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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of October 2025! |
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We’re thrilled to kick off the Halloween season with our latest traveling exhibition, *Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan*. In celebration of the exhibit, we’ll be hosting a special meditation event and a live musical performance in the latter half of the month, perfect complements to the eerie and imaginative world of *yokai*. This October also marks the return of renowned performer Ichinosuke Umekawa, who will lead a workshop and give a performance in traditional Japanese dance. In addition, we’ll present two enriching lectures, one on Japanese ceramics and another on the life and artistry of Japanese artist Sayako Kishimoto. For those who enjoy cultural dialogue, we invite you to join our upcoming *Tea Time* conversation event at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Looking ahead to November, we are excited to launch a new monthly lecture series that delves into the artistry and cultural significance of Japanese sculpture. Be sure to mark your calendars, there’s something for everyone this season! One quick note: We've noticed that Google Maps has been incorrectly marking our location. Please make sure your search directs you to Mid-Wilshire, between Masselin and S Curson Ave. The entrance is located on Courtyard Place. You can find a map and street view of our building below for easy reference.
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TRAVELING EXHIBITION This exhibition introduces Japan’s Yokai culture that has been depicted in picture scrolls and Nishiki e (“brocade picture,” a type of Japanese multi colored woodblock print) since ancient times. Presenting the way in which the image of Yokai came to change from a subject of fear to a more charming and friendly presence along with transitions in media from picture scrolls to Nishiki e, books and toys which would gradually become familiar to the masses, the exhibition showcases the charm of Yokai culture that continues to live within people’s imagination until the present day. Curated by Yumoto Koichi Director Emeritus of the Yumoto Koichi Memorial JAPAN YOKAI MUSEUM (Miyoshi Mononoke Museum) |
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TRAVELING EXHIBITION Opening Reception RSVP PREFERRED This exhibition introduces Japan’s Yokai culture that has been depicted in picture scrolls and Nishiki e (“brocade picture,” a type of Japanese multi colored woodblock print) since ancient times. Presenting the way in which the image of Yokai came to change from a subject of fear to a more charming and friendly presence along with transitions in media from picture scrolls to Nishiki e, books and toys which would gradually become familiar to the masses, the exhibition showcases the charm of Yokai culture that continues to live within people’s imagination until the present day. Curated by Yumoto Koichi Director Emeritus of the Yumoto Koichi Memorial JAPAN YOKAI MUSEUM (Miyoshi Mononoke Museum) |
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DEMONSTRATION & WORKSHOP Ichinosuke Umekawa is a renowned Japanese classical dancer, or buyoka, whose background in both ballet and kabuki allows him to explore new possibilities in Japanese dance, or buyo. He brings a highly refined and modern approach to classical dance that preserves Japanese tradition while also incorporating contemporary expression and a global perspective. For his second visit to the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (the first was in 2019), Umekawa will perform three dances (including one with a yokai subject related to the ongoing exhibition "YOKAI PARADE: Supernatural Monsters from Japan") and then lead an introductory buyo workshop. The three dances will be:
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LECTURE Since the 1950s, a select group of Japanese ceramists has received the prestigious designation “Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property,” colloquially known as “Living National Treasure.” What does this recognition signify today? Drawing on recent interviews and studio visits with current designees and cultural officials, this presentation explores what can be termed their “ceramic poetics”—the interplay of vessel-centric philosophy and the techniques of clay, glaze, and firing defining their work. Of particular interest is how these ceramists channel the local through specific regional materials, processes, and inherited stylistic vocabularies. Their commitment to materiality and place suggests broader ways of thinking about the relationship between humans, culture, and the environment in the twenty-first century. |
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IN-PERSON LECTURE This lecture explores the life and art of Kishimoto Sayako (1939–1988), a largely under-examined Japanese woman artist of the 20th century. Born in Nagoya, Kishimoto initially studied Nihonga, a modern style of Japanese painting that emerged in the late nineteenth century. However, her artistic journey expanded in the 1960s to include abstract painting, conceptual sculpture, and dynamic installations. Among her activities during this time, her participation in the avant-garde group Neo-Dada Organizers in 1960 was particularly notable. In the 1980s, Kishimoto used her large scroll paintings and performances to express an egalitarian vision that challenged Japan’s heteronormative, competition-driven society. This lecture will delve into her art and political activities from this transformative decade, examining her unconventional social perspective and its intricate connections to her representations of gender-ambivalent female bodies. By examining the artistic and political significance of Kishimoto Sayako, this lecture aims to highlight her vision as a challenge to post-1945 capitalist Japan. |
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CONVERSATION We're having our ever popular “Tea Time” Japanese conversation tables at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH)! Come and explore the campus, as well as meet new friends and Japanese native speakers! All Japanese levels are welcome -- Japanese language experience is not necessary; this event is open to everyone. Additionally, we will have some time to share information about career paths for Japanese language learners. We're excited to meet all of you! |
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WELLNESS Refresh and recharge with a sound bath! The singing bowl used for this program harmoniously combines the healing qualities of both the Tibetan singing bowl and the Japanese traditional singing bowl. Choose a space near your favorite artwork in the exhibition "YOKAI PARADE: Supernatural Monsters from Japan", relax and feel your stress dissipate into thin air as the sounds of the singing bowl lead you into a meditative state. There is no admission fee, but a reservation is required. We will provide a chair and small cushion for you to sit on, but you are welcome to bring your own cushion or yoga mat. |
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MUSIC & ART Why not music inspired by art while surrounded by art? In this new series, "In the Tune of Art," we select music that matches the theme and artwork of the current exhibition and invite you to enjoy the melody in that environment. Musicians will also give special perform improvised performances inspired by the art. For the fourth session, we are pleased to present a unique musical dialogue between Japanese classical and Western instruments, in conjunction with the traveling exhibition YOKAI PARADE: Supernatural Monsters from Japan. LA-based musicians Kozue Matsumoto (koto), Shoshi Watanabe (shakuhachi), and Patrick Shiroishi (saxophone) will perform a program of both traditional songs and contemporary pieces. They will also give special perform improvised performances inspired by the art. Immerse yourself in the lively sounds of a room filled with yokai! |
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MONTHLY LECTURE SERIES Why did Buddhist image-makers choose certain materials for their projects? How could woodworkers during the thirteenth century complete the two massive gate guardians in the Nandaimon at Todaiji in less than three months? What is being done to preserve the old traditions of sculpture-making alongside the new, innovative techniques that move the possibilities of sculpture forward? In this series of monthly classroom-style lectures, Michael VanHartingsveldt will trace the development of sculpture in Japan through its material and technical aspects. These lively discussions invite participants to engage with Japanese sculptures from various time periods and mediums where they will not only learn fundamental information about how the sculptures were made and to what purpose but also encounter obscure topics related to the art and artifacts of Japan. Michael will also incorporate details from his dissertation research on the tools and techniques used by Buddhist image-makers in medieval Japan and the rituals they practiced to maintain the sacrality of the raw materials, especially wood, as they were transformed into icons for worship. November 12, 2025 December 3, 2025 January 7, 2026 February 4, 2026 March 4, 2026 April 1, 2026 |
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ON DEMAND Six new films have been streaming on JFF Theater for the past month and below are the top three films based on viewing. Top 3 Films by views If you watch a film on JFF Theater, don’t forget to leave your comments on the dedicated page! Easy 3-Step Sign-Up
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My Keisho Nihongo, Your Keisho Nihongo Interview Series: New Interview Added! Being a Keisho Nihongo/Japanese-as-a-Heritage-Language (JHL) learner, as opposed to a Japanese-as-a-Foreign Language (JFL) learner, can carry with it a set of unique challenges when there is a lack of local access to specialized education and community. Bicultural identity, especially in countries rich in diversity like the U.S., can factor into these learners' language acquisition and can be difficult for them to navigate. In this interview series, we talk with Keisho Nihongo learners about the personal challenges they faced and what helped them overcome those challenges. We hope that the advice, perspectives, and unique stories offered in these interviews will help and motivate other Keisho Nihongo learners throughout the U.S. NEW: Yuuka Itoh: https://youtu.be/L-Qr5rjoXzw |
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General Invitation to Join JF USA Digital Library We recently renewed and added many new books in coordination with our New York and Toronto offices for our patrons in the US and Canada. There have also been an uptick in the number of applicants as well, which shows that this is a very popular service. We have also updated the application survey and the confirmation emails are still going out once a week on Wednesdays by 6:00PM pacific time. If you register and do not receive a welcome email from us within a Wednesday of registering, please contact us so we can help you out. |
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2025-2026 Japanese Language Grants Now Available! Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Projects for Teachers Advocacy Support Letter Click Here to contact us and select Anything Related to Japanese Education. |
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Japanese Language Education Update 141
As October arrives, we enter the festive season, beginning with Halloween at the end of the month. Before the celebrations begin, we’re excited to host the Sakura Network Leadership Workshop here in Los Angeles, in collaboration with the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). We’re also pleased to welcome back Mr. Yunchuan Chen from Duke University as a returning participant in our 2025 Comprehensive Japanese Teaching Methods Program (Summer Course). You can read about his valuable insights and experiences during the program here. Additionally, we would like to inform you that our Keishonihongo website will be integrated into our main website by the end of October. If you’re a regular visitor to Keishonihongo.org, rest assured the content will remain available, just in a new home. The URL will automatically redirect to the Keishonihongo section of our main site, ensuring a seamless transition without any disruption to your experience. For educators in Keisho Nihongo Programs, we’re excited to launch our support initiatives this month! We’re offering three opportunities: Book Donations, Event Support, and Project Grants.
To learn more and apply, Click Here! |
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5700 Wilshire blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
