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An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of October 2026! |
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With the change in seasons, we’re welcoming a new exhibition to JFLA’s Murasaki Hall and Steam Gallery titled Ai: Rain Drawings in Natural Indigo and Silver by Miya Ando. Inspired by the long history of indigo use in Japan, the exhibition brings together natural indigo and silver in a contemporary art on rain, language, and time. Alongside the exhibition, we’ll be hosting a special meditation session later this month, inviting participants to slow down, recharge, and experience art in a new way. Our upcoming programs also offer opportunities to explore traditional Japanese practices, folklore, and cultural history. Learn about the art of kintsugi, the centuries-old practice of repairing ceramics with gold lacquer, and discover how this technique has evolved from its roots in tea ceremony to its growing popularity around the world. Just in time for Halloween, our Haunted Archipelago lecture will take a fascinating look at snakes and serpents in Japanese mythology, folklore, and history, including their connections with water, mountains, and the supernatural. We’ll also explore traditional Japanese beliefs and practices surrounding rain, drought, and floods, including the long-forgotten rituals that communities once used to call upon dragons for rain. For those looking to practice their Japanese, our popular Tea Time! × JFF Theater series returns with a screening and discussion of The Hotel of My Dream (Dir. TSUTSUMI Yukihiko, 2024). Participants will watch the film through JFF Theater and then gather for a lively discussion in Japanese. We’re also bringing our Tea Time! Japanese conversation café to California State University, Dominguez Hills. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced speaker, or have no Japanese-language experience at all, everyone is welcome to join us, explore the campus, and connect with fellow Japan enthusiasts and Japanese native speakers. And looking ahead to November, we’re excited to launch a new lecture series exploring the fascinating world of manga. The first lecture will examine the origins and development of modern manga, tracing Japan’s long tradition of combining images and text from eighth-century emakimono handscrolls and ukiyo-e prints to early manga and today’s global publishing industry. This program will also explore how Japanese and Western visual storytelling traditions came together to shape modern manga, as well as the unique relationship between manga creators and their audiences. From contemporary art and meditation to traditional crafts, folklore, language learning, and manga, we hope you’ll find something that sparks your curiosity. We look forward to welcoming you to JFLA for another season of programs, conversations, and opportunities to discover Your Japan! |
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ART EXHIBITION
Last chance to catch the two exhibitions concurrently on view at Murasaki Hall and Courtyard Gallery, JFLA. A tea ceremony demonstration will be presented to celebrate the wrap-up. Indigo (J: ai 藍) has been used in Japan for art and textiles since the sixth century CE. In Buddhist sutra manuscripts, sacred texts were written in shimmering gold and silver on deep indigo-dyed paper. Miya Ando draws upon this material history through her use of natural indigo and silver, bringing these traditional materials into a contemporary meditation on rain, language, and time. |
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IN-PERSON LECTURE Kintsugi - the Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with gold lacquer - has its roots in the tea ceremony over 400 years ago. Tea ceramics were too precious to discard, so instead, they were lovingly repaired using lacquer which was then dusted with gold to form slender golden veins that not only held together the vessel but enhanced its beauty and value. Today, the technique has spread beyond Japan and beyond the world of ceramics. |
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CONVERSATION CAFE We're having our ever popular Tea Time! Japanese conversation cafe event again 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. We're excited to meet all of you! |
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IN-PERSON LECTURE The rat snake (aodaishō), by far Japan’s most ubiquitous snake, is frequently found inside farm houses and roofs and is widely considered to be a guardian deity of rice. Japan’s first emperor (Jimmu) is the grandson of woman-god whose body is revealed to be a wani, an aquatic reptile similar to an alligator. Mountain landslides along streams are referred to as ja-nuke (serpent breakouts). In medieval legends and folklore, women who are betrayed transform into terrifying snake-serpents. What is the relationship among these different snakes and serpents? What is their connection to the water and mountains? To cultural and social history? What do they tell us about the role of animals and the “supernatural” in Japanese culture? |
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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 Ai: Rain Drawings in Natural Indigo, relax and feel your stress dissipate into thin air as the sounds of the singing bowl lead you into a meditative state. |
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CONVERSATION CAFE Join us at The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (JFLA), for an afternoon of film and lively discussion! We will watch the drama/comedy film The Hotel of my Dream (Dir. TSUTSUMI Yukihiko, 2024, 98 min) on JFF Theater, then discuss it in Japanese. In this fun new Tea Time! series, practice your language skills while enjoying unique films from Japan. Space is limited, so RSVP as soon as possible! |
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IN-PERSON LECTURE SERIES Manga has quickly become one of the most popular forms of picto-textual literature. It is consumed across the world in nearly every available format and has generated fandoms that engage with the narratives through their characters, worlds, and premises. |
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IN-PERSON LECTURE SERIES Japan has a long tradition of picto-textual storytelling. From eighth century emakimono handscrolls to ukiyoe woodblock prints, from akahon redbooks to KITAZAWA Rakuten’s Jiji Manga, Japanese people have been consuming literature with images alongside words for over a millennium. In this talk, Michael VanHartingsveldt discusses how modern manga is a confluence of Japanese and Western visual narrative traditions, then explores the manga publishing industry and the close relationship between manga creators and their audiences. |
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ON DEMAND Get ready for four new films joining our lineup starting October 7, exploring stories of creativity, perseverance, sports, and Japanese pop culture.
Last Chance to Watch These titles will be available until October 7, so don’t miss your chance to watch:
New stories, new perspectives, and more Japanese cinema to explore this October. Watch these Japanese films for free on JFF Theater. |
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ADVOCACY STORIES: DISCUSSIONS ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE EDUCATION On September 24th, the Japan Foundation Los Angeles attended a reception hosted by the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. This reception featured discussions about the current status of Japanese language immersion education while fostering increased networking and collaboration between institutions in the area. Near the end of the reception, eleven institutions were presented with a letter of appreciation, which officially recognizes their contributions to Japanese language education. More institutions will be receiving letters of appreciation in the near future. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the event and hope to see increased growth and prosperity for Japanese language education programs. |
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TEACHER TRAINING In July, Year 14 and Year 15 J-LEAP Assistant Teacher/Lead Teacher (AT/LT) pairs gathered in Seattle for training before heading to their host schools across the country. Through lesson demonstrations and collaborative activities, the new Year 15 pairs developed essential co-teaching strategies, while Year 14 pairs refreshed and strengthened their approaches as they prepare to begin their second year together. Now in its 15th year, J-LEAP dispatches young native Japanese-language Assistant Teachers to K-12 schools across the U.S. to co-teach with experienced Lead Teachers for up to two years, helping strengthen Japanese-language programs at their host schools. We are excited to see the impact these J-LEAPers will make in classrooms across the country! Interested in J-LEAP? Applications for the 2027–2028 J-LEAP program are expected to open in October 2026, so stay tuned for application details and deadlines. |
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GRANTS The Japan Foundation invites individuals and organizations that are planning international exchange projects and activities to participate in our programs. Please read the Program Guidelines for Fiscal Year 2027 (April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2028) outline the full array of the Japan Foundation's applicable programs. |
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Training Programs for Japanese-Language Teachers The Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute, Urawa organizes training programs on Basic Training, Japanese Language, and Japanese Teaching Methods Program for Japanese-language teachers outside of Japan. Japanese Language Program for Specialists This program provides specialists (Researchers, Postgraduate Students, Librarians, Museum Curators, etc.) who need a good command of Japanese language to conduct field work and research through an intensive residential training course on the Japanese language. Exhibitions Abroad Support Program This program is designed to provide financial support for museums and art institutions overseas that organize exhibitions introducing Japanese art and culture to audiences overseas. In addition, this program is designed to support overseas international exhibitions such as biennials/triennials introducing Japanese artists and their works. Support Program for Translation and Publication This program is designed to provide partial financial support for overseas publishers intending to translate and publish works originally written in Japanese. The program aims to foster better understanding of Japanese culture by encouraging overseas publishers to translate and publish Japanese works. The grant covers part of the translation and publishing costs (e.g., costs for paper, typesetting, platemaking, printing, and binding) Grant Program for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists This program is designed to provide financial support for artists and Japanese cultural specialists who are invited by institutions outside Japan and participate in cultural events (e.g., performances, demonstrations, lectures and workshops) overseas with the aim of introducing Japanese arts and culture or of contributing to international society through arts and cultural projects. Ishibashi Foundation/The Japan Foundation Fellowship for Research on Japanese Art This program aims to support the development of professionals specializing in the study of Japanese visual arts by providing an opportunity for curators and researchers from abroad to conduct research in Japan, and by so doing, promote the study of the field and the introduction of Japanese art overseas. |
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Keisho Nihongo Support Programs Applications are now open for the 2026–27 Japanese Heritage Language (JHL) Support Program. Two types of support are available:
In previous years, the application period ran from September through January of the following year. Beginning in 2026, however, the application window will open in April. 2026–27 Application Period: April 1, 2026 – January 31, 2027 This revised timeline is intended to accommodate a broader range of JHL events and to provide schools with greater flexibility in integrating donated materials into their curricula. JHL schools and programs interested in applying for event support or book donations are encouraged to visit the following pages for more information: (Japanese): https://www.jflalc.org/jle-keishonihongo-programsj If you have any questions, please send inquiries to (jared_mcclellan@jpf.go.jp). |
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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 6:30PM 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 Projects for Teachers Japanese-Language Education Project Grant Grants for Individual Japanese Language Programs 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 153
This month, we're excited to announce our training programs in Japan for the 2027 fiscal year so check out the information above if you are interested in applying. J-LEAP applications will be available soon so check on our website in the coming weeks for details. At the end of the month, we will be hosting our Annual Leadership Training Workshop here in Los Angeles. We look forward to sharing highlights and updates from the event on our social media channels and in the next issue of Your Japan. As you may remember, the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, sent two groups of Japanese-language teachers to our institute in Urawa, Saitama, Japan, for a special professional development program. This is a continuation of the reports and reflections from the program participants, with two from each group featured:
We hope you enjoy reading about their experiences throughout the 25-day training program, which began here in Los Angeles, and learning how the program has contributed to their professional development. Finally, the last deadline for our Japanese-language education grants are coming up! If you're interested in applying for our Teaching Material Purchase Grant, be sure to submit your application before the deadline. We hope you will be able to benefit from our upcoming Japanese-language related programs! |
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5700 Wilshire blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
jflainfo'at'jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
