Why is Tsurumi’s argument about the importance of Japanese women’s labor power to nation-building an important intervention to week 1’s theorizations of nationalism? On the flip side, what experiences might focusing too much on this point occlude? Anderson and McClintock’s theorizations of nationalism mentioned ideas of exclusion, mostly with regards…

I have always enjoyed learning about history, and the intricate social culture of Japan has always intrigued me as well. Ever since being exposed to Japanese culture through various media, such as anime and movies, I have wondered how these greatly different societal norms originated, and have wanted to learn more about them. I hope to learn more about the rich history of modern Japan in this class, and how this history helped to shape Japanese culture. I would love to visit Japan eventually, and hope this class helps me to greater appreciate Japan’s culture when I do.