HIS 398 ST: Japan
Contact librarian Sandra Ley
The Course Project
This course includes a group project. Each group agrees on a broad topic related to Japan. This topic may relate to history, the arts, political environments, organization, culture or almost any other aspect of Japan. The group divides this broad topic into narrower segments to be addressed by individual members as research papers. These individual papers are integrated by the group into a single larger project.
Note: you need the group's topic approved by the instructor.
Selecting a Topic
As a group you must decide on the broad topic. Here is a list of examples, some of which have been done in the past and certainly can be done again. You do not need to choose from this list but in any case the subject must be approved by the instructor.
One of the strange things about doing research is you need to know something about a topic to know how to subdivide the slices among your group. You might use online sources like the Web to help with this. Also, the library has numerous authoritative sources to help with dividing the broad subject and beginning your research.
Example Project Topics and Materials to begin research
Below is a list of topic examples and good starting points for research. Many of these topics can be handled through multiple possible approaches by the group: survey divided by subtopics, by periods, or in a particular period, and more.
Use these sources to start your research because:
- they are authoritative and scholarly
- they will provide an overview for the subject
- most include bibiographies listing more in-depth works
Useful general works on Japan:
Kodansha. (1983). Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo; New York: Kodansha.
DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO
For online access to this title consult JapanKnowledge.
Levinson, D., ed. (2002). Encyclopedia of Modern Asia. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons' Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson/Gale.
DS 4 .L48 2002 v.1-6 West Reference
Connect to the e-book version of title.
Buckley, S., ed. (2002). Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture. London; New York: Routledge.
DS 822.5 E516 2002 West Reference
Connect to the e-book version of title.
Notes: West Reference titles are shelved on the first floor in the southeast corner. JETRO titles are shelved on the second floor in the northeast corner.
Below are some sample group topics with some suggested sources for starting research.
| Topic | Recommended Sources |
|---|---|
| Architecture | The Dictionary of Art N 31 .D5 1996 v.1-34 West Reference Also available as an e-book. |
| Art | The Dictionary of Art N 31 .D5 1996 v.1-34 West Reference Also available as an e-book. |
| Buddhism | Encyclopedia of Religion BL 31 .E46 2005 v.1-15 West Reference Also available as an e-book. |
| Business | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. |
| Criminal justice system | Legal Systems of the World K 48 .L44 2002 v.1-4 West Reference |
| Dance | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. |
| Education | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. World Education Encyclopedia LB 15 .W87 2002 v.1-3 West Reference Also available as an e-book. |
| Festivals | The Rousing Drum: Ritual Practice in a Japanese Community DS 821 .S3256 1999 West Stacks Also available as an e-book. Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. |
| Film and filmmakers | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. See index volume under "Film, Japanese" and note the subdivision of "Directors". |
| Food | Encyclopedia of Food and Culture GT 2850 .E53 2003 v.1-3 West Reference Also available as an e-book. Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. |
| Government | Europa World Year Book JN 1 .E85 2007 West Reference Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. See entries under: Bureacracy, Political culture, Political parties, Political system. |
| History | The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature D 20 .A55x 1995 v.1-2 West Reference The section on Premodern Japan has references related to cultural and religious topics, and the Tokugawa Shoganate. The section on Modern Japan also has references for the Tokugawa Shoganate and the Meiji Restoration. Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Cuture DS 33 .C63 2002 West Reference Encyclopedia of Asian History DS 31 .E53 1988 v.1-4 West Reference |
| Literature | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. |
| Martial arts | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan
DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. |
| Music | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians ML 100 .N48 [1980] v.1-20 West Reference The newer (2001) edition is also available as an e-book. |
| Religion | Encyclopedia of Religion BL 31 .E46 2005 v.1-15 West Reference Also available as an e-book. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices BL 80.3 .W67 2006 v.1-3 West Reference Also available as an e-book. Encyclopedia of Monasticism BL 631 .J85 2000 v.1-2 West Reference Also available as an e-book. The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature D 20 .A55x 1995 v.1-2 West Reference The section on "Premodern Japan" has references related to cultural and religious topics. |
| Samurai and Bushido | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO Also available online within JapanKnowledge. The American Historical Association's Guide to Historical Literature D 20 .A55x 1995 v.1-2 West Reference Consult the index in the second volume. |
| Shinto | Encyclopedia of Religion BL 31 .E46 2005 v.1-15 West Reference Also available as an e-book. |
| Theatre | Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan DS 805 .K633 1983 v.1-9 West Stacks & West JETRO See "Theater, traditional". Also available online within JapanKnowledge. |
Next Steps for Group Members
Research can be frustrating. It's important to keep in mind some characteristics of the research process which may seem very obvious but we often forget as we being working on our projects. Remember...
Research is a process. Not an event.
It takes time. How much ? As long as it takes. Start early.
We all need time to explore topics and discover what needs to be covered to complete our ressearch assignments. In addition, some of your the resources you require may need to be sent from the Tempe campus or obtained from outside ASU (Interlibrary Loan).
Research does not necessarily move in a linear sense, A to B to C to Finish.
Especially in the early stages, be prepared for temporary excursions on tangents which may or may not be relevant to the final result. This is part of the research process.
Doing research is not finding answers for "fill in the blank" or mulitiple choice situations. You are the person who is deciding what must be included to address the subject or issue. To write your paper, you need to know what is important and to do this you need to fully understand your subject. Here are the typical steps:
- Get an basic overview and lists of additional sources (see examples in the list above). Yes, use the Internet too.
- Find and read something with more depth - a book - examine bibliographies in this source for more possibilities.
- Use database indexes to find journal articles.
- Use bibliographies from the reference sources you consult, in the books, articles and web pages you read. Search the library catalog to find more..
- Use other materials to support your paper as appropriate (web pages, statistics, government reports, etc)
Use Subject Databases to Find Scholarly Articles
Below is a categorized list of possible journal article indexes or research databases to use for the subject examples used above.
| Topic | Recommended Sources |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals |
| Art | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text Art Full Text |
| Buddhism | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text ATLA Religion Database |
| Business | Academic Search Premier ABI/Inform PAIS |
| Criminal justice system | Academic Search Premier PAIS |
| Dance | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text |
| Education |
Academic Search Premier PAIS ERIC |
| Festivals | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text |
| Film and filmmakers | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text Film Literature Index International Index to the Performing Arts |
| Food | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text |
| Government | PAIS Historical Abstracts |
| History | Historical Abstracts PAIS |
| Literature | Humanities Full Text MLA International Bibliography Literature Resource Center |
| Martial arts | Academic Search Premier LeisureTourism.com SPORT Discus |
| Music | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text International Index to Music Periodicals Full Text International Index to the Performing Arts |
| Religion | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text ATLA Religion Database |
| Samurai and Bushido | Historical Abstracts PAIS |
| Shinto | Academic Search Premier Humanities Full Text ATLA Religion Database |
| Theatre | Humanities Full Text MLA International Bibliography Literature Resource Center International Index to the Performing Arts |