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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of November 2024! |
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November marks the beginning of the Holiday Season, and this year, we’re thrilled to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of Godzilla in partnership with the Academy Museum. Kicking off this weekend, we’ll host two engaging lectures about the iconic Monster/Titan, while the Academy Museum will be featuring a Godzilla-thon. Be sure to check out all the events at both locations! Mid-month, we’re heading to Seattle for a special screening and discussion with Tomoka Shibasaki. She’ll be joining us to share insights from her collaboration with Ryusuke Hamaguchi on *Asako I & II*, followed by a conversation about her literary works the next day. We’re also excited about our ongoing exhibition highlighting Japanese athletes on the world stage. For those seeking a moment of tranquility, we’ll host a meditation event inspired by the art. Additionally, we’ll screen *Koshien*, which delves into the high school lives of Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi, followed by a Q&A session with Director Ema Yamazaki. Lastly, the JFF Theatre movie lineup resets this month, so be sure to visit our website for the latest offerings. With a thrilling array of events to kick off the holidays, we invite you to join us in exploring Japanese language and culture in Los Angeles and Seattle this month! |
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LECTURE SERIES Why does Godzilla attack Japan? How did Godzilla evolve from a symbol of the horror of Hiroshima into Japan’s hero and protector? How did Raymond Burr help Godzilla conquer America and the world? What does Godzilla represent today? This lecture will contextualize the five films which are being shown during the Godzilla-thon! Movie Marathon at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures (AMMP) on November 3, 2024. The first session, GODZILLA IN CONTEXT: THE MONSTER, JAPAN, AND AMERICA, addresses themes of war, environmentalism, and the past, present, and future of US-Japan relations as they are reflected in five of the most popular Godzilla films of all time: Gojira, Destroy All Monsters, Godzilla vs. Hedorah, Shin Godzilla, and Godzilla Minus One. A follow-up lecture, covering the broader culture of Godzilla, will take place after the Godzilla-thon! on Monday, November 4. This lecture series is offered through a community partnership with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. |
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ART EXHIBITION Sports Day, a national holiday in Japan, falls this year on October 14. Autumn is commonly referred to as the "season of sports" and the new JFLA exhibition showcases photos of Japanese athletes active in the United States and around the world. We will introduce the works of award-winning photographer Mark Edward Harris, who vividly captures the images of professional and amateur athletes in a wide range of fields, from the athletes competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics (actually held in 2021 amid the coronavirus pandemic) and the 2024 Paris Olympics, to popular athletes in professional North American league sports such as tennis and golf. Photos will also include Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani! Please come see Mr. Harris during the opening reception as he shares the story behind each photo and his adventures as a photographer. |
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LECTURE SERIES How did Godzilla become “King of the Monsters?” What is the secret to Godzilla’s longevity as star of the longest-running film series in history? Who created Godzilla—and how? The second session, GODZILLA AND THE JAPANESE ART OF SPECIAL EFFECTS, will focus on the creative foundation of the long-running Godzilla franchise, with behind-the-scenes stories and images from the making of the original Gojira (1954) and other classic Godzilla films at Toho Studios during the Golden Age of Japanese cinema. This lecture series is offered through a community partnership with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. |
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MOVIE SCREENING A mysterious and intoxicating pop romance, Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s Asako I & II, a follow-up to the acclaimed Happy Hour, begins with Asako, a young woman who meets and falls madly in love with a drifter, Baku, who one day drifts right out of her life. Two years later, working in Tokyo, Asako sees Baku again — or, rather, a young, solid businessman named Ryohei who bears a striking resemblance to her old flame. They begin to build a happy life together until traces of Asako’s past start to resurface. Author Tomoka Shibasaki will briefly introduce Asako I & II and discuss what it is like to collaborate with a filmmaker such as Ryûsuke Hamaguchi to see her work brought to life. This film screening is part of a series of events in Seattle highlighting Shibasaki's contributions to Japanese literature. An author event will be held on November 14 in the Mehdi Reading Room at Seattle Town Hall, for which details can be found on the event page. |
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JFLA LITERARY SERIES Join an intimate conversation with Japanese author Tomoka Shibasaki as she discusses her literary works, including the award-winning Spring Garden (Haru no niwa), during her visit to Seattle, Washington. She will be reading from her forthcoming collection (in early 2025) "A Hundred Years and a Day." Copies of Spring Garden may be purchased during the event from on-site vendor Elliott Bay Books. Additionally, back issues of the journal Monkey that include translations of Shibasaki's short stories are also available. Publications bought on site or brought from home can be signed by the author. This film screening is part of a series of events in Seattle highlighting Shibasaki's contributions to Japanese literature. A movie screening of Asako I & II, based on Shibasaki's Netemo Sametemo, will be held on November 13 in Thomson Hall 101 at the University of Washington, for which details can be found on the event page. |
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WELLNESS Refresh and recharge with a sound bath! The singing bowl used for this program harmoniously combines the healing qualities of both the Tibetan singing bowl and the Japanese traditional singing bowl. Choose a space near your favorite artwork in the photo exhibition Ganbare! Japanese Athletes on the World Stage, relax and feel your stress dissipate into thin air as the sounds of the singing bowl lead you into a meditative state. There is no admission fee, but a reservation is required. We will provide a chair and small cushion for you to sit on, but you are welcome to bring your own cushion or yoga mat. * Doors will close at the start of the session and those who arrive late may not be permitted to enter while the session in underway. |
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MOVIE & DIRECTOR'S TALK As a program related to our "Ganbare! Japanese Athletes on the World Stage" exhibition, we will be screening a documentary film that tells the story of "current high school baseball" in Japan that was filmed over a long period of time. This special film event will also feature a talk and Q&A session with the film's director, Ema Yamazaki. Major leaguers Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Yusei Kikuchi (Houston Astros) appear as young athletes in this movie! Baseball is life for the die-hard competitors in Koshien, Japan’s national high school baseball championship, whose alumni include US baseball stars Shohei Ohtani and former Yankee Hideki Matsui. As popular as America’s World Series, the stakes are beyond high in this single-elimination tournament. For Coach Mizutani, however, cleaning the grounds and greeting guests are equally important as honing baseball skills, demonstrating discipline, sacrifice and unwavering dedication. Director Ema Ryan Yamazaki follows Mizutani and his team on their quest to win the 100th annual Koshien, and, in the process, goes beyond baseball to reveal the heart of the Japanese national character.(2019, 94 min) |
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ON DEMAND This month, JFF Theater is launching a new lineup. Make sure to check the website to see which movies are available! |
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TEACHER PROGRAM The Japanese-Language Education Assistance Program (J-LEAP), now in its 13th year, is a collaborative initiative between the Laurasian Institution and the Japan Foundation aimed at enriching Japanese language education in the United States. Each year, a select group of Assistant Teachers (ATs) is dispatched to K-12 schools across the country, where they work alongside educators to introduce authentic Japanese language and culture into the classroom. In the coming months, we will showcase the experiences of two new J-LEAP participants starting with Chihiro Goto at Waipahu High School in Honolulu, HI, and Maho Sampei at Coeur d'Alene High School in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Click the links above to read their stories! |
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JAPANESE CLASS Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom. Learn Japanese and upgrade yourself in 2025! |
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GRANTS The Japan Foundation invites individuals and organizations that are planning international exchange projects and activities to participate in programs of the Japan Foundation. Please read the Program Guidelines for Fiscal Year 2025 (April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026) outline the full array of the Japan Foundation's applicable programs. |
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Training Programs for Japanese-Language Teachers Japanese Language Program for Specialists |
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Arts and Cultural Exchange Support Program for Translation and Publication Ishibashi Foundation/Japan Foundation Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art |
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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! Details for the 2025-26 Japanese language Grants in the US should be available in late January 2025 so please check our website then for more information! 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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Japanese Language Education Update 130Last month, the Japanese language team successfully hosted our annual Leadership Training in Los Angeles, attracting participants from throughout California, along with representatives from AATJ and the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. This month, we’re gearing up for the ACTFL Annual Conference, taking place from November 22nd to 24th in Philadelphia. We’ll have a booth (#726) set up, and we encourage you to stop by to explore resources that support Japanese language education. Additionally, this is the final month to apply for our FY 2025 programs, which include J-LEAP, teacher training opportunities in Japan, and specialized training programs in Kansai. For more details and application materials, please refer to the article above. Finally, we are still conducting our survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad to assess the state of Japanese education globally. Many recipients may find the survey email in their junk mail folders; please check for the email titled “[2024年度海外日本語教育機関調査へのご協力のお願い/ Request for Cooperation with 2024 Survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad].” To participate in the survey, please send your name, email address, and your school or institution's name to jflasurvey@jpf.go.jp. For information, please visit the Japan Foundation - Survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad (jpf.go.jp) Your participation in this survey is crucial for us to accurately assess the landscape of Japanese language education in the U.S. We appreciate your support in gathering as many responses as possible. Thank you! |
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5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
