The e-Japan Journal is the electronic webletter of the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago (CGOJ) and the Japan Information Center (JIC). We hope it proves useful, interesting, and exciting as a window into Japanese culture in the Midwest. As always, your feedback, comments, and suggestions are encouraged and can be sent to our editor, Kevin Greene, at jic_tech@webkddi.com .

Kisaragi, the old Japanese name for the month of February, is a contracted form of kinu sara gi, which means "wear still more clothes." As most Midwesterners will relate, this is a way of saying winter's not over yet.

Setsubun - celebrated on February 3 or 4 - is a favorite annual celebration among Japanese children. On this night, children fill a wooden cup with roasted soybeans and run around throwing them at an oni, or devil, (usually played by the dad) and shouting "Oni wa soto; fuku wa uchi!" This tranlsates as "Out with the devil; in with good fortune!"

The only national holiday in Kisaragi, though, is National Foundation Day on February 11. This is the date calculated to be the day on which Jimmu - the first emperor of Japan - was enthroned, according to the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan).

On Monday, March 10 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Mr. Noriyuki Shikata, Director, Second North America Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan will speak in depth on economic issues regarding the U.S.-Japan alliance. This event, organized by the Japan America Society of Chicago, will be held at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in downtown Chicago.

On Tuesday, February 5, the Japan America Society of Chicago held a public affairs luncheon featuring the Honorable Kenji Shinoda, Consul General of Japan at Chicago and Honorary Chairman of the society. The speech entitled "Japan and America: Two Champions Tackling Global Challenges" is available at:

Throughout the month of March, the Japan Information Center will present a screening series focusing on the wonderful world of anime. Each Thursday, from 6:30 pm, movies by the legendary director Miyazaki, the highly popular hit Naruto and a special Chicago Premier of Tekkonkinkreet will be shown. We invite all to attend!

The series schedule is as follows –
March 6: "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" directed by Hayao Miyazaki
March 13: "Howl's Moving Castle" directed by Hayao Miyazaki
March 20: "Naruto the Movie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow"
March 27: "Tekkonkinkreet", based on a comic by Taiyo Matsumoto, directed by Michael Arias, a CHICAGO PREMIER!!

Date	Each Thur. in March, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Place	Japan Information Center Consulate General of Japan 737 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1000 Chicago, IL 60611 (Map)
Info	Tel. 312-280-0430

On March 6 from 3:00 - 9:00 the University of Nebraska will hold Japan Festival 2008. The events are as follows:

Date	Thursday, March 6, 2008 from 3:00 - 9:00 pm
Place	University of Nebraska–Lincoln 200 Nebraska Union Lincoln, NE 68588-0452 (Map)
Info	Tel. (402) 472-2181

On Tuesday, March 11, a dessert lecture featuring Shinichiro Abe, designer of Phase II of the Lauritzen Garden’s Japanese Garden, will be on hand to share his thoughts on Japanese garden design. Organized by the Loveland Garden Club, this event entitled "Japanese Gardens - History and Styles" will also invite Consul General Kenji Shinoda from the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago.

Date	Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 7 pm
Place	Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha's Botanical Center 100 Bancroft Street Omaha, NE  68108 (Map)
Info	Tel. (402) 346-4002 https://www.omahabotanicalgardens.org/ Register by March 7

Following the presentation of Hirakagetsu, all guests will be served a Rikyu manju, a traditional sweet named in Rikyu’s honor, and a delicious bowl of matcha, green powdered tea.

Please join the Urasenke Chicago Association as it honors the life of Sen Rikyu.

The Japan Shogi Association Chicago Branch will host the 2008 US Shogi Championship in Chicago from March 28 to March 30.

On Tuesday, April 1, the Japan America Society of Chicago will hold an event with John Gauntner, a leading sake expert in Japan. He will give a brief presentation about the Japanese delicacy of sake tasting. There will be a total of 6 breweries on hand for you to taste, including Nanbu Bijin, Akita Seishu, Kaetsu Brewery, Marumoto Shuzou, Asahi Syuzou and Gekkeikan. Master brewers will be available to answer any questions that you might have. You must be over 21 to attend.

G-7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting was held in Tokyo
http://www.mof.go.jp/english/if/g7_080209.pdf [pdf]

Here are four questions regarding news stories about Japan in February. The first person to send us the most correct answers wins a little Japanese prize. Don't forget to send us your mailing address with your answers.

1. “Foodies” rejoice for which conference to be held in Tokyo during February 2009?
   
   
2. What race would you have recently won if you ran it faster than 2hrs, 7min and 23secs?
   
   
3. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare recently released a study that found __________ has been proven to reduce the likely hood of contracting stomach cancer.
4. The Japanese brewer, Suntory, has recently shown its green thumb by developing what?
   
   To submit your answers by email, click here: jic_tech@webkddi.com

Answers from the January Quiz:
Congratulations to Josh Haycraft for supplying the correct answers!

1. Surprisingly not the all-time record, a 276-kg tuna was recently sold at Tsukiji fish market for 6.07 million yen. What is the highest price ever paid for a tuna in Japan? 20.2 million yen for a 202kg tuna

2. After receiving high marks at welfare facilities for the elderly and children, what kind of “mammalian” robot, developed by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, is being used for therapy? Paro - A baby harp seal

3. What brand of TV would you buy if you needed it to measure a massive 9606.45 square inches? Panasonic

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) pursues a variety of space/aviation related research and development to succeed in missions that contribute to the peace and happiness of humankind. JAXA along with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. successfully launched the super high-speed Internet satellite “KIZUNA” (WINDS) on February 23, 2008 (JST).