History
Jagiellonian University, which is the oldest university in Poland, established
in 1364, has its own tradition of oriental languages teaching, dating back
to the 19th century. However, until the first decades of the 20th century,
the Japanese language was not present among them. There are, however, records
left in the university archives, about a lecture on the Japanese language
given in the academic years of 1930-1932 by Dr. D. Carr. In the academic
years of 1979-1981 the Japanese language was unofficially lectured by Mr.
M. Yagi. Later, a first Polish lecturer in Japanese, Mr. A. Kowalunas,
a graduate of Japanese studies in the University of Warsaw, was employed
by the university and this was followed in the next year, in October 1987,
by an official inauguration of the newly created Department of Japanese
Studies.
The department has been established within the present Institute of Oriental
Philology at the Faculty of Philology. Professor M. Melanowicz of the University
of Warsaw, a leading Polish expert in the field of Japanese literary studies,
was employed by Jagiellonian University to teach courses and appointed
its head. The establishment of the department could finally meet long expectations
and growing interest toward the Japanese language and culture not only
in the southern part of Poland, where the university is the most important
academic center, but also in the whole country. In 2004 professor R. Huszcza
became the next head of the department, following the tradition of the
Japanese studies in the university.
The creation of Manggha - Center of Japanese Art and Technology in Krakow
in November 1994 (since 2006 his oficial name has changed to Manggha -
Museum of Japanese Art and Technology), which was built due to initiative
and long years efforts of the world-wide famous film director A. Wajda,
gave a new stimulus to the development of Japanese studies and Japanese
language and education in Krakow. The Manggha Center has soon became the
most important institution introducing the Japanese culture in Poland to
the wide circles of society. It began a very close cooperation with our
department since its beginning. Our faculty members were frequently invited
to give lectures and our students attended various presentations of Japanese
art and culture, concerts, performances and meetings. Our graduates were
employed by the center as its faculty members or lecturers in Japanese.
For further details, cf.:
M. Łukasiewicz, Studia japonistyczne na Uniwersytecie Jagiellońskim w
Krakowie, Japonica 12, Warszawa 2000, pp. 45-51.
R. Huszcza, Japanese Studies at Jagiellonian University, Papers of
the 10th International Conference of EAJS Japanese Studies in Central and
Eastern Europe. Special Session, 26 August 2003, pp. 35-37.