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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of July, 2024! |
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We trust you all had a wonderful experience with the Japanese Film Festival 2024, which concludes on July 2nd. The event has received overwhelming positive feedback. We hope you had the chance to experience some of the films and both dramas, gaining insight into Japanese life and culture along the way. This month, we are partnering with the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and Japan Visualmedia to present a Voice Acting Workshop centering around Japanese anime at Anime Expo. AX always draws large crowds, and you will need to a paid registration to attend this event. Last month, we welcomed Michael VanHartingsveldt as a new member of our Japanese Arts & Culture team. He initiated the first in a series of discussions about Japanese art. Join us for the next event in this series, which will dive into Unsettling Art - be sure to join us! In Japanese language education related news, we are preparing our popular conversation cafe later this month, while registration for our fall Japanese language courses will start in August. In addition, we will also be organizing a workshop on Japanese education next month featuring three professors from Japan in partnership with UCLA Humanities. Finally, we are currently in the process of curating our upcoming exhibition, and we will share more details about it shortly. In the meantime, we invite you to join us at one of our events to immerse yourself in Japanese language and culture in Los Angeles! |
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ANIME EXPO Workshop: Voice Acting for Japanese AnimeThursday, July 4 at 12PM (Panel Room: 406AB) Requires AX Registration to Attend We're excited to announce that the Anime Voice Acting Workshop at Anime Expo 2024 in Los Angeles will focus on practicing with these popular titles! 1. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc 2. MASHLE: MAGIC AND MUSCLES The Divine Visionary Candidate Exam Arc 3. WIND BREAKER Join us in voicing your favorite anime in Japanese! We'll learn vocal warmups and tips and tricks from a professional voice actor before tackling the ultimate challenge: voicing short scenes together! Don’t worry about your Japanese language learning experience or level; everyone is welcome! Co-hosted by Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, Japan Foundation and Japan Visualmedia Translate Academy.
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LECTURE SERIES When you see Japanese artworks, how do they make you feel? Maybe you are weirded out by the ghost of Oiwa or horrified at the cruel and sadistic punishments depicted in the Hell Scrolls. These responses connect you to art viewers in Japan who throughout history likely experienced similar emotions when seeing these pieces firsthand. Art transcends language, culture, and time. |
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CONVERSATION Our popular Japanese conversation event "Tea Time" will be held at the Japan Foundation this summer! Let's get together and enjoy talking with native Japanese speakers. You are more than welcome to come in a yukata (summer kimono)*. All levels and all ages are welcome! Japanese language experience is not necessary - this event is open to everyone. We are excited to meet all of you! *We have a few yukata that we could potentially let you wear if you come to the center earlier. Since numbers are limited, please let us know if you would like to wear ours ahead of time in the registration form. |
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WORKSHOP Are you a Japanese language teacher or learner in the US? Join us for an enlightening workshop that dives deep into the intricacies of Japanese language acquisition and the perception of Japanese speech among diverse speakers. This workshop is an excellent opportunity for Japanese language educators and learners to gain a deeper understanding of how Japanese is perceived by native speakers and to explore new teaching and evaluation methods. Don't miss this chance to enhance your skills and knowledge in Japanese language education. Register now and join us for an engaging and informative session! *This workshop will be held primarily in Japanese, but explanations in English will be provided if necessary. Those who are interested in learning Japanese and beginner level learners can also participate. |
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JAPANESE CLASS 2024 FALL TERM SCHEDULE Registration starts on August 1, 2024. Join us for the FALL term and let’s learn Japanese together! |
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ON DEMAND 1. YOKAI: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SUPERNATURAL BEINGS OF JAPAN To the Japanese, yokai are mysterious phenomena and weird creatures that have inhabited the country’s landscape, homes, folklore and imagination for many centuries. They can be evil or benign spirits, ranging from shape-shifting animals like foxes and badgers, who adopt human form to trick, bewitch or reward humans, to the vengeful ghosts of warriors killed in battle or women wronged by their husbands. 2. NETSUKE: MASTERPIECES OF JAPANESE MINIATURE SCULPTURE Netsuke are small toggles that are attached to the end of the cords used to hang various accessories – like tobacco pouches, writing sets and medicine containers – from the kimono sash, or obi. The cord is passed underneath the obi and the netsuke hangs over the top of the sash, securing the accessory in place. Netsuke are made of a variety of materials and are often masterpieces of sculpture, often carved into animals, insects, comical human figures and even lucky gods. CLICK HERE! 3. NINGYO: THE BEAUTY AND ARTISTRY OF JAPANESE DOLLS 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, papier mache Hariko dolls, and folded paper Chiyogami dolls have been crafted and treasured in different regions of Japan for many generations. 4. BORN FROM THE EARTH: JAPAN’S YAKISHIME CERAMICS The term “yakishime” refers to the firing of unglazed clay vessels at a high temperature so that the clay vitrifies, creating water-proof and durable stoneware ceramics. With no colorful glaze or painted designs, this ceramic type may seem simple or “primitive,” but Japan’s yakishime wares are some of the country’s most admired and valuable ceramics. CLICK HERE! 5. EXPLORING JAPAN’S MUSEUMS For lovers of Japan’s various artistic traditions, there are many different museums all over Japan. Some are public institutions, while others house the collections of private collectors. Many are works of art in their own right, built by some of the world’s foremost architects. |
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There are a variety of settings in which Japanese language for children with Japanese backgrounds (Japanese Heritage Learners) is taught and learned in the United States. These children may live in areas with little access to Japanese-language classes, much less ones with curricula tailored to their unique experiences and skillsets. To help serve their needs, JFLA has launched keishonihongo.org, an online platform for parents and teachers of Japanese heritage language learners. Keisho Nihongo pools from the knowledge of The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, and the Keisho Nihongo Special Advisory Committee, consisting of three experts in the field of Japanese heritage language education. The site includes a nationwide map of heritage language programs, in addition to a curated list of educational materials and resources for teachers and guardians. There is also a community forum and a page highlighting exemplary heritage language programs. Keisho Nihongo is available in both English and Japanese, so please visit today! |
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General Invitation to Join JF USA Digital Library We recently renewed and added many new books in coordination with our New York and Toronto offices for our patrons in the US and Canada. There have also been an uptick in the number of applicants as well, which shows that this is a very popular service. We have also updated the application survey and the confirmation emails are still going out 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. |
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2024-2025 Japanese Language Grants Now Available! Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Events for Learners Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant Advocacy Support Letter |
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Japanese Language Education Update 126July is the calm before the storm as we gear up to start our Japanese language survey at the start of the upcoming school year! If you are aware of any new Japanese language programs that have launched in your state within the last two years in your state, we kindly ask you to inform us via the contact form on our website (Select Japanese Language Education). We are excited to announce our participation in ICJLE at University of Wisconsin, Madison, in early August and we look forward to reconnecting with all the Japanese language teachers attending this event. For those interested in publishing an article in The Japan Foundation Journal on Japanese-language Education, please visit the following link for further details. Finally, we are excited to announce registration schedule for the upcoming Japanese Language Proficiency Test in the United States, taking place on Sunday, December 1st. For more details, please visit AATJ's website! |
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5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
