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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of February 2026! |
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The Package Craft exhibition will conclude its run at JFLA later this month. If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit in person, we encourage you to stop by before it closes. The final day of the exhibition will be Wednesday, February 18. Following its conclusion, we will begin preparing for our next exhibition, which will open toward the end of the month. More details will be shared soon, please stay tuned. In addition to our exhibitions, we have several upcoming in-person programs to look forward to, including the next lecture in our Japanese art series focusing on the Kamakura period, a paper sculpture workshop, and a special performance inspired by the peace activist Yoko Ono. On the digital side, JFF On Demand will be releasing five new films this month. Be sure to check their website for the latest updates and viewing information. We are also collaborating with our Toronto office to promote reading through the JF Book Tree program. Make sure to check out our Libby E-Library platform and sign up for a digital library card (US Residents Only) if you have not already done so. 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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ART EXHIBITION The exhibition showcases “Package Craft,” a creative form of papercraft that transforms empty boxes into 3D figures such as heroes, animals and Buddhist statues. Each piece follows strict rules: only one box can be used per work, all materials must be used with minimal waste, and all printed text must remain readable, even if letters are separated. This innovative craft highlights the beauty and potential of everyday packaging. Visitors can enjoy not only the final pieces but also the original blueprints and animated videos featuring the crafted characters. The exhibition is rich in creativity and encourages a playful, eco-friendly approach to artmaking. Additionally, the exhibition presents Project-Katagamika, which reinterprets classical Japanese art forms, such as ukiyo-e and family crests, by deconstructing and reconstructing them into innovative visual expressions. Overall, the show celebrates sustainability, design, and creativity, inviting viewers to perceive discarded materials in a completely new light. At the opening of the exhibition, visitors can enjoy a talk and a demonstration by Kazuma Takahashi from Japan, along with Japanese treats and freshly brewed coffee. |
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IN-PERSON LECTURE SERIES The Buddhist icons produced during Japan's Kamakura period demonstrate a refinement of the technical innovations from the preceding period. Master image-makers like Unkei and Koben used crystal eyes and detailed musculature to evoke vitality in their works, striking a masterful balance of lifelikeness and supernatural presence. Even more impressively, those monumental sculptures could be produced in only a few months. This is the fourth session of six monthly classroom-style lectures that trace the historical development of sculpture in Japan. These lively conversations explore Japanese sculptures from various time periods and mediums through in-depth explanations about how and why they were made. Participants will also encounter obscure topics related to sculpture-making in Japan. |
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WORKSHOP This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the world of single-sheet paper sculpture, grounded in the principles of Miura-ori—a unique origami folding technique developed by Japanese astrophysicist Koryo Miura. Led by Jeff Morrical, a sculptural artist with a background in architecture, the workshop explores how simple folding can transform a single sheet of paper into dynamic three-dimensional forms. Drawing from his interdisciplinary practice across architecture, design, and fine arts, Morrical guides participants through a creative process that reveals the geometric potential within paper. Designed to be both accessible and challenging, this workshop welcomes participants of all ages, from children to adults. |
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PERFORMANCE This program presents performance art and experimental music associated with the artist and peace activist Yoko Ono. Her participation in Fluxus art of the 1960s is illustrated through performances of historical works, as well as a recent work by composer Andrew Hansung Park that features Kaoru Kuribayashi as an electronically amplified tea ceremony practitioner. The program additionally features artist Gordon Fung and art historian Lidia Ferrara, who will provide educational commentary throughout the event. Yoko Ono and the Art of Fluxus tells a story about the destruction and eventual mending of a violin, and audience participation will be encouraged. |
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SAIL ON SENSEI! Hello, Sensei! Do your students struggle with learning hiragana, katakana, or kanji? We’d like to introduce a helpful app called Memory Hint. Memory Hint is a fun and intuitive Japanese learning app that helps learners master hiragana, katakana, and kanji through images and associations. Currently, there are 5 apps, hiragana, Katakana, Kanji 1, 2, and 3. By naturally connecting character shapes with sounds and meanings, it makes memorization easy—even for beginners. With quiz-style lessons designed for short study sessions, Memory Hint boosts motivation and supports both classroom learning and self-study. Perfect for entry-level learners who want to start reading Japanese with confidence. Did you know JFLA runs a Google Groups mailing list called Sensei Online that shares helpful information like this for Japanese-language educators? If you teach Japanese, sign up from the link below, and you will start receiving emails from us and other educators containing useful info regarding grants, resources, etc. |
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ON DEMAND Starting February 2026, JFF Theater will be streaming five new titles! And that’s not all — new titles will be released every month from February through July! Stay tuned for the upcoming line-up announcement. |
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ON DEMAND JF BookTree is back! Win an exciting prize by sharing your thoughts on books, manga, or films & referring your friends How to participate: Every comment you submit helps our Book Tree bloom and warms the hearts of fellow book/film lovers BONUS: Friend Referral |
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My Keisho Nihongo, Your Keisho Nihongo Interview Series 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. 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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2026-2027 Japanese Language Grants Now Available! Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Events for Learners Japanese Language Learners Event Grant Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Projects for Teachers Japanese-Language Education Project Grant Grants for Individual Japanese Language Programs Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese-Language Courses Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant Advocacy Support Letter If your Japanese language program is in danger of being cut due to COVID-19, we will send a support letter to stakeholders (Superintendent, Principal, Dean, etc.). Click Here to contact us and select Anything Related to Japanese Education. |
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Japanese Language Education Update 145
We are pleased to announce that our Japanese Language Education Grant Programs for the 2026–2027 school year are now open. If you are seeking funding to support your program, events, projects, or teaching materials, be sure to review the application deadlines and submit your application on time. Last month, we also introduced a special grant program for non-native K–12 Japanese language teachers in the United States. To encourage a broader range of applicants, we may be updating the eligibility requirements. Please check back in the coming days for the latest information and program updates. In addition, our Japanese Language Team is featuring our memory hint apps, designed to support students who may struggle with memorizing hiragana, katakana, and kanji. We encourage you to explore these tools and recommend them to your students as a supplemental learning resource. Finally, for educators in Keisho Nihongo Programs, applications for the Project Grant are still being accepted through March 31. If you are planning a project that meets the deadline, we encourage you to apply. To learn more and submit your application, Click Here! |
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5700 Wilshire blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
