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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of March 2026! |
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March is a month of transition and new beginnings for our organization, with several important announcements and program highlights to share. The most significant change comes within our team. Deputy Director Takehara concluded his five-year tenure in Los Angeles and returned to Japan this month. Arriving in December 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped in guiding the office through an unprecedented period, overseeing daily operations as we adapted to remote programming and eventually resumed in-person activities. Our new Deputy Director, Kenta Yamashita, arrived from Japan last month. He will be representing the office at a variety of upcoming programs and events, and we look forward to introducing him to our community in the months ahead. In our Culture team, Miyako Matsumura retired at the end of February and will return to Japan. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in launching innovative online initiatives during the pandemic, including Music Mondays, and Meditation/Yoga/Martial Arts sessions, as well as in person events such as Samurai Action, Tea Time gatherings, and most recently, the Package Craft Exhibition. Her creativity and commitment greatly expanded our digital outreach, and we wish her every happiness in her retirement. This month also brings two new exhibitions exploring themes of Buddhas and spiritual deities. In addition, the second installment of our cross-cultural series will take place in New Mexico in mid-March, focusing on folk art and clay. We encourage those in the area to attend and engage with these dynamic cultural programs. On the film front, JFF Theater will debut four new titles this month, joining the five films currently available for streaming. Be sure to catch The Lines That Define Me, our most-viewed film from last month. Finally, we are pleased to collaborate with our colleagues at The Japan Foundation, Toronto to promote reading through the JF Book Tree program. Readers in the United States are invited to explore our Libby e-library platform and register for a digital library card to access a wide range of Japanese literature and resources. 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 Opening Reception Buddhist sutras explain that donating to projects like paintings and sculptures was a way for Buddhist devotees to accumulate good karma for themselves and their loved ones. Through this, they could be reassured of a good rebirth in a Buddhist paradise. This exhibition emphasizes the production of Buddhist visual culture across Asia and situates Japan’s Buddhist art within that context. By displaying Buddhist sculptures and paintings alongside the materials and tools that would have been used to create them, we show that Buddhist art is the result of skilled labor and quality materials.
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SPECIAL PROGRAM
We are opening up this program for non-native teachers of Japanese in the K-16 levels. Previously, this was only for K-12, but now those who teach in community colleges, and colleges/universities are eligible to apply. College/University and K-12 teachers will be grouped separately during Japanese language lectures and workshops. One of the key priorities in U.S.–Japan relations is strengthening grassroots exchange to help the next generation develop a deeper understanding of Japan. In support of this goal, the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, in collaboration with the Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa, will offer two specialized teacher training programs in the summer of 2026 for non-native K–16 Japanese-language teachers in the United States. These programs are designed to enhance participants’ Japanese language proficiency and professional skills. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the information below and to download the application instructions and materials. For the quickest assistance, please contact us by email.
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ART EXHIBITION Opening Reception
“KAMI KAMUY” presents an immersive synthesis of sculpture and sound that explores the spiritual convergences spanning the Pacific Rim. In this transpacific dialogue, Visual Anthropologist and artist Dr. Luis Garza (Lou Garza) visually articulates the syncretism between the Ainu concept of Kamuy (nature spirits), the Shinto worship of Kami (deities), and the Mesoamerican notion of Nawal (spiritual force). The exhibition posits that these ancestral cosmogonies are not archaic vestiges, but vital philosophies essential to reimagining our contemporary relationship with the environment. Moving beyond static display, the exhibition fosters a participatory environment designed to re-engage the observer with these nature-centric worldviews. Through the medium of clay and sound, the work reveals that for nomadic and sedentary societies—from the Ainu of Japan to the Tzeltal of Mexico—the boundaries between human and non-human were fluid. Nature was perceived as a community of mythic protagonists intimately woven into human daily life. Dr. Garza’s art manifests the latent continuity of this Proto-Asiatic lineage embedded in our cultural memory, inviting the audience to feel the enduring relevance of these animistic frameworks.
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CROSS CULTURAL SERIES 2
As the second installment of the Cross Cultural Series launched last year, this year we will present a collaborative project in Santa Fe, New Mexico, featuring Japanese ceramicist Shoshi Watanabe and Santo Domingo Pueblo potter Thomas Tenorio. Co-hosted by the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, the program centers on their shared medium of clay. Through panel discussions, demonstrations, and workshops, the project will explore both the commonalities and differences in their techniques, as well as their respective relationships with the natural environment.
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SAIL ON SENSEI! Hello, Sensei! I would like to talk about an online learning tool, "Irodori." “Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan” is a free Japanese-language online lesson created by the Japan Foundation for people living in Japan. In 2020, three volumes—Starter (Introductory), Elementary 1, and Elementary 2—were released, totaling 1,433 pages. The levels correspond to A1–A2 of the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education and aim to help learners acquire the basic Japanese necessary for everyday life in Japan. It covers practical, real-life situations, including self-introductions, shopping, and using public transportation, as well as visiting the hospital, traveling, disaster preparedness, and workplace communication. Learning goals are presented in “Can-do” statements, emphasizing what learners will be able to accomplish in real-life situations in Japan. Each lesson focuses on extensive audio materials and develops practical skills through activities such as comprehension practice, shadowing, and role-play. The textbook incorporates abundant realia—such as menus, signs, and social media screens—along with photos and illustrations to enhance learner motivation. It also introduces commonly used conversational expressions and plain forms at an early stage. While emphasizing Can-do outcomes, the series also provides systematic learning of grammar and 429 kanji characters within meaningful contexts. It can be used in conjunction with the Marugoto series, making it easy for learners to continue and further develop their Japanese studies. If you have not yet experienced Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan, it's highly recommended!
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ON DEMAND Starting March 4, four new films will be added to the JFF Theater lineup including Twist of Time, The Japanese Spirit of “DŌ”, Let's Go Karaoke!, and Bonsai Warrior! The five films already streaming since February will also remain available, so don’t miss this opportunity☆ We’re also featuring the popular film “The Lines That Define Me,” which started streaming this month, set in the beautiful world of Sumi-e ink painting. If you haven’t watched it yet, be sure to check it out during your free time on a weekday or over the weekend!
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ON DEMAND JF BookTree will end at the end of March! 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 146
We are pleased to share several important updates this month. Eligibility requirements for our Special Training Program for Non-Native Teachers of Japanese in the United States have been expanded to include instructors at community colleges as well as colleges and universities. The application deadline has also been extended to Friday, March 13, and we encourage qualified educators to apply. In addition, details for our Fiscal Year 2026–2027 grant programs have now been released. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the guidelines carefully and plan ahead to meet the respective deadlines. From March 12–15, we will participate in the annual conference of the Association for Asian Studies and the spring conference of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, held this year in Vancouver. While we will not host an exhibition booth, we look forward to engaging with colleagues and partners in Japanese language education and Japanese studies. This month, our Japanese-Language Education team is highlighting the Irodori website, developed by The Japan Foundation as part of its suite of online resources supporting Japanese-language teaching and learning worldwide. We invite readers to explore the platform and learn more about its features. 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
