ATS2620 Modern Japan: From Samurai to Pokemon
Faculty of Arts
ATS2620 Modern Japan: From Samurai to Pokemon is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before ATS2620
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After ATS2620
No unit lists ATS2620 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Overview
In this unit, you will explore the history of Japan and East Asia via an examination of Japan’s final samurai-dominated shogunate, the Tokugawa (1603-1868), and the expansionist Empire of Japan (1868-1947), and its post-WWII transformation. You also examine the evolution of images and representations of the Japanese nation in popular culture, including film, books, anime, manga, and/or video games. The central concern is with the evolution of the Japanese state and society across this long period and with the tensions between the ideals put forward about Japanese tradition and the actual realities of Japanese life. We will consider modern Japan from varied perspectives by considering questions of status, identity, politics, gender, technology, environment, and economy.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- In-Class Participation ActivityExercise10%
- Analytical ExerciseWritten25%
- In-Class TestQuiz / Test25%
- EssayWritten40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Identify key political transformations across Japanese history as well as Japan's place in the wider region;
- 2
Explain processes of identity formation and the power of national myths;
- 3
Locate, assess, and analyse historical evidence;
- 4
Develop effective communication, argumentation and critical reflection skills.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures12 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ATS2620 is part of 6 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- GLOBASIA03Level 2 and 3 elective unitsGlobal AsiaNo reviews yet
- GLOBASIA04Level 2 and 3 unitsGlobal AsiaNo reviews yet
- HISTORY10Level 2 and 3 elective unitsHistoryNo reviews yet
- HISTORY11Level 2 and 3 elective unitsHistoryNo reviews yet
- JAPANESE05Level 2 and 3 elective unitsJapanese studiesNo reviews yet
- JAPANESE06Level 2 and 3 elective unitsJapanese studiesNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Shan Windscript
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Koji Hirata
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS2620?
ATS2620 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is ATS2620 offered?
In 2026, ATS2620 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is ATS2620?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS2620 have an exam?
No. ATS2620 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS2620?
ATS2620 is part of Global Asia, History and Japanese studies.