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BREEZE #107

SEPTEMBER, 2016: BREEZE ISSUE #107
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A Free E-Newsletter for Friends of Japan & Teachers of Japanese

GREETING FROM THE DIRECTOR

Greetings! I would like to thank everyone who came out to see our street-style Kendama
project last month. It was super cool to see a Japanese traditional game evolve into somethingthat can empower American youth to express themselves. I believe that it is the very reason
why we need to learn from other cultures — to fill your bag of tricks that can then be used toexpress yourself. Language is another example of this. Indeed, JFLA will start a new shortcourse this fall for advanced learners of Japanese to better express their opinions, respondskillfully to other people’s statements and actively engage in intellectual discourse, all inJapanese. Please do not miss this great opportunity and register now as seats are limited.
As the hot summer weather subsides, it has finally become a good season to enjoy a long hot
bath and relax at the end of a busy day. In case you do not have a natural hot spring or aJapanese monkey to accompany you at home, why not come to our exhibition ‘The Way ofJapanese Bath’ that starts on Wednesday, September 7th. Photographer Mark Edward Harris
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will take you deep into the world of Japanese onsen (hot springs) through his works and his
lecture on opening night. We will even provide you with a few language tips to boost your next
onsen experience.
Last but not least, we are currently calling for Japanese-speaking professionals who learned
Japanese as a second language to participate in our new video interview project. It is very
important for the future generation of young professionals to get inspired by the need to learn
other languages and cultures. If you think your bag of tricks, as a professional, was filled bylearning Japanese, please help us inspire more people like you!
Sincerely,

Hideki Hara, Director

LECTURE SERIES 35:
THE WAY OF JAPANESE BATH BY MARK EDWARD HARRISWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 @ 7:30PM (JFLA AUDITORIUM)
CLICK HERE TO RSVP
Japan, which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is where a large chunk of the planet's
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. One benefit of this geological turbulence over the
centuries has been the creation of hot springs (called “onsen” in Japanese) throughout Japan.
Mark Edward Harris, a photographer who has traveled to more than 90 countries and is theauthor of The Way of the Japanese Bath , will give a lecture on hot springs during which time hewill show his art work, talk about his experiences, and describe the charm and wonder of onsen
and its culture from an American point of view.
On the evening of September 7th, JFLA will host the opening reception for Mark Edward Harris’
exhibition, which will include a book signing as well as a brief Japanese language segment inwhich guests will learn simple words related to onsen from our instructor.
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PHOTO EXHIBITION:
THE WAY OF JAPANESE BATH
SEP. 7 - OCT. 8 (JFLA AUDITORIUM)
FREE ADMISSION / NO RSVP REQUIRED
Photographer Mark Edward Harris first experienced Japanese hot springs in the early 1990s in
Beppu, a town located on the southern island of Kyushu. Afterwards, he traveled extensively
throughout Japan to capture images of various types of onsen and published a photographic
collection entitled The Way of the Japanese Bath which is now in its second printing.
In this exhibition, which showcases 18 photographs from the book, the subtleties of the tranquil
onsen are translated onto the refined medium of washi (hand-crafted Japanese paper madefrom plant fiber). We hope that by viewing this collection you too will want to become immersedin the way of Japanese bath.
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FANTASY COMEDY ADVENTURE FOR LOVE OF BATH IN MODERN JAPAN AND
ANCIENT ROME
"THERMAE ROMAE" (108MINS, 2012)
DIRECTED BY HIDEKI TAKEUCHIWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 @ 7PM (JFLA AUDITORIUM)
IN JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
An adaptation of Yamazaki Mari's popular manga, which has won both the 2010 Manga Taisho(Cartoon Grand Prize) and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for Best Short Work . Abe Hiroshi
and the rest of its cast of talented actors with sharply sculpted faces throw themselves into
their roles as citizens of ancient Rome. Another striking aspect is its large open set built at
Cinecitta, Italy's largest film studio.
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Lucius (Hiroshi Abe), an architect of spa baths for the Roman Empire, inadvertently travels
through time and finds himself in a modern Japanese bathhouse. He takes elements ofJapanese culture that he learns there back with him to Rome and is hugely successful, whichleads the Emperor to command him to build a massive spa.
Watch Trailer

SPECIAL SCREENING
THE BOY AND THE BEAST
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 @ 2PM (JAMES ARMSTRONG THEATRE)
FREE ADMISSION / NO RSVP REQUIREDIN JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLESThe latest feature film from award-winning Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda ( Summer
Wars , Wolf Children ): When Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, stumbles
into a fantastic world of beasts, he’s taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges
warrior beast who’s been searching for the perfect apprentice.

A SECOND ADVENTURE TO THE MODERN JAPANESE BATH GETS EVEN HOTTER!
"THERMAE ROMAE II" (113MINS, 2014)
DIRECTED BY HIDEKI TAKEUCHIWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 @ 7PM (JFLA AUDITORIUM)
IN JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
Sequel to the spectacle-laden comedy Thermae Romae , a live action adaptation of YamazakiMari's popular comic. Depicts the humor arising from the contrast in time and space between
bathhouses in ancient Rome and contemporary Japan. The film is the first Japanese production
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shot on location in Bulgaria, and was realized on a grander scale than the first film.

Roman Empire bathhouse architect Lucius (Hiroshi Abe) for some reason travels in time tocontemporary Japan whenever he's stuck for new ideas. He becomes famous with constructing
a new bathhouse and receives an order to build one in the colosseum to help gladiators
recover from their wounds, but faces difficulties. Thus, Lucius travels again to modern day
Japan through the time slip but finds himself wrapped up in a conflict that divides the Roman
Empire.
Watch Trailer

COME AND VISIT US AT THE 14TH ANNUAL TARFEST
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 @ 4-10PM (LA BREA TAR PITS)
TARFEST is a premiere arts and culture event in Los Angeles and the Miracle Mile District.
Dozens of the nation's most distinctive emerging artists, performers, and cultural innovatorscome together and showcase their talents and ideas at historic and notable venues along theMiracle Mile. At the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles tent, you can enjoy Japanese culturalactivities for all ages!
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NEW COURSE: DISCUSSIONS IN JAPANESESEPTEMBER 24 TO OCTOBER 8 (3 CLASSES) @ JFLAREGISTER NOW!
Do you want to brush up your Japanese? Do you want to use your Japanese in a professional
way? In this course, you will develop the skill to describe a wide range of general topics indetail, give your opinions regarding these topics, exchange opinions effectively with others todevelop the discussion in a group.
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JF NIHONGO FALL TERM STARTS ON SEPTEMBER 10@ JFLA OR JACCC
REGISTER NOW!
We offer unique and exciting language courses, the JF Nihongo (Nihongo=Japanese), which are
based on the Japan Foundation's JF Standard. These courses focus on how well learners cando things in practical settings. Using materials from Japanese daily life, you will enjoy thesefriendly, interactive, and above all, fun courses.
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2016-17 JAPANESE LANGUAGE GRANTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!
We are accepting applications for the following grants:
1. Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant (Deadline: 9/15/2016)
2. Japanese-Language Education Project Grant (Deadline: 2 months prior to project startdate)
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2016 JLPT IN THE USTEST DATE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 3
TEST FEE: $60
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is an internationally accredited language
examination that is offered in five different levels, designed to measure a person's Japaneselanguage skills. In the United States, it is administered by the American Association of Teachersof Japanese and will be held at 16 cities across the country. Online registration will end on
Monday, October 3rd so make sure to register early if you plan to take the test this year. For
more information, please visit the site below.
Read MorePERFORMING ARTS JAPAN 2017-2018
CALL FOR APPLICATIONSDEADLINE: OCTOBER 31
The Japan Foundation is now accepting project proposals for Performing Arts Japan (PAJ)
touring and collaboratrion grants for the 2017 - 2018 fiscal year. This program is designed toprovide financial assistance for non-profit organizations in the US and Canada that aim to
introduce Japanese performing arts to local audiences.
Read MoreJAPANESE LANGUAGE EDUCATION UPDATE 34:
DO YOU SPEAK JAPANESE AT WORK?
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Hello professionals! The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles is in the planning stage of a video
project to promote the study of the Japanese language. We are gathering the contact
information of Japanese-speaking professionals who learned Japanese as a second language.
Would you like to be interviewed about your experiences studying Japanese and speaking it atwork?
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THE JAPAN FOUNDATION LAUNCHES "HIROGARU" WEBSITE!
"HIROGARU" is a site for learning different things about Japan and the Japanese language
through your own interests. Engage with various aspects about Japan through reading or
listening to information on 12 fascinating topics. Features audioclips, videos, vocabulary lists
and quizzes.
Hirogaru Website

SAKURAKAI IS PRESENTED WITH JAPAN FOUNDATION GRANT!
On August 24, Consul General Uchiyama of the Consular Office of Japan in Portland presented
the Japan Foundation's $8,000 grant check to Sakurakai (non-profit educational institution
which provides children over 4-years old with Japanese immersion courses). Sakurakai will use
our grant support for expanding their Japanese language program. We wish them the best ofluck during this school year!

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J-LEAP, A PROGRAM BORN OF THE JAPAN-U.S. SUMMITTWELVE YOUNG NATIVE JAPANESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS TO BE DISPATCHED
TO THE UNITED STATESThe Japan Foundation dispatched twelve native Japanese assistant teachers (ATs) to K-12
institutions offering Japanese language courses in twelve cities across the United States. They
will be assigned there for two years on the Japanese Language Education Assistant Program (JLEAP) until the end of July 2018.
Now in its sixth year, J-LEAP is a program that was launched by the Japan Foundation in 2011 aspart of an initiative to strengthen US-Japan exchange programs for young people. J-LEAP wasproposed during the Japan-U.S. summit in November 2010 between former Prime Minister
Naoto Kan and President Barack Obama. With Japanese language education programs
expanding across the United States, ATs will assist with Japanese language classes under theguidance of Lead Teachers (LTs) for a maximum of two years.
Read MorePast Issues (2020)

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Past Issues (2017)

Past Issues (2016)

Breeze #110Breeze #109Breeze #108

Breeze #107

Breeze #106

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Breeze #105

Breeze #104

Breeze #103

Breeze #102Breeze #101

Breeze #100Breeze #99

Breeze Past Issues

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