„Wir sind auf Tapferkeit und Handel abgericht / Doch trauen wir Oranjern und Jesuiten nicht“

In the organizer's words:

The Japanese adventure in German-language travelogues of the early modern period

Lecture by Prof. Dr. Detlef Haberland, Bonn

Japan was already a household name in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. But it was mainly conjecture and less concrete knowledge that surrounded the mysterious, beautiful and strange island kingdom. Reliable information was even more difficult to obtain during the Sakoku period. How the authors dealt with these difficulties is shown by authors such as Caspar Schmalkalden, Johan Albrecht von Mandelsloh, George Meister and others. Engelbert Kaempfer's work on Japan marks the transition to modern research.

EXPO 2025 begins in Ôsaka in April, giving visitors a unique opportunity to get to know other countries. The Japanese Cultural Institute is taking this opportunity to present the long-standing relationship between Japan and the German-speaking world through this lecture.

As the examples of obstacles to knowledge transfer in the past illustrate, the impressions and insights gained from direct encounters with the country and its inhabitants are the most reliable sources and also provide inspiration for future exchanges.

Price information:

Free admission, registration required