The Hiroshima-Nagasaki
Peace Study Course

広島・長崎講座

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an interdisciplinary study of peace and cultural legacies in the nuclear age, with particular emphasis on the ways in which Asians and Americans met the threat of nuclear war and annihilation in their diverse thought and behavior. We will study the cultural history of the nuclear arms race in the context of Asian and American philosophy, science, society, economy, and ethics during the Cold War era and after. Through an exploration of literature, films, the popular press, and documentaries, this course will consider lasting cultural legacies of the nuclear bombings on peace and our everyday lives.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Regular attendance is mandatory. Having eight instructors and a long class period in which to discuss readings, view films, and raise essential questions only makes sense if, in fact, all of us come together to do those things.
• Students will be expected to complete all assigned readings and view all films by the dates indicated by the syllabus.
• Short biweekly journals of no more than one to two pages will be submitted to Dr. Kawashima in class every other week. (There will be seven journals all together). These will be opportunities to reflect on the reading and the class discussion. Journals will not be graded but are important part of your class participation (10 %).
• Students will write a first 5 page-pager (30% of grade) and a second 5 page-paper (30 %). The first paper is due February 27. The students must submit a topic of the first paper on February 1. They may choose the topic from one of the following areas covering lectures 1 to 13: 1) philosophy of peace in Asia and West, 2) peace in the nuclear age, 3) science and atomic bombs, 4) racisim and atomic bombing of Hiroshima, 5) the decision to use the atomic bomb in Hiroshima. If the students wish to write on a topic other than those stated above, they are encouraged to consult with Dr. Kawashima for approval. The second paper is due April 24. The topic must be chosen and submitted in class on April 3. Students may choose one of the topics covering lectures 14 to 30: namely, 1) peace movements , 2) literature and thought on peace, 3) nuclear nightmares, and 4) peace education. Again if other topic is preferred, please consult with Dr. Kawashima for his approval. Active class participation and biweekly journal writings (10 %) are required of all students by making comments and raising questions in class discussions. There will be a final examination (30 % of grade) during the final exam week. The final grade is based on the following points: First Paper (90 points, 30%), Second Paper (90 points, 30 %), Final Exam (90 points, 30 %), and Class participation and biweekly journal writings (30 points, 10 %). A (300-270), B (269-240), C (239-210), D (209-180), F (179-)
• Participate in the virtual classroom through the Internet (Blackboard: http://bgsu.edu). This is an opportunity to discuss various issues outside the class hours with classmates and instructors.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

In addition to two textbooks listed below, there will be additional readings announced by different instructors a week prior to their lecture, either through the internet websites, by handouts , or on reserve at the Jerome library. Recommended reading are not required but available at the Jerome Library for your reading at leisure and may be useful for writing your paper.

Required Texts:

Laura Hein and Mark Selden, Eds. Living With the Bomb:American and Japanese Cultural Conflicts in the Nuclear Age. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 1997. Paper

Philip West, Steven I. Levine, Jackie Hiltz, america’s Wars in Asia: A Cultural Approach to History and Memory. New York: M.E. Sharpe, 1998. Hardcover

On Reserved at the Jerome Library Reserve Room, 1st fl.

The Spirit of Hiroshima, An Introduction to the Atomic bomb Tragedy:Hiroshima: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, 1999

Hiroshima Jogakuin High School ed., Summer Cloud: A-Bomb Experience of a Girl’s School in Hiroshima. Hiroshima: Sanyusha, 2000

Video: A-bomb Survirors Talk: Ms. Fumiko Sora and Ms. Setsuko Thurlow at BGSU, Nov. 13, 2001.

Other Recommended Readings

Kai Bird and Lawrence Lifschultz, Hiroshima’s Shadow
Michael Walzer, Just and Unjust Wars
Ronald Takaki, Hiroshima
Bob Greene, Duty
Marguerite Duras, Hiroshima Mon Amour
Masuji Ibuse, Black Rain.
John Dower, War Without Mercy
John Treat, Writing Ground Zero: Japanese Literature and the Atomic Bomb
Ralph White, ed. Psychology and the Prevention of Nuclear War
Heresy, John, Hiroshima
William Schull, Effects of Atomic Radiation
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, The Challenge of Peace: God’s Promise and Our Response. A Pastoral Letter on War and Peace
Henry Kissinger, Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy
Arjun Makhijani, Howard Hu, and Katherine Yih, Nuclear Wastelands: A Global Guide to Nuclear Weapons Production and Its Health and Environmental Effects.
Akira Iriye, Power and Culture
Marilyn Jacobs, American Psychology in the Quest for Nuclear Peace.
Peter Beckman, ed. The Nuclear Predicament: Nuclear Weapons in the Cold War and Beyond.

Films Viewing:

Certain class hours are set aside for viewing films or film clippings followed by a discussion on them. It is, however, up to the instructor to use a film and view it during the class hour. He/she may choose to give a lecture instead. The instructor will announce his/her selection of a film or film clippings if he/she chooses to use a film. The instructor may ask students to view the film outside the class period.

Instructors:

Course Coordinator:

Dr. Fujiya Kawashima, Professor of History
142 Williams Hall:
Office Hours: T &R 1:00-2:20 pm or by appointment

Lecturers:

Dr. Marvin Belzer, Professor of Philosophy (MB)
Dr. Kristie Foell, Associate Professor of German (KF)
Dr. Walter Grunden, Assistant Professor of History (WG)
Dr. Gary Hess, History, Professor of History (GH)
Dr. Fujiya Kawashima, Professor of Histor (FK)
Dr. Marc Simon, Associate Professor of Political Science (MS)
Dr. Alexader Sidorkin, Associate Professor of Ed FI (AS)
Dr. Ian Young, Assistant Professor of Philosophy (IY)

COURSE SCHEDULE

• INTRODUCTION

  1.	Jan.9 Mon	Peace and War in the Nuclear Age (FK)
  2.	Jan.11 Wed	Philosophy of Peace in Asia (MB)
  3.	Jan.16 Mon	Martin Luther King Day: No Class
  4.	Jan.18 Wed	Philosophy of Peace in the West (IY)
  5.	Jan.23 Wed	Discussion: Peace in the Nuclear Age (KF) 1st Biweekly journal to be submitted to Dr. Kawashima

  Reading: Living with the Bomb. Laura Hein and Mark Selden, “Commemoration and Silence: Fifty Years of Remembering the Bomb in America and Japan” pp. 3-34.
  America’s Wars in Asia, Introduction, pp. 3-14. Edward Linethal, “Remembering Beginning and Ending.” pp. 17-26. John Dower, “The Bombed: Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japanese Memory.” Pp. 27-48.
  Van Jay Symons, “Moral Judgment in War and Crimes against Humanity.” Pp. 124-141.

• Science and Atomic Bombs

  6.	Jan.25 Wed	American Scientists and Atomic Bomb (GH)
  7.	Jan.30 Mon	Japanese Scientists and Atomic Bomb (WG)
  8.	Feb.1 Wed	Films (to be announced) : Excerpts from Know the Enemy: Japan, Fat Man and Little Boy, Infinity, Truman, Above and Beyond(WG) First Paper Topic due

  Reading: Living with the Bomb, Hugh Gusterson, “Remembering Hiroshima at a Nuclear Weapons Laboratory” pp. 260-276.
  America’s Wars in Asia, Rey Chow, “The Age of the World Target.” pp. 205-220. G.L. Penrose, “American Wars Within World History,” pp. 245-253.

• RACISM AND ATOMIC BOMBS

  9.	Feb.6 Mon	Was Racisim Involved? (KF) 2nd Biweekly journal due2nd Biweekly journal due
  10.	Feb.8 Wed	Film (to be announced ) and discussion: Excerpts from The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Beginning or the End, The Lady from Shanghai, Barefoot Gen (IY)
  11.	Feb.13 Mon	Discussion: Hiroshima and Racism (IY) Films: (to be announced) Excerpts from The Incredible Shrinking Man Came from Beneath the Sea, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Invasions of the Body Snatchers

  Reading: America’s Wars in Asia, (repeat) John Dower,, “The Bombed: Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japanese Memory.” pp. 27-48. Tadao Sato, “Japanese Films about the Pacific War,” pp. 51-64. Living with the Bomb, Sodei Rinjiro, “Were We the Enemy? American Hibakusha.” pp. 232-259.
  John Dower, “Triumphal and Tragic Narratives of the War in Asia”, pp. 37-51.Lisa Yoneyama, ”Memory Matters: Hiroshima’s Korean Atom Bomb Memorial and the Politics of Ethnicity.” pp. 202-259. Laura Hein, “ Learning about Patriotism, Decency, and the Bomb,” pp. 279-286.

• WHY WERE THE BOMBS DROPPED?

  12.	Feb.15 Wed	The Decision to Use Atomic Bombs Against Japan:Heroic, Tragic, or Criminal?(MB)
  13.	Feb.20 Mon	The Bomb and American Post War Culture (GH) 3rd Biweekly journal due

  Reading: America’s Wars in Asia, Merrel Clubb, “My Pacific War Revisited,” pp. 145-160. Kentaro Awaya,” Controversies Surrounding the Asia-Pacific War: The Tokyo War Crimes Trial.” Pp. 221-232. Living with the Bomb. Sadao Asada, “The Mushroom Cloud and National Psyches: Japanese and American Perceptions of the Atomic Bomb Decision, 1945-1995.” pp. 173-201. Monica Braw, “Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Voluntary Silence.” Pp. 155-172.

• WHY WERE THE BOMBS DROPPED?

  14.	Feb.22 Wed	Japanese Peace Constitution and Anti-nuclear movement in Post War Japan (WG)
  15.	Feb.227 Wed	Chinese Cultural Legacies for Peace and Nucler Weapons (FK) First Paper due
  16.	Mar.1 Wed	Peace and Nuclear Proliferation in South Asia(GH)

  Reading: Living with the Bomb. “Yui Daizabouro,” Between Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima/Nagasaki: Nationalism and Memory in Japan and the United States,” pp. 52-72. Ellen Hammond, “Commemoration Controversies: The War, the Peace, and Democracy in Japan.” Pp. 100-121. America’s Wars in Asia, Pingchao Zhu,”The Korean War at the Dinner Table,” pp. 183-191.

  Mar. 6 Mon. through Mar 12, Sun: Spring Recess

  17.	Mar.13 Mon	American Peace Movement and Nuclear Disarmament (MS) 4th Biweekly journal due
  18.	Mar.15 Wed	Films: To be announced: Excerpts from On the Beach, War Games, Blue Sky, Broken Arrow, Under Siege. (MS)
  19.	Mar.20 Mon	Terrorism and Proliferation (MS))

  Reading: Living with the Bomb. Lane Fenrich, “Mass Death in Miniature: How Americans Became Victims of the Bomb.” pp. 122-133. Michael Sherry, ”Patriotic Orthodoxy and American Decline,” pp. 134-152. George Roeder, Jr. “Making Things Visible: Learning from the Censors,” pp. 73-99.

• LITERATURE AND THOUGHT OF THE NUCLEAR BOMBS

  20.	Mar.22 Wed	Survivors’ Guilt:(KF)
  21.	Mar.27 Mon	Buddhism and Hinduism on the Nuclear Bombs(MB) 5th Biweekly journal due
  22.	Mar.29 Wed	Viewing a tape: A Witness by Survivor-Peace Activists in Hiroshima and Canada (KF)
  23.	Apr.3 Mon	Films: (to be announced) Excerpts from: The Hunt for Red, Diplomatic Siege (MS) 2nd Paper Topic due

  Reading: America’s Wars in Asia, Living with the Bomb. John Dower, Triumphal and Tragic Narratives of the War in Asia,” pp. 37-51 (repeat) James Gao, “Myth of the Heroic Soldier and Images of the Enemy,” pp. 192-202.

• NUCLEAR NIGHTMARES IN THE NEW MILLENIUM

  24.	Apr.5 Wed	The Anti-Nuclear Movement in Historical Perspectives (AS)
  25.	Apr.10 Mon	North Korea’s Chuch’e Thought and the Nuclear Bombs (FK) 6th Biweekly journal due
  26.	Apr.12 Wed	Films to be announced: Excerpts from: After the Cloud Lifted: Hiroshima’s Stories of Recovery (FK)

  Reading: Living with the Bomb. America’s Wars in Asia, John Dower, “The Bombed: Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japanese Memory,” pp. 27-48 (repeat) Ann Junghyo, “Double Exposure of the War,” pp. 161-171.

• PEACE EDUCATION IN THE NUCLEAR AGE

  27.	Apr.17 Mon	Peace Education in America (AS)
  28.	Apr.19 Wed	Peace Education in Asia (AS)
  29.	Apr.24 Mon	Peace Education in Russia (AS) Final Paper Due
  30.	Apr.26 Wed	Discussion: What is Peace Studies? (ALL)

  Reading: To be announced on education. Living with the Bomb. John Dower, “Triumphal and Tragic Naratives of the War in Asia,” pp. 37-51 (repeat) America’s Wars in Asia, John Dower, “The Bombed,” pp. 27-50 (repeat)