Japogadanki! – Discover Japan from the Community's Perspective PJAIT

Japan can be fascinating in many ways. Some are drawn to its popular culture, while others are attracted to its traditional theater, philosophy, language, or society. And it is precisely this diversity that gave rise to “Japogadanki! ”—a series of conversations with faculty members from the Department of Japanese Culture at PJAIT.

In each episode, we meet with one of our faculty members to talk not only about Japan, but above all about the aspect of Japan that has become the focus of their interests, research, and work. The conversations are informal, though we don’t shy away from academic topics. We want to show that behindthe courses offered in our program are people who have been engaged for years in a wide variety of fields related to Japan.

Why do we record the “Japogadanki” videos? First and foremost, to better introduce our faculty to current and prospective students. We also want to show thatstudying Japan doesn’t have to mean following a single, predetermined path. Japan can be explored, interpreted, and studied from a wide variety of perspectives—and it is precisely this diversity that is one of the greatest values of the program.

Among those who have appeared in our conversations so far are lecturers from PJAIT — Dr. Radosław Siedliński, Dr. Jakub Karpoluk, Dr. Piotr Milewski, andDr. Yasuko Shibata. We discussed, among other things, whether philosophy can help us understand anime, what Noh theater has in common with anime and video games, what Japan looks like without an idealizing filter, and how Polish and Japanese societies differ from one another.

"Japogadanki!" is not meant to provide a single answer to the question of what Japan is like. On the contrary—it is meant to encourage people to ask more questions. It’s a country where tradition and modernity, high culture and popular culture, and familiar phenomena coexist alongside things that, from a Polish perspective, may seem completely foreign. Perhaps that’s precisely why Japan remains so fascinating to so many people.

Can Philosophy Help Us Understand Anime? | Dr. Radosław Siedliński

How can we analyze Japanese pop culture and contemporary media using classical Western thought? What role do philosophy and critical thinking play in interpreting them?

Jakub Zajfert speaks withDr. Radosław Siedliński, a lecturer in the Department of Japanese Culture at PJAIT, whose research focuses on Japanese audiovisual culture. The conversation begins with Japanese pop culture, but the discussion also leads to broader questions about how we perceive and interpret contemporary media.

What Do Noh Theater, Anime, and Video Games Have in Common? | Dr. Jakub Karpoluk

Masks, precise micro-movements, a distinctive rhythm, and symbolism in which even the smallest gesture can carry meaning. What is traditional Japanese Noh theater like, and how can one learn to interpret its language?

In the second episode of the "Japogadanki" series, Jakub Zajfert speaks withDr. Jakub Karpoluk, a Japanologist, theater artist, and actor who studied the art of traditional Noh theater at Waseda University in Tokyo. The conversation explores the most important elements of this theatrical form, from the significance of masks and the actors’ movements to the unique rhythm of the performances.

Japan Unfiltered: What Is It Really Like? | Dr. Piotr Milewski

How does your perception of Japan change when, instead of seeing it from a tourist’s perspective, you spend several years there? What remains of your earlier impressions once you begin to experience Japanese daily life from the inside?

Jakub Zajfert speaks withDr. Piotr Milewski, an award-winning writer, reporter, and lecturer who has spent a total of nine years in Japan. The conversation touches on, among other things, the clash between an idealized image of the country and reality, as well as his experiences working at a Japanese corporation.

Between Poland and Japan: Two Different Societies | Dr. Yasuko Shibata

How do Polish and Japanese societies differ from one another? And to what extent are our perceptions of Japan shaped by manga, anime, and other elements of pop culture?

Jakub Zajfert speaks with Dr. Yasuko Shibata, a graduate of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Polish Academy of Sciences, who examines the contrasts between Polish and Japanese society from a sociological perspective. The conversation covers cultural differences, perceptions of both countries, and the ideas about Japan held by Polish students.

What Can You Do After Studying Japanese Culture? | Maria Halkiewicz and Szymon Kaleta

Could an interest in manga, anime, and Japanese pop culture turn into something more?

In the next episode of “Japogadanek,” Jakub Zajfert talks withMaria Halkiewicz and Szymon Kaleta —recent graduates of the Japanese Culture program atPJAIT.

Whether you’re a high school graduate considering your college options, a prospective student interested in studying Japan, or already one of our students— we invite you to come talk with us. Get to know our faculty members, their areas of interest, and their diverse perspectives on Japan.

You can find "Japogadanki! " on YouTube at PJAIT.