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March 2019 Issue 
A previous version of this newsletter listed incorrect dates for two events: Kodo One Earth Tour 2019 "Evolution" and The Long Arc of Time. The correct event dates are listed below. We apologize for the multiple messages and the confusion this may have caused.
MESSAGE
Obituary: Dr.  Donald Keene

The Japan Foundation mourns the passing of Dr. Donald Keene, an esteemed scholar of Japanese Studies whose achievements were indispensable in shaping the course of Japanese literature as well as Japanese arts and cultural appreciation in the U.S. and beyond. Dr. Keene received Japan's highest cultural award, The Order of Culture in 2008; The Japan Foundation honored Dr. Keene with The Japan Foundation Award in 1983. We owe immense gratitude to Dr. Keene for his enduring passion and commitment; the impact of his work is simply unparalleled in history. He will be sorely missed.

  
NEWS

Following on the successful festival of Japonismes 2018 in France, Japan 2019  aims to broaden understanding of and interest in Japanese culture in the United States. We invite you to explore the world of Japanese arts and culture through two programs: the Japan 2019 Official Program, featuring a series of events co-organized or supported by The Japan Foundation, mainly in New York and Washington, DC, and the Japan 2019 Associated Program, featuring affiliated events organized by public and private entities. The festival events, taking place between March and December 2019, will introduce Japanese culture and promote exchange between Japan and the U.S.

March 21 - 24
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel (Denver, CO)

Each year, The Japan Foundation will host a reception at the AAS Annual Conference. The reception will provide an opportunity to build a broader network among Japan specialists and beyond. Conference registration is not required to attend the reception. Please join us for conversation with light refreshments.

The Japan Foundation Reception
Friday, March 22, 7:30 - 9:30 PM
Majestic Ballroom at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel

Please visit us at the Exhibit Hall, where we will be hosting an information booth for our grant programs.

Exhibit booth #713
Plaza Ballroom, one level below the hotel lobby
Friday, March 22, 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday, March 23, 9 AM - 6 PM
Sunday, March 24, 9 AM - 12 PM
 
    
EVENTS
Exhibition
March 5 - June 16
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)

Tosa Mitsuoki (1617-1691).  Portrait-Icon of Murasaki Shikibu (detail). Edo Period (1615-1868), 17th century. Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk. Ishiyamadera Temple, Shiga Prefecture, Courtesy of Ishiyamadera Temple, photo by Kanai Morio.
A groundbreaking exhibition inspired by Japan's most celebrated work of literature will be on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bringing together more than 120 works from numerous public and private collections in Japan and the U.S.- including National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, most of which have never left Japan, this exhibition explores the tale's continuing influence on Japanese art since its creation . Related events, including performances, lectures and symposiums, will be held to help gain a deeper understanding of The Tale of Genji tradition that spans more than a millennium. Co-organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Japan Foundation, the exhibition is part of Japan 2019, a series of events highlighting Japanese arts and culture in the U.S. throughout 2019.

    

Film
March 6: The Velo Cafe (Washington, DC)
March 8: Carnegie Institution for Science (Washington, DC)

 Courtesy of the artist 
Light painting animation duo Tochka will hold workshops at the DC Independent Film Festival. Their light painting animation method combines long-exposure photography and stop motion animation techniques. The duo will teach participants how to create life-size interactive animation at the workshops. This event is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.

 
    
March 22, 7 PM
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens (Delray Beach, FL)

© 2013 Hatake Jimusho
- Studio Ghibli - NDHDMTK
The final film of the Morikami Film Series is The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) created by Isao Takahata, the legendary Studio Ghibli co-founder
. Takahata revisits Japan's most famous folktale in this gorgeous, hand-drawn masterwork, decades in the making.  This series is co-presented by The Japan Foundation as well as the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.
 
  
Japanese Language
March 19, 6:30 PM
The Nippon Club (New York, NY)

Are you planning a trip to Japan in the near future? If so, this workshop is for you! Join our workshop to learn essential travel vocabulary and basic expressions. You will learn how to order food at a restaurant, communicate in basic terms with a store attendant while shopping, tell your destination to a taxi driver or station agent and ask for further information. Japanese customs and useful travel information will also be introduced. Space is limited and RSVP is required.

  
Lecture & Symposium
March 1, 9 AM
Boston University (Boston, MA) 

Dean Naoyuki Yoshino
Dr. Naoyuki Yoshino, Dean of the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), will give a public keynote talk in connection with a project led by Dr. William Grimes, Professor of International Relations and Political Science at Boston University, supported by CGP.
 
    
March 4, 4 PM
University of North Georgia (Dahlonega, GA)

© University of North Georgia
Dr. Takakazu Yamagishi, Professor of Global Liberal Studies at Nanzan University (Japan), will present a lecture about Japanese identity and Naomi Osaka, the professional tennis player who is currently ranked No. 1 in the Women's Tennis Association. This lecture series is supported through the Institutional Project Support (IPS) Grant Program.

    
March 20, 4 PM 
March 21, 11 AM
The University of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg, VA)

This symposium will consist of a presentation by Dr. Kendall Brown, Professor of California State University, Long Beach, which focuses on the theme of "Humanized Naturalism: Japanese Gardens as Therapeutic Spaces". A live Bonsai tree exhibition will also be held at the campus (Lee Hall 411) where a cozy Japanese garden is located. Bob Chilton and Todd Stewart from Gardens Unlimited will present during the exhibition. This event is co-organized by CGP and the Leidecker Center for Asian Studies at the University of Mary Washington College of Arts and Sciences.

March 29, 12 PM
Yale University (New Haven, CT)

Dr. Rieko Kage
Dr. Rieko Kage, Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo, will discuss the impact of generational formative experiences or "cohort effects" on the voting participation rates of men and women in Japan. Her work draws on the longitudinal dataset, the Survey on Japanese Value Orientations (1973-2013), to examine whether, and to what extent, gender differences in generational cohort effects exist. This lecture is supported by CGP.  
 
    
Performance

Photo courtesy of Ondekoza
World-famous Japanese taiko ensemble Ondekoza will tour in the Midwest region as part of the Arts Midwest World Fest. Fusing incredible athleticism, pounding rhythms, and peaceful melodies, Ondekoza's performances inspire and energize audiences. The tour is supported through the Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) program.

    
March 2, 7:30 PM
March 3, 5:30 PM
Scandinavia House (New York, NY)

(Left) Yumi Saiki, Photo by Kazuo Hiroji;
(Right) Miyuki Shiraishi
Music From Japan (MFJ) will present its fourth Artist Residency to facilitate dialogue among composers, critics, and music scholars from Japan and the U.S. MFJ will also present two concerts as part of its 44th season: one curated by musicologist Miyuki Shiraishi and the other featuring the works of Yumi Saiki. Both concerts will be followed by panel discussions and Q&A sessions. This event is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.

  
March 8 & 9: Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University (Fairfield, CT)
March 16: George Mason University's Center for the Arts (Fairfax, VA)

Courtesy of the artists
Japan's preeminent Taiko ensemble Kodo is touring in the U.S. In their latest work, Evolution, Kodo will showcase the spectacular sonic possibilities of these time-honored instruments. Audiences will be captivated by the astonishingly precise movements of the drummers and the sheer beauty of the sounds they produce. This performance is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.


March 10, 4 PM
Tenri Cultural Institute (New York, NY)

James Nyoraku Schlefer
Photo Credit: George Hirose
Kyo-Shin-An Arts is celebrating its 10th Anniversary of presenting classical music with Japanese and Western instruments. The next concert Spring Green will feature contemporary chamber music featuring the shakuhachi, flute, clarinet, violin and cello, with shakuhachi grand master James Nyoraku Schlefer and the acclaimed Boston-based ensemble Hub New MusicThis performance is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.
 
    
March 10, 7 PM
Pioneer Works (Brooklyn, NY)

Photo by Katayama Tatsuki
Experimental band Kukangendai will perform as part of Pionner Works' Second Sunday series. Kukangendai, formed in 2006, produces music through a process of editing, replicating, and deliberate error. It creates a sense of distortion and places a burden on the performers, leading to characteristically stoic and humorous live shows. This performance is supported through the Grant Program for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists.
 
    
March 13: St. Jerome Church (Cleveland, OH)
March 14: Maltz Performing Arts Center (Cleveland, OH)
March 15: Lakewood Congregational Church (Lakewood, OH)
March 16: Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus (Cleveland, OH)
March 17: St. Noel Church (Willoughby Hills, OH)

© Formento + Formento
Internationally renowned violinist Sayaka Shoji will premiere Still - Violin Concerto No. 3, composed by Avner Dorman, conductor and the music director of CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra. Shoji was the first Japanese and youngest winner of the 1999 Paganini Competition. The concert also includes Waltz by Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu. This performance is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.
 
    
March 13, 7 PM & 9 PM
Park Avenue Armory (New York, NY)

© Heike Liss
An experimental composer, improviser and performer Miya Masaoka will premiere The Long Arc of Time, a new chamber work that draws from the music and unique rhythm of Noh and Shomyo (Buddhist chant). While challenging our senses in a new and radical way, the work ruminates on loss, rebirth, and transcendence and contemporizes the disruption of reality. From Japan, the following Noh actors and musicians will join the performance: Noh chant by Kazuma Yamanaka, Noh kotsuzumi by Jinya Imai, and Shomyo chant by Makiko Sakurai. This performance is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.
 
    
March 15: Towson University (Towson, MD)
March 19: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington, DC)
March 22 & 23: Japan Society (New York, NY)

© Sopheak Vong
Japan Society will present the North American tour of the multimedia dance piece Cross Transit, created by internationally known Japanese choreographer and dancer Akiko Kitamura, and developed in collaboration with acclaimed Cambodian visual artist and photographer Kim Hak. The tour is supported through the Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) program.

March 23, 5 PM
Warner Theatre (Washington, DC)

(Top left) Yusaku Mochizuki;
(Top right) Ikuko Kawai, Photo: Shintaro Shiratori / Sony Music Labels, Inc.;
(Bottom) "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" The Super Live, Photo © Naoko Takeuchi ・ PNP / "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" The Super Live Production Committee.
Kick off the 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival and watch world-renowned performers gather together to welcome springtime to Washington, DC. Enjoy traditional and contemporary performances by the cast members of "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" The Super LiveIkuko Kawai Ensemble, and Yusaku Mochizuki (Mochi)-all in celebration of the 107th anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan to the U.S. Co-presented by The Japan Foundation, this event is part of Japan 2019, a series of events highlighting Japanese arts and culture in the U.S. throughout 2019.

    
  

March 24, 2 PM
Freer Gallery of Art (Smithsonian), Meyer Auditorium (Washington, DC)

Courtesy of the artist
Follow the famous Tale of Genji, often considered the world's first novel, through this original interpretation for violin, keyboard, and traditional Japanese instruments, led by popular violinist and composer Ikuko Kawai.
Co-presented by The Japan Foundation and the Freer|Sackler, in conjunction with the Freer exhibition Painting the Classics, this event is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival as well as Japan 2019, a series of events highlighting Japanese arts and culture in the U.S. throughout 2019. 

There will be a pre-concert gallery talk The Tale of Genji in Japanese Art at 1 PM in gallery 5 of the Freer Gallery of Art. Advance tickets are available for $6 each through Eventbrite. Remaining tickets are free at the door beginning one hour before the show time.

    

March 24: Warner Theatre (Washington, DC)
March 29 & 30: PlayStation Theater (New York, NY)

© Naoko Takeuchi ・ PNP / "Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" The Super Live Production Committee
"Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon" The Super Live will have its U.S. premiere in Washington, DC at the Warner Theatre on March 24, followed by three performances in New York City. With themes of love, justice, and friendship, the musical features an all-female cast.  Co-organized by The Japan Foundation and Nelke Planning, the DC performance is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival as well as Japan 2019 , a series of events highlighting Japanese arts and culture in the U.S. throughout 2019.
 
    


March 29: Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts (Menomonie, WI)
March 30: Reif Performing Arts Center (Grand Rapids, MN)
March 31: Bemidji State University (Bemidji, MN)
April 2: St. Olaf University (Northfield, MN)
April 7: Ordway Concert Hall (St. Paul, MN)

©️ onewood and Kazuhiro Asada
TaikoArts Midwest will present the U.S. premiere tour of Yuichi Kimura and Daichi no Kai from Kobe, Japan. Local taiko group Enso Daiko will join them for this five-city Midwest tour that culminates in St. Paul, MN. Their fast rhythms and high energy will get hearts pounding, bridging Japan with the Midwest in an unforgettable show of taiko and community. The tour is supported through the Performing Arts Japan (PAJ) program.
 
    
Cultural Event
March 10, 4 PM
First Church of Christ, Scientist (New York, NY)

Marking the 8th anniversary of the March 11th disasters, the memorial Together for 3.11 will be held for Japan's earthquake and tsunami victims. This event is nominally supported by The Japan Foundation, New York.
 
    
Starting on March 14
Multiple venues (Lansing & Kalamazoo, MI)

The Japanese Center for Michigan Universities at Michigan State University will be hosting a series of voice acting workshops using Japanese film and animation for local high school and college students. The workshops will be instructed by Kiyotake Ishii, Director of the Global Communication Support section at Japan Visual Media Translation Company. This event is supported through CGP's Education Grant program.

PAST EVENT & REPORT
Harnessing Technology to Foster Future Global Citizens



On February 6, in collaboration with the University of Mary Washington College of Education, CGP held an event titled "Harnessing Technology to Foster Future Global Citizens". The event consisted of 3 components: 

1. a presentation by Shanti Shoji, Vice President of Kizuna Across Cultures, where she shared the organization's virtual exchange program, Global Classmates as a way to connect classrooms globally

2. a teacher workshop centered on how to use TeachJapan.org, an online clearinghouse created by the Asian Art Museum, which is based in San Francisco, that compiles all resources from various art museums relating about Japan, including videos, artwork, teacher lesson plans

3. a presentation about Washoku by JOI Coordinator Minae Uehara, who is also based at the University of Mary Washington

The event was widely attended, mostly by university students aspiring to be teachers, t eachers from local schools, Japanese language teachers, as well as those interested in learning more about Japan. In addition to the in-person audience, CGP livestreamed the event, and these participants virtually submitted their own questions as they watched online. Thank you all who attended both in-person and virtually!
 
For inquiries regarding Arts & Cultural Exchange, Japanese Studies or Japanese-Language Education, please contact: info@jfny.org


 

For inquiries regarding the Center for Global  Partnership, please contact:  info@cgp.org