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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of December 2024! |
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As November comes and goes, the year is quickly drawing to a close, and the Wood Dragon is making its final moves before ushering in the new year. Today marks the official end of our training programs, and it’s also the last chance to visit our ongoing exhibition Ganbare! Japanese Athletes on the World Stage. It’s been nearly a month since the Dodgers won the World Series with Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, and already, discussions are underway about another established Japanese baseball superstar. Be sure to stop by before December 14th to experience this compelling photo exhibition. We’re also excited to host author Tomoka Shibasaki for an intimate discussion here in Los Angeles. If you’d like to attend, be sure to RSVP. Last month, we held a similar event with her in Seattle, and now you can engage with her literary work right here in LA. Our architectural lecture series in collaboration with UCLA’s Terasaki Center continues, with December’s lecture focusing on Kane (The Canon of Japanese Architecture). This will be followed by Hai/Kyo (Destruction and Rebirth) in January, so don’t miss out—reserve your spot today. Additionally, we’ve released two new J-LEAP reports this month, and applications for our JF Nihongo Winter Term 2025 will open soon. If you're interested in learning Japanese, be sure to check our website for more details. Lastly, this is the final month of the current JFF On Demand Theater lineup. Don’t miss out on the films before the program changes in January. With so many exciting events lined up before the holiday season, we hope you’ll join us before the year comes to a close! |
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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). She will also be reading from her forthcoming collection (in early 2025) A Hundred Years and a Day. The event will be moderated by Professor Michael Emmerich (UCLA). Copies of Spring Garden may be purchased during the event from on-site vendor Chevalier's Books. Publications bought on site or brought from home can be signed by the author. This event is offered through a partnership with the Yanai Initiative for Globalizing Japanese Humanities and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
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ARCHITECTURE LECTURE SERIES
To discuss Japanese architecture, this talk series is organized around five concepts unique to Japan: MA, KANE, HAI/KYO, IN/EI, and SUKI. Renowned Japanese architects and scholars will speak at each symposium about their ideas on architecture and the works they have produced. This series offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of Japanese architecture and its cultural concepts by featuring their insights, enriching your perspective on this distinctive architectural heritage through the lens of contemporary practice. The second session will discuss the concept of「矩」KANE: The Canon of Japanese Architecture. In Japanese architecture, the notion of 矩 (kane) serves as a guiding framework for practicing, norms and measurements are harmonized to create a unique aesthetic order. The speakers will talk about how this modular system affects the way they think and design.
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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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2024/25 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 Sawako Watanabe, at Torrance High School in Torrance, CA, and Hirona Yamada, at Herding Senior High School in St. Paul, MN! You can read about their experiences in the links above.
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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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ARCHITECTURE LECTURE SERIES
To discuss Japanese architecture, this talk series is organized around five concepts unique to Japan: MA, KANE, HAI/KYO, IN/EI, and SUKI. Renowned Japanese architects and scholars will speak at each symposium about their ideas on architecture and the works they have produced. This series offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of Japanese architecture and its cultural concepts by featuring their insights, enriching your perspective on this distinctive architectural heritage through the lens of contemporary practice. The second session will discuss the concept of 「廃墟」 (HAI/KYO). HAI/KYO refers to ruins that embody the remnants of historical destruction caused by disasters such as earthquakes, fires, floods, and wars, while also symbolizing themes of rebirth, recovery, and the creation of new urban landscapes.
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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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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 131Last month, the Japanese language team attended the ACTFL 2024 Annual Convention and World Languages Expo, held from Friday, November 22 through Sunday, November 24, 2024, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. This event provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with Japanese language educators from across the country, exchange ideas on innovative teaching methodologies, and discuss new curriculum developments. We were also delighted to reconnect with our J-LEAP participants and their lead teachers. We would like to extend our congratulations to Kei Tsukamaki Sensei, who was named the 2025 National Language Teacher of the Year. Additionally, a special shout-out to Yoshiko Saito-Abbott Sensei for receiving the prestigious Wilga Rivers Award for Leadership in World Language Education (Postsecondary). We also applaud all the presenters at the conference for their hard work and dedication in making this event a significant milestone for Japanese language education in the U.S. The JLPT was also this past weekend at 18 test sites across the United States with the newest addition being Middlebury College in Vermont. Here in Los Angeles, we witnessed a large turnout of test takers and hope that everyone gave their best effort in striving to pass their respective levels. As a reminder, today is the final day to apply for our FY 2025 programs, which include teacher training opportunities in Japan and specialized training programs in Kansai. For more details and application materials, please refer to the article above. Lastly, we are still conducting our survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad to assess the state of Japanese language education globally. Please note that many recipients may find the survey email in their junk mail folders. The subject of the email is “[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, kindly send your name, email address, and your school or institution’s name to jflasurvey@jpf.go.jp. For further information, please visit the Japan Foundation’s Survey on Japanese-Language Education Abroad page (jpf.go.jp). Your participation is vital in helping us accurately assess the state of Japanese language education in the U.S. We greatly appreciate your support in ensuring broad participation. Thank you! |
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5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
