ConsuLink
January 2023 Newsletter
Keeping you updated on Japan-related news in Michigan and Ohio

CALENDAR
Exhibits & Events
Through February 12:
Netsuke and the Art ofLittle Wonders @ Dayton(OH) Art InstituteWed., January 4
Japanese Conversation
Group @ Novi (MI) Public
Library

Welcome to 2023, the year of the rabbit! The ancient zodiac, or eto
in Japanese, uses 12 animal symbols to represent the years. People
born in the year of the rabbit are thought to be kind, quiet, quickwitted, and courageous. Happy New Year to all from the Consulate
General of Japan in Detroit!

Japan's New Year Celebrated in Many Ways
In Japan, the new year holiday is marked by various "firsts," suchas the first calligraphy one writes that year (kakizome, 書初), the first
dream one has that year (hatsuyume, 初夢), and hatsumōde (初詣),the first visit of the year to a Buddhist temple or Shintō shrine.
Between January 1st and 3rd, millions of people make such visits, topray for health, peace, and prosperity. Famous places to
do hatsumōde include Kita-in Temple in Kawagoe, Saitama (belowleft), and Shirahige Jinja Shrine in Takashima, Shiga, with its famous
torii gate in Lake Biwa (below right).

Thurs., January 12
Hofu-Monroe Book Club@ online platform
Fri.-Sun., January 20-22
Ohayocon 23 @Columbus, OH
Thurs., January 26
UM-CJS Film Screening
Tampopo @ State
Theatre, Ann Arbor, MISun., January 29
GL-JETAA Career Fair @Novi, MI
Tues., January 31
OSU/NCTA OrigamiSTEAM Workshop for
Teachers @ onlineplatform

QUICK LINKS
Ministry of Foreign Affairs ofJapan

Other New Year's traditions include okinahajimeshiki ( 翁 始 式 ), aShintō ritual performed at Taga Taisha Shrine in Shiga to offer
greetings to the spirits, with traditional Noh performances (belowleft). In Saitama, on Jan. 3, people flock to Kita-in Temple's Daruma
Market (below right), disposing of last year's daruma dolls andpurchasing new ones with which to make wishes for the new year.
On these papier-mâché dolls, people color in one eye when they
make the wish, and color in the other eye when it comes true.
Photo credits: InSaitama.com (above left); Biwako Visitors Bureau(above right & below left); Kita-in Temple (below right)
Kizuna: The official magazine of theGovernment of Japan
Digital publication reporting on avariety of topics, promoting stronger
links between Japan and the world.

Consulate General of Japan inDetroit

MEXT Scholarship Deadline Nears
The application deadline for the MEXT Japanese Studies
Scholarship is Wednesday, February 15. This scholarship offers
enrolled undergraduates majoring in a field related to Japanese
language/culture the opportunity to study in Japan for one year.
Details can be found here. Please contact our office for Detroitspecific requirements and deadlines.

Japanese Language Contest Dates Announced
This spring, Japanese language contests for non-native learners
in Michigan and Ohio will be taking place in person. The following
dates have been confirmed:

Michigan Japanese Quiz Bowl & Culture Festa Sun., March 5, 2023 in Ann Arbor
Michigan Japanese Language Speech Contest Sat., March 11, 2023 in Novi
We also expect the Ohio Japan Bowl to take place in late
February, and the Ohio Japanese Speech Contest in late March.
Additional details will be forthcoming; please mark your calendars
for these exciting events!

Great Lakes JETAA Career Fair is Open to All

On Sunday, January 29, the Great Lakes Japan Exchange andTeaching Alumni Association will host its annual job fair, from
9:00am to 12:00 noon at the Suburban Collection Showplace inNovi, MI. The event is open to anyone seeking a Japan-related
position, and is not limited to JET alumni or GL-JETAA members.
For
details,
pleaseemail
AliciaSmithatpresident@greatlakesjetaa.org. Career fair registration forprospective employers may be found here, and for job seekers
here.

SPOTLIGHT ON JAPANESE CULTURE
ENTHUSIAST FROM OHIOLCSA President Leads Youth Exchange to Japan
Lima (OH) Sister Cities Association President, Matthew Neeley(below left) is excited to be leading another exchange delegation thissummer to Lima's Japanese sister-city since 1999, Harima-cho in
Hyogo Prefecture. The group (below right) includes 8 students
selected from high schools and homeschooling programs in the
Lima area, plus some participants from a 2018 exchange visit toHarima who are eager to return after a planned 2020 visit wascancelled.

Mr. Neeley was elected president of LCSA in 2021. An auto service
center manager and event entertainment provider by profession, Mr.
Neeley first became involved in Japan-U.S. exchange in 2002, when
his sister participated in a Lima-Harima exchange.
After visiting in 2012 and 2018, he finds Japan a "truly magicalplace." He cherishes memories of "traditional tea ceremonies, zazen
meditation with Buddhist monks, exploring Tokyo markets, andseeing the beauty of Himeji Castle with my own eyes." Mr. Neeley
will be spending the next several months helping lead fundraisingefforts and orientation sessions for the delegation, the first from
LIma to Harima in five years.

ConsuLink is the official newsletter of the Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit

400 Renaissance Center, Suite 1600 | Detroit, MI 48243 US

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