Chopin 2025: Japanese learn Polish because of love for Chopin
The Japanese, like Poles, are romantics who have a deep passion for Chopin, and this affinity is what draws them to the Polish language, culture, and history, Koji Morita, the head of Polish Studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS), has said.
Prior to the ongoing 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Professor Koji Morita published the first Polish language textbook in Japan.
From October 2 to 4, Professor Morita participated in the III International Convention on the Polish Language and Culture held at the Szczecin University, in north-western Poland. Organised by the Institute of Linguistics and the Institute of Literature and New Media, the congress attracted scholars from both Poland and abroad, including China, Japan, Brazil, Germany and Lithuania.
While in Szczecin, Professor Morita presented his Polish language textbook, prepared in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
In an interview with PAP, Professor Morita admitted that the publication date of the textbook in June was not chosen by chance.
"Interest in Poland has significantly increased due to the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition that is taking place this year. Music unites nations, and this is the essence of Chopin's influence. Many Japanese people visit Warsaw. And while in Poland, they wish to engage in at least basic communication in Polish. This brings them great joy," he said.
When asked about the perception of Poland among the Japanese, Professor Morita said that "for young people, students, it is simply regarded as a European country."
"This is a country with an interesting culture and history. The Japanese, similar to the Poles, are romantics. Chopin composed his music during the time when Poland was partitioned. The quest for independence, romanticism, and the Polish mentality are what captivate the Japanese," he said.
He further mentioned that the Polish language textbook has been "selling more intensively lately," and it is available in bookstores throughout Japan as well as on online platforms. He said that he had prepared the publication, 'Introduction to Polish Language Learning in 10 Lessons,' not only for about the 70 Japanese students enrolled in Polish studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
"It's not a large department, but we're proud to be the only Polish studies department in Japan. My goal is to promote the Polish language throughout Japan. The textbook may be a bit too simple for philology students, but it's suitable for so-called average Japanese learner," Morita explained. "I encourage everyone interested in Poland not to be shy and to confidently pursue learning the language. This is how you can discover a new world," he added.
The textbook is designed for beginners (level A1). Professor Morita plans to expand it to level A2.
"At level B, learners can utilise Polish textbooks, but for those starting from the beginning, everything must be explained in Japanese. The grammar is difficult," he explained.
When inquired about the significant difficulties Japanese learners face in Polish, he identified the perfective and imperfective verbs, as well as the grammatical aspect of tense.
"This is a very important grammatical element of Slavic languages which is absent in our language. That is why the Japanese have trouble with certain Polish verbs," he said.
According to Professor Morita, Polish might be more difficult for the Japanese than English, but pronunciation in Polish is easier. "Polish can be read, basically, as it is written. In contrast, English pronunciation varies from its spelling," he said.
Professor Morita has been the head of the Polish Studies Department at the Tokyo university since 2013. Earlier he worked at the Kobe City University of Foreign Studies (2010-2013), and from 2005 to 2010, he was a lecturer in Japanese studies at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, southern Poland.
"I came to the conclusion that I was not suited for Japanese studies," Morita said. "I wanted to teach Polish to my countrymen and decided to return to Japan permanently. I prefer to teach Polish. I am not a Japanese studies major, I am Polish studies major, and I want to further continue my Polish studies research," he added.
The 52-year-old scholar became interested in Slavic languages as a student in the 1990s, starting with Russian. "However, we have no shortage of Russian studies here. Russia is a neighbour of Japan. I wanted to learn another Slavic language, and I was fortunate enough to go to Warsaw during my studies in 1994," Morita told PAP.
After his trip to Poland, Morita decided to change his educational direction and began studying Polish as part of his Slavic studies programme. He later came to Warsaw on a Polish government scholarship in order to continue his studies. He obtained his PhD at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN). The subject of his doctoral dissertation focused on Polish dialects in Lithuania and Belarus. Since 2005, Morita has been a member of the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
Koji Morita holds a PhD in Slavic linguistics and works as an associate professor in Tokyo. He teaches practical Polish, Polish morphology and syntax, and Polish-Japanese and Japanese-Polish translation.
In an interview with PAP, he said that graduates of Polish studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies could count on attractive job offers from Japanese companies in Poland and that they also pursue careers in the diplomatic service.
"All Japanese employees of the Polish Embassy in Tokyo and the Polish Institute in Tokyo are graduates of our Polish studies. One might assert that we cultivate diplomatic professionals," Morita said.
Thirteen Japanese pianists are taking part in the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, which started in Warsaw on October 2 and will end on October 23.
The Polish Press Agency PAP is one of the contest's media patrons. (PAP)
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