliminary Considerations”, Journal of Religion in Japan, 2020, pp. 1-33.
Dessì Ugo, The Global Repositioning of Japanese Religions: An Integrated Approach. London and New York: Routledge, 2016, pp. 67-97.
Fisker-Nielsen Anne Mette, “Sōka Gakkai”, in Lukas Pokorny e Franz Winter (eds), Handbook of East Asian New Religious Movements, Leiden, Brill, 2018, pp. 109-127.
Horie Norichika, “Spirituality and the Spiritual in Japan: Translation and Transformation”, Journal of Alternative Spiritualities and New Age Studies, 5, 2009.
Inoue Nobutaka, “The Formation of Sect Shintō in Modernizing Japan”, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies, 29, 3-4, 2002, pp. 405-427.
Isomae Jun’ichi, “The Conceptual Formation of the Category ‘Religion’ in Modern Japan: Religion, State, Shintō”, Journal of Religion in Japan, 1, 2012, pp. 226-245.
McLaughlin Levi, “What Have Religious Groups Done After 3.11? Part 2: From Religious Mobilization to ‘Spiritual Care’”, Religion Compass, 7/8, 2013, pp. 309-325.
Mullins Mark, “Secularization, Deprivatization, and the Reappearance of ‘Public Religion’ in Japanese Society”, Journal of Religion in Japan, 1, 2012, pp. 61-82.
Prohl Inken, “The Spiritual World: Aspects of New Age in Japan”, in Daren Kemp and James R. Lewis (eds), Handbook of New Age, Leiden, Brill, 2007, pp. 359-374.
Reader Ian, “Secularisation, R.I.P.? Nonsense! The ‘Rush Hour Away from the Gods’ and the Decline of Religion in Contemporary Japan”, Journal of Religion in Japan, 1, 2012, pp. 7-36.
Rots Aike, Teeuwen Mark, “Introduction: Formations of the Secular in Japan”, Japan Forum, 30, 2017, pp. 3-20.
Stalker Nancy, “Ōmoto”, in Lukas Pokorny e Franz Winter (a cura di), Handbook of East Asian New Religious Movements, Leiden, Brill, 2018, pp. 52-67.
Winter Franz, “Kōfuku no Kagaku”, in Lukas Pokorny e Franz Winter (a cura di), Handbook of East Asian New Religious Movements, Leiden, Brill, 2018, pp. 211-228.
Zachmann “The Postwar Constitution and Religion”, in Lukas Pokorny e Franz Winter (a cura di), Handbook of East Asian New Religious Movements, Leiden, Brill, 2018, pp. 215-240.

All the articles are available on Moodle.

The exam consists of three parts:
- participation in the 5 online activities (30% of the final grade);
- individual essay (around 3000 words). The selected topic will be agreed upon with the lecturer. The essay (.doc) should be sent to the lecturer through Moodle at least two weeks before the day of the oral exam (60% of the final grade);
- discussion of the essay (10% of the final grade).

oral

Regarding how grades will be assigned,

A. Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- limited ability to analyze and interpret philosophical and religious texts;
- sufficient communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.

B. Scores in the 23-26 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- discrete ability to analyze and interpret philosophical and religious texts;
- fair communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.

C. Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and applied comprehension skills;
- good or excellent ability to analyze and interpret philosophical and religious texts;
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially concerning the use of specific language.

D. "lode" will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding, excellent judgment and excellent communication skills.

This course is offered in a blended mode, with 10 in-person lectures and 5 online lectures.
In-presence lectures aim to introduce students to a given topic by providing the tools to understand it and to connect it to knowledge gained in other courses.
During the online lectures, students are required to work on a critical analysis of sources of different nature (textual primary sources, visual sources, academic sources) applying the knowledge acquired during the previous in-presence lectures and developing the skills necessary to write the paper required for the exam.
For each lesson scheduled as “online,” students will find on Moodle a short video introduction to the topic and an activity to be completed and handed in via the appropriate tool within a week.

Bibliography and further readings are available on the Moodle platform.

The complete Syllabus is available on Moodle.
This exam (with this syllabus) will be available only for the 4 "appelli" of the 2025-26 academic year. Starting from 2026-27, a new syllabus will be in use.