How to understand Japan - course 3500 rubles. from Level One, training, Date: October 30, 2023.

Japanese historian, translator and associate professor at the Faculty of Psychology of Moscow State University. Candidate of Psychological Sciences. He lived in Japan for several years, studying the culture and traditions of this country. Guest expert in the program “Rules of Life” (TV channel “Russia - Culture”).

Program:
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History of Japan: from the first samurai to the 17th century
The samurai appeared to protect the capital, but gradually they themselves seized power in the country and eventually ruled it for more than seven centuries. We will find out how the samurai ruled the country, how they fought and what influence they had on the history and culture of the country.

History of Japan: Tokyo, the last samurai and the revival of the country
By the 20th century, Japan had gone through a terrible and cruel path. Let's look at the decline of samurai, military successes and the crushing defeat that followed. Let's look at politics and ideology to better understand not only Japan, but the whole world.

Japanese culture: temples, prints and haiku
The Japanese aesthetic tradition is vividly defined by three concepts: wabi-sabi (simplicity and imperfection), mono no aware (the sad charm of things) and yugen (the beauty of understatement). Let's look at the main directions of Japanese culture.

Japanese culture: manga, anime, Pokemon
In the 20th century, the culture of Japan changed - from art for the elite, the country moved to mass art. Robots, Hello Kitty kittens, girls with huge eyes from Japanese anime seem deceptively simple - but behind all this you can see the second, third and fifth layers if you understand Japan and the Japanese better. Let's see what's behind the vibrant aesthetic and how it conquered the world.

Religion of Japan: Buddhism, Shinto and Christianity
For the Japanese, the Divine is embodied in everything - be it sparkling lightning in the sky or a cat dozing in the sun. Let's find out how the gods created Japan, and try to figure out who the Japanese are - Buddhists, Shintoists, or all at once.

Japanese bestiary: demons, werewolves, evil spirits
From the gods we move on to even more mysterious creatures - demons from the bestiary, magical animals and other amazing phenomena. The Japanese love fairy tales and scary stories and know how to tell them. Let's look at the legends that struck terror even into fearless samurai, and get acquainted with the main inhabitants of the Japanese bestiary.

How the Japanese live: the cult of purity, umami and karaoke
Many characteristics of the Japanese are determined by geographical and climatic conditions. Crowding, mountains and the inability to leave the island, tsunamis, typhoons and earthquakes - all this determined Japanese life and mentality. Let's try to understand the Japanese and find out how to make friends with them.