While Japanese scholars are keenly aware of the pivotal role of translation in Japan’s modernization process, this aspect has not been fully explored in English scholarship. This course explores the cultural history of translation, examining how translation influenced various domains, from print culture in the Tokugawa period to the modernization efforts of the Meiji Restoration. Throughout the course, we will explore critical questions: How did translations of Chinese and Western texts contribute to the flourishing of print culture in Tokugawa Japan? How did the translation affect the landscapes of various disciplines? How did these changes affect Japan’s Meiji Restoration and modernization? We will also consider the relationship between translation and modernity. Using translation as a lens to reinterpret Japan’s early modern history, this course challenges conventional narratives around the ‘sakoku’ (closed country) policy and emphasizes the continuity of Japan’s modernization process. This course assumes no prior knowledge of Japanese history or language. It will include video lectures to provide historical context. Course materials include videos, podcasts, English translations of critical Japanese sources, and scholarly articles. Course assignments include a final paper.