Reinventing Japan, 1945-1989: An NCTA Special Topics Course

As Japanese envoys stood on the deck of the USS Missouri to sign the WWII surrender in 1945, the world and the Japanese people saw a defeated and disgraced nation. Forty-four years later, in 1989, world leaders gathered in Tokyo to pay respects at the funeral of Hirohito, the Showa emperor who had led Japan into, through, and beyond WWII. Japan's trajectory during this period is a critical chapter in understanding Japan in the world, but one that is often skipped in a crowded curriculum.

• • Starts:
  • January 28, 2024
• • Ends:
  • February 28, 2024
• • Time Detail:
  • 6:30pm to 7:45pm (ET)
• • Learning Format:
  • Online
• • Type of Course:
  • Seminars & Short Courses
• • Audience:
  • Priority given to secondary History and Social Studies educators in Alabama, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
• • Offered to:
  • All States
• • Registration and Info:

  • Designed for secondary history teachers, this short course will explore the period between 1945-1989 through three one-week modules highlighting key issues and events, primary source documents, and short case studies. Modules will include: 1) Occupied (1945-52), 2) Renewal and Resurgence (1952-1972), and 3) Boom and Bust (1972-89).

    Each module will feature a live 75-minute webinar and a week of asynchronous discussion on classroom resources and applications. All participants receive an advance text (Japan Since 1945 by Paul E. Dunscomb) as well as access to resource packets and lessons within the course online platform. A short final implementation plan is required for full benefits.