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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of January, 2024! |
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We want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and we hope you have a healthy and successful 2024! For the upcoming month, we will be hosting a film screening at the JACCC Aratani Theatre. We will also be organizing an in person talk with author Keisuke Uyama as well as an online lecture on Japanese Dolls in anticipation of Hinamatsuri (Doll's Day). Our Japanese language classes also start this month and we are looking to add a new member to our team here at JFLA so if you are interested, please see below. We do have some of sad news to report starting with the events at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas last month, which you can read about below. We also want to extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the 2024 Sea of Japan Earthquake and hope for a speedy recovery. |
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FILM SCREENING Since 2005, Kabuki production company Shochiku Co. Ltd. has released Cinema Kabuki which offers English speakers the unique opportunity to experience full-scale Kabuki performances by some of Japan's biggest stars in high definition on the big screen with English subtitles. This, however, is no regular film screening; Cinema Kabuki allows the audience to vividly experience the excitement of the live stage through the full use and wide-range capability of high-definition (HD) images and 6-channel sound. Enjoy the authenticity of Kabuki as if you were sitting in the best seat of the Metropolitan Opera House! |
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IN-PERSON EVENT @JFLA Delve into the fascinating world of Uyama as we explore the inspiration behind his bestselling Japanese romance novel “Love Like the Falling Petals”, now available in English. This event promises to be an engaging conversation where Uyama will share insights into his creative process, how the characters came to life, the compelling themes in his storytelling and his thoughts on the Netflix film adaptation. Joining Uyama will be Beth Kawasaki, Executive Director of Content and Marketing for Media Do International, and editor with Shueisha, Inc. Coming Soon
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JAPANESE CLASS Last chance to register! We are not just a class. WE ARE COMMUNITY!
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ONLINE LECTURE Japan’s dolls are famous throughout the world as elegant works of art that are more for display than play. Hina dolls, in particular, wear kimono and elaborate hairstyles, and for several centuries have been central in Hina Matsuri, a traditional festival celebrating girls. Others, such as turned-wood Kokeshi, finely sculpted Saga dolls, painted ceramic Hariko dolls, and folded paper Chiyogami dolls have been crafted and treasured in different regions of Japan for many generations. In conjunction with Japan Foundation's video series, Doors to the Arts of Japan, Japanese art historian Meher McArthur will introduce some of Japan’s most well-known types of traditional dolls, from Hina to Kokeshi, touching on their materials, styles and production, as well as their functions. She will also showcase the works of contemporary doll maker Kimiko Muraoka Koyanagi, who is still creating exquisite dolls at the age of 91 years old. The short lecture will be followed with a brief Q&A session |
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2023/24 J-LEAP REPORTS The initial Lead Teacher (LT)/Host Organization application period for the Japanese Language Education Assistant Program (J-LEAP) has ended, and now the Laurasian Institution and the Japan Foundation will now select the best candidates from those who applied to move forward! This month, we would like to welcome Kennosuke Hayashi, who is currently at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, MN, and Honoka Maegawa, who is currently at The Woodlands College Park High School in The Woodlands, TX! You can read about their experiences in the links above. |
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JOB OPENNING @JFLA We are currently recruiting for this position with an application deadline of Wednesday, January 31st, 2024 for a possible start date of April 1st, 2024. If you are interested in applying for this position, please follow the directions on the link below! |
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JFLA Unveils New Resources and Programs Designed to Support Japanese as a Heritage Language (JHL) Education in the U.S. We are pleased to announce the following programs designed to support individuals involved with Japanese as a Heritage Language (JHL) education across the United States: Book Donation: With this initiative, JFLA will donate up to $1,000 per applicant of educational materials and children's books in support of JHL education. Guidelines for donation, application forms, as well as a list of previously requested books/materials can be found on the Keisho Nihongo website. Event Support Project: Aimed at promoting JHL education, this project will provide up to $1,000 in financial support for Japanese language-related events such as benkyo-kai, workshops, presentations, seasonal events, speech contests, etc. Following a careful review of the program guidelines, please submit your school’s application(s) for the Book Donation Project/Event Support Project no later than February 29, 2024, to jflaeducation@jpf.go.jp. Project Grant: The Project Grant offers up to $5,000 in financial support for various educator-focused activities related to JHL education, including workshops and conferences, seminars, as well as original projects such as curriculum development, research, and more. Further details and application procedures may be found on our website: https://www.jflalc.org/grants-jle-project. For further details, including program guidelines and application instructions, please visit the Keisho Nihongo website. For inquiries related to any of the programs mentioned above, please contact jflaeducation@jpf.go.jp. We encourage potential applicants to visit JFLA’s website and review the program guidelines thoroughly before submitting their applications. |
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General Invitation to Join JF USA Digital Library Our digital library system in coordination with our New York and Toronto office is still going strong and we recently added more volume to popular books so there is less of a wait time. We have also been incrementally adding new books as well so make sure to signup for an account below and also let your friends know about this free service. Starting in 2023, we will be sending out updates once a week on Wednesdays by 6:30PM pacific time. If you register and do not receive a welcome email from us within a Wednesday of registering, please contact us so we can help you out. We hope you will enjoy this service from the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles! Click Here to Complete the Signup Survey (If the link doesn't work check back later!)
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2023-2024 Japanese Language Grants Now Available! Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Projects for Teachers Advocacy Support Letter If your Japanese language program is in danger of being cut due to COVID-19, we will send a support letter to stakeholders (Superintendent, Principal, Dean, etc.). |
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Regarding the University of Nevada, Las VegasWe are deeply grieved to learn of the tragic passing of three of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ professors on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. The loss of all three professors is truly devastating on many levels. We are also deeply grieved by the passing of Dr. Naoko Takemaru, who had overseen the Japanese Studies Program at UNLV; to which we awarded our Teaching Material Purchasing Grant in early 2021. The Southern Nevada Japanese Teaching Association (SNJTA) joins UNLV and the community in grieving Dr. Takemaru’s passing, as Dr. Takemaru and UNLV consistently sent speech contest participants to the local speech contest, and they always did incredibly well. Dr. Takemaru will surely be forever missed. In the wake of this senseless act of violence, the JFLA joins in expressing our sorrow and in standing in support of those affected. We hope that such incidents cease to threaten the safety of college campuses, and the lives and studies of all those who access them. Our thoughts are with the remaining hospitalized faculty member, and we are hoping for his full recovery. Our thoughts and hearts also go out to all of the family members, friends, colleagues, and students of the professors affected by this tragic event. |
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5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
