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BREEZE #80

JUNE, 2014: BREEZE ISSUE #80
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GREETING FROM THE DIRECTOR

The month of June typically marks the beginning of summer with warmer weather and the end of schoolfor many students around the country including our students enrolled in spring term of JF Nihongo
courses. This is also one of the busiest times of year for us when we plan many large scale events such as
the exhibition Japanese Design Today 100 at UCLA, the Group Tour Program for U.S. Educators, and theJET Memorial Invitation Program. At our office on the Miracle Mile, we will continue offering our biweeklyJAPANEMA film screenings as well as a Zen Calligraphy workshop, despite the new construction going onaround our office. With all these activities being planned, I hope you will take some time away from the
hot Southern California sun and enjoy a fresh breeze of Japanese culture with us at both JFLA & UCLA.
Naomi Takasu, Director

JAPANESE DESIGN TODAY 100
FRIDAY, JUNE 27 – SATURDAY, JULY 19
CO-ORGANIZERS: TERASAKI CENTER FOR JAPANESE STUDIES & UCLA ARCHITECTURE &Privacy - Terms

URBAN DESIGNVENUE: UCLA PERLOFF HALL (DECAFÉ) - 1317 PERLOFF HALL, LOS ANGELES, CA 90095
ADMISSION: FREE
This world premiere exhibition showcases the Designscape of contemporary Japan through 100 objects
selected for their popular designs as well as what is known as high design. They are displayed in 10
different categories including Classic Japanese Design, Furniture & Housewares, Tableware & Cookware,
Apparel & Accessories, Children, Stationery, Hobbies, Health Care, Disaster Relief, and Transportation.
Viewers will gain a good idea of many aspects of contemporary Japanese culture through this exhibition,
which can be enjoyed like a virtual tour of Japan.
Read MoreIn Cooperation With Japan Airlines

ZEN CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOP: TRANSCRIBING SUTRA AND BUDDHASATURDAY, JUNE 14 AT 1:00PM AT JFLAREGISTER NOW! (LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE)
Rev. Shumyo Kojima from Zenshuji Soto Mission, Los Angeles will hold a lecture and workshop ofShakyo (写経） and Shabutsu （写仏） , Sutra and Buddha copying. In writing out the sutra and copying theBuddha painting, the participant will experience Japanese calligraphy and meditation.
Read MoreJAPANEMA: FREE JAPANESE CINEMA SCREENINGLANDMARK IN JAPANESE ANIMATION!
AKIRA (1988, 124MIN)WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 AT 7:00PM
VENUE: JFLA AUDITORIUMAkira is based on the manga (comic book) by Katsuhiro Otomo set in the post-apocalyptic community ofNeo-Tokyo. Kaneda is a bike gang leader whose close friend Tetsuo gets involved in a government secretproject known as Akira. The despotic authorities, the robot-like police, and even the cycle gang pursue
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Tetsuo when he's bombarded with a new, insidious energy source that has rendered him telekinetic. His
supernatural power leading to a bloody death, coup attempt and the final battle in Tokyo Olympiad whereAkira's secrets were buried 30 years ago.

JAPANEMA: FREE JAPANESE CINEMA SCREENINGGEISHA FULL THROTTLE!!!
MAIKO HAAAAAN!!! (2007, 120MIN)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 AT 7:00PM
VENUE: JFLA AUDITORIUM
From the acclaimed screenwriter Kankuro Kudo of Ping Pong, Yaji and Kita: The Midnight Pilgrims , comes
Maiko Haaaaan!!!, a slapstick comedy with an energetic twist of Kyoto humor and a colorful introduction tothe undisclosed Maiko world. The film centers on a Japanese office worker named Kumihiko Onizuka(Sadao Abe) who dumps his girlfriend because he believes he can only fall in love with a Maiko(apprentice Geisha). He decides to pursue his dream of courting a real Maiko in Kyoto. The private Maiko
Houses become a social barrier added to his rival who is a millionaire baseball player (Shinichi Tsutsumi),
standing in his way. Meanwhile, Kumihiko's girlfriend (Kou Shibasaki) tries to win him back by leaving
Tokyo to become a Maiko herself.

THE JAPAN FOUNDATION INVITATIONAL - GROUP TOUR FOR U.S. EDUCATORS 2014
Through the Invitational Group Tour Program, the Japan Foundation invites 15 administrative leaders ofprimary and secondary educational institutions to visit Japan on a nine day trip. This program wasestablished in 2008 to build professional networks between American and Japanese educators, thereby
enhancing existing Japanese programs and expanding opportunities for students to learn the language.
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2014 JET MEMORIAL INVITATION PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ANNOUNCEMENT
After an intense selection process, we have finalized the 32 participants for the 2014 JET MemorialInvitation Program for US High School Students. This program was started in 2011 to commemorate thework of two JET participants, Taylor Anderson and Montgomery Dickson, who sadly lost their lives in theGreat East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on March 11, 2011. Participants from all across the United States
have been invited for a 2 week study tour of Japan in July with a focus on the Tohoku region. We
congratulate them on this achievement and look forward to meeting them in Los Angeles next month forthe pre-departure orientation.

SUMMER CAMP FOR TEENS: DISCOVER LITTLE TOKYOJULY 21-25
We are excited to announce our Summer Camp for Teens: Discover Little Tokyo - our special annual
program just for teens! This is a fun and interactive language day camp. Campers will learn basic
characters, Katakana (ex.ア、イ、ウ), and easy expressions in Japanese through fun activities while
exploring Little Tokyo. It is a wonderful opportunity for teens to be immersed in the language and theculture both inside and outside of the classroom. Register before June 15 to be eligible for the 10% early
bird discount!

FISCAL YEAR 2014-2015 JAPANESE LANGUAGE GRANTS
We are still accepting applications for the following grants:
1. Japanese Language Learners Event Grant previously known as "Speech Contest Grant" (Deadline:9/1/2014)
2. Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant (Deadline: 9/15/2014)
3. Japanese-Language Education Project Grant (Deadline: 2 months prior to project start date).
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JAPANESE LANGUAGE EDUCATION UPDATE #7: JNCL-NCLIS AND ADVOCACY TIP #2
Teachers advocate for foreign language programs at their schools. Teachers' associations advocate forforeign language education at the schools in their states. But who advocates for foreign language onCapitol Hill? In May, the president of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) Ms. Motoko
Tabuse and two AATJ advocacy experts Ms. Janet Ikeda and Mr. William Matsuzaki attended the JNCLNCLIS Delegate Assembly to do just that.
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EVENT REPORT: OPERATION TOMODACHI AND AFTERWARDS - A U.S. MARINE CORPSPERSPECTIVE
BY ALEX FORBESS
After a 9.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011, massive waves
destroyed towns up and down the coastline of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures causing catastrophic damage
to the area. At the time, Dr. Robert D. Eldridge, Political Affairs and Public Diplomacy Officer, Marine Corps
Installation Pacific, was with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in Okinawa, approximately
over 1,500 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter. “Even being in Okinawa, we knew how bad it was going
to be,” Eldridge said. The 31st MEU immediately prepared to assist the Japan Ground Self Defense Force(JGSDF) and once Operation Tomadachi was approved by the US government in Washington DC.
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NEW LIBRARY ACQUISITIONS
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We purchased some new books and DVDs in our library so make sure to drop by to check them out. Thebooks are divided into four categories including Books in English, Books in Japanese, Japanese-language
study materials, and Children's Books. Our annual library membership fee is only $2 and you get a freecloth book bag when you become a member.

STAFF UPDATE
It is with great sadness that we announce the departure of our receptionist Satomi-san. She has been theface of our library for the past two and a half years greeting guests in person and over the phone while
assisting with the day to day activities. We appreciate her outgoing personality to connect with ourpatrons and wish her the best of luck on her future endeavors.

BUILDING RENOVATION UPDATE: ENTRANCE CHANGE
As many of our guests have noticed, there is considerable construction around our office with the ongoingrenovation of the courtyard. Starting on June 10th, our guest entrance will no longer be accessible. Youwill need to enter through our employee entrance to access the library. This will last for approximately 3months and we will provide additional information as the construction completes. We apologize for theinconvenience and look forward to the completion of our new courtyard.
New Entrance Map

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