Contents: The lectures deal with the geopolitical and social history of Japan’s relations with its neighbouring countries, and with the shift from a Sino-centric cosmology to a European cosmology, which turned the regional ”world” into ”Asia”. The Japanese were quick and successful in embracing this new cosmology, becoming a new colonial and imperialistic power in the region. Post World War II situation forced a new interpretation of Japan’s relations with its neighbours; this process has not ended yet. The name of the lecture series reflects a conceptual historical approach to the topic: Japan is not simply categorized as an Asian country; instead, the lectures explore in what sense Japan can be said at a specific historical moment to be “Asian”, or “something else”.

Target Group: The MA level courses are aimed for students who already have aquired some knowledge about Asia or on the specialty of the particular course.

Taken as: online lectures, a lecture diary of roughly 10 pages.

Application for the course: Application period in September 3.-14. 2012. A maximum of 40 students will be accepted to the course in the order of application.

These courses are free for all students who hold a valid study right in one of the University Network's member universities.

The study fee for students from Finnish non-member universities and students from universities of applied sciences is 50 euro per credit. Students from these institutions need to fill out both the course application as well as an application to study as a non-degree student. More information regarding the process and the form can be found in the study guide.

(Students from University of Jyväskylä should register to the course using their own web registration system.)

Please make sure you have familiarized yourself with the course requirements in order to makes sure you have both the time and resources to complete the modules you have chosen.

Drop outs from the courses have come about due to students not reserving enough time for assignments and forgetting the deadlines. When you are accepted to a given course, please write down the exam dates and essay deadlines immeadiately so that you won't forget them.