An Online Newsletter Showcasing Our Programs for the Month of December, 2022!
It's the last month of 2022 and to end the year on a high note, we will be starting a new photo exhibition featuring Japanese Entertainers during the pandemic. These photos show the private lives of these performers as they were in their homes during the height of COVID.

The theme of our events this month centers around wellness as many probably need to take care of their mind and bodies during the holidays so we have curated some new events just for you. Make sure to sign up for Full Moon Night Yoga & Meditation as well as Mindfulness & Wellness Through Japanese Food Culture.

Lastly, we will continue our trio of wellness events this month with monthly themes so make sure to join us on Facebook every Wednesday at 12:30PM PT.
JFLA EXHIBITION
Dancing Extraordinaire: Japanese Entertainers under the Pandemic
Until February 25, 2023
Admission Free
The entertainment world was dealt a big blow by the pandemic. One after another, theaters were forced to either postpone or outright cancel performances. Beginning in July 2020, freelance photographers (Arisa Kasai, Shizuka Minami and Maiko Miyagawa) took portraits of 18 groups of artists over a period of about 7 months guided by their concept of “capturing the ‘present’ during the pandemic, characterized by the way in which the subjects’ routines meshed with the demands of the moment”. The photographers captured these artists’ emotions and their performances that would have otherwise never come to light, but were forged in a state of emergency which rekindled their passions for the stage.
FULL MOON NIGHT YOGA & MEDITAION
THUR, DEC 8, 2022 @7 - 7:30pm (PT)
Admission Free, Registration Required
Celebrating full moon night, we will offer an evening version of “Wellness Wednesdays”. Usually, we virtually offer either Bilingual Yoga or Meditation with Japanese Singing Bowl during the lunchtime every Wednesday. On this special occasion, both instructors will join together in the evening and you will experience both yoga and meditation in one virtual session on JFLA's YouTube Live!
ONLINE LECTURE
EXPLORING MINDFULNESS & WELLNESS THROUGH JAPANESE FOOD CULTURE
MON, DEC 12, 2022 @7 - 8pm (PT)
Admission Free, Registration Required
In this webinar Mayuko Okai, a registered dietitian, will talk about the secrets of Japanese food culture that nourishes our body and mind by featuring the following topics:
  • Eating with intention & gratitude 
  • Exploring mindful eating in the modern age
  • Traditional fermentation practice
  • Japanese grandmother's food wisdom
  • Cultivating a gentle relationship with food and your body
JFLA CO-PRESENTED EVENT
CITY POP NIGHT
WED, DEC 21, 2022 @6:30 - 10:30pm (PT)
FONDA THEATRE (HOLLYWOOD)
We understand City Pop music has become popular though the recent years and hope the music can open doors to understanding the culture more. This event will feature the top artists (NIGHT TEMPO, GINGER ROOT, JQ from Nulbarich) that are curating the city pop scene with amazing food vendors serving free food samples. We will also have special prizes for guests that come to the event!
2023 J-LEAP
The initial Lead Teacher (LT)/Host Organization application period for the Japanese Language Education Assistant Program (J-LEAP) has ended, and now the Laurasian Institution and the Japan Foundation will now select the best candidates from those who applied to move forward.

This month, we would like to welcome Mai Kuroda, who is currently at Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus in Hawaii! You can read about her experiences in the program thus far at the link above.
JFLA LITERARY SERIES
WORLD OF KAMUSARI SERIES: DISCUSSION WITH SHION MIURA
Available Through March 31st, 2024
In collaboration with Amazon Crossing, The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles invites you to watch the vido presentation program "World of Kamusari Series: Discussion with Shion Miura".

As the prologue, there is a video introducing the town of Misugi, Mie Prefecture, where both novels are set and movie "Wood Job" based on "The Easy Life in Kamusari", which was film there, and interviews with people who live in Misugi like Yuki or Yoki in the novels. Following these, in the feature program, the award-winning author of "The Great Passage", Shion Miura is joined by translator Juliet Winters Carpenter to discuss her rapturous novels, Kamusari series (The Easy Life in Kamusari / Kamusari Tales Told at Night) where the contemporary and the traditional meet amid the splendor of Japan’s mountain way of life to English readers. The discussion is moderated by Allison Markin Powell, award-winning translator and member of PEN America’s Translation Committee.
VIRTUAL MEDITATION WITH JAPANESE SINGING BOWL
Wednesday, December 7th & 28th
12:30PM PT (15 Min Session)
Meditation with Japanese Singing Bowl will be offered this month via JFLA Facebook LIVE! The catchphrase for this month is "Tanoshii (It's fun)!"

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, December 14th
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!
VIRTUAL BILINGUAL YOGA AT LUNCHTIME
Wednesday, December 21st
12:30PM PT (15 Minute Session)
Bilingual Yoga will be offered this month via JFLA Facebook LIVE! This month's theme is "improve your metabolism."

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!
JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE WINTER 2023
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!
We are bringing back an IN-PERSON class in Winter 2023.

Get a scoop now!
2022-2023 Japanese Language Grants Now Available!
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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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.).
General Invitation to Join JF USA Digital Library
We started our digital library back in April in coordination with our New York and Toronto offices. There have been an overwhelming amount of interest in Libby and we appreciate everyone who have signed up to use this free service. If you know anyone who is interested in a digital library that specializes in Japanese language and culture related books, please forward them this newsletter and they can find more information at the link below. Applicants need to be 14 years or older and confirmation emails will be sent out 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. Please make sure to check your spam box, especially for Gmail users and you do not need to register multiple times. If you do not receive a welcome email from us within a few days of registering, please make sure to contact us. If you have any questions, please reply to this email. We hope you will enjoy this new service from the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles!
Japanese Language Education Update 108
It was a nice change to see everyone in person at the ACTFL Annual Conference in Boston and we appreciate those who dropped by the booth to pick up one of goody bags. We developed these goods for teachers who want to use them to promote language learning and events so please reach out to us if you are interested in ordering more.

This weekend is the Japanese Language Proficiency Test at many cities across the country and we wish all teachers who are administering the test and the students taking it the best of luck.

We are also featuring the first J-LEAP Assistant Teacher report this month above for the 2022/23 school year so make sure to click the link above to read about the program. As mentioned in the introduction, this is the last month of the year and it is usually a slow period as everyone gets into the holiday season. As the theme of this month is mindfulness, we hope both teachers and students will take some time and think about their well being going into the new year!
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles