Oriental Languages and Cultures

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A few days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered, putting an end to World War II. Starting from the tragic events connected with the atomic bombings, the effects of which continued to unfold themselves in the decades after 1945, this Course aims to analyze their long-term, material and even more intangible effects. The starting point will be some fundamental questions: were the bombings inevitable, particularly Nagasaki? How did the trauma of the atomic bombing, combined with the trauma of defeat, contribute to shaping the national identity and collective feeling of contemporary Japan? What weight did this trauma have in the construction of the dominant ideology of the blocs during the Cold War? And toward the peace movements? Why, despite the trauma, did Japan pursue an energy policy in which civilian nuclear power played a central role? How have representations of this trauma changed over time and how have they contributed to forming a specific mode in narrating the unspeakable? Various sources (textual, visual and media) will be analyzed and discussed during the lectures to try to find some, even partial, answers to those questions. Attending students will be required to participate actively, to read and/or view some materials before class, so as to be involved constructively in the class work and to make a in-class presentation including the use of audio/video materials, in the final part of the lectures, on a topic agreed with the professor. During the Course there will be some mid-term tests plus a final test. The final grade will be made up of these different elements (class participation, presentation, tests) There will be some common and mandatory readings for all, while others will be assigned individually, depending on the topic of the in-class presentation. Students not attending will prepare for the exam by studying texts from the suggested bibliography, which they will then expound on orally in the exam, answering questions from the professor.

Students must have a basic knowledge of contemporary Japanese history, both from an Asian and global perspective. In particular, a general knowledge of the colonial period, the Second World War and relations between Japan and the US in the post-war period is desirable. Advanced English language skills are essential, in particular the ability to express oneself orally in class and to engage in discussion on controversial issues.

Letture obbligatorie per tutti gli studenti / Common readings com: 1) Mark Selden, Introduction: The United States, Japan, and the Atomic Bomb, in: Kyoko and Mark Selden (eds.), The Atomic Bomb. voices from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Routledge, New York and London, 2015, pp. xi-xxxvi Further readings will be make available during the course.

To actively attend at least 70% or more of the lessons is a prerequisite for students taking part in the seminar, otherwise the non attending students modality for the exham is possible. Lessons will be only in presence.

The course has a seminar structure. Attending students will have to take classes, participate in the discussion, deliver an in-class presentation and take a final written test. Each of these stages will be assessed and the final vote will be the sum of each one. In class participation and presentation will weight for 50% of the vote. Final written test for 50% of the vote. Students unable to attend will prepare the exam on the given bibliography and take an aural exham, in which they will be asked to reply to questions about the assigned readings.

The course has a seminar structure. Attending students will have to take classes, participate in the discussion, deliver an in-class presentation and present a paper. It will also be required to complete an online test on general methodological issues, based on the common lectures. Students unable to attend will prepare the exam on the given bibliography.

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A few days later, on August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered, putting an end to World War II. Starting from the tragic events connected with the atomic bombings, the effects of which continued to unfold themselves in the decades after 1945, this Course aims to analyze their long-term, material and even more intangible effects. The starting point will be some fundamental questions: were the bombings inevitable, particularly Nagasaki? How did the trauma of the atomic bombing, combined with the trauma of defeat, contribute to shaping the national identity and collective feeling of contemporary Japan? What weight did this trauma have in the construction of the dominant ideology of the blocs during the Cold War? And toward the peace movements? Why, despite the trauma, did Japan pursue an energy policy in which civilian nuclear power played a central role? How have representations of this trauma changed over time and how have they contributed to forming a specific mode in narrating the unspeakable? Various sources (textual, visual and media) will be analyzed and discussed during the lectures to try to find some, even partial, answers to those questions. Attending students will be required to participate actively, to read and/or view some materials before class, so as to be involved constructively in the class work and to make a in-class presentation including the use of audio/video materials, in the final part of the lectures, on a topic agreed with the professor. During the Course there will be some mid-term tests plus a final test. The final grade will be made up of these different elements (class participation, presentation, tests) There will be some common and mandatory readings for all, while others will be assigned individually, depending on the topic of the in-class presentation. Students not attending will prepare for the exam by studying texts from the suggested bibliography, which they will then expound on orally in the exam, answering questions from the professor.

Students must have a basic knowledge of contemporary Japanese history, both from an Asian and global perspective. In particular, a general knowledge of the colonial period, the Second World War and relations between Japan and the US in the post-war period is desirable. Advanced English language skills are essential, in particular the ability to express oneself orally in class and to engage in discussion on controversial issues.

Letture obbligatorie per tutti gli studenti / Common readings com: 1) Mark Selden, Introduction: The United States, Japan, and the Atomic Bomb, in: Kyoko and Mark Selden (eds.), The Atomic Bomb. voices from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Routledge, New York and London, 2015, pp. xi-xxxvi Further readings will be make available during the course.

To actively attend at least 70% or more of the lessons is a prerequisite for students taking part in the seminar, otherwise the non attending students modality for the exham is possible. Lessons will be only in presence.

The course has a seminar structure. Attending students will have to take classes, participate in the discussion, deliver an in-class presentation and take a final written test. Each of these stages will be assessed and the final vote will be the sum of each one. In class participation and presentation will weight for 50% of the vote. Final written test for 50% of the vote. Students unable to attend will prepare the exam on the given bibliography and take an aural exham, in which they will be asked to reply to questions about the assigned readings.

The course has a seminar structure. Attending students will have to take classes, participate in the discussion, deliver an in-class presentation and present a paper. It will also be required to complete an online test on general methodological issues, based on the common lectures. Students unable to attend will prepare the exam on the given bibliography.