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Arts of Japan (Online)
Year course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
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Japan is today a leading innovator in the fields of art, craft and design. This course explores the historical roots of diverse traditions, from primitive Shinto to manga and popular culture.
On this online Japanese art course, you can learn from our world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with more than 30 hours of study over 10 weeks. Learn at your own pace: lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials are available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for up to 10 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. And finally, join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
Prefer to attend the course in-person at V&A South Kensington? Book now for Arts of Japan (In Person plus Gallery Talks) .
To browse our full range of courses click here!
This course is suitable for participants aged 18 and over.
On this online Japanese art course, you can learn from our world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with more than 30 hours of study over 10 weeks. Learn at your own pace: lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials are available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for up to 10 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. And finally, join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
Prefer to attend the course in-person at V&A South Kensington? Book now for Arts of Japan (In Person plus Gallery Talks) .
To browse our full range of courses click here!
This course is suitable for participants aged 18 and over.
Course Director
Dr Helen Glaister
Art Historian Dr Helen Glaister specialises in Chinese Ceramics and Decorative Arts. Before the V&A, she worked at the British Museum and Birkbeck, University of London. Helen was awarded her PhD from SOAS, where she still teaches. Current research focusses collections history, Chinese lacquer and ceramics of the late modern period.
Wonderful speakers talking about the most current thinking and research Previous V&A Academy Attendee
V&A Academy Online. A learning environment you can trust.
Our courses are built using the latest Microsoft software. Tune in to expert lectures live or catch up on demand. Join discussions and continue your learning with downloadable handouts and presentations. Find out more >>
Course overview
From the emergence of primitive Shinto in ancient Japan, this course follows the development of Japanese art, craft and design up to the present. The advent of Buddhism exerted a great influence, notably through sculpture, painting, calligraphy, and architecture which developed steadily, becoming the dominant influence on all the arts up to the tenth century.
By the 12th century, the ruling military elite had become important patrons of the arts, evident in the swords, armour, and the warrior aesthetic of the samurai. The culture of the townspeople during the Edo period (1615-1868) transformed concepts of decoration and design, as seen through ukiyo-e prints, fashionable dress, lacquerware, ceramics, and metalware.
Contact with the West, at first limited, had by the nineteenth century opened Japan to new markets and influences, resulting in a great melding of art forms and aesthetics. The engagement of Japan with global currents in architecture and design, fashion and photography shaped the production of innovative art forms at home and abroad up to the present, significantly contributing to emerging technologies and popular culture.
Enrol now
Year course: Arts of Japan (Online)
19 January 2026 - 23 March 2026
£300.00
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
