Intercultural project within the complementary studies program
Japanese guest students and Leuphana students organize a movie night at Scala Kino
2025-02-05
At the end of the semester, moviegoers had the unique opportunity to experience the Japanese animation classic “Princess Mononoke” in the original with German subtitles (OmU) at the Scala Kino.
The evening was organized as part of a seminar in the complementary studies program at Leuphana University and implemented thanks to the Scala Kino. Japanese guest students from Hosei University in Tokyo worked with their German fellow students to develop a thematic approach to the film and presented it in a sold-out theater at the end of the lecture period.
Three Japanese students opened the evening with an introduction to the central themes of the film. They have studied at Leuphana since the winter semester as part of a special program with Hosei University Tokyo. The students explained how Princess Mononoke addresses the conflict between humans and nature in a complex, nuanced narrative: Ashitaka, a cursed warrior, tries to mediate between San, the princess of the forest, and the humans who exploit the forest. In doing so, the film addresses exploitation, destruction, survival and the hope for harmony, without making a clear distinction between “good” and “evil”. Particular emphasis was placed on how the destruction of habitats fuels hatred and conflict that can only be overcome through understanding and reconciliation.
After the screening, the students invited the audience to take part in a lively discussion, in which the audience actively contributed their own thoughts. They exchanged views on the aesthetic design, feminist aspects and cultural backgrounds such as Shintoism and real historical references in architecture and clothing. The relationship between humans and nature was discussed intensively: The destruction caused by industrialization, the anger of the forest spirits and the desperate struggle of animals and humans reflect real global problems such as climate change and the decline in biodiversity. The spiritual foundations of Shintoism, which regards nature as sacred, were highlighted as well as cultural aspects of Japonism, for example in architecture and myths.
The evening not only provided a fascinating insight into Japanese culture, but also the opportunity to reflect on current global challenges such as how to deal with nature, social conflicts and the search for harmony. It was a nice ending of the lecture period for the Japanese students, who will soon return to Tokyo after their semester abroad in Lüneburg.