No Matter How Much My Mom Hates Me
(104mins, 2018)
Directed by Osamu Minorikawa
Date: December 22, 7PM(PT) – Thursday, December 23, 7PM(PT)
Free to Watch, No Registration Required
Click Here to Watch(accessible during screening period only)
Taiga of Pumpkin and Mayonnaise and Yoh Yoshida of Hanalei Bay perform the roles of mother and son suffering through a frayed relationship. Co-stars Win Morisaki of Ready Player One.
Makuko
(108mins, 2019)
Directed by Keiko Tsuruoka
Saturday, December 11, 3PM
JESUS
(77mins, 2018)
Directed by Hiroshi Okuyama
Saturday, December 11, 5:30PM
Free Admission, NO Registration REQUIRED
*Visitors (over 12 years old) will be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours in order to enter the venue and attend this screening. Visitors are required to put face mask on during the screening.
Makuko --- Drama directed by Keiko Tsuruoka, whose student films The Town of Whales and My First Love earned acclaim at overseas film festivals. Based on Yellow Elephant's Kanako Nishi's novel by the same title.
JESUS --- The first feature-length film by 22-year-old promising new director, Hiroshi Okuyama, who also wrote, shot, and edited the film. It screened at the 66th San Sebastian International Film Festival where it won the New Directors Award.
Gift of Fire
(111mins, 2020)
Directed by Hiroshi Kurosaki
December 15 & 16, 7PM / December 18, 3PM
Free Admission, Registration REQUIRED (Limited Seating)
Click HERE to Register for Dec. 15 Screening FULL
Click HERE to Register for Dec. 16 Screening FULL
Click HERE to Register for Dec. 18 Screening FULL
*Visitors (over 12 years old) will be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours in order to enter the venue and attend this screening. Visitors are required to put face mask on during the screening.
In the midst of WWII, a young Japanese researcher struggles to honor his obligations to science, his family, his country, and his own morality while working to develop an atomic bomb.
The Night I Swam
(79mins, 2018)
Directed by Kohei Igarashi, Damien Manivel
Saturday, November 20, 3PM & 5PM
Free Admission, NO Registration REQUIRED
*Visitors (over 12 years old) will be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours in order to enter the venue and attend this screening. Visitors are required to put face mask on during the screening.
A Japan-France jointly produced film co-directed by Kohei Igarashi of Hold Your Breath Like a Lover and Damien Manivel of A Young Poet. It was screened at the 74th Venice International Film Festival.
Japan and Korea are neighboring countries that share many similarities and contrasts in customs and language. In this lecture, by sampling from various Korean and Japanese video clips, we will explore some unique aspects of the two cultures, especially as it connects to how people communicate with one another. This lecture is for everyone--regardless of your previous knowledge of either country's language. All are welcomed to explore the two cultures with us!
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles is honored to present an online lecture and demonstration event by renowned ceramic artist Shozo Michikawa, and we invite you to witness his dynamic artistry during this special occasion.
It’s 3 months before JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2022 in February. Enjoy 5 films ("Little Nights, Little Love", "The Great Passage", "Tora-san in Goto", "CAN'T STOP THE DANCING", "GON, THE LITTLE FOX") to recall some unforgettable memories of our previous festival. And get ready for the 2022 edition!
JESUS
(77mins, 2018)
Directed by Hiroshi Okuyama
Saturday, November 13, 3PM
Makuko
(108mins, 2019)
Directed by Keiko Tsuruoka
Saturday, November 13, 5PM
Free Admission, NO Registration REQUIRED
*Visitors (over 12 years old) will be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours in order to enter the venue and attend this screening. Visitors are required to put face mask on during the screening.
JESUS --- The first feature-length film by 22-year-old promising new director, Hiroshi Okuyama, who also wrote, shot, and edited the film. It screened at the 66th San Sebastian International Film Festival where it won the New Directors Award.
Makuko --- Drama directed by Keiko Tsuruoka, whose student films The Town of Whales and My First Love earned acclaim at overseas film festivals. Based on Yellow Elephant's Kanako Nishi's novel by the same title.
Haiku is a type of short poetry that depicts a sense of the season in just three-lines with 5-7-5 syllables or less. This online autumn haiku workshop will explore the basics of writing a haiku in English as we explore the current season; the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of autumn.
Video to New Media Art in Japan / 1980s
Date:
Friday, November 5 – Thursday, December 2
JFLabo: Video to New Media Art in Japan / 1980s is a project exploring the interconnected histories of experimental film, video, and new media in contemporary Japanese Art. Following on the heels of the launch of Japan’s first video art collective, Video Hiroba, Japanese artists took advantage of explosive innovations in moving image technology of the 1970s to create arresting new methods of visual expression and presentation.
We are looking for Japanese language learners to create and submit their own versions of JF’s “Kind World” rap song using plain-form Japanese!
“Kind World”, a JF original rap song using plain-form Japanese as its lyrics, has been released. The raps were created with the thought of using easy Japanese (Japanese that everyone can easily speak and understand) to encourage a more inclusive, diverse, and kinder world. This project was created by the Plain Japanese Tourism Initiative in cooperation with the Yamawaki Keizo School of Global Japanese Studies Seminar at Meiji University, and supported by The Japan Foundation (JF).
We are asking non-native Japanese speakers to submit videos in which they perform their own original plain-form Japanese rap lyrics using the audio we have provided as a backing track. Those who do not live in Japan but are studying Japanese are more than welcome to participate, and videos may be submitted either as a group or individually.
The submission deadline will be Wed., Dec. 15th (Japan time), after which we will select the top ten raps to be included in our global mix video!
The Complex
(106mins, 2012)
Directed by Hideo Nakata
Sunday, October 31, 3PM & 5:30PM
Free Admission, NO Registration REQUIRED
*Visitors (over 12 years old) will be required to present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours in order to enter the venue and attend this screening.
Nursing student Asuka (Atsuko Maeda) is awoken by a strange scratching sound coming from the apartment next door. After discovering her elderly neighbor dead, she is shocked to learn that many strange occurrences and deaths plague her apartment complex. Things worsen when the scratching returns, her family begins behaving oddly, and she is threatened by an apparition of the old man from next door. With only a cleaning man and a ten-year old boy on her side, Asuka is in a race not to become the next victim of the complex!
All cats are magical, but the cats of Japan have secrets of their own. If they live long enough, their tails split, they stand on their hind legs, and they start to dance. Bakeneko, nekomata, kasha, nekomusume, and even the ubiquitous “lucky cat” called the maneki neko—come learn some of the secrets of Japan's magic cats from Zack Davisson, yokai scholar and author of "Kaibyo: The Supernatural Cats of Japan".
Wednesday, October 20
7 PM (PT)
This will be our 7th year that we have teamed up with TABLE FOR TWO USA to present Onigiri Action campaign supportive event and we are excited to invite you to join us once again. In this event, you will learn about this year’s campaign theme and how to participate in the campaign. Then, you will deepen your knowledge about onigiri (rice ball) through a presentation by Yusuke Nakamura, chairperson of the Onigiri Society in Japan. He will talk about the fascinating history, facts, and recent trends about onigiri, a simple yet ever-evolving Japanese food.
Hotel Royal
(104mins, 2020)
Directed by Masaharu Take
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 7PM(PDT) – Thursday, October 14, 7PM(PDT)
Click Here to Watch(accessible during screening period only)
This drama adapts a series of novels set within a love hotel into a single story interconnecting the present and the past. At the helm is Masaharu Take who has directed “100 Yen Love” and the “We Make Antiques” series. He brings his unique blend of understated humor to this offbeat dramedy.
Come and join us to learn how to subtitle your favorite anime! Using popular Japanese animated films such as Studio Ghibli’s movie “Spirited Away”, they will demonstrate how to create subtitles, have the characters speak naturally in English while remembering to make the context understandable for viewers.
Click here to contact us with any questions or to inform us of your intention to apply to one of these programs.
Challenge yourself in a sword fight performance that you’ve only seen in Samurai movies at the beautiful Japanese Garden in Glendale. Japanese actor group “Burai” will be your instructor. After this 30 minute workshop, enjoy the movie, "Uzumasa Limelight" (2014) which focuses on an aging background actor that specializes in being killed. Enjoy the special evening with us at Shoseian Teahouse!
Zokki
(113mins, 2021)
Directed by Naoto Takenaka, Takayuki Yamada, Takumi Saitoh
Date: Wednesday, September 8, 7PM(PDT) – Thursday, September 9, 7PM(PDT)
Click Here to Watch(accessible during screening period only)
Live-action feature film adaptation of the same-named comic by manga artist Hiroyuki Ohashi, whose "On-Gaku: Our Sound" hit the big screen as an animated film. Interweaves multiple episodes. Directed by Takumi Saitoh, actor Takayuki Yamada and actor Naoto Takenaka, who won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 48th Venice Film Festival for “Nowhere Man”. Each director handled casting for his own section, and they co-directed the interconnecting scenes. Screenplay by theater director and playwright Yutaka Kuramochi.
We interviewed five individuals who have learned Japanese to varying degrees at different points in their lives for a variety of reasons. This has led them to meet amazing friends, explore new career paths, and see the world from new perspectives. For the interviewees, Japanese will continue to be a part of their lives. We hope these videos will encourage you to consider learning Japanese, too!
Thursday, August 19, 2021 @7 PM (PDT)
Join us for a conversation about mental health and the benefits of making art with exhibiting Los Angeles-based glass artist Kazuki Takizawa, and Dr. Miwa Hitsumoto, Executive and Clinical Director of the Center for Japanese Mental Health. Learn about how Kazuki uses his artistic practice as a vehicle to speak out and educate about mental health, and as a personal therapeutic process. Also, we will hear from Dr. Hitsumoto who will explain how creative activities positively benefit our mental health and well-being. The conversation will be moderated by Andres Payan Estrada, Curator of Public Engagement at the Craft Contemporary.
Let’s play different roles by using various gestures and facial expressions! Our popular workshop "Action in Japanese" is a great way to learn conversational Japanese! In this workshop, Japanese actor, Naoyuki Ikeda, will teach you how to react like Japanese people in natural settings, and learning to speak spontaneously using basic Japanese phrases as well as quoting actual phrases from popular Japanese movies.
Seven Girls
(144mins, 2018)
Directed by David Miyahara
Wednesday, August 4, 7PM(PDT) – Thursday, August 5, 7PM(PDT)
Click Here to Watch (accessible during screening period only)
The Pacific War has ended and eight prostitutes entertain American soldiers in American occupied Tokyo. They have managed to get by while helping one another, but the women are being trifled with by the men around them.
NOBUO ANZAI : STILL LIFES & FOLKTALES
August 2 - August 17, 2021
Nobuo Anzai’s paintings are heartfelt memories of countries he calls homes—Brazil, Colombia, Spain, and Japan. They are unseparated in his mind and heart through his life’s passages as a migrant worker, farmer, chef, and artist. The Fukushima born Nobuo spent his childhood during the upheaval years of the Pacific War. At age 23, he emigrated to Brazil to serve two years in agricultural farming as part of a contract with the Japanese and Brazilian governments. Upon completing this obligation, he trained to become a sushi chef and opened his first shop in São Paulo. A natural and adventurous journeyman at heart, Nobuo would spend the next four decades migrating to Colombia, Spain, and Los Angeles, California. His chosen path is in part life’s necessity for survival and, at spiritual depths, a yearning for connecting to these native countries.
COLORFUL: A Conversation with Eto Mori and Julie Lythcott-Haims
Click Here to Watch
In collaboration with Counterpoint Press, The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles invites you to listen to internationally-acclaimed author Eto Mori discussing her bestselling book, Colorful, which is now available in English! Joined by New York Times bestselling author Julie Lythcott-Haims, the authors discuss not just their crafts and writing practices, but also the tragedy of depression and suicide amongst youths.
Stardust Over the Town
(102mins, 2020)
Directed by Taiichi Sugiyama
Wednesday, July 21, 7PM(PDT) – Thursday, July 22, 7PM(PDT)
Click Here to Watch (accessible during screening period only)
Chorus group "Yamada Osamu and the Hello Nights" head for a rural town in Osamu's (Takayasu Komiya) birthplace of Tohoku. Waiting there is Osamu's younger brother Eiji (Daikichi Sugawara) who still holds a grudge against him. Meanwhile Ai (Non), the childhood friend of Eiji's son, dreams of becoming a singer while she helps out at her mother's bar.
Words Can’t Go There
(89mins, 2019)
Saturday, June 12, 7PM – Sunday, June 13, 7PM
Click Here to Watch (accessible during screening period only)
*Pre-screening Online Mini Talk & Live: Saturday, June 12 @6PM
Click Here to Register
This film is a feature-length documentary exploring the story of California surfer turned Japanese shakuhachi flute master John ‘Kaizan’ Neptune. Directed by John’s son David Neptune and produced by his team of filmmakers in Los Angeles, the film examines what it takes to cross cultural borders and become a master of this traditional art form. There is a pre-screening online mini talk & live by John ‘Kaizan’ Neptune from Japan and David Neptune from Los Angeles.
The Japan Foundation (JF) has started the project “STAGE BEYOND BORDERS—Selection of Japanese Performances,” which presents outstanding Japanese stage performances online for people throughout the world who are seeking opportunities to enjoy Japanese stage performances amid the spread of COVID-19.
Performing arts is one of the earliest forms of entertainment that through strangers and various environments stirs the imagination about ongoing stories and provides hopes and hints about the real world. The Japan Foundation’s online project “STAGE BEYOND BORDERS—Selection of Japanese Performances” is expected to encourage hope for all people who enjoy performing arts by presenting outstanding Japanese stage performances beyond borders in multiple languages. The Japan Foundation hopes to cultivate new fan bases for performing arts and also approach theater professionals in order to hold performances at overseas theaters once interactions among people are allowed to resume.
Please visit the following website for upcoming performances: https://stagebb.jpf.go.jp
Select DETAILS below to see past performances!
Thank you to all of the amazing artists who made Music Mondays possible! We offered this virtual live concert series during lunch time every Monday from April 2020 to May 2021 via JFLA Facebook LIVE. From traditional Japanese music to contemporary Jazz to J-Pop, over 80 talented performers from the U.S. and Japan contributed this program by playing their repertoire dedicated specially to you.
And thank you to all of you who viewed Music Mondays. We hope we were able to cheer you up over the past year. You can still view the performances anytime with the playlist. Please enjoy!
Celebrating full moon Wednesday night, we will offer an evening version of “Wellness Wednesdays” on JFLA's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/JFLALC)! In the quiet relaxing setting at your home, stretch your body by Hikaru’s bilingual instruction while absorbing sounds by Yuki’s Japanese singing bowls. The full moon power will help to release your stress and give you energy!
Want to learn Japanese but don’t know where to begin your journey? Check out our free e-learning portal, “Minato”! Minato consists of a wide variety of self-study courses such as “Marugoto”, which is free structured lessons that help you immerse yourself in Japanese language and culture, as well as develop essential communication skills. Minato offers flexible courses with progress tracking at any level, which you can take, pause, and return to at any time from wherever you are. Register now and navigate your knowledge of Japan!
Check out our "Minato" videos:
Animated Commercial: Click here!
Course Overviews: Click here!
Creating an Account & Registering for a Course: Click here!
The soybean is a nutritious plant, rich with protein that has been an essential food in many Asian countries for thousands of years. In Japan, there are many soybean based superfoods that have been used for centuries such as tofu, miso, soy sauce, natto, and edamame. In this event, we will focus on “NATTO” and “EDAMAME”.
Love and Language: Keiichiro Hirano and Juliet Winters Carpenter
Wednesday, May 19, 5:30PM (PDT)
Click Here to get FREE ticket
At the End of the Matinee, the newest work from bestselling novelist Keiichiro Hirano, one of the youngest writers to ever win the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, continues his exploration of the power of relationships. Hirano will present a short, powerful, and inspiring talk on video about the importance and resilience of love in bridging cultural divides, styled after his viral TED Talk, “Love Others to Love Yourself,” which has garnered nearly 112,000 views on YouTube. Following his talk, the author will be joined by translator Juliet Winters Carpenter to discuss their shared journey to bring this sweeping love story to English readers. The conversation will be moderated by Allison Markin Powell, award-winning translator and member of PEN America’s Translation Committee.
The Nikaidos' Fall
(105mins, 2019)
Directed by Ida Panahandeh
Wednesday, April 28, 7PM(PDT) – Thursday, April 29, 7PM(PDT)
Click Here to Watch(accessible during screening period only)
After losing his son, Tatsuya is anguished by the danger of his ancient family line coming to an end. His mother Haru urges him to embark on a loveless second marriage, and meanwhile he secretly hopes that his daughter Yoshiko will marry a husband willing to adopt the Nikaido name and follow in his footsteps.
Three years after hosting the MIGRATING DREAMSCAPES: NOBUO ANZAI exhibition here at JFLA, we are honored to showcase Anzai’s later paintings this time as we celebrate his infinite creativity and beautiful life.
Curry rice is considered one of Japan’s national dishes and loved by Japanese people of all ages. For this lecture, we will have Kazuhiro Ono, the first honorary director at the Yokohama Curry Museum and forefront curry rice researcher, give us his insights on why Japanese curry rice is loved not only in Japan but all over the world.
School Meals Time Final Battle
(102mins, 2020)
Wednesday, March 24, 7PM – Thursday, March 25, 7PM
Click Here to Watch (accessible during screening period only)
*Pre-screening Mini Lecture: Wednesday, March 24 @6:30PM
Click Here to Register
Teacher Amarida (Hayato Ichihara) is crazy about school lunches, and he gets the shock of his life when school lunches are slated to be removed from the school. Amarida's student Kamino (Taishi Sato) competes with him to see who can enjoy the school lunch more, and then Kamino declares that he will run for student council to bring about a school lunch revolution. There is a pre-screening mini lecture regarding Japanese school lunch by former JET program assistant language teacher, Mr. Jon Harwell.
Come take a virtual journey to the ancient cities of Kyoto and Nara!
We will present two virtual lectures focusing on Buddhist Deity sculptures in Buddhist temples in Kyoto and Nara. Michael VanHartingsveldt will present a brief history for four temples in each lecture and then highlight specific and noteworthy sculptures visitors might want to see within their precincts. Kay Allen from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) will then suggest unique and interesting experiences that can be found in the general vicinity of each temple. We hope attendees will use these lectures to inform their visits to Kyoto and Nara, which would result in a rich and fulfilling engagement with Japanese art and culture!
Haiku is a type of short poetry originated in Japan. Haiku depicts a sense of season in just three-line phrases with 5-7-5 syllables. In this online, yet hands-on haiku writing workshop for beginners, you will learn the origin and history of haiku poetry. Also you will be taught the basics of English haiku writing technique from a veteran haiku poet, Deborah J. Kolodji.
In Japan, you can find YOKAI(ghosts) everywhere from folktales, traditional rituals, to popular manga and anime. The most present YOKAI in Japanese society and culture is the Oni(demon) and they are seen as guards protecting hell, and causes disasters and pandemics.
On the day of Setsubun, which is the first day of spring in the lunar calendar, people throw soybeans at the Oni to fend off the evil spirits within the home. On the same day, we will be inviting award-winning translator, writer, and folklorist, Zack Davisson as a lecturer to talk about Oni’s presence in Japanese culture. Also, he will explain how Japanese people think about Oni from folktales to Demon Slayer.
Whether at work or at home, let's refresh yourself for 15 minutes on your lunchtime together with us! Meditation with Japanese Singing Bowl will be offered via JFLA Facebook LIVE!
The singing bowl used for this program harmoniously combines the healing qualities of the Tibetan singing bowl and its Japanese traditional singing bowl. Relax and feel your stress dissipate into thin air as the sounds of the singing bowl lead you into a meditative state.
There will be one session starting at 12:30pm. Just go to JFLA's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/JFLALC).
Whether at work or at home, let's refresh yourself for 15 minutes on your lunchtime together with us! Bilingual Yoga will be offered via JFLA Facebook LIVE!
No need to change clothes or use a yoga mat; you will be seated in a chair at home and receive an instruction from our instructor in bilingual (English and Japanese).
There will be one session starting at 12:30pm. Just go to JFLA's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/JFLALC).
Let's create a design representing the U.S.-Japan connection!
Calling all creative amateur artists, kids to adults, to design an original design for a face mask, long a staple in everyday life in Japan. These masks will be good for everyone’s health and wellbeing, environmentally friendly, and pleasing on the eye. MASK UP 2020 winning designs will be announced in an online event.
5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
