Japanese2

• The modern Japanese writing system includes Kanji, Hiragana for native Japanese words, and Katakana for foreign loanwords or emphasis

  
• Ancient Japanese literature includes the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matter) and the Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan)
• The Heian Period is known as the golden era of Japanese art and literature, featuring works like the Man’yoshu and the Genji Monogatari
• Medieval Japanese literature includes insights into life and death, simple lifestyles, and works like the Tale of the Heike
• The Edo Period in Japan saw the development of a warrior class, war tales, and the emergence of genres like horror, crime stories, and comedy in literature
• The Meiji Period in Japan marked the re-opening to the West, rapid industrialization, and the introduction of European literature influencing Japanese works
• Post-War and Contemporary Japanese literature reflects themes of disaffection, loss, and coping with defeat, with authors addressing social and political issues
• Japanese drama includes Noh plays, Joruri plays, and Kabuki performances, each with its unique characteristics and history
• Japanese poetry forms include Tanka, a five-line poem, and Haiku, a seventeen-syllable poem arranged in lines of five-seven-five