Description of the courses in the field of Budô and Japan

In the following you will find a description of the courses in the field of Budô and Japan.
Theses courses are performed in Vienna and will be blocked at weekends (Friday – Sunday).

Course: Japanese History and Society

Duration: 24 lessons
Responsible course instructor : Prof. Dr. Wolfram Manzenreiter
Professors: Prof. Dr. Wolfram Manzenreiter & Team
Aim: Understanding of the historical progress of Japan and it´s society.

Content:
The overview of Japan´s history provides the basis of understanding
in Japanese society and the ability to relate to social and economic incidents.
These sociopolitical and socioeconomical skills should be communicated to the students in order to be able to better analyze the Japanese society and it´s characteristics. Backed by occidental history, these courses are to enhance the attendent´s cross-cultural competence based on systematic cultural comparison.

Topical focus of Modul 5:

• History of Martial Arts in Japan
• History of Japan: Early ages until Edo
• History of Japan: Meiji until today
• Cultural theory 1: General
• Cultural theory 2: Example Japan

Topical focus of Modul 6:

• Governance in Japan
• Budô: Japanese Martial Arts in Europe
• Organisation of Martial Arts in Today´s Japan
• Cross-Cultural Comparison: Budô in Japan and Europe (exercise)
• Application from Martial Arts concepts to strategies of Management
• Significance of rituals (exercise)
• Ideological base of Japanese companies (practical course)
• Management and Martial Arts (exercise)

Course: Economy and Management in Japan

Duration: 24 lessons
Responsible course instructor: Dr. Jörg Mahlich
Professors: Dr. Jörg Mahlich, Dr. Friedhelm Boschert

Aim: Establishment and development of cross-cultural management, as well as the analysis of the different Japanese business culture.

Content: In this course the students should be taught the characteristic Japanese principles of Management, furthermore the special forming of the Japanese business culture and the corporate action  in Japan.
The understanding of the Japanese Management´s characteristics is crucial for a better cross-cultural understanding and therefore an essential precondition  for entering the Japanese market.

Topical focus of Modul 5:

• Japanese economy: The 20th Century
• Japanese economy: Historical development
• Ethics: The Japanese society
• Ethics: Japanese companies
• Management, Ethics and Business Culture (exercise)

Topical focus of Modul 6:

• Cross-cultural aspects in companies (exercise)
• Presentation of the case study Volksbank International
• Japanese companies in Europe
• Corporate Management: Comparison Japan / Europe
• Field trip: JTI – Japanese Tobacco Industries

Course: Basics of Budô and Zen in Japan

Duration: 24 lessons
Responsible course instructor: Mag. Masataka Ohshita
Professors: Mag. Masataka Ohshita, Dr. Fleur Wöss

Aim: Acquirement of Budô and Zen principles, methods and strategies and the ability to assign it to daily life and work.

Content: The students are being taught the principles and methods of Budô and Zen as well as the relevant exercises to prove if they have suitability for daily use.
The understanding for using them in daily life as well as in the professional world should not only strengthen the attendent´s  individual competences but also train and expand their mental and psychic skills.

Budô and Zen are essential components of Japanese culture, which are also well known outside of Japan. Furthermore Budô and Zen enable our access to deeper understanding of Japanese society, economy and culture.

Topical focus of Modul 5:

• Introduction to Zen (exercise)
• Zen meditation
• History of Zen: Roots and development
• Zen: In daily life and Management
• Cultural impact on Martial Arts & Zen (exercise)
• Militarism and his impact on Budô (exercise)
• Practical exercises in Budô

Topical focus of Modul 6:

• Budô: Budô rituals
• Zen meditation
• Practical exercises in Budô

Course: Japanese Religion, Philosophy and Culture

Duration: 24 lessons
Responsible course instructor. Dr. Fleur Wöss
Professors: Dr. Fleur Wöss

Aim: Development of elementary understanding of Japanese Religion, Philosophy and Culture.

Content: The students are being taught the main features of Japanese Religion, Philosophy and Culture. On one hand it is about analyzing the sociology of religion, on the other hand also about creating understanding between religion, the state and the structural hierarchy in daily life and economy.
This is a further component for a deeper understanding of Japanese society and establishes a basis for the understanding of Japanese business and management culture.


Topical focus of Modul 5:

• Culture and Religion: Shintoism
• Culture and Religion: Confucianism
• Culture and Religion: Buddhism
• Culture and Religion (exercise)
• History: Development of the warrior caste
• Behavioral norm in Japan

Topical focus of Modul 6:

• Management: Rituals in companies in Japan and Europe
• Field trip: Volksbank International (exercise)
• Japanese culture and philosophy in Europe