Arts & Culture Exchange
2012-2013 Programs
The Japan Foundation Los Angeles provides funding and exchange opportunties for individuals and organizations, residing in the thirteen states west of the Rocky Mountains, in all aspects of Japanese Arts and Culture. Our prupose is to enhance mutual understanding among countries from all over the world. Please click on the links below to find out how we can bring Japanese culture to you.
Rental Exhibitions
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, is proud to offer various arts and culture related materials to cultural and educational institutions thorughout the United States to promote a better understand of Japan. These materials include the following:
- World Heritage Photo Panels
- Japan in a Suitcase
- Japanese Toys
All items are free to rent for up to three months; however, you must cover the cost of shipping both ways including insurance.
School Program
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, offers a free School Program designed to give students a fun and informative introduction to Japanese culture and traditions. It is approximately 90 minutes long and is available Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays between 10 am and 4 pm. This program is not available on weekends and holidays.
JFLA Lecture Series 9:
Art, Protest, Revolution: Avant-Garde Madness in 1960s Japan
With Professor William Marotti
June 5th at 7PM
Click Here to RSVP (Required)
The universality and global characteristics of Japanese art that so pique the interest of the Western art world are not all to be found in mere Japonism. Recently, a number of exhibitions featuring Japanese art of the 1960s and 1970s in particular have been held on both coasts of the United States. In Professor Marotti’s masterpiece Money, Trains, and Guillotines: Art and Revolution in 1960s Japan, he describes Genpei Akasegawa and other little-known unorthodox artists of the Avant-Garde movement that developed as Japan realized its independence in the chaotic postwar period. As Japan went through the growing pains of becoming one of the world’s most developed industrial and economic powers, how did these artists bear witness to this massive upheaval in their society? Join us in experiencing the earth-shaking madness brought forth by the artists of 1960s Tokyo.
Japanema Matinees
We offer a cinema program called “JAPANEMA” at our auditorium. JAPANEMA comes from mixing “Japanese” and “cinema” into one word. It is a free screening series, filled with all kinds of films. We will have two kinds of screening; “JAPANEMA Matinees”, which is held during lunchtime every Wednesday starting at 12:00pm.
Japanema
Evening screenings schedules vary by month and will be announced on our website. For more information on this month's film, please visit the link below.
JFLA PAST Events
JFLA Lecture Series Part 8
Curators’ View: Japanese Contemporary Photography
Thursday, April 18th, 7PM Start
JFLA Auditorium
Britt Salvesen, Curator and Head of the Photography Department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and Amanda Maddox, Assistant Curator of Photographs at the Getty Museum will talk about their recent experiences as part of the Japan Foundation’s Japan-US Curator Exchange Program in Japan.
JFLA Lecture Series Part 7
Watch & Learn - Classical Japanese Dance And Make-up
By Masako Nishika & Kirk Nishikawa Dixon
Wednesday, April 10th at 7PM
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History of Classical Japanese Dance & the Nishikawa Ryu
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Demonstration of Traditional Japanese Theater Make-up
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Demo & Experience Basic Choreography
JFLA Lecture Series Part 6
Bento - Japanese Culture in a Box
By Debra Samuels
Monday, April 8th at 7PM
Debra Samuels, Boston Globe food writer, cooking instructor and author of the popular cookbook My Japanese Table: A Lifetime of Cooking with Friends and Family will give a presentation on Japanese culinary culture focusing on obento, the traditional Japanese lunch box. She will guide you through the many aspects of obento as well as demonstrate this art highlighting nutrition, aesthetics, colors and balance.
JFLA Lecture Series Part 5
Asian Voices And The US Japan Relationship in 2013
By Aiko Doden
Friday, March 1st at 7PM
Please join us for our fifth lecture series as we explore the US Japan Relationship in 2013 with Aiko Doden, senior commentor on international affairs at NHK.
JFLA Lecture Series Part 4
Anime and Hollywood
By Roland Kelts
Wednesday, February 20th at 7PM
Roland Kelts, the author of "Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S." will be featured in the fourth JFLA lecture series to talk about the effects of Anime on Hollywood.
JFLA Lecture Series Part 3
Restoration of Fukushima from 3.11
Thursday, January 24, 7pm-8:30pm
Due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and the following nuclear accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, the people of Fukushima have been suffering hardships, which have never been experienced in human history.
JFLA Lecture Series Part 2
PARO: The World's Most Therapeutic Robot
Saturday, January 12, 1-2:30pm
Japan has a long history of robotics as far back as seventeenth century when Karakuri ningyo (automata) was invented. Nowadays, Japan has become well known for the advancement of robotics and its cutting-edge technology has been utilized in daily lives. The therapeutic robot PARO was designed to comfort the elderly, people with disabilities, dementia patients, as well as autistic children. PARO has been used in Japan, Europe and the U.S. for a several years. In this lecture, Dr. Takanori Shibata, the creator of PARO will speak about the development of PARO and its practical applications, and the cultural impact of robotics in Japan.
JFLA Lecture Series Part 1: Explore the World of GO
Saturday, December 15, 1-3pm
Go is an ancient board game that has been played in Japan since at least 10th century. Mr. Andrew Okun, president of American Go Association will talk about the history and development of Go in Japan. His lecture explores the ancient board game and how it has continuously expanded in its popularity worldwide as well as evolve in style. Participants will have the opportunity to play Go after the lecture (Instructions will be provided).
JFLA Events
Photo Exhibit: Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
March 26th - April 27th at JFLA Auditorium
Every spring, 3,800 Cherry Blossom trees turn the city of Washington, DC the most beautiful shade of pink. These trees were gifted from Japan in 1912 and in the one hundred years since, the Cherry Blossom trees have firmly rooted themselves into the fields of the capital city, becoming an everlasting symbol of the friendship between the two countries.
Exhibit: Hinamatsuri Japanese Doll Festival
February 5th - March 9th at JFLA Meeting Room
In celebration of Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day), which is held on March 3, we will be displaying our Japanese doll set in our meeting room for the month of February. Please make sure to visit our office to see this annual display.
Exhibition: Celebrating New Years With Japanese Toys
January 8-31 at JFLA
For the month of January, we will be disiplaying different Japanese toys typically played by children during this time of year. Make sure to drop by JFLA to view the different items on display and play New Year's board games, and spinning tops.
Photo Exhibition: NIKKATSU VINTAGE MOVIE POSTERS EXHIBITION
October 23 - December 13, 2012 at JFLA Auditorium
On September 10, 2012, Japan’s Nikkatsu Film Studio will celebrate its 100th anniversary. One of Japan’s oldest and most acclaimed film studios, the Nikkatsu libraries contain approximately 3,300 film titles, including some of the most important Japanese films from the silent era to the classical period, from the postwar era to the new wave, and up to the current renaissance of Japanese cinema. Nikkatsu’s collection includes period pieces, samurai films, melodramas, youth films, gangster films, “pink” movies, horror films and contemporary blockbusters, with major critical and box-office successes in each of those areas. This three-day event called " Nikkatsu at 100" will draw from Nikkatsu’s library to celebrate 100 years of Japanese cinema, and will include screenings and discussions with filmmakers, scholars and critics on Nikkatsu’s enduring legacy in Japan and its historical place in the film world. This poster exhibition is one of the related event with " Nikkatsu at 100."
Photo Exhibition: Nippon Through My Eyes
August 30 - October 13, 2012 at JFLA Auditorium
In July of 2012, we provided 32 America high school students with the opportunity to go to Japan for two weeks through the JET Memorial Invitation Program. Through this exhibition, you will have the opportunity to see Japan through their eyes and get a glimpse of what they saw and felt during the trip. You will be able to vote for your favorite photograph and the one with the highest number of votes will be announced on our website in late October!