Dr. Jędrzej Greń

Biographical details:

– 2019-present: Assistant Professor, Chair of Japanese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw

– 2016-2019: Research-and-teaching Assisstant, Chair of Japanese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw

– 2015: Ph.D. in humanities, specialization: Japanese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw; thesis: Pozycja społeczna elity kupieckiej samorządnych miast handlowych Japonii w drugiej połowie XVI w. w świetle dzienników herbacianych i korespondencji [Social position of the merchant elite of the Japanese self-governing cities in the second half of the 16th c. as reflected in tea diaries and correspondence]

– 2012: M.A. in History, Historical Faculty, University of Warsaw;
thesis: Angielska faktoria w Japonii 1613-1623 [The English factory in Japan 1613-1623]

– 2009: M.A. in Japanese Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw; thesis: Jōkamachi. Rozwój, struktura i rola miasta przyzamkowego w urbanizacji nowożytnej Japonii 1576-1700 [Jōkamachi. Development, structure and role of a castle-town in urbanization of early modern Japan 1576-1700]

Research experience:

2010-2012 – Postgraduate Research Program Grantee (MEXT Kenkyusei), Kobe University

2007-2008 – Japan Studies Student Program Grantee (MEXT Nikkensei), Kanazawa University

Publications:

Books

Greń, J. (2020). Silver and Tea. Japanese Merchant Elites of Hakata and Sakai and Their Relationships with Warriors in the Second Half of the 16th Century, Warsaw: University of Warsaw Press. [published in Polish as: Srebro i herbata. Japońskie elity kupieckie Hakaty i Sakai w relacjach z wojownikami w drugiej połowie XVI wieku]

Greń, J. (2019). [Japonika-Polonika 1919–2019 – bibliography], Supplement, in: Ewa Pałasz-Rutkowska, Historia stosunków polsko-japońskich, t. II: 1945-2018, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Wydział Orientalistyczny, Warsaw: Katedra Japonistyki, Seria Japonica. [published in Polish as: [Japonika-Polonika 1919–2019 – bibliografia]

Greń, J. (2014). The English in Japan (1600-1623), Warsaw: Agade Bis. [in Polish as: Anglicy w Japonii (1600-1623)]

Greń, J. (2013). Japanese castle-town. Its development, structure and role in urbanization of Japan (1576-1700) [Japońskie miasto przyzamkowe – rozwój, struktura i rola w urbanizacji Japonii (1576–1700)], Warsaw: Agade Bis. [in Polish]

Edited Books:

Kubiak Ho-Chi, B. and J. Greń (eds.) (2023). Unique or Universal? Japan and its Contribution to World Civilization. 100 Years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw, Vol. 1-2. Warsaw: University of Warsaw Press.
Vol. 1: 10.31338/uw.9788323562245
Vol. 2: https://doi.org/10.31338/uw.9788323562566

Articles and Book Chapters:

Greń, J. (2023). Unique Customs of Universal Meaning – Japanese Etiquette and the English East India Company (1613–1623), in: Beata Kubiak Ho-Chi, Jędrzej Greń (eds.), Unique or Universal? Japan and its Contribution to World Civilization. 100 Years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw, Vol. 1, pp. 133-150. Warsaw: University of Warsaw Press. 10.31338/uw.9788323562245.pp.133-152

Greń, J. (2020). Relations with warriors and their meaning as depicted in sources related to Shimai Sōshitsu (1539-1615), „Hikaku Nihongaku Kyōiku Kenkyū Sentā Kenkyū Nenpō” – „Comparative Japanese Studies Annual Bulletin”, vol. 16, pp. 65-70. Tokyo: Ochanomizu University.

Greń, J. (2017). To unknown friends and countrymen – William Adams’s letter from Japan (1611), in: Pałasz-Rutkowska, E. (Eds.)., Cross-cultural Encounters. Foreigners in Japan (16th – 20th century) [Spotkania międzykulturowe. Cudzoziemcy w Japonii (XVI-XX wiek)], (pp. 135–155). Warsaw: Japonica. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2016). Japanese books on Poland – outline of the topics. The National Library Yearbook (Rocznik Biblioteki Narodowej), XLVII, pp. 125–144. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2016). A journey of four youngsters – Alessandro Valignano and the first Japanese mission to Europe (1582–1590), in: Pałasz-Rutkowska, E. (Eds.)., Cross-cultural encounters. Japanese in the world till 20 cent. [Spotkania międzykulturowe. Japończycy w świecie (do XX wieku)], (pp. 111-129). Warsaw: Japonica. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2015). Japan – remembering war, remembrance of war. Centuries Speak (Mówią wieki), 5, pp. 51-54. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2014). Another country, different people – the image of Chinese civil administration in the relations of the Europeans from 16c. in: Klimiuk, M. (Eds.). Asia and Africa: Otherness – Difference – Diversity [Azja i Afryka: inność – odmienność – różnorodność]. Warsaw: Oriental Faculty, University of Warsaw. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2013). Letters of Japanese merchants (1550-1600), in: Tirala, M., Morita, M. (eds.). Distant Symbols and Close Signs. Japanese Studies in Central Europe 2013 (pp. 81-91). Prague: Nová vlna.

Greń, J. (2013). Letter as a historical source in the cultural, social and lingual contexts of 16^th c. Japan. Research problems and perspectives. in: Klimiuk, M. (Eds.). Asia and Africa: religions – cultures – languages [Azja i Afryka: religie, kultury, języki], Warsaw: Oriental Faculty Publications [in Polish].

Greń, J. (2012). Kanazawa as an early modern castle-town – military context, space-planning and legacy of the Maeda rule. In: Kubiak-Ho Chi, B. (Eds.). Japan in Poland [Japonia w Polsce] (pp. 414-430). Warsaw: University of Warsaw Publications. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2011). Opening of Japan – the first Japanese visits to Europe. In: Gorak-Sosnowska, K. & Markowska-Manista, U. (Eds.). Faces of Asia, Africa and Latin America – materials for lectures in global education [Oblicza Azji, Afryki i Ameryki Łacińskiej – materiały do zajęć z edukacji globalnej] (pp. 178-184). Warsaw: Special Pedagogy Publications. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2011). Volcanoes and tourism in Japan. In: ibid. (pp. 31-36) [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2011). A white samurai. Centuries Speak (Mówią wieki), 2, pp. 16-20. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2010). Barbarians and the samurai. Centuries Speak (Mówią wieki), 10, pp. 30-34. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2010). Japan meets the Europeans – from the opening to the world to the seclusion (1543-1640). In: Jurewicz, J. & Gorak-Sosnowska, K. Cultural aspects of development in Asia and Africa [Kulturowe uwarunkowania rozwoju w Azji i Afryce] (pp. 17-33). Lodz: Ibidem Publications. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2010). The Japanese railway miracle. Centuries Speak (Mówią wieki), 3, pp. 24-30. [in Polish]

Reviews:

Greń, J. (2010, Oct.). History of Japan. [Review of the book History of Japan (Historia Japonii), by C. Totman]. Historical Review (Przegląd historyczny), 3, p. 529. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (2010, Sept.). The Land of Cherry Blossom. [Review of the book History of Japan (Historia Japonii), by C. Totman]. Centuries Speak (Mówią wieki), 9, p. 58. [in Polish]

Presentations:

Greń, J. (Feb. 2024). Retelling the Turmoil. Everyday Sengoku Life in the Ietada Nikki. The Asiatic Society of Japan Young Academic Lecture.

Greń, J. (Oct. 2023). Wine and cheese. European food diplomacy in early modern Japan (17-19 c). Japan throught the Lens of Foreign Relations: Historical Perspectives on Contemporary Issues. 14th Annual Days of Japan at the University of Warsaw, 23-25 October 2023.

Greń, J. (Dec. 2020). By frugality and work… Merchants’ ethos as seen in the „Testament of Shimai Sōshitsu”. 14th Annual Days of Japan at the University of Warsaw, December 2020. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (Dec. 2019). 「島井宗室(1539-1615)に関する史料に見える武士との関係とその意味」 [Relations with warriors and their meaning as depicted in sources related to Shimai Sōshitsu (1539-1615)]. 2019年国際日本学コンソーシアム [2019 International Consortium of Japanese Studies]. Ochanomizu University, Tokyo.

Greń, J. (Oct. 2018). Unique tokens of universal values – famous tea utensils in late medieval Japanese politics. Unique or Universal? Japan and its Contribution to World Civilization. An International Conference to Commemorate 100 Years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw The 13th Annual Days of Japan at the University of Warsaw  23-25 October 2019.

Greń, J. (Oct. 2018). ‘According to the Custome’ – the First English in Japan and their Etiquette towards the Japanese (1613–1623). Form and Freedom: the Japanese Perspective
International Conference at the 12th Annual Days of Japan at the University of Warsaw
October 22–24, 2018.

Greń, J. (Dec. 2017). Matsudaira Ietada and his diary. Problems and Perspectives for Japan in a Changing World: Thirty Years of Japanese Studies in Poznan, 7-9 December 2017, Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) in Poznan, Poland.

Greń, J. (Oct. 2016). Rejecting the influences. First steps towards seclusion as seen by the English merchants in Japan (Autumn of 1616). The 11th Annual Days of Japan at the University of Warsaw, October 2016. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (Oct. 2016). Shinkansen as a symbol of modern Japan. The 10th Annual Days of Japan at the University of Warsaw October 24-26, 2016. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (Apr. 2012). Letter as a historical source in the cultural, social and lingual contexts of 16^th century Japan. Research problems and perspectives. Asia and Africa: cultures, religions, languages, University of Warsaw, Poland. [in Polish]

Greń, J. (Jun. 2012). 「１６世紀の商人の手紙 – その内容と史料としての価値」 (Letters of Japanese merchants in the 16th century and their value as historical sources), 「中欧日本語教育・日本研究シンポジウム」Symposium on Education of Japanese and Japanese Studies in Central Europe, Charles University in Prague, Czech Rep. [in Japanese]

Greń, J. (Oct. 2010).   Europeans and the city of Sakai in the 16th c. Research inspirations, questions and aims. The Third Workshop on the Encounters of Young Scholars on Asian Studies, Kōbe University, Japan.

Gren, J. (May 2009). Japanese castle-towns – early modern urbanization and its heritagetoday. The Contemporary Oriental City from a Linguistic, Literary and Cultural Perspective,  Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland.