JAPANESE

LITERATURE
FACTS!
• JAPAN is also known as “the land
of the rising sun” because the sun
rises at the ocean and sets in the
high lands (mountains). Japan
known now as a developed
country which is famous because
of its inventions companies and
arts.
SUNRISE!
SUNSET!
CLOTHING
• Japanese people used their
traditional clothing in the past,
now they wear it just in special
occasions.
 KIMONO
The kimono is the most basic term for
traditional Japanese dress. The term literally
translates as "thing to wear." The word kimono
came into use in the late nineteenth century
as a way to distinguish native clothing from
Western clothing, and thereafter became more
common in Japan. Kimono refers to the
principal outer garment of Japanese dress, a
long robe with wide sleeves, made of various
materials and in many patterns. It is generally
unlined in summer, lined in autumn and
spring, and padded in winter.
YUKATA
The yukata ( ) is a casual
version of the kimono. It is a
robe usually made of cotton
or synthetic fabric, wrapped
around the body and
fastened with a sash (obi).
Yukata literally means
"bathing cloth", and it was
originally intended to be just
that.
ZORI
a flat thonged sandal
usually made of
straw, cloth, leather,
or rubber.
JAPANESE WRITING SYSTEM

• KANJI – ideographs from Chinese characters

• KANA – a pair of syllabaries consisting of
HIRAGANA – used for native Japanese words
KATAKANA – used for foreign loanwords and
sometimes to replace kanji or hiragana for
emphasis
THE PERIOD
OF
JAPANESE
LITERATURE
• ANCIENT LITERATURE
• CLASSICAL LITERATURE
• MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
• MODERN LITERATURE
–EDO PERIOD
–MEIJI PERIOD
–POST-WAR JAPAN
–CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
ANCIENT LITERATURE
Two of the oldest Japanese literature:
• KOIJIKI (RECORD OF ANCIENT MATTER)
Relates to the creation of the world, describes the
Gods and Goddess of the mythological period and
contain facts about ancient japan.

• NIHONGI (CHRONICLES OF JAPAN)

 tells the history of japan in poetry and shows
the profound influence of Chinese.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
-The Heian period, referred to as the golden era of Japanese
art and literature.

• Man’yoshu (collection of myrian leaves)

- the oldest collection of Japanese poetry collected in the
year 800
• Genji monogatari (the tale of genji)
- written by court lady named MURASAKI SHIKIBU is
considered the pre-eminent masterpiece of Heian fiction and
the first example of a work of fiction in the form of novel.
MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
• Japan experience may civil wars which led to
the development of a warrior class, and
subsequent war tales histories and related
stories.
• Work from this period is notable for its insight
into life and death simple lifestyles and
seppuku.
• Tale of the heike an epic account of the
struggle between two clans for control of japan
EDO PERIOD (TOKUGAWA PERIOD)
• The capital of japan moved from Kyoto to edo
(modern Tokyo)
• Scholarly work continued to be published in
Chinese which was the language of the learned
much as Latin was in Europe.
• Chikamatsu monzaemon a kabuki dramatist
known as the Japan's Shakespeare.
• Many genres of literature made their debut during
the edo period helped by arising literacy rate
among the growing population of townspeople as
EDO PERIOD

• The importation of Chinese vernacular fiction that

proved the greatest outside influence on the
development of early modern Japanese fiction.
• Genres include horror crime stories morality
comedy and pornography-often accompanied by
colorful woodcut prints.
MEIJI PERIOD
• The meiji period marks the re opening o japan to
the west and a period of rapid industrialization.
• The introduction of European literature brought
free verse into the poetic repertoire. It became
widely used for longer works embodying new
intellectual themes.
• Young Japanese prose writers and dramatists
struggled with a whole galaxy of new ideas an
artistic schools, but novelists were the first to
assimilate some of theses concepts successfully.
POST-WAR AND CONTEMPORARY
LITERATURE
• World war 2 and japans defeat deeply
influenced Japanese literature. Many authors
wrote stories of disaffection, loss of purpose,
and the coping with defeat.
• Prominent writers of the 1970’s and 1980’s
were identified with intellectual and moral
issues in their attempts to raise social and
political consciousness.
THEATER
&
POERTY
• NOH PLAY
the national theatre of
japan, which was
originally reserved for
the nobility. Legend says
that Noh dance was
invented by the Gods.
• JORURI
a puppet play or
doll theatre
wherein the dolls
are beautifully
made and life-like
in size.
• KABUKI
the play for the
masses. It is less
intellectual and
more realistic even
sensational.
 JAPANESE POETRY
• TANKA (5-7-5-7-7)
it is a line poem. The first and third lines
have five syllables each and the others
seven, making a total of thirty one syllables
per poem.
• HAIKU (5-7-5)
it is seventeen-syllables poem of three lines
arranged in lines of five-seven-five.
PRACTICES
TEA CEREMONY

• Tea ceremonies are a common part of Japanese culture. This formal

yet stylised custom is taken quite seriously. These ceremonies have
been greatly influenced by Buddhist practices and the event can be
likened to a meditative experience. Japanese tea ceremonies
possess deep meaning to the country and those who are invited
should feel quite honoured.
• If you find yourself invited to such an occasion, be aware that each
guest plays a role in the ceremony and will be seated in accordance
with their ranking.
• Guests should be keenly aware of Japanese tea ceremony etiquette as
it can be a fairly complex ritual.
THE SACRED PRACTICE OF GIFT
GIVING
• Another Japanese tradition that is extremely
prevalent throughout the culture is gift giving.
• When meeting with business associates or
arriving at someone’s home you have been
invited to, it is particularly important to show
respect and gratitude by presenting your hosts
with a gift.
• There are a variety of gifts that are acceptable;
these largely depend on the occasion and your
current relationship to the recipient.
• Additionally, how the gift is wrapped is essential; be sure
that it is packaged very nicely. If wrapping is not an option,
present it in a bag from the shop it was purchased from.
• Whatever you do, do not give someone gifts in a set of four
as this is considered unlucky since the Japanese word for
“four” is pronounced in the same way as “death”.

• Present your gift towards the end of your encounter, and do

so with both hands no matter if you are giving or receiving.
• Additionally, if you are ever offered a gift, strongly object
acceptance at first as this is polite; afterward, accept the
gift as anything less would be rude.
 FESTIVE AND CELEBRATORY
BONENKAI PARTIES
•Each December, Japan is swarming with Bonenkai parties.
•Bonenkai party means “forget the year party” and is a way
for the Japanese people to leave behind their troubles from
the current year and look optimistically towards a new one.
•Pretty much every company will throw one of these parties,
but there will also be private ones among friends and family.
•This Japanese tradition is typically structured with various
games and speeches.
•If you are fortunate enough to be invited to one of these
events, be sure to keep your etiquette intact (which we will
go over in a moment) as there is often a second party (and
possibly a third) afterward; these can get pretty rowdy.
“KAMPAI”: REVERANT SOCIAL
CONVENTION
• Whenever you are out drinking with Japanese people, you’re
going to hear the word “Kampai” quite a few times. This is akin to
“Cheers” in English-speaking countries and translates to “dry
glass” or “bottoms up”.
• Be mindful when partaking in alcoholic beverages, however, as it
is considered rude to pour yourself a drink; another guest
should take care of this for you and you should do the same for
others.
• Additionally, it is also boorish to start drinking before
everyone has a beverage and has the chance to Kampai.
• Finally, if you want to appear reverent to your newfound friends,
NOT TIPPING: A CUSTOM TOOTED IN
RESPECT
• Among all the festivities and drinks, your natural instincts
might kick in and convince you to leave a tip on your way
out of the bonenkai party or business meeting.
• Under no circumstances should you leave a tip in any
situation while visiting Japan.
• Leaving a tip conveys a message that the business must
not be well off and needs extra money.
• In the Japanese culture, all of the services you have
requested are included in the final price, so leave it at that.
SUMO
• Sumo is Japanese
style of wrestling and
japans national
sport. It originated
in ancient times as a
performance to
entertain the Shinto
gods. Many rituals
with religious
CEREMONIES
NEW YEAR
• Celebrated at January 1st to January 15.
• Most significant and important holiday. During
this time they begin the new year with a clean
state append time with family and friends and
prepare for the events of the new year. After
the cleaning houses are decorated with straw
ropes and pine bough that is burned in a
ceremonial bonfire at the end of the new year’s
celebration.
BIRTHDAY!
• Japanese birthdays are not as big a
celebration as they are in the West. In
fact, there was no custom of celebrating
birthdays in Japan until around 1950!
Before this, there was only one day on
which to celebrate birthdays (everyone's
birthday) and that day was New Year's
Day.
ARIGATO
GUZAIMASU!
(THANK YOU!)