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The Japan Foundation, New York and CGP

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August 2019 Issue 
NEWS
September 25 - October 6
Park Avenue Armory (New York, NY)

© Christophe Raynaud de Lage

Famed Japanese director Satoshi Miyagi creates a new version of Antigone that examines this ancient play through the prism of Japanese culture, turning the stage into a flowing river of water, known in many spiritual beliefs to separate the world of the living from that of the dead. This fresh take presents a mesmerizing play about loss and memorialization in a way that is both timeless and timely, mixing the foundational principles of Greek tragedy, Japanese Noh theater, Indonesian shadow play, and Buddhist philosophy to negotiate the boundaries of intercultural encounters while creating a new theatrical universe of globalized proportions.

This is a production of Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC), adapted by Park Avenue Armory and presented in collaboration with The Japan Foundation. Antigone is part of Japan 2019, a series of events highlighting Japanese arts and culture in the U.S. throughout 2019.


  


October 19 - 22
Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall (New York, NY)

© Hiroshi Sugimoto / Courtesy of Odawara Art Foundation

At the turn of 18th-century Japan, a clerk and a courtesan committed suicide in the forest of Tenjin. The Love Suicides at Sonezaki, a tragic play based upon these events, was banned after its 1703 premiere for more than two centuries. For this U.S. production premiere, renowned artist Hiroshi Sugimoto presents a bold, contemporary interpretation of the classic drama using bunraku puppet theater with music by Living National Treasure Seiji Tsurusawa and video by Tabaimo and Hiroshi Sugimoto. The puppets, imbued with life, captivate audiences with their lively movements rivaling the eloquence of actual human beings.

Presented in association with Lincoln Center's White Light Festival and Odawara Art Foundation; and in cooperation with National Bunraku Theatre, BUNRAKU KYOKAI and Setagaya Arts Foundation/Setagaya Public Theatre. Sugimoto Bunraku Sonezaki Shinju is part of Japan 2019, a series of events highlighting Japanese arts and culture in the U.S. throughout 2019.

  


EVENTS
Exhibition
On view through August 18
The National Gallery of Art (Washington, DC)

© National Gallery of Art, Washington

Animals are abundant in Japanese art history, demonstrating the significance of both real and mythical creatures in Japanese culture.

Of unprecedented scale and comprehensiveness, this exhibition brings together over 300 animal-related works of art, carefully selected from significant collections in Japan and the United States, from 5th-century haniwa to contemporary art. It examines the many roles animals have played in secular, spiritual, and religious lives in Japan through diverse media such as painting, sculpture, lacquerware, ceramics, metalwork, cloisonné enamel, woodblock prints, textiles, and photography. These depictions of animals, at times simple and humorous and at other times mysterious, communicate charming aspects of Japanese culture to people of all ages. 

This exhibition is co-organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, The Japan Foundation, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, with special cooperation from the Tokyo National Museum. This exhibition is part of Japan 2019, a series of events highlighting Japanese arts and culture in the U.S. throughout 2019.

For its final weeks, the exhibition will remain open late until 8 PM from August 3-18. These extended hours will feature pop-up talks by Gallery educators and two engaging audio tours. Don't miss out this last chance to see the exhibition!
 
  


Film
July 26 - August 11 
Metrograph (New York, NY)

© Photofest
Metrograph will present a retrospective of actress Machiko Kyo, who passed away at the age of 95 last May. Kyo rose to international stardom with a bravura, multifaceted performance as the female lead in Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950). She starred in a number of internationally acclaimed Japanese film by legendary directors, including Mizoguchi, Ozu, Ichikawa, Teshigahara, and a host of other auteurs. This program is co-presented by The Japan Foundation.

  
August 31, 7 PM
Harvard Film Archive (Cambridge, MA)

© 1963 NIKKATSU Corporation
As part of Dark Waters. All-Night Movie Marathon, the Harvard Film Archive will screen Kon Ichikawa's Alone Across the Pacific (1963). Based on a true story, this film chronicles the voyage of a yachtsman who decides to sail across the Pacific to San Francisco in a small sailboat. This screening is co-presented by The Japan Foundation.

  
Performance
August 24, 5:30 PM
Dublin Jerome High School Performing Arts Center (Dublin, OH)

Dublin Taiko will be holding a special anniversary concert with guest artists Mashiko Tenjin Kaze no Kai, Eitetsu Hayashi and Eitetsu Fu-Un no Kai. This concert will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Dublin Taiko and Mashiko Tenjin Kaze no Kai, both of which were founded by Hayashi. It will also celebrate the continuing Friendship City relationship between Dublin and Mashiko. This performance is supported through the JFNY Grant for Arts and Culture.
 
  
Cultural Event
August 3, 1 - 7 PM
Exposition Center (Raleigh, NC)

The Nippon Club of the Triangle presents its annual summer festival, a day filled with Japanese performances and hands-on workshops. The Japan Foundation, New York is proud to loan its samurai armor sets to this event.
 
  
Workshop
August 12 - 16, 9:30 AM 
Japan Society (New York, NY)

Students will learn the basics of how to draw authentic manga, how to create their own amazing characters and stories that reflect their unique personal style in this 5-day workshop. If you know someone who is an aspiring manga artist or is interested in manga, this workshop is for them! This workshop is supported through the CGP Education Grant program.
 
  
JAPAN 2019 ASSOCIATED PROGRAM

Japan 2019 Associated Program features affiliated events organized by public and private entities to introduce Japanese culture in the U.S. and to promote exchange between the two countries. To learn more about Japan 2019 Associated Program, please click here.
Exhibition
On view through August 2, 2020
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY)
 
  
Performance
August 8, 8 PM
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (New York, NY)
 
  
Cultural Event
August 9, 6:30 - 9 PM
Hawai'i Convention Center (Honolulu, HI)

August 30 & 31
Governors Island (New York, NY)
 
  
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Arts & Culture
Deadline: October 31

This program provides financial assistance for non-profit organizations in the U.S. and Canada that aim to introduce Japanese performing arts to local audiences. The Touring Grant supports the presentation of Japanese performing arts at multiple locations throughout the U.S. and/or Canada. The Collaboration Grant facilitates collaborations between Japanese and American and/or Canadian artists to create new works, which will further enhance appreciation for Japanese culture in these local communities.

  
Japanese Studies
Deadline: November 1

This program is designed to provide scholars, researchers, and doctoral candidates with the opportunity to conduct research in Japan.

  
Deadline: November 1

This program is designed to encourage innovative and sustained growth of Japanese Studies in the U.S. Grant coverage may include support for faculty, instructor, or staff salaries, travel expenses, honoraria for lecturers, visiting scholar support, graduate and undergraduate support, acquisition of research and teaching materials, conference and seminar expenses, acquisition of library and digital resources. Applications that create tenure or tenure-track positions in Japanese Studies are especially welcome.

  
Deadline: November 1

This program is designed to: (i) support institutions that face difficulties in maintaining current levels of infrastructure for Japanese Studies in the U.S.; (ii) stimulate infrastructural interest in Japanese Studies by small and newer institutions without an established program of Japanese Studies or those that lack personnel or resources; and (iii) provide support for particularly innovative programs that promote Japanese Studies.

  
CGP
Deadline: September 1 & 15

CGP and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) are accepting applications for the Abe Fellowship and Abe Fellowship for Journalists competitions. Abe Fellowship applications are due September 1; Abe Fellowship for Journalists applications are due September 15.
  
PAST EVENT & REPORT

© Marc Tatti

The Japan Foundation is pleased to announce that the exhibition report of Earth Manual Project - This Could Save Your Life is now available online. The exhibition was held at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center from September to December 2018 in collaboration with Parsons School of Design / The New School. The exhibition was a showcase of creative and innovative practices for dealing with disaster at different stages, from preparedness education to response and relief efforts.

The exhibition report is available to download here.



As part of the Global Link Summer Program, which is organized by the Japan ICU Foundation, 12 students from International Christian University in Tokyo visited our office to learn about The Japan Foundation's mission and activities, as well as the career stories from our staff. The session was very interactive thanks to many questions from the students!

For inquiries, please contact: info@jfny.org