Course content and focus areas
The research and teaching focus of Japanology at Frankfurt’s Faculty 09 is on premodern and modern/current Japan. Methodologically, Frankfurt Japanology draws on a solid philological-literary as well as cultural and history of ideas repertoire, with an emphasis on the linguistic component as the foundation for adequate research on Japan. The canon of classical philological-literary and history of ideas research is expanded to include a range of cultural studies topics. Reflecting on the temporal context of research approaches and providing a precise substantiation for developing theoretical analytical tools tailored to specific topics are integral to the foundational training in Japanology at Frankfurt.
Within the literary focus, Japanese literature of the classical modern period (kindai bungaku) and the present (gendai bungaku)—including current trends in contemporary Japanese literature—is explored. In addition to individual authors, the teaching emphasizes questions of canonization, the significance of Japanese literature (Nihon bungaku / Nihongo bungaku) within world literature, research history, literary-theoretical Japanology, interpretations of literature, and translation theory and practice. Connections between literary themes and current cultural discourse are also examined. This includes assessing relevant fields of Japanese self-perception, such as the current discourses on “poverty/precarity” and “loneliness.” In the literary-historical area, numerous intersections with the history of ideas emerge, opening interdisciplinary fields such as “Japanese images of children and childhoods.”
The master’s program “Global Challenges and Cultural Perspectives” offers you an in-depth exploration of the fascinating literary and intellectual worlds of Japan.
The program focuses on historical and modern texts that reveal key aspects of Japanese culture. Topics include Japanese religious-philosophical ideas and worldviews, aesthetic systems, intellectual rhetoric, concepts of humanity, value systems, ideological guidelines, identity discourses, Japanese critiques of modernity, and visions of Japan’s future in the 21st century.
The master’s program equips you to conduct independent research at an advanced level. Academic language proficiency is intensively practiced, the methods learned in the bachelor’s program are critically reviewed, and theoretical concepts within the field are analyzed and connected to broadly discussed theories and research developments. The program allows specialization in the focus areas of Japanese literature and cultural and history of ideas. Since 2017, the cultural and history of ideas focus has incorporated quantitative and qualitative text technological methods (keyword: “Digital Humanities”).
Studying in Frankfurt also offers a vibrant academic environment with lectures, excursions, and opportunities to engage with various experts from the cultural and literary scene as well as the creative industries.