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The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles Newsletter
July, 2018: Breeze Issue #129
https://www.jflalc.org/pub-breeze129

Greetings!
As we approach another LA-signature hot summer, why not cool yourself down in our airconditioned theater surrounded by Gyotaku (fish) prints of some of the most eclectic collectionof river and ocean creatures? They look so alive and fresh that I can guarantee your seafood
appetite will be uncontrollably invigorated afterward.
Hiromi Paper, a Japanese Washi-paper distributor in LA that kindly provides materials for ourGyotaku exhibition will co-host a lecture with us on the incredible world of Washi toward theend of the month. This event will feature a special appearance of a group of master washi
craftsmen from a variety of paper-making regions in Japan. It is a rare opportunity for you toliterally get your hands on one of the longest crafts of Japan.
For those who love Japanese pop culture, please check out the latest article of our Japanese
Language Education Update, a compilation of sites that are useful for both your personal
leisure and classroom activities. Of course, nobody can list every interesting site on Japanese
pop culture, so please let us know your go-to URLs when it comes to Japanese anime,
manga, or anything else that we can share!
Sincerely,

Hideki Hara, Director

World of Washi: Unfolding Tradition and Innovation
Thursday, July 26, 2018 7pm
Admission Free, Reservation Required
For 1,300 years Japan has been the world leader in paper making. Join JFLA and Hiromi Paper,
Inc. as we delve into the World of Washi (Japanese paper) and its history through a special Virtual
Washi Tour Presentation of Japan's paper making regions.
Read MoreArt Exhibition - Impressions of the Seas: Gyotaku Fish Prints
Through July 13, 2018

Japanese gyotaku (lit. 'fish rubbing') is the unlikely marriage of fish, sumi ink, and washi paper.
Once used to record the size of an impressive catch, it has been elevated to a fine art through theefforts of gyotaku masters. "Impressions of the Seas: Gyotaku Fish Prints" by Dwight Hwang
features a selection of prints depicting freshwater, coastal and open ocean specimens alongside
objects which detail the gyotaku printmaking process.
Read More

Exhibit: BambooThrough September 9, 2018
Craft and Folk Art Museum$7 | free for members
BAMBOO explores the evolution of Japanese bamboo basketry from a purely functional art form
into complicated, distinctly Japanese sculptural forms of variable scale. A major selection ofhistorical and contemporary works from the Los Angeles-based Cotsen Collection are central tothe exhibition, as well as a large-scale, interactive bamboo installation by Japan-based artist Akio
Hizume.
This exhibition is supported by The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles 国際交流基⾦ロサンゼルス
⽇本⽂化センター, with additional support from the Pasadena Art Alliance.

The Long Excuse - 永い⾔い訳 (124mins, 2016)
Directed by Miwa Nishikawa
Wednesday, July 11 @7PM
In Japanese with English subtitles
Romance starring Motoki Masahiro from Departures with original story, script and direction fromNishikawa Miwa of Dreams for Sale. A bestselling author discovers the joys of living for others
after his wife dies and he spends time with children who have lost their mother.
Watch Trailer

Meditation With Japanese Singing Lin Bowl
Wednesday, July 18
12:30/1:00PM (2 sessions, 20 min/session)
Just Show Up!
Mid-week fatigue is a familiar foe to many of us. Why not maximize your relaxation and join us fora Sound Bath at Lunchtime!
The Singing Lin Bowl harmoniously combines the healing qualities of the Tibetan singing bowl andits Japanese counterpart, the Lin bowl. Relax and feel your stress dissipate into thin air as thesounds of the singing-Lin bowl lead you into a meditative state.
There is no charge and no reservation required. All are welcome to come, sit, listen, and refresh!
Read More

The Magnificent Nine - 殿、利息でござる︕
Directed by Yoshihiro Nakamura
Wednesday, July 25 @7PM
In Japanese with English subtitles(129mins, 2016)

A film adaptation of Michifumi Isoda's original novel which is based on a true story from the middle
Edo Period. This film comically depicts the efforts of Yoshiokajuku, an inn town in Sendai fief, tosave themselves from impoverishment by running a moneylending enterprise against the fiefdom.
On the verge of financial crisis, the Sendai fiefdom levies a heavy tax upon its residents resulting
in bankruptcies and people fleeing town in succession. Nine people including Juzaburo Kokudaya(Sadawo Abe), devise a relief plan to loan money to the fief with a partner and distribute theinterest among the residents.
Watch Trailer

Workshop: Japanese for Travel
Monday, July 9 @7PM
This Event Is Full
Do you have plans to go to Japan in the near future? If so, we will get you prepared! You willlearn helpful travel tips from a tourism specialist from JNTO(Japan National TourismOrganization), and essential Japanese phrases from our Japanese language course instructor.
We will demonstrate Japanese social etiquette, too, so you won't be just a "stranger" in Japan.
This workshop is suitable for beginners and those with no experience at all.
Read More

2018-19 JAPANESE LANGUAGE GRANTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
We still have grant programs available during our Fiscal Year 2018-19 to support JapaneseLanguage Education in the United States.
They include the following:
1. Learners Event Grant previously known as "Speech Contest Grant" (Deadline: 9/1/2018)
2. Teaching Material Purchase Grant (Deadline: 9/15/2018)
3. Japanese-Language Education Project Grant (Deadline: 2 months prior to project startdate)
Read More

Japanese Language Education Update #56:
Resources for Teachers and Students, Part 1: Pop Culture
In our last 2015 survey, 90% of 1,451 institutions in the US reported that one of reason theirstudents were studying Japanese was an interest in Japanese pop culture such as anime ormanga. Yet searching for resources that are related to student interest is always daunting andtime-consuming. The Japan Foundation has its own anime and manga learning site here:
http://anime-manga.jp/ . But there are of course many more out there in many shapes and forms!
We've compiled some more sites that you or your students can use in the classroom, whether forreference or for activities. Resources listed below are unaffiliated with JFLA.
Akiba Soken
https://akiba-souken.com/article/anime/
Anime news
Silent Manga Audition
http://www.manga-audition.com/
Manga without words. Great for creative activities. (Thanks to Suzuki-sensei for introducing thisone!)Japanese commercial database
http://www.bb-navi.com/cm-douga/index-news.html
Great if you want to show a quick clip in class! Note: some are unavailable due to country
restrictions
Dorama database
http://www.tvdrama-db.com/
What's showing? Searchable database of all major dramas.
Sakuhin Database
https://sakuhindb.com
Review site in Japanese of various drama, movies, manga, and anime. Great to read Japaneseopinions.
TRIVIA BONUS: Film sets in Japan
http://loca.ash.jp/Ever curious about where a location a movie or drama was filmed? Or, conversely, ever want toknow what was filmed in a particular prefecture? Use this database!
And while introduced already before, we would be remiss to neglect the Gakushuu Manga projectby the Nippon Foundation, which selected 200 manga titles for their educational value, teachingabout history, diversity, culture, and more! We are currently working on including information on
our own site about usage in the classroom.
http://gakushumanga.jp/
We are constantly updating our resources. Be sure to keep checking back!

Yujin Gakuen Receives Japan Foundation's Salary Assistance Grant
On Thursday June 7th, 2018, Consul General Takashi Teraoka attended the Yujin Gakuen
Japanese Immersion School's 30th year anniversary and presented the Japan Foundation's grant
check to Principal Thomas Piowaty (Eugene, Oregon). Our grant will be used to expand thecurrent kindergarten Japanese immersion program. We congratulate them on reaching thishistorical milestone and wish them the best of luck with their program!