Mid-week fatigue is a familiar foe to many of us. Why not maximize your relaxation and join us for a Sound Bath at Lunchtime!
The Singing Lin Bowl harmoniously combines the healing qualities of the Tibetan singing bowl and its Japanese counterpart, the Lin bowl. Relax and feel your stress dissipate into thin air as the sounds of the singing-Lin bowl lead you into a meditative state.
There is no charge and no reservation required. All are welcome to come, sit, listen, and refresh!
What do you know about the Wisdom Kings (Myo-o in Japanese) in Buddhism? They are third-ranked deities after Buddhas and Bodhisattavas who, with their wrathful visages and weapons, protect the Buddhas and intimidate wayward Buddhist practitioners back into devotion.
In this lecture, we will be introduced to the many kinds of Wisdom Kings and their various roles, as well as how they are portrayed artistically.
This will be the fourth lecture in this series and will begin with a quick review of what was covered in previous lectures to give first-time attendees context as to where Wisdom Kings fit into the hierarchy of deities in Buddhism. No prior knowledge is necessary to enjoy this fun and fascinating talk!
Note: We are now using EventBrite as our RSVP system so don't be surprised if this looks different than before!
Beautiful Romance with Multilayered Sense of Cynical Amusement
Wednesday, December 13 @7PM
Free Admission, NO RSVP REQUIRED
You could win a director Iwai's autographed poster!
Nanami(Hana Kuroki) is an apathetic, part-time junior high school teacher, whose only solace comes from connecting with others on “Planet,” a new social network service. One day, a young man named Tetsuya messages her and asks to meet in person. The two begin dating and quickly become engaged. When Tetsuya begs Nanami to increase her guest list for the wedding, Nanami reaches out to online-friend, Amuro(Go Ayano), a self-proclaimed jack-of-all-trades, who hires actors to play Nanami’s guests on her big day. A few weeks following the ceremony, Tetsuya’s mother confronts Nanami with allegations of lying and cheating.
Wellness Wednesdays: We offer Wellness programs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at lunchtime!
October 18 is Yoga day! In this program, no need to change clothes or use a yoga mat; you will be seated in a chair receiving relaxing instruction from a bilingual (English and Japanese) instructor. Learn simple Japanese phrases during the instruction and stretch your mind as well as your body.
There will be two free sessions beginning at 12:30pm and 1:00pm. No reservation necessary, all are welcome.
A God Incarnate. A City Doomed.
Wednesday, November 22 @7PM
Free Admission, NO RSVP REQUIRED
*Short Translation Lecture Before The Show
Make way for the ultimate homage to one of the most enduring legends of the big screen—Godzilla! The King of the Monsters is back in Tokyo for a city-crushing crusade that speaks to the very roots of the world-renowned franchise.
The bodhisattvas are deities who have achieved enlightenment themselves but have delayed their own exit from the cycle of rebirth to guide others to enlightenment. Japanese Buddhism is full of these strange yet wonderfully virtuous attendant deities, from the monk-like bodhisattva of the hells to the horse-headed bodhisattva of compassion.
A Blend of Gorgeous, Realistic Detail and Emotionally Grounded Fantasy
Directed by Makoto Shinkai
The day the stars fell, two lives changed forever. High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers, living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body and he, hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly and the two must adjust their lives around each other. Yet somehow, it works.
Suibokuga (水墨画), also called sumi-e (墨絵), is a form of art that uses black sumi ink to paint on washi paper. This seemingly simple monochrome art form requires various brush stroke techniques which create and express the subtle nuances of light and shade onto a sheet of paper. Artist Yoshio Ikezaki has been creating contemporary monochrome art works using sumi-e techniques and some of his works are currently on view as part of the “ATMOSPHERE IN JAPANESE PAINTING” exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
Omnibus Film Based on 3 Classic Rakugo Tales
Rakugo Eiga (110mins, 2012)
Wednesday, November 8 @7PM
Free Admission, NO RSVP REQUIRED
*Short Translation Lecture Before The Show
This film features Japan’s traditional art, “rakugo” as its theme. It is a modern adaptation of three rakugo tales presented in three short films (“Before After” based on the rakukgo “Nezumi” or “Rat”, “Life Rate” based on the rakukgo “Shinigami” or “The Reaper”, and “Sarugoke ha Tsuraiyo” based on rakugo “Sarugoke” or “Monkey Widow”).
With the growing popularity of Japanese movies and animation, the demand for Japanese to English visual media translation is skyrocketing.
For audiences who cannot understand the original language, subtitles play a vital role in making movies entertaining. To translate dialogue into good subtitles requires special techniques to draw out the original meaning as well as the entertainment value of the movie with only a limited number of words.
In talking about how movie translation fulfills an important role behind the scenes, a professional from the industry will introduce the actual process of translating and its enjoyment. During the lecture, we will demonstrate good and bad translations using professional subtitling software and video clips from a couple of Japanese movies. This lecture is co-presented by Japan Visualmedia Translation Academy (JVTA).
One Wrong Move and It’s All-out War
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
In a ruthless battle for power, several yakuza clans vie for the favor of their head family in the Japanese underworld. The rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks by scheming and making allegiances sworn over sake. Long-time yakuza Otomo (Takeshi Kitano) has seen his kind go from elaborate body tattoos and severed fingertips to becoming important players on the stock market. Theirs is a never-ending struggle to end up on top, or at least survive, in a corrupt world where there are no heroes, but constant betrayal and vengeance.
Origin and Structure of Japan's Organized Crime Syndicates
This lecture is a three-part presentation. Part I takes the form of a historical overview, tracing the origin of the Yakuza from the early days to World War II, emphasizing the political and socio-cultural constructs that propagated the growth and spread of these traditional groups. Part II provides insight into the organizational structure of modern Yakuza crime syndicates, highlighting membership. Part III concludes the presentation with a brief examination of the most prominent laws aimed at controlling the Yakuza in Japan, as well as internationally.
YAKUZA DE HALLOWEEN MOVIE SCREENING
Kinji Fukasaku’s “Japanese GODFATHER” adapted from newspaper articles of real life yakuza
Directed byKinji Fukasaku
*Please come with your Gang or Mafia costume.
When this film first hit Japanese screens in January 1973, partially inspired by the success of The Godfather, it blasted out a new Ground Zero for crime cinema not only in Japan, but in the rest of the world, and spawned a legendary series that would lead to additional episodes, spin-offs, and countless imitations.
Bow to Everything, Even to An Electric Pole
Directed by Kazuhiro Soda
A documentary that closely follows the Kawasaki city assembly by-election in 2005. This is a directorial debut of Soda Kazuhiro, that has been entered into a number of film festivals, including the official invitation from the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007.
Mini Lecture & Documentary Film Screening
Wednesday, October 18, 2017 @7PM
Free Admission, RSVP Required
Part I: Lecture (30mins)
“Dealing with Life and Death the Japanese Way” by Duncan Ryuken Williams (USC)
Part II: Documentary Film Screening (90mins)
Death of a Japanese Salesman (エンディングノート) (90mins, 2011)
Directed by Mami Sunada
Produced by Hirokazu Kore-eda
Part III: Q&A Session with Director Mami Sunada (30mins)
Director Sunada will answer your question (Televised live from Japan)
Winner of Best Animated Feature Award at the 2017 Fantasia Film Festival
Directed by Kenji Kamiyama
From visionary director Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Eden of the East) comes a sci-fi fantasy that effortlessly weaves together the rapidly evolving technology of today’s world with the fantastic imagination of the next generation. With an ambitious mix of multilayered action, whimsical characters and inventive machines, Napping Princess is a genre- and universe-blending film that shows that following your dreams is sometimes the best way to discover your past.
The second lecture will talk about Buddhas. For many, saying the name "Buddha" evokes the image of a serene ascetic or of a portly, laughing soul. However, the Buddhist pantheon is occupied by many different figures associated with the title ‘buddha’; the most prominent being Shakamuni, the historical Buddha; Amida, the Buddha of the Western Paradise; and Yakushi, the Medicine Buddha.
Shimane, a prefecture located in the northwest of Honshū, is known as the “Province of the Gods" and is rich in Shinto-based Japanese mythology and folklore. In Shimane, there are many landmarks and sites from Japanese mythology and folklore such as the “the Underworld” (Yomotsu Hirasaka), the “Birthplace of Sake”, and many others including Izumo Taisha where all deities in Japan gather once a year in Kami-ari-zuki. In this lecture, Shinto priest Izumi Hasegawa will show us Shimane’s charm and its relation to mythology and the Japanese traditions of Shinto. She will also provide us with useful information for travel in Shimane.
at The Source, 1st Floor Step Plaza (6940 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90621)
Friday, September 29, 2017 @ 7:30pm
The Boy and the Beast (バケモノの子)
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
(120mins, 2015)
In Japanese with English subtitles
Saturday, September 30, 2017 @ 7:30pm
Wolf Children (おおかみこどもの雨と雪)
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
(117mins, 2012)
In Japanese with English subtitles
Sunday, October 1, 2017 @ 6:30pm
Summer Wars (サマーウォーズ)
Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
(115mins, 2009)
In Japanese with English subtitles
*Provided by CGV Cinemas. Limited Supply
11-year-old Tomo (Rinka Kakihara) lives with mother Hiromi (Mimura), but Hiromi decides to give up on her and leaves their home. Tomo, now all alone, visits her uncle Makio's (Kenta Kiritani) home. Makio lives with his beautiful girlfriend Rinko (Toma Ikuta). Rinko was born as a man and now works as a caregiver at a home for the elderly. Tomo is a little confused by the situation, but they begin to live as a family.
Ever feel the “mid-morning slump” while at work in the office? How about taking a few minutes at lunchtime to refresh yourself?
Destress and reenergize at JFLA during our 20-minute, easy-to-do yoga stretch session! No need to change clothes or use a yoga mat; you will be seated in a chair receiving relaxing instruction from a bilingual (English and Japanese) instructor. Learn simple Japanese phrases during the instruction and stretch your mind as well as your body.
There will be two free sessions beginning at 12:30pm and 1:00pm. No reservation necessary, all are welcome!
Rather than a purely academic approach to Japanese religious art, the purpose of this lecture series is to help participants’ locate visual clues by which the deities can be identified and differentiated. The figures will be contextualized within Japanese religious history and connected to their iconographical antecedents in the arts of India, China, and Korea. The first talk will introduce the indigenous religion of Shinto and the deities within; the following four will look at Buddhist deities from four distinct classes: buddhas, bodhisattvas, wisdom kings, and celestial beings.
Director, Koji Fukada's latest film uses themes of Japanese domesticity to investigate the surrounding fissures that expand to collapse a family shaken by tragedy. Toshio (Kanji Furutachi) hires Yasaka (Tadanobu Asano) in his workshop. This old acquaintance, who has just been released from prison, begins to meddle in Toshio’s family life.
Step in Cultural Diversity through Dance!
Saturday, September 2, 2017 Door Open @3:30pm / Show @4pm
MI Concert Hall at Musicians Institute (1655 N. McCadden Pl., Hollywood, CA 90028)
Free Admission (RSVP Required)
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles will be inviting dancers from all over Asia to share their cultures through dance at this special event. Dancers include Hilty & Bosch, Ray Basa, Wizstars, Culture Shock L.A., Good Time and more!
*During the show, Hilty & Bosch will host a workshop where they will teach their exciting style of urban dance. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity!
Enjoy live music, free food & drinks, kimono dressing & photo session etc. Don't miss the special performance by guitarist Toshi Yanagi of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live"! This is the main event of "Japan Week on the Miracle Mile & Beyond" celebrating JFLA's re-opening. Everyone is welcome! Stop by and see us at our newly renovated center. Come in your yukata!
For Studio Ghibli's first international co-production, they invited Dutch filmmaker Michael Dudok de Wit to create his first feature-length film. The result, after eight years of work, is a breathtaking, original fable about a shipwrecked man's struggle to escape a deserted island, and the unexpected course his life takes when he's prevented from leaving by the titular sea creature.
Do you have plans to go to Japan in the near future? If so, prepare for your trip with us! You will learn helpful travel tips from a tourism specialist from JNTO(Japan National Tourism Organization), and essential Japanese phrases from our JF Nihongo instructors. We will demonstrate Japanese mannerisms too, so you won't be just a "stranger" in Japan. This workshop is suitable for beginners and those who have no experience at all.
Our center will be back! After three months of renovation, we are gearing up to reopen our office on the Miracle Mile with a week full of events. Make sure to mark your calendars for our week-long celebration of Japanese language and culture at our new office. Admission is free for all events, but events marked with * require RSVP. For details, click on the link below.
"Passage to the Future: Art from a New Generation in Japan" focuses on art produced in Japan at the beginning of the 21st century. It showcases 42 works - paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, and videos - of eleven young Japanese artists who are presently attracting a great deal of attention, namely Atsushi Fukui, Satoshi Hirose, Maywa Denki, Tomoyasu Murata, Tetsuya Nakamura, Masafumi Sanai, Katsuhiro Saiki, Yoshihiro Suda, Tabaimo, Nobuyuki Takahashi, and Miyuki Yokomizo.
Can paper be turned into wearable clothing? Absolutely. In Japan, thread made from handmade paper has been used for weaving cloth since at least the 17th century. The cloth is called shifu (shi means paper and fu means cloth in Japanese) and traditionally it has been employed in a variety of uses, from making kimono for the elite, to work clothes for farmers. Hiroko Karuno, an expert spinner, natural dyer and weaver presents a slide lecture on the process of making Japanese handmade paper. Afterwards, she will demonstrate the intricate method of producing paper thread from a sheet of handmade paper and how to prepare it for weaving.
Fiscal Year 2022-23
Japanese Language Learners Event Grant
Deadlines: 3/1, 9/1/2022
Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant
Deadlines: 3/15, 9/15/2022
Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese Language Courses
Deadline: 4/10/2022
Japanese Language Education Project Grant
Deadline: Two months prior to the project start date
Tokyo-based writer W. David Marx will talk through his book on the development of menswear in Japan and how Japan now exports their own premium take on American classics like denim, Ivy League clothing, and streetwear to the rest of the world. The story of "Ametora" (American traditional) is a concrete example of how globalization works and explains in detail why Japan became the world's most fashion-obsessed nation.
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles is proud to bring the shakuhachi (bamboo flute) master, John Kaizan Neptune from Japan and present a bamboo music instrument making workshop for kids. Participants can learn the craft of making a bamboo instrument and also enjoy playing it with master John Kaizan afterwords.
Miso (soy bean paste) has its origins in China as far back as the 4th century, BC, and with its abundant health benefits derived from soy beans and fermentation, had quickly spread to the entire East Asia to become a staple food for the people in the region. One amazing thing about Miso is its variety – each country in East Asia, or sometimes each prefecture in the same country, has its own Miso with unique taste.
In this program, two renowned chefs from East Asia (Japan & Korea) will introduce the history and health benefits of Miso, along with culinary suggestions of how to incorporate this healthy product in your daily cooking. Toward the end of the program, the audience will have a chance to try out a wide selection of Miso from Japan and Korea and enjoy the difference in taste. Don’t miss(o) it!
Friday, February 24, 7pm
*Opening reception starts at 6pm
The Harry and Yvonne Lenart Auditorium, Fowler Museum at UCLA
(308 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90024)
Saturday, Februray 25, 2pm
Garden Room A, JACCC
(244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Sunday, February 12, 2017 2pm-3pm
Loucks Auditorium, Salem Public Library
Monday, February 13, 2017 12:45pm-2pm
Centrum Studio, Oregon College of Art and Craft
Tuesday, February 14, 2017 3:45pm-5:00pm
Forum Auditorium, Otis College of Art and Design
Saturday, January 7, 2017 5pm-6pm
In Japan, people celebrate the New Year with specially prepared foods called Osechi-ryori (お節料理), which consist of a variety of dishes. A Japanese food specialist, Yoko Issasi, will guide us through Japanese New Year dishes and explain the meaning behind each dish and what they represent for the new year.
5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
