An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs For The Month Of June, 2021! |
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With the end of Memorial Day, we are officially in the month of June and one step away from moving on from the pandemic.
This month, we are featuring MINATO, our free online Japanese learning platform developed and managed by our Institute in Kansai. To promote this service, we created a new commercial along with instructional videos to better facilitate the use of the site. Please take a look at the article below and check out the site if you are interested in learning Japanese.
Event wise, we will continue our Wellness Wednesday series as well as JAPANEMA Online featuring John and David Neptune. Before the start of the 24-hour screening period, we will host a pre-screening mini talk and Live. Make sure to mark your calendars and join us for this event.
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FREE JAPANESE E-LEARNING PLATFORM "MINATO"
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Want to learn Japanese but don’t know where to begin your journey? Check out our free e-learning portal, “Minato”! Minato consists of a wide variety of self-study courses such as “Marugoto”, which is free structured lessons that help you immerse yourself in Japanese language and culture, as well as develop essential communication skills. Minato offers flexible courses with progress tracking at any level, which you can take, pause, and return to at any time from wherever you are. Register now and navigate your knowledge of Japan!
Check out our "Minato" videos:
Creating an Account & Registering for a Course: Click here!
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PRE-SCREENING
ONLINE MINI TALK & LIVE
Saturday, June 12, 6PM
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John Neptune: Japanese “shakuhachi” flute master and subject of a documentary, John Kaizan Neptune will be performing live online from Japan. Join him on a journey through his career and story as a surfer, musician, composer, instrument maker and subject of a documentary, “Words Can’t Go There” directed by his son, David. David will talk about behind the scene of his film.
David Neptune: He is a documentary filmmaker and musician living in Los Angeles. Born and raised in Japan, he comes from a background in Japanese music thanks to playing percussion in concerts with his musician father John Kaizan Neptune. He moved to the US in 2000 and later started directing new media videos like What Kind of Asian Are You? with 10 million views on YouTube and But We’re Speaking Japanese with 40 million views on facebook. He transitioned into making documentary films and in 2019 completed his first documentary feature film Words Can’t Go There about his father and his life of music. It premiered at Warsaw International Film Festival and went on to play at Hawaii International Film Festival.
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JAPANEMA ONLINE
WORDS CAN'T GO THERE
(89 mins, 2019)
Saturday, 6/12, 7PM - Sunday, 6/13, 7PM
Click Here to Watch (accessible during screening period only)
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This film is a feature-length documentary exploring the story of California surfer turned Japanese shakuhachi flute master John ‘Kaizan’ Neptune. Directed by John’s son David Neptune and produced by his team of filmmakers in Los Angeles, the film examines what it takes to cross cultural borders and become a master of this traditional art form. John has innovated on the shakuhachi’s design and developed new sounds never heard before with the instrument. His efforts have been praised by most but criticized by some. John has lived in Japan for over 40 years, focusing single-mindedly on the shakuhachi to further delve into the infinite possibilities of sound. But what are the sacrifices involved with becoming a true master?
This story told from David’s perspective will take audiences on an unforgettable journey through personal discoveries, humorous interludes and musical epiphanies.
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VIRTUAL BILINGUAL YOGA AT LUNCHTIME
Wednesday, June 9th & 23rd
12:30PM PT (15 Minute Session)
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Bilingual Yoga will be offered this month via JFLA Facebook LIVE!
No need to change clothes or use a yoga mat; you will be seated in a chair at home and receive an instruction from our instructor in bilingual (English and Japanese). Easy and relaxed!
There will be one session starting at 12:30pm. Just go to JFLA's Facebook page. Refresh and recharge yourself with us at home!
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VIRTUAL MEDITATION WITH JAPANESE SINGING BOWL
Wednesday, June 2nd & 16th & 30th
12:30PM PT (15 Min Session)
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Meditation with Japanese Singing Bowl will be offered this month via JFLA Facebook LIVE!
The singing bowl used for this program harmoniously combines the healing qualities of the Tibetan singing bowl and its Japanese traditional singing bowl. Relax and feel your stress dissipate into thin air as the sounds of the singing bowl lead you into a meditative state.
There will be one session starting at 12:30pm. Just go to JFLA's Facebook page. Stretch and refresh yourself with us at home!
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VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
NOBUO ANZAI: HOMAGE TO A NOMADIC STORYTELLER
Through June 18, 2021
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Three years after hosting the MIGRATING DREAMSCAPES: NOBUO ANZAI exhibition here at JFLA, we are honored to showcase Anzai’s later paintings this time as we celebrate his infinite creativity and beautiful life.
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2021-2022 Japanese Language Grants Now Available! |
Learners Event Grant
Deadlines: 9/1/2021
Teaching Material Purchase Grant
Deadlines: 9/15/2021
Language Education Project Grant
Deadline: Two months prior to the project start date
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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.).
Please contact
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Japanese Language Education Update 90 |
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We have some exciting news to share in regards to “Minato”, our free e-learning platform! Minato consists of a wide variety of self-study courses such as “Marugoto”, which is free structured lessons that help you immerse yourself in Japanese language and culture, as well as develop essential communication skills. Minato offers flexible courses with progress tracking at any level, which you can take, pause, and return to at any time from wherever you are. As we believe it’s important to provide accessibility for Japanese language learning all over the United States, creating a commercial that allows potential Japanese language learners to be aware of opportunities was one of our goals. With the animated commercial, you will go on a journey with the characters and learn about Minato. The course overviews video explains the courses in further details and you will be able to know which courses suit your needs. The last video helps users create and register for an account. Follow the instructions and register now ( here) and navigate your knowledge of Japan! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email jflaeducation@jflalc.org ! Please feel free to share our newly created videos for those who are interested in learning Japanese! We would love to see many enjoying this wonderful platform.
Check out our “Minato” videos:
Animated Commercial: here
Creating a Minato Account and Registering for a Course: here
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The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles |
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