Japanese Civilization: Society and Customs 3600-JA-CJSO(Z)-OW
The aim of the course is to familiarise students with the fundamental issues related to contemporary Japanese culture and society, as well as to present the geographical and regional diversity of Japan.
The knowledge conveyed in the course is interdisciplinary, with particular emphasis on the interrelations between the natural environment, history, socio‑cultural transformations, and the major achievements of Japanese civilisation. During the classes, discussion‑based methods are used to support practical engagement with the material through collective text analysis and workshop elements.
Each lecture focuses on a separate thematic issue. The course presents key topics related to Japanese social and customary culture, including social norms and behavioural patterns (reigi sahō), culinary traditions and the aesthetics of Japanese cuisine, models of the Japanese family, the education system, corporate culture and employment structures, annual festivals and rites of passage, leisure culture, as well as contemporary Japanese music (J‑pop, enka) and other forms of mass culture.
The lecture is supplemented with a rich selection of audiovisual materials.
During the classes, discussion‑based methods are used to support practical engagement with the material through collective text analysis and workshop elements.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Skills
The student is able to:
K_U02 — use concepts related to Japanese culture and customs at an advanced level and apply this knowledge to the analysis and interpretation of contemporary world events.
K_U06 — apply knowledge of Japan’s socio cultural issues in typical professional contexts, including identifying cultural specificities and using solutions grounded in intercultural communication.
Knowledge
The student knows:
K_W01 — the place and significance of Asian cultural studies within the humanities, as well as their subject specific and methodological characteristics, including the state of research on issues related to Japan.
Social competences
The student is ready to:
K_K02 — explore cultural diversity, its sources, and its significance for the contemporary world.
K_K03 — reflect on the place and significance of Japanese culture within global culture. K_K05 — recognise the socio cultural values of Japan that may contribute to personal development and effective intercultural communication.
Assessment criteria
A written exam is administered after both the first and the second semester. Attendance is required (up to two unexcused absences are permitted).
A total prohibition on electronic devices applies to all exams. The use of any unauthorized aids, including artificial intelligence tools, is considered a violation of academic integrity.
Practical placement
none
Bibliography
Befu, Harumi. Japan: An Anthropological Introduction. Chandler Publishing Company, New York, 1971.
Hendry, Joy. Japończycy. Kultura i społeczeństwo [The Japanese: Culture and Society]. Jagiellonian University Press, 2013.**
Kordzińska‑Nawrocka, Iwona. Japońska kultura kulinarna [Japanese Culinary Culture]. Japonica UW , Warsaw, 2018.
Kordzińska‑Nawrocka, Iwona. Kultura obyczajowa współczesnej Japonii [Social Customs of Contemporary Japan]. University of Warsaw Press, 2026.**
Modern Japan: Land and Man, edited by Toshio Noh and Douglas H. Gordon, Teikoku‑Shoin Co., Tokyo, 1974.
Tubielewicz, Jolanta. Nara i Kioto [Nara and Kyoto]. Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe, Warsaw, 1983.