An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of May, 2022!
Golden Week holiday is in full swing now and there are three major days in the week including Showa day, Constitution Memorial day, and Children's day. We will be celebrating Children's day on the 15th here in Los Angeles at Shoseian Tea House and Friendship Garden. We will have a host activities including Karate, Chambara, Drumming Cosplay Fashion Show, Obon Dancing and Edamame Challenge and Cooking Demo. Join us for a full day of outdoor fun.

This is also the last month of our Tanagokoro Exhibition in our office and we will also be organizing the second online workshop showcasing paper craft making. Make sure to mark your calendar for this event!

For Japanese learners, we started our online digital library last month and have hundreds of titles for learners as well as the casual reader. Make sure you signup for an account to get access to barrow the books. And if you are a teacher and are interested in our Marugoto textbook series, contact us below for more information.

As always, we will be keeping our subscribers mentally and physically fit with our trio of wellness events every Wednesday on Facebook so make sure to join us during your lunch break. We hope Your Japan will bring you a happiness!
Children's Day: Samurai Kids!
Sunday, May 15th, 10AM - 2PM at The Shoseian Tea House and Friendship Garden
All Programs are FREE and NO Reservation Necessary
Come and celebrate the Japanese custom of “Children’s Day” – Learn about Samurai Culture, play traditional games, and participate in other fun activities such as Origami, Shodo, Obon Dancing & Music and more. Immerse your kids and yourself in Japanese culture for the whole day on Sunday.
#EDAMAMECHAMP @SHOSEIAN CHILDREN'S DAY
Sunday, May 15th, 10AM - 2PM at The Shoseian Tea House and Friendship Garden
All Programs are FREE and NO Reservation Necessary
#EdamameChamp is an annual chopstick skill competition to promote healthy ways of eating through Japanese cuisine and to also raise funds to provide food education programs to children. #EdamameChamp event and mini cooking demo will be taking place in the beautiful Japanese garden as a part of Children's Day celebration event. #EdamameChamp is hosted with TABLE FOR TWO USA.
SAVE THE DATE
ONLINE WORKSHOP: Paper Craft Making by Akihiro Yasugi
May 18th, 7PM - 8PM (PST)
Details to be announced soon!
JFLA EXHIBITION
TANAGOKORO: Alternative Crafts by 16 Japanese Contemporary Artists
Final Month
Through May 28th, 2022
Mon - Sat 12PM - 6PM
Closed on Sundays
Venue: 5700 Wilshire BLVD STE #100
Admission: FREE
Tanagokoro references matters that virtually fit in the palm of one’s hand. As in Yasunari Kawabata’s book, Palm-of-the-Hand stories, the narratives are concise and portable, yet imbued with characteristic depth. The skills involved in handling tools highlight the premium placed on manual dexterity in Japanese culture. The centuries long investment in craft as the primary vehicle for the expression of aesthetic and spiritual values in Japan registers across the board in traditional folk, commercial and classical arts, from silk weaving to street fashion and anime. Tanagokoro introduces sixteen Japanese artists trained in traditional craft-making techniques yet committed to engaging contemporary issues and concerns. Please join us for this special exhibition as we reopen the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles’ gallery space.
VIRTUAL BILINGUAL YOGA AT LUNCHTIME
Wednesday, May 4th & 25th
12:30PM PT (15 Minute Session)
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!
VIRTUAL MEDITATION WITH JAPANESE SINGING BOWL
Wednesday, May 11th
12:30PM PT (15 Min Session)
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!
VIRTUAL KARATE EXERCISE AT LUNCHTIME
Wednesday, May 18th
12:30PM PT (15 Minute Session)
Whether at work or at home, let's refresh yourself for 15 minutes on your lunchtime together with us! Karate Exercise will be offered via JFLA Facebook LIVE!

World class instructors from Kyokushin Karate of Los Angeles will give you a set of beginner’s level exercises from their basic movement with their English instruction.

There will be one 15-minute session starting at 12:30pm. Just go to JFLA's Facebook page. Achieve the unity of body and spirit!
2022-2023 Japanese Language Grants Now Available!
Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Events for LEARNERS
(Examples: Speech Contest, Quiz Contest, Japan-themed Festival for Learners, etc.)

Deadlines: 9/1/2022
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Grant for Nationwide/Statewide/Region-wide Projects for TEACHERS
(Examples: Conferences/Seminars/Workshops for Teachers, Teaching Material Development, Research Projects, etc.)

Deadline: 2 months before the project start date
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Deadlines: 9/15/2022
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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
Japanese Language Education Update 101
We mentioned this last month, and wanted to highlight this again, but if you are a Japanese language teacher who is interested in using the Marugoto textbooks in your classroom and would like to receive a copy to review, please contact us so we can help you out. Make sure to provide a little information about you and your program and why you are interested in using Marugoto.
Invitation to Join JF USA Digital Library
Our digital library was started last month with coordination with our New York and Toronto offices. As a dedicated member of our mailing list, you will have the first opportunity to join our Libby - Digital Library System. To apply, please complete the form at the link below. We will send out confirmation emails at the end of the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays with directions on how you can login to the system and start checking out digital books on your phone or computer. Since this is a limited rollout, we ask that you do not share this with anyone else as we will not approve those who are not on our mailing list. After the initial rollout, we may send out invitations to the general public depending on usage. If you have any questions, please reply to this email. We hope you will enjoy this new service from the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles!
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles