Wellness Wednesdays: We offer Wellness programs every 1st and 3rd Wednesday at lunchtime!
October 18 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.
Dealing with Life and Death the Japanese Way
Wednesday, October 18, 2017 @7PM
Free Admission, RSVP Required
Part I: Lecture (30mins)
“Dealing with Life and Death the Japanese Way” by Duncan Ryuken Williams (USC)
Part II: Documentary Film Screening (90mins)
Death of a Japanese Salesman (エンディングノート) (90mins, 2011)
Directed by Mami Sunada
Produced by Hirokazu Kore-eda
Part III: Q&A Session with Director Mami Sunada (30mins)
Director Sunada will answer your question (Televised live from Japan)
Bow to Everything, Even to An Electric Pole
Campaign (選挙) (120mins, 2007)
Directed by Kazuhiro Soda
A documentary that closely follows the Kawasaki city assembly by-election in 2005. This is a directorial debut of Soda Kazuhiro, that has been entered into a number of film festivals, including the official invitation from the Berlin International Film Festival in 2007.
Zombies, witches and Sadakos of night! Put your Halloween costume on and join our Halloween themed conversation café, Tea Time! You will enjoy Japanese snacks and tea while you chat with native Japanese speakers. All levels welcome! Japanese language experience is not necessary—this event is open to everyone, ages 18 and up!
Kinji Fukasaku’s “Japanese GODFATHER” adapted from newspaper articles of real life yakuza
Battles without Honor and Humanity (仁義なき戦い) (99mins, 1973)
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
*Please come with your Gang or Mafia costume.
When this film first hit Japanese screens in January 1973, partially inspired by the success of The Godfather, it blasted out a new Ground Zero for crime cinema not only in Japan, but in the rest of the world, and spawned a legendary series that would lead to additional episodes, spin-offs, and countless imitations.
Yakuza: Origin and Structure of Japan's Organized Crime Syndicates
This lecture is a three-part presentation. Part I takes the form of a historical overview, tracing the origin of the Yakuza from the early days to World War II, emphasizing the political and socio-cultural constructs that propagated the growth and spread of these traditional groups. Part II provides insight into the organizational structure of modern Yakuza crime syndicates, highlighting membership. Part III concludes the presentation with a brief examination of the most prominent laws aimed at controlling the Yakuza in Japan, as well as internationally.
One Wrong Move and It’s All-out War
Outrage (109mins, 2010)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
In a ruthless battle for power, several yakuza clans vie for the favor of their head family in the Japanese underworld. The rival bosses seek to rise through the ranks by scheming and making allegiances sworn over sake. Long-time yakuza Otomo (Takeshi Kitano) has seen his kind go from elaborate body tattoos and severed fingertips to becoming important players on the stock market. Theirs is a never-ending struggle to end up on top, or at least survive, in a corrupt world where there are no heroes, but constant betrayal and vengeance.
Call for Applications
Deadline: October 31, 2017
The Japan Foundation is now accepting project proposals for Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) touring and collaboratrion grants for the 2018 - 2019 fiscal year. Application deadline is 5:00 p.m. EST, October 31, 2017.
With the growing popularity of Japanese movies and animation, the demand for Japanese to English visual media translation is skyrocketing.
For audiences who cannot understand the original language, subtitles play a vital role in making movies entertaining. To translate dialogue into good subtitles requires special techniques to draw out the original meaning as well as the entertainment value of the movie with only a limited number of words.
In talking about how movie translation fulfills an important role behind the scenes, a professional from the industry will introduce the actual process of translating and its enjoyment. During the lecture, we will demonstrate good and bad translations using professional subtitling software and video clips from a couple of Japanese movies. This lecture is co-presented by Japan Visualmedia Translation Academy (JVTA).
Suibokuga (水墨画), also called sumi-e (墨絵), is a form of art that uses black sumi ink to paint on washi paper. This seemingly simple monochrome art form requires various brush stroke techniques which create and express the subtle nuances of light and shade onto a sheet of paper. Artist Yoshio Ikezaki has been creating contemporary monochrome art works using sumi-e techniques and some of his works are currently on view as part of the “ATMOSPHERE IN JAPANESE PAINTING” exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
A Blend of Gorgeous, Realistic Detail and Emotionally Grounded Fantasy
Your Name. (106mins, 2016)
Directed by Makoto Shinkai
The day the stars fell, two lives changed forever. High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers, living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body and he, hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly and the two must adjust their lives around each other. Yet somehow, it works.
The bodhisattvas are deities who have achieved enlightenment themselves but have delayed their own exit from the cycle of rebirth to guide others to enlightenment. Japanese Buddhism is full of these strange yet wonderfully virtuous attendant deities, from the monk-like bodhisattva of the hells to the horse-headed bodhisattva of compassion.
Click here and select Japanese Training Programs from the online form to contact us with any questions or to inform us of your intention to apply to one of these programs.
The Japan Foundation organizes programs to introduce various aspects of Japanese arts and culture all over the world. In addition, it promotes networking and human resources development in arts and cultural fields by interactive collaboration/co-production, and through dispatching and invitation of specialists.
Click below to download the online application forms and guidelines.
Support Program for Translation and Publication on Japan
Application Deadline: November 20, 2017
Exhibitions Abroad Support Program
Application Deadline: December 1, 2017