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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of March 2025! |
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As we approach the end of the current fiscal year, March brings the final month of our ongoing art exhibitions. Be sure to catch ETHEREAL: Interpretations of the Ryūgūjо̄ Myth before it wraps up on Saturday, March 15th. In conjunction with this exhibition, we’re excited to host artist Dwight Hwang, who will demonstrate the art of Gyotaku printing on Wednesday, March 5th. Don’t forget to RSVP for this special event! This month, we’re also heading to Arizona for the launch of our new Cross-Cultural Series, featuring Bamboo Weaver Chiemi Ogura and Willow Weaver Joshua Yazzie. Our three stops will include Arizona State University, the Japanese Friendship Garden in Phoenix, and wrapping up in our office here in Los Angeles, so we hope to see you there to celebrate these remarkable artists! On the educational front, the first deadline for our Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant is March 15th. If you plan to apply for the first round of funding, make sure to submit your application by then. We’ll also be attending both the California Language Teachers’ Association (CLTA) Conference and the AATJ Annual Spring Conference, where we look forward to connecting with fellow language educators. Lastly, our JFF On Demand Theater and Digital Library Service continues, and we hope you take full advantage of all the exciting activities The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles has to offer this month! |
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ART EXHIBITION The Ryūgūjо̄ [竜宮城], or Dragon Palace, is a mythical undersea kingdom in East Asian folklore, often depicted as a magnificent, otherworldly palace beneath the ocean. In Japan, the legend of Ryūgūjо̄ appears in classical Japanese literature, including the Manyо̄shū (compiled in the late 8th century), Heiji Monogatari (compiled in the late 12th century), and Genpei Seisuiki (compiled in the late 13th century). In these stories, the palace is ruled by the dragon king Ryūjin [竜神], a powerful sea deity who controls the tides and storms. The story of Ryūgūjо̄ reflects the transience of life, the beauty of fleeting moments, and the connection between myth and reality. The myth has inspired many interpretations, with locations across Japan claiming ties to the Ryūgūjо̄. Some of these places include Kagoshima, Okinawa (Ryūkyū), Nagasaki, Miyagi, and Shiga, regions closely connected to major bodies of water. In these areas, you can also find paintings, statues, temples, shrines, and tourist attractions inspired by the Ryūgūjо̄, showing how people have woven various stories from the same legend over generations. In this exhibition, ETHEREAL: Interpretations of the Ryūgūjо̄ Myth by Dwight Hwang and Miki Yokoyama, two artists reimagine this myth through their practices of Gyotaku and mix media, exploring the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth beneath the waves. |
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WORKSHOP Join us for an evening of fish print-making under the guidance of a master gyotaku artist! Dwight Hwang will present his process and then allow guests to participate in a hands-on experience. The event will demystify gyotaku and is sure to stir interest in a new hobby! This workshop is part of the related events for the two-person exhibition 'ETHEREAL: Interpretations of the Ryūgūjо̄ Myth' on view until March 15. First, Dwight will demonstrate his mastery of traditional gyotaku printing with real-time narration by Michael VanHartingsveldt. Then, attendees are invited to work together to create prints under the supervision of Dwight and his supporting team. No prior experience is needed — however, guests should be prepared to walk away with sumi-covered hands and therefore dress accordingly. |
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CROSS CULTURAL SERIES Arizona State University Take & Che'ul (Bamboo & Willow) / Panel Discussion Friendship Garden of Phoenix Take & Che'ul (Bamboo & Willow) / Talk and Demo The Art of Kyoto Bamboo Weaving Bamboo and Willow Weaving Demo Friendship Garden of Phoenix Take & Che'ul (Bamboo & Willow) / Talk and Demo The Art of Kyoto Bamboo Weaving Bamboo and Willow Weaving Demo The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles Lecture, Demo, and Pop-Up Exhibition by Chiemi Ogura As part of JFLA's new project, the Cross Cultural Series, we are excited to present the first edition—a collaboration between bamboo craft artist Chiemi Ogura from Kyoto, Japan and basket weaver Joshua Yazzie from Gila River Indian Community. Friday March 21st kicks off Ogura and Yazzie's collaboration at the Arizona State University (ASU). Moderated by ASU Assistant Teaching Professor Xavier Nokes, Ogura and Yazzie will explore the materials, tradition and indiviuality, and the future of creation through panel discussion. On Saturday March 22nd and Sunday 23rd, Ogura and Yazzie will talk and demonstrate at the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix as part of their annual Haru in the Garden: A Celebration of Sake & Art event. They will discuss similarities and differences in their weaving techniques and will demonstrate each of their weaving technique side by side. Ogura will also host a special workshop to create chopstick rests with bamboo. collaborating through talk, demonstration, and workshop . On Tuesday March 25th, we will move to Los Angeles, where we will host a recap presentation of the three-day event in Phoenix. We will present photos and videos of Ogura and Yazzie's collaborations at Phoenix, and Ogura will give lecture on Japanese traditional bamboo craft art along with a demonstration and a pop-up exhibition. Come witness the fascinating exchange between Chiemi Ogura and Joshua Yazzie as they explore the differences and commonalities in their respective basket weaving traditions, inspiring each other through this cross-cultural collaboration! This program was made possible thanks to the cooperation of the Indigenous Design Collaborative, Gila River Indian Community, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and Arizona State University. |
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JAPANESE CLASS Where flowers bloom, hope thrives. It's your time to blossom. Both online and in-person classes will be available. |
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Image: Copyright by Takahashi Shirō, photo by Minato Chihiro. |
ONLINE LECTURE SERIES Kami is a generic name for the various divinities (or metahuman entities) venerated in the Shinto tradition. Shinto is typically defined as the indigenous and ancestral religion of the Japanese and the unchanging basis of Japanese cultural identity and value system; today, it is often understood as a benign tradition based on an animistic love for nature striving for world peace. In fact, what we now call "Shinto" has gone through many important changes during the centuries, and these changes have also affected the ways in which the Japanese understand and relate to their kami. For example, kami include figures from ancient Japanese mythology, features of the natural landscape, deified historical figures, gods brought to Japan from China, Korea, and India, and spirits from folkloric beliefs. In this talk, after presenting the most important aspects of Shinto by placing them in historical context, I will discuss the main features of the ancient kami with special reference to their cosmology. This is the first lecture in a four-part series that will explore the various relationships that exist between Japanese culture, Shinto, and its deities. |
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ON DEMAND The current JFF Theater lineup is available until May 1st. Based on the data from February, the top five movies including (1) Bread of Happiness, (2) God of Ramen, (3) I am what I am, (4) My Broken Marko [Not Available in the US], and (5) Schoo Meals Time Graduation. Not ranked are Project Dreams - How to Build Mazinger Z's Hangar, and Jungle Emperor Leo aka Kimba the White Lion. The top views by country worldwide are (1) Indonesia, (2) Mexico, (3) Germany, (4) United States, and (5) Australia! |
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BOOK TREE 2025 JFBookTree is back! Win an exciting prize by sharing your thoughts on books/films & referring your friends How to participate NEW: Friend Referral Bonus Eligible dates: Borrow between Monday, January 20, 2025 - Saturday, March 29, 2025 ET Join us in warming up the season with books & movies, sharing the excitement with fellow library lovers & Japan enthusiasts! |
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New Video Interview Series: My Keisho Nihongo, Your Keisho Nihongo Being a Keisho Nihongo/Japanese-as-a-Heritage-Language (JHL) learner, as opposed to a Japanese-as-a-Foreign Language (JFL) learner, can carry with it a set of unique challenges when there is a lack of local access to specialized education and community. Bicultural identity, especially in countries rich in diversity like the U.S., can factor into these learners' language acquisition and can be difficult for them to navigate. In this interview series, we talk with Keisho Nihongo learners about the personal challenges they faced and what helped them overcome those challenges. We hope that the advice, perspectives, and unique stories offered in these interviews will help and motivate other Keisho Nihongo learners throughout the U.S. William Kimmel: https://youtu.be/cQ-hhFGQUrk Luke Palermo: https://youtu.be/Y3EopxyplYs |
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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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2025-2026 Japanese Language Grants Now Available! Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Events for Learners Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Projects for Teachers Grants for Individual Japanese Language Programs Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant Advocacy Support Letter |
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Japanese Language Education Update 134
This month, we’re excited to attend two important conferences. The first is the California Language Teachers’ Association (CLTA) Conference (Booth #38) in San Diego from March 7th to 9th, followed by the AATJ Annual Spring Conference and the Annual Meeting of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) in Columbus, Ohio from March 13th to 15th. We’re looking forward to connecting with all the Japanese language educators at these gatherings! A quick reminder: the first deadline for our Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant is coming up on Saturday, March 15th, so be sure to submit your application before then if you’re planning to apply. The second deadline is on Monday, September 15th. We’ve noticed that many schools have yet to complete our survey, and we’d still love to hear from you! If you receive an email from us, please take a moment to share your feedback. Your input is essential for helping us assess the state of Japanese language education in the U.S. We appreciate your time and effort in responding to the survey. If you have any questions, Click Here to contact us and make sure to select Japanese Language Education Survey. Thanks again for your support! |
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5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036-
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
