2: Deconstructing the Master Narrative of Japan’s Wars

This chapter examines how students can deconstruct the master narrative of Japan’s wars by integrating research on narrative templates and narrative analysis. The characteristics of the master narrative of Japan’s past wars are that, while the sacrifices of the first Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars are underestimated, the sacrifices of the Asia-Pacific War are overestimated. This chapter develops the following teaching strategies. (a) Have students select cards that they think are significant from among 20 cards about events and figures in modern Japanese history (including the wars) and explain their reasons, which brings out the students’ schematic narrative templates and makes them aware of their existence. (b) Narrative analysis of the descriptions of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Asia-Pacific War in middle school history textbooks by students, which helps them understand how these wars fit into the schematic narrative template. (c) Provide students with counter-narratives that do not fit into schematic narrative templates. Students are encouraged to consider not only the details and background of the historical events but also why such events are not included in textbooks or do not become part of the master narrative, which makes them think about the politics surrounding historical narratives and collective memory.