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The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles Newsletter
November, 2018: Breeze Issue #133
https://www.jflalc.org/pub-breeze133

Greetings!
Japanese language teachers, it is that time of the year again to get together at ACTFL World
Languages Expo this year in New Orleans! It is not only a great opportunity to update yourteaching skills but also to expand your network with fellow teachers in other states and evenwith those of other world languages. JFLA will host a spacious booth for you to hang out andchat with our staff as well as some J-LEAP participants. And if you have been too busy toanswer our online JLE survey, we will have a station where you can complete the survey righton the spot!
At JFLA, we regularly welcome groups of students to enjoy Japan-related fun activities, andour most recent program was simply a blast! A group of high school students engaged in
Sumo wrestling, not an actual bout, but with paper-crafted wrestlers. Prior to their visit, theylearned about the history and culture of Sumo in class, along with some Japanese vocabulary
associated with this traditional Japanese sport. Making a unique paper wrestler is a creative
process that requires a lot of trial and error and communication among your team mates. Andabove all, it was totally safe and fun! I do recommend this activity for teachers who are always
on the lookout for interesting cultural activities in your classroom.
Whether you are a teacher, an artist, or just a fun-loving soul, we always have something foryou here at JFLA!
Sincerely,

Hideki Hara, Director

Bilingual Yoga at Lunchtime
Wednesday, November 7
12:30PM & 1:00PM (20 Min Sessions)Free AdmissionWellness Wednesdays: We offer Wellness programs on Wednesday at lunchtime!
November 7 is Yoga day! In this program, no need to change clothes or use a yoga mat; you will
be seated in a chair receiving relaxing instruction from a bilingual (English and Japanese)
instructor. Learn simple Japanese phrases during the instruction and stretch your mind as well as
your body.

There will be two free sessions beginning at 12:30pm and 1:00pm. No reservation necessary, all
are welcome.
Read More

Wooden Chopsticks, Metal Chopsticks: Grab Japanese and Korean Culture
Through the Languages
Wednesday, November 7 @7PM
Free Admission, RSVP Required
Japan and Korea are neighboring countries that share many similarities and contrasts in customs
and language. For example, both countries use chopsticks but did you know that the types ofchopstick are different? What other similarities or differences do these countries share?
In this lecture, by sampling video clips from various Korean and Japanese programs, we will
explore some unique aspects of the two cultures, especially as it connects to how people
communicate with one another. After the lecture, you will enjoy a tasting of Korean and Japanesefood and beverages and be able to "grab" an understanding of the two cultures! No language
knowledge is required.
Read MoreFree Japanese Cinema Screening
Let's Go, JETS! (121mins, 2017)
Directed by Hayato Kawai
Wednesday, November 14 @7PM
Free Admission, No RSVP Required
Hikari (Suzu Hirose) joins high school cheer dance club for the sole reason of cheering on a boy
she has known from their junior high days. However, the club's coach, Saotome (Yuki Amami), isa harsh and no-nonsense task master who suddenly declares: "Our aim is to become U.S.
champions! No fringes or boyfriends allowed!"
Read More2018 ACTFL Annual Convention and World Languages Expo
November 16 - 18 (Ernest Morial Convention Center)
Booth: #1724, Part of the Japanese Pavilion
Visit our booth to meet our staff as well as select J-LEAP participants, who will be helping us
promote Japanese language education. We will be giving away a wide range of goods andconducting our triennial survey of Japanese language education, so don't miss it!

Lecture & Panel Discussion
Re-Imagining KurosawaMonday, November 26 @7PM (Japan House Los Angeles)
Free Admission, RSVP Required, Save the Date!
Academy Award winning Filmmaker, Film Producer and Screenwriter Akira Kurosawa (March 23,1910 - Sept 6, 1998) was one of the greatest filmmakers of our time, who inspired many of theworld's greatest filmmakers such as George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese andFrancis Ford Coppola. Kurosawa's ground-breaking masterpieces inspired such classic movies asStar Wars, The Magnificent Seven, and A Fistful of Dollars, to name just a few.
In this lecture, Dr. David Desser will help you "Re-Imagine Akira Kurosawa" as he provides you
unique insight into Kurosawa and his classic film, High and Low(1963), which was adapted from
Ed McBain's detective novel King's Ransom.
Panel d iscussion/Q&A session follows the lecture (s pecial g uest p anelists : TBA ).

Free Japanese Cinema Screening
Tremble All You Want (117 mins, 2017)
Directed by Akiko Ooku
Wednesday, November 28 @7PM
Free Admission, No RSVP Required

24-year-old office employee Yoshika (Mayu Matsuoka) has a secret crush on her former juniorhigh school classmate Ichi (Takumi Kitamura), but then her colleague Ni (Daichi Watanabe) asks
her to be his girlfriend.
Read More

Next Tea TimeThursday, December 6 @7PM
Save the Date!
JFLA organized a special Halloween version of its popular Tea Time event on Tuesday, October
23rd. There were a total of 70 participants including Japanese language learners and nativeJapanese speaker. Many came in costumes including a vampire and a bee and at the end of theevent; we had a costume contest with 18 contestants. Six finalists were selected and throughJanken (Rock, Paper, Scissors), "The Brawny Man" won.
Thanks to JapanCrate.com for supporting this event by providing the winner of the contest with alimited edition premium Japan crate!
Thanks to everyone who attended and if you didn't get a chance this time, the next Tea Time will
be on Thursday, December 6th at 7PM.

FY2019-20 Program Guidelines Available NOW!
Arts and Culture Deadline: Multiple
Japanese Language Deadline: Monday, December 3rd, 2018
For information on Arts and Culture Programs, please visit our website with additional
information on the JF world-wide website!
New for this year is the Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art implemented by the JapanFoundation with the generous funding from the Ishibashi Foundation. This program aims tosupport the development of professionals specializing in the study of Japanese art by providing anopportunity for curators and researchers to conduct research in Japan, and promote the study ofthe field and the introduction of Japanese art outside of Japan.
For information on Japanese Language Programs, please visit:
Training Program for Japanese-Language Teachers at the Japanese Language Institute,
Urawa
Program for Specialists in Cultural and Academic Fields at the Japanese Language
Institute, Kansai
There are multiple Teacher Training Programs including Basic (long-term), Japanese Language,
Japanese Teaching Methods (short-term), and training program on a Specific Theme.
For Specialists, there is a 2-month and 6-month program.
Your application must ARRIVE at JFLA on or before December 3, 2018 for Japanese Language
Programs. Please also notify us of your intent to apply in advance.
Read More

2019-2021 J-LEAP: Now Accepting Applications for Lead Teachers
Deadline: Thursday, January 17, 2019Are you interested in inviting a Japanese Assistant Teacher (AT) to your K-12 classroom for up totwo consecutive school years? Do you want to give your students an opportunity to learn and hear
Japanese from a native speaker or an additional native speakers for some variation? If so, makesure you apply for J-LEAP, which was started in 2011 with the help of the Laurasian Institute (TLI).
We will also be posting articles written by current J-LEAP participants starting with this issue. This
month, we would like to welcome Ippei Watanabe who is currently at Glenbrook South HighSchool in Glenview, IL.
Read More2018-19 JAPANESE LANGUAGE GRANTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
We still have one grant program remaining for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 to support JapaneseLanguage Education in the United States.
The Japanese-Language Education Project Grant (Deadline: 2 months prior to project start date).
Read More

Japanese Language Education Update 60:
Kamizumo, a fun class activity idea!
On Thursday, October 25 students from Don Bosco Technical Institute came to visit our JapanFoundation, Los Angeles for a class field trip! The class, led by Ritsuko Rowe, was treated to afull program of activities about various aspects of Japanese culture and language, such asencounters with the language and a shamisen performance by our grants specialist Mike Penny.
One of the activities that we provided was kamizumo (paper sumo), led by our PR and events
coordinator Miyako Matsumura. Prior to the event, the students were introduced to the world ofsumo in their classroom by their teacher (see links below), with an explanation of its rules, key
Japanese vocabulary, and its culture, learning little-known tidbits in sumo such as common
naming conventions among sumo wrestler rikishi and how judges officiate the matches.
Then, during the field trip program, students had the chance to create their own sumo wrestlers
and challenge each other in a kamizumo tournament! This game is played on a "ring" on which
competitors tap repeatedly in order to move their fighters that they created out of paper. Whoever
steps out of the ring or falls down loses.
Thus, in addition to introducing a traditional Japanese pastime and sport, this activity pulls
together several different skills. It was an exercise of creativity because students all designed
their own personal sumo wrestler. It was an exercise of scientific trial-and-error to find the best"build" for our paper sumo wrestlers. Some went for large, imposing figures, while other chose togo smaller. One student, for example, mused that a solid base would offer the most stability. It
was an exercise of communication, and giving each other ideas on what makes the "strongest"
paper sumo wrestler. Needless to say, all students were able to create their own kamizumo with
their own diverse characteristics, to express themselves through them, and of course to have fun!
You may be interested in changing things up for your own classroom; regardless of the variation,
we hope this will help inspire you in your lesson planning!
Thank you very much Don Bosco, and best wishes in your studies!
Links about sumo culture:
Sumo | National Geographic
The Rules of Sumo Wrestling - Explained!
Sumopedia: Gyoji Shouts2018 Survey on Japanese Language Education
Want to help further support and learn more about Japanese language education in the US? Are
you a Japanese teacher or administrative staff with a Japanese program at your school? Please
make sure you complete our survey this month! Visit https://jpsurvey.net/jf2018/ to participate(contact survey@jflalc.org for your unique ID and PW). We will also be at ACTFL this November please stop by!

Columbia Heights Education Campus Receives Japan Foundation Grant
A Japan-themed afternoon at DC Public Schools' Columbia Heights Educational Campus, as
DCM Kazutoshi Aikawa joined singer Ka-Na! DCM Aikawa also delivered The Japan Foundation
国際交流基⾦ grants to support Columbia Heights Educational Campus upcoming Japanese
language classes, as well as Globalize DC's Japanese Plus program.

Read MoreGeorgia Institute of Technology Receives Japan Foundation Grant
In a special event on September 13, the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Modern
Languages welcomed the Japan Foundation to campus for the presentation of $30,000 in funding.
Consul General Shinozuka of the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta presented a check forfunds to School Chair Anna Westerstahl Stenport. The funds will support technology
enhancements in the Modern Languages Japanese Program, including the development of more
online courses.
Read MoreWashington State University and Sandpoint Waldorf School in Idaho Receives
Japan Foundation Grant
The Japanese Language Program at Washington State University and Japanese Language
Courses at Sandpoint Waldorf School in Idaho have been selected as the recipients of JapanFoundation's"Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese Language Courses" for 2018-2019. AConsulate staff member recently paid a visit to the two schools and hand-delivered the grant.
Read MoreWashington State University and Sandpoint Waldorf School in Idaho Receives
Japan Foundation Grant
The Soga Japan Center had a ceremony to accept the Salary Assistance Grant for JapaneseLanguage Courses from the Japan Foundation Los Angels on September 21, 2018. The grant will
support all Japanese language related programs which Soga Japan Center provides on campus
and off campus. The Deputy Consul General of Japan, Ms Yuki Sakai, visited WMU for the firsttime to attend the ceremony.
Read More