Art and Literature (芸術と文学)
Japanese Words That Shape Worlds (世界を形作る日本語の言葉)
Japanese literature spans a broad spectrum, from refined courtly works to modern existential themes. A notable example is The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, written in the early 11th century and often considered one of the world’s first novels. Genji is renowned for its poetic sensibility, psychological depth, and social nuance, portraying Heian court life with a sensitivity to the fleeting beauty (mono no aware) and human emotions. Japanese literature has evolved through diverse forms and voices. In the modern era, authors like Natsume Sōseki explored themes of identity, alienation, and modernisation. Later writers such as Yukio Mishima and Haruki Murakami combined existential questions, contemporary life, and spiritual themes, connecting Japanese traditions with global literary trends. Tracing this progression reveals how changes in society, philosophy, and religion have shaped Japan’s evolving inner world and how language reflects this journey.
Japanese Melodies ( 日本のメロディー)
In Japan, music serves as a poetic expression, a ritual, and a source of emotional resonance, extending beyond mere entertainment.
-
Gagaku, the ancient court music tradition from the 7th and 8th centuries, combines wind, string, and percussion instruments in slow, stately forms. It is still performed in imperial and ceremonial settings.
-
In Noh and Kabuki theatre, music is integral, with flute, drums, vocals, and rhythmic chants accompanying masked actors and stylised movements.
Today, Japanese music encompasses a wide range of genres, from pop and rock to hybrid styles. Artists such as Hikaru Utada and Babymetal reflect both global and local influences. Composer Joe Hisaishi, known for Studio Ghibli scores, blends melodic simplicity and emotional depth, introducing Japanese musical sensibility to audiences worldwide.
Waves of Brush and Ink: From Scrolls to Screens (筆とインクの波: 巻物からスクリーンまで)
Japanese visual art balances tradition, innovation, and cultural symbolism.
-
Traditional arts include calligraphy (shodō), ink painting (sumi-e), screen painting, and woodblock prints (ukiyo-e). Works by masters such as Hokusai, including The Great Wave, remain internationally recognised.
-
In the modern era, Japan has produced globally influential artists. Takashi Murakami, for example, combines manga, pop culture, and art theory in his Superflat aesthetic.
-
Yayoi Kusama is known for immersive installations, polka dots, and explorations of infinity and perception.
Manga and anime have become global phenomena. Although modern, these forms often draw on classical aesthetics such as composition, minimalism, and nature motifs, as well as traditional narrative techniques. They bridge traditional Japanese art principles and contemporary storytelling. Studying visual arts, from ancient scrolls to digital animation, helps learners develop visual literacy and deepens their understanding of the Japanese language and aesthetics.
Philosophies in Practice: Zen, Shinto, and the Way of Life (哲学の実践: 禅、神道、そして生き方)
Japanese philosophy is closely integrated with daily life, underpinning cultural practices, arts, language, and ethics.
-
Zen Buddhism emphasises direct experience, mindfulness, simplicity, impermanence, and non-attachment. It has profoundly influenced Japanese aesthetics, including wabi-sabi, minimalism, gardens, tea ceremony, and martial arts.
-
Shinto, Japan’s indigenous belief system, centres on reverence for nature, kami (spirits), purity, the cyclical nature of seasons, and the ancestral presence. It shapes festivals, rituals, and the Japanese sense of harmony with nature.
-
In the modern era, philosophers such as D. T. Suzuki played a pivotal role in introducing and interpreting Zen for Western audiences, thereby shaping the global understanding of Japanese spirituality.
These traditions continue to influence modern life, from poetry that evokes seasonal sensations to the value placed on minimal design and silence in architecture, arts, and communication.