Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit
Encyclopedia
Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit b. (1948 in Korntal
) is a distinguished German
Japanologist and Translator. In 1992 she was awarded Germany's most prestigious prize for distinction in research, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Prize.
, Sinology
, Philosophy
and Sociology
at Hamburg University. She then studied at the Ruhr University
in Bochum
(1969-1970), and in the same year took up a scholarship to study at Waseda University
(1970-1972) and Tokyo University. On her return, she completed her doctorate (1972-1975) summa cum laude at the Department of Oriental Studies of the Ruhr University in Bochum, combining Japanology, German Studies and the Communication Science. After a further year of specialization in Germanic
and Comparative Literature
, she taught at the same faculty (1977-1985). In 1980, she obtained her postdoctoral qualification for teaching, and joined the German Research Foundation under a five year grant with the Heisenberg Programme.
On the expiry of her grant, she obtained an appointment as extraordinary Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Hitotsubashi University
in Tokyo
, where she taught courses on both Japanese Literature and the sociology of literature. In 1986 she was appointed to the newly established chair of Japanology at Trier
University. In 1991 she was called to a professorial position at the Free University of Berlin
, where she has been active down to the present day.
In 1993, Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit became a founding member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, received the Federal Cross of Merit of Germany in 1995 and was Director of the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo from 1996 to 2004. For her services in promoting mutual understanding between German and Japanese culture she was awarded the Eugen and Ilse Seibold Prize in 2001. She also served as President of the European Association for Japanese Studies (1994 -1997).
She is also general editor of both the Japanese Library series published by Insel
(Japanische Bibliothek) with 32 volumes published (1993-2000) and of the Iaponia Insula series published by Iudicium (15 volumes) dedicated to studies on Japanese culture and society. She is also on the editorial board of Monumenta Nipponica
and the Japan Forum, the journal of the British Association for Japanese Studies
When not professionally engaged, she pursues a very active interest in the culinary arts.
Korntal-Münchingen
Korntal-Münchingen is a town in the district of Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated at the northwestern border of Stuttgart and 8 km of its centre, and 10 km southwest of Ludwigsburg...
) is a distinguished German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Japanologist and Translator. In 1992 she was awarded Germany's most prestigious prize for distinction in research, the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
Gottfried Leibniz
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher and mathematician. He wrote in different languages, primarily in Latin , French and German ....
Prize.
Life
From 1967 to 1969 she studied JapanologyJapanology
Japanese Studies is a term generally used in Europe to describe the historical and cultural study of Japan; in North America, the academic field is usually referred to as Japanese studies, which includes contemporary social sciences as well as classical humanistic fields.European Japanology is the...
, Sinology
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
, Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Hamburg University. She then studied at the Ruhr University
Ruhr University
Ruhr University Bochum , located on the southern hills of central Ruhr area Bochum, was founded in 1962 as the first new public university in Germany since World War II...
in Bochum
Bochum
Bochum is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany. It is located in the Ruhr area and is surrounded by the cities of Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Herne, Castrop-Rauxel, Dortmund, Witten and Hattingen.-History:...
(1969-1970), and in the same year took up a scholarship to study at Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
(1970-1972) and Tokyo University. On her return, she completed her doctorate (1972-1975) summa cum laude at the Department of Oriental Studies of the Ruhr University in Bochum, combining Japanology, German Studies and the Communication Science. After a further year of specialization in Germanic
German literature
German literature comprises those literary texts written in the German language. This includes literature written in Germany, Austria, the German part of Switzerland, and to a lesser extent works of the German diaspora. German literature of the modern period is mostly in Standard German, but there...
and Comparative Literature
Comparative literature
Comparative literature is an academic field dealing with the literature of two or more different linguistic, cultural or national groups...
, she taught at the same faculty (1977-1985). In 1980, she obtained her postdoctoral qualification for teaching, and joined the German Research Foundation under a five year grant with the Heisenberg Programme.
On the expiry of her grant, she obtained an appointment as extraordinary Professor in the Department of Social Sciences at Hitotsubashi University
Hitotsubashi University
is a national university specialised in the social sciences in Tokyo, Japan. The University has campuses in Kunitachi, Kodaira, and Kanda.Hitotsubashi is considered as one of the most prestigious universities in Japan. It is ranked 25th in the world in 2011 by École des Mines de Paris.Hitotsubashi...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, where she taught courses on both Japanese Literature and the sociology of literature. In 1986 she was appointed to the newly established chair of Japanology at Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
University. In 1991 she was called to a professorial position at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
, where she has been active down to the present day.
In 1993, Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit became a founding member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, received the Federal Cross of Merit of Germany in 1995 and was Director of the German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo from 1996 to 2004. For her services in promoting mutual understanding between German and Japanese culture she was awarded the Eugen and Ilse Seibold Prize in 2001. She also served as President of the European Association for Japanese Studies (1994 -1997).
She is also general editor of both the Japanese Library series published by Insel
Insel
Insel is a village and a former municipality in the district of Stendal, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 September 2010, it is part of the town Stendal....
(Japanische Bibliothek) with 32 volumes published (1993-2000) and of the Iaponia Insula series published by Iudicium (15 volumes) dedicated to studies on Japanese culture and society. She is also on the editorial board of Monumenta Nipponica
Monumenta Nipponica
Monumenta Nipponica is a biannual academic journals of Japanese studies. It is affiliated with Sophia University .- Contents :Each issue contains three to four main research articles, and ten to fifteen reviews of recent books in Japanese studies, dealing with Japanese society, culture, history,...
and the Japan Forum, the journal of the British Association for Japanese Studies
British Association for Japanese studies
The British Association for Japanese Studies, BAJS, is an association at Essex University in the United Kingdom, whose aim is to promote studies in the Japan...
When not professionally engaged, she pursues a very active interest in the culinary arts.
Publications
- Selbstentblößungsrituale: Zur Theorie und Geschichte der autobiographischen Gattung Shishosetsu in der modernen japanischen Literatur, Otto Harrowitz, Wiesbaden 1981. (2nd.rev.ed.2005)
- Das Ende der Exotik Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main, 1988
- Was heißt: Japanische Literatur verstehen? Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main, 1990
- Rituals of self-revelation: Shishosetsu as literary genre and socio-cultural phenomenonHarvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1996 (tr. of 1981)
- Überwindung der Moderne? Suhrkamp, Frankfurt am Main, 1996.
- Kulturbeziehungen zwischen Japan und dem Westen seit 1853 Iudicium, Munich,1999
- Forschen und Fördern im Zeichen des Ginkgo Iudicium, Munich, 1999
- Canon and identity DIJ, Berlin, 2000
- Japanische Gegenwartsliteratur, Ed. Text und Kritik, Munich, 2000
- Japan , Insel, Frankfurt am Main, 2000 .
- Eine gewisse Farbe der Fremdheit , Iudicium, Munich, 2001
- Selbstentblößungsrituale zur Theorie und Geschichte der autobiographischen Gattung ”Shishosetsu” in der modernen japanischen Literatur, 2nd ed. Iudicium Munich, 2005