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BREEZE #82

AUGUST, 2014: BREEZE ISSUE #82
Like 0ShareA Free E-Newsletter for Friends of Japan & Teachers of Japanese

GREETING FROM THE DIRECTOR

August is typically the time of year that Japanese students as well as adults take time off to enjoy thesummer break. It is also a good time to create new encounters between the people of Japan and the US.
This summer, we invited 14 school principals and administrators as part of the Group Tour Program for USEducators as well as 32 high school students from all over the country as part of the JET Memorial
Invitation Program to visit Japan. We hope that the participants for both programs were able to enjoy theirtrip and that their experiences will motivate them to maintain and develop their interests in Japan and theJapanese people. Once school resumes in the following weeks, we are sure that the participants will have
many stories to share with their colleagues and fellow students, which will act like a catalyst in supporting
Japanese Language Education at their schools. In addition to these programs, the Japan Foundation
invited nine new J-LEAP assistant teachers to the US this summer. They will be starting their activities allover the country with their Lead Teachers soon. Through these programs, we aim to continuously stimulate
youth exchanges to further Japanese language education.
Have you heard of the Japanese expression “ Matsuri no ato ”? It means “melancholy or sentimental
feelings after a festival”. Summer is a season of Matsuri (festivals) in Japan, and there are also many
Japanese festivals held here in Los Angeles. For JFLA, many of our summer programs have sadly come toan end and we are now feeling bittersweet Matsuri no ato after the enjoyable reunions of youth, everyday
people, as well as teachers through our programs including JET-MIP, Japan Design 100 Exhibition,
Nihongo Summer Camp for Teens and the Group Tour Program for US Educators. However, in Japan,
autumn is again the season of festivals! We are now in the process of organizing events for the coming fall
and we hope you will continue to check our website for new and exciting events that are in the works.
Naomi Takasu, Director
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REGISTER NOW!!
WORKSHOP: JAPANESE THROUGH MANGAWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6 @ 7PM
Japanese comic books (manga) are a rich source of living Japanese! In this workshop, you will learn
Japanese as it’s used in daily life and entertainment, especially casual conversations. Using characteristic
expressions and patterns, you too can become a manga hero or heroine!

JAPANEMA: FREE JAPANESE CINEMA SCREENINGCASTING BLOSSOMS TO THE SKY (160MINS, 2012)
DIRECTED BY NOBUHIKO OBAYASHIWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13 @ 7PM
VENUE: JFLA AUDITORIUM
A reporter for the local paper in Amakusa, Reiko is a child of the Nagasaki Atomic Bombing. She goes tovisit her former lover, Kenichi, a victim of the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake who resides in Nagaoka, awareof its association to the Nagaoka Fireworks.
The film is Reiko's travelogue as she is captivated by the wonderland of surprises and delights inNagaoka. All of the characters are actual people from history. Nagaoka air raid narrator Lilico, whose
deceased infant is reincarnated as a presently 18-year-old Hana, among other historical elements arefictionalized with a semi-documentary touch.
Photo: © Nagaoka movie production Committee, PSC. All rights reserved.
Read MoreJAPANEMA: FREE JAPANESE CINEMA SCREENING
FLY, DAKOTA FLY! (109MINS, 2013)
DIRECTED BY SEIJI ABURATANI
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 @ 7PM
VENUE: JFLA AUDITORIUM
January 1946, a plane makes a crash landing on the beach in a small village on Sado island, Niigata
prefecture. It is a British airforce Dakota plane, carrying VIPs. They have no choice but to stay put unlessthey can somehow dig Dakota out of sand. Local residents have mixed feelings towards them as they wereenemies until half a year ago. However, the village mayor Shintaro, comes to a decision after muchdeliberation to keep to the local spirit to help those in need, and invite the British soldiers to stay at hisfamily inn until the Dakota is ready to take off. The British are cautious at first but gradually open up to thewarm welcome by the residents of the island.
Photo: © "FLY, DAKOTA, FLY!" partners
Read MoreANNOUNCEMENT: 2014 JLPT REGISTRATION PERIODREGISTRATION: SEPTEMBER 1 - OCTOBER 3, 2014
TEST DATE: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2014
Registration for the 2014 JLPT will start on Monday, September 1, 2014 and last until Friday, October 3,
2014. This year, there are two new test sites in Boulder, CO, and Columbus, OH. The Atlanta test site will
return to its regular location at Georgia State University and the Los Angeles test site has been changed
to California State University Los Angeles. Please make sure to register early to ensure your seat for thisyear's test.
Read MoreFISCAL 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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2014 JET MEMORIAL INVITATION PROGRAM REPORTIn July of 2014, 32 high school students from all over the country gathered in Los Angeles for an
orientation to kick off the JET Memorial Invitation Program. This program was started immediately
following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011 to commemorate the work of two JETAssistant Language Teachers who sadly lost their lives during the disaster. All the participants arrived inLos Angeles without any major delays or issues and the program started without a hitch.

JAPANESE LANGUAGE EDUCATION UPDATE #9: JF INVITATIONAL GROUP TOUR REPORT
Last month, the Japan Foundation invited 14 American education administrators to Japan for a nine day
tour of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka in the hopes that tour participants bring back a strong affinity for thecountry. Candidates for the tour were selected from schools and districts which have recently started, orplan to start, a Japanese language program. By taking these administrators on a fun and educational tourof Japan, the Japan Foundation hopes to establish administrative support for these fledgling programsfrom the very beginning.
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NEW LIBRARY ACQUISITIONS
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.

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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. You will need to enter through our employee entrance to access the library.
This will last until mid-September and we will provide additional information as the construction
completes. We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to the completion of our new courtyard.

STAFF UPDATEIn July, we welcomed Michi Shimura sensei as our new Japanese Language Course Lecturer. She replaces
Yuka Kitazono sensei who transitioned into a part time role teaching Japanese for us. Michi will now focus
on developing new course materials in preparation for our fall term starting on September 20. You may
have met her if you attended our workshop "Japanese for Travel" or "Summer Camp for Teens" last monthand we hope you will join us for your upcoming Japanese language learning needs.

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Breeze #86

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