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 .

Yayoi, the old Japanese name for the month of March, means "new life" and indicates the coming of spring.

The only national holiday in Yayoi is Shunbun no hi , or Vernal Equinox Day, on March 20th or 21st. The deep appreciation for nature traditionally shown by Japanese makes this day especially important. After Shunbun no hi , we know that the blossoming of the sakura (cherry blossoms) is not far away.

While all that nature stuff is great, little Japanese girls know that the true beauty of Yayoi is on March 3 - the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), or Girls' Day. Families with young daughters set up displays of the imperial court around mid-February, prepare special foods, and offer prayers for the girls' happiness. As soon as March 3 has gone, however, the display is put away, owing to an old superstition that the longer it lingers, the older the daughter will be before she marries.

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.

On Saturday, April 5th, the JET Alumni Association will hold its annual career fair at the Japan Information Center, this event is open to the public. Contact Andrew Smerczak-Zorza (ajs@campbellcompany.com, 312-896-8892) to submit your resume if you would like to attend.

With a view to promote mutual understanding between Japan and the United States and strengthen their relations into the future, the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, promote mutual understanding and exchange by inviting Japanese American Leaders to visit Japan each spring. The most recent delegation, including Ms. Lori Yokoyama of Chicago, visited Japan from March 1 to March 9, 2008.

On a recent visit to Nebraska from Tuesday, March 11 to Thursday, March 13, Mr. Kenji Shinoda, Consul General of Japan, gave the following three speeches.

On Tuesday, April 10th, the Japan America Society of Chicago will hold an event highlighting the traditional Japanese art of “Kohdo” – Incense Ceremony. In the ceremony, aromatic wood is burned according to a particular etiquette, and participants appreciate the aesthetic qualities and literary atmosphere of the aroma. Gyosetsu Maruyama, Master in the Oie School of Kohdo, and Nobue Irako, who has 10 years of experience in Kohdo, will make a special visit from Japan to give us a demonstration of this refined art.

In March of 2000, a mysterious suitcase arrived at the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center from Poland, bearing the name "Hana Brady." Based on real events, Hana's Suitcase is the story of two Japanese students and their teacher who embark on a worldwide journey to discover the story behind the name. Told through the eyes of school children, Hana's Suitcase presents compelling insight into the Holocaust that focuses on glorious moments of heroism, and the awe-inspiring poetry of this complex history.

Date	April 11 – May 11, 2008	Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow
Place	The Department of Cultural Affairs Storefront Theater 66 E Randolph Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60601 (Map)
Info	http://www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org/hanas-suitcase.html

Monthly Economic Report (March 2008)
http://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai3/getsurei-e/2008mar.html

Here are four questions regarding news stories about Japan in March. 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. Which 3 cities in addition to Tokyo will host the 2009 World Baseball Classic?
   
   
2. What was found to be largely the cause of a 1.9% increase in sales at Japanese supermarkets in February 2008 compared with February 2007?
   
   
3. Which two Japanese Auto makers will conduct city-road testing of their electric vehicles in the U.S. this summer?
   
   To submit your answers by email, click here: jic_tech@webkddi.com

Answers from the February Quiz:
Well nobody was able to get them all correct in February, so good luck this month!

1. “Foodies” rejoice for which conference to be held in Tokyo during February 2009? World Summit of Gastronomy 2009
2. What race would you have recently won if you ran it faster than 2hrs, 7min and 23secs? 2008 Tokyo Marathon
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. Green Tea
4. The Japanese brewer, Suntory, has recently shown its green thumb by developing what? Pafcal, an alternative to soil

Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)

TICAD stands for "Tokyo International Conference on African Development". It was launched in 1993 to promote high-level policy dialogue between African leaders and development partners. TICAD has since evolved into a major global framework to facilitate the implementation of initiatives for promoting African development under the dual principle of African "ownership" and international "partnership". A central feature of this framework is the cooperation between Asia and Africa. TICAD IV will be held on 28-30 May 2008, in Yokohama, Japan.