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, Daniel Drake, at jic@japancc.org.

Minazuki, the old Japanese name for the month of June, means "water month." Considering the 6.5 inches of rain that typically fall on Tokyo this month, Minazuki certainly seems appropriate.

There are no official holidays in June, but June 4th is Cavity Prevention Day ( Mushiba no hi ) and kicks off Dental Hygiene Week. During this time, dentists visit schools to talk about proper care of the teeth. Also, the 3rd Sunday of June is celebrated as Father's Day, though it's not as widely observed as Mother's Day.

As mentioned last month, The Consulate will be hosting one night in the series of international theatrical performances being staged by Premiere Theater and Performance. This series, The International Voices Project, is an initiative to bring new, global theater to Chicago with concert readings of plays from around the world. Joining Consulates and cultural groups representing Spain, India, France, and Canada, we here at the Japanese Consulate are thrilled to be a part of the Project with the world premiere of actor and playwright Ryo Iwamatsu's Moonlight Modesty on June 10. Moreover, Mr. Iwamatsu himself will be present for the performance! The show is free of charge, but please call ahead to reserve your space.

Date	Thursday, June 10, 7:30 PM
Place	Japan Information Center 10th Floor, 737 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 (Map)
Info	International Voices Project Blog FREE! To reserve a space, please call Premiere Theater and Performance at (773) 250-7055

Continuing his trip across the United States, which last month found him in Minnesota, Ambassador of Japan to the United States Ichiro Fujisaki will be speaking at a luncheon with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The event is co-sponsored by the Consulate, the University of Chicago's Center for East Asian Studies, and the Japan America Society of Chicago. Reserve a space now (the registration form can be found on the page linked below) before the event is sold out!

Date	Monday, June 14 Registration: 12:00 AM; Program: 12:30 - 1:45 PM
Place	The Fairmont Chicago 200 North Columbus Drive Chicago, IL 60601 (Map)
Info	Cost: $45 for Council members, $55 for Non-members Visit the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' website for more information, and to register.

Dr. Koichi Wakata, native of Saitama, Japan, and veteran of three space flights with NASA, will be speaking at the Holiday Inn Express in Rolling Meadows, outside of Chicago. The Consulate and the Japan America Society of Chicago encourage anyone interested in space, flight, science, math, or just hearing interesting people tell amazing stories, to come out on June 19th for the event.

Date	Saturday, June 19, 3:00 - 4:30 PM	Photo Courtesy of JAXA
Place	Holiday Inn Express Rolling Meadows, Meadows Room 3405 Algonquin Road Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 (Map)
Info	Cost: $10 for adults, children and students free; no charge for parking! Event Flier [PDF]

From Saturday, June 19th to Sunday, June 20th, Naperville's Super H Mart, the largest Asian grocery in the United States, will be celebrating Japanese cuisine with its "Tast of Asia - Japan" event. Come for the delicious food and stay for the Japanese Consulate's informational booth. We'll be there all weekend, passing out information about cultural events in the area, and answering all your questions.

Together with the Art Institute of Chicago, Kobe College, and the Kobe College Corporation-Japan Education Exchange, the Consulate is very excited to present a summer concert at the Art Institute of Chicago's beautiful Fullerton Hall. The performance showcases the talents of three graduates of Japan's Kobe College, pianist Saori Jo, flautist Mari Munemoto, and vocalist Kaoru Kiichi. The eclectic and summery program will feature work by Chopin, Hisato Osawa, Toraji Onaka, and others. And before you take a seat for the show, be sure to peruse the Art Institute's extensive collection of Japanese art.

Date	Thursday, June 24, Doors open at 5:30 PM; Performance at 6:00 PM	Clockwise from top left: Saori Jo, Kaoru Kiichi, and Mari Munemoto
Place	The Art Institute of Chicago, Fullerton Hall 111 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60603 (Map)
Info	Event Flier [PDF] FREE! Admission to the museum is also free, after 5 PM

The weekend of June 26th and 27th brings the Mid-America Japanese Club's Japan Festival, an annual celebration of Japanese art, culture, and food. Located in suburban Arlington Heights, the Festival is an opportunity for Chicagoans to see Japan up close, and without having to pay airfare. This year's theme is "Discover Japan, Kyoto," the ancient capital of Japan, and home to some of the nation's most skilled craftsmen, some of whom will be on hand at the Festival to demonstrate their handiwork and techniques. In addition, there will be two entertainment stages, featuring koto music, martial arts demonstrations, and more. And, of course, plenty of delicious Japanese cuisine will be readily available. The e-Japan Journal hopes to see you there!

Date	Saturday, June 26, 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sunday, June 27, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM	Source: Stephane D'Alu
Place	Forest View Educational Center 2121 S. Goebbert Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60005 (Map)
Info	FREE ADMISSION! Japan Fest 2010

If you missed the Shall We Train Travel? event back in March, it is still not too late to learn more about what Japan can offer to the United States as it looks to build a nationwide high-speed rail network. On Monday, June 28, the Japan Internation Transport Institute, USA, together with the Nippon Foundation, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, the Council for Global Promotion of Railway, and the Institution for Transport Policy Studies, Japan, will be presenting an afternoon seminar that showcases specific high speed rail technologies that could be used in the United States, and provides a detailed look at the costs and benefits of new train technologies.

The May films are up, but you can still see The Seven Samurai, High and Low, Kagemusha, and about five other masterpieces by Japanese great Akira Kurosawa as the Gene Siskel Film Center's Kurosawa series continues into June.

Date	Through Thursday, June 24
Place	The Gene Siskel Film Center 164 North State Street Chicago, Illinois 60601 (Map)
Info	Akira Kurosawa at the Gene Siskel Film Center: Complete Schedule Prices range from $4 to $10 depending on membership, student-status, and bulk discounts. Details available at the page above.

Beginning on June 6th with koinobori (mini carp kites), and running through October 3rd, with gyotaku (fish prints), the Malott Japanese Gardens at the Chicago Botanic Gardens offer free Japanese cultural activites for families two Sundays out of every month. Check the site below for the full schedule.

Date	Sundays from June 6 to October 3, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM	Japanese Island at Chicago Botanic Gardens
Place	Malott Japanese Gardens Chicago Botanic Garden 1000 Lake Cook Road Glencoe, IL 60022 (Map)
Info	Chicago Botanic Garden Family Programs Free with admission to the gardens

The Japan America Society of Minnesota is inviting Japan enthusiasts from the Twin Cities area to come to Origami Restaurant for a night of sushi, socializing, and fun. If you live in Minnesota and would like to meet like-minded Nipponphiles, then check out the link below, and be sure to RSVP!

On June 9th, the Major League Soccer powerhouse Chicago Fire will be facing off against the Colorado Rapids, whose 26-year-old midfielder is Kosuke Kimura, the only Japanese-born player in the history of MLS. As such, the Chicago Fire are throwing a Japanese Community night, with ticket discounts, the opportunity to receive a Kimura-autographed item, and a chance to see Mr. Kimura himself. So buy your tickets fast, before the autographs are out!

If you live in the Chicago area, and are interested in learning more about ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, then come to the Chicago Botanic Gardens on June 12th and 13th for a demonstration by the Illinois Sogetsu School. Learn about the many methods and approaches to the art, get your questions answered, and welcome the beginning of summer by looking at beautiful flowers.

The Eighth Annual Chicago African Diaspora Film Festival will be held at Chicago's Facets Cinematheque at the end of June, and this year's lineup includes The Harimaya Bridge, the feature-length directorial debut of Aaron Woolfolk, an alumnus of the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Starring, among others, Danny Glover and Peter Coyote, it tells the story of an American father who travels to Japan to collect his dead son's belongings, and learn about the child he never fully knew.

Monthly Economic Report (May, 2010)
http://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai3/getsurei-e/2010may.html

Joint Statement of the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/security/scc/joint1005.html

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 6 May 2010 - including questions concerning the Futenma relocation issue
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2010/5/0506_01.html

Here are three questions regarding news stories about Japan in May. 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. What vegetable is up and coming in Bibai, Hokkaido?
   
   
2. Why does the "I-Fairy" robot like to hear the words "I do"?
   
   
3. What new innovation will Japanese Playstation 3 owners be the first to experience?
   
   To submit your answers by email, click here: jic@japancc.org and write "Japan News Quiz" in the subject line.

Answers from the April Quiz, which was extended through May:
After the April Journal's answer drought, we were deluged with responses to the May Quiz, including the first two, which arrived literally one minute apart. So congratulations to this month's dual-winners, Han Huie and Michelle Latham!

1. Why is Eric Stults "Carping"? The Dodgers sold him to a Japanese team called the Carps.


2. What is Mao Asada celebrating these days, after the Olympics? She won gold at the World Figure Skating Championships.
   
   
3. What is Hidetoshi Nakata so "Xcited" about? The racy Calvin Klein X Marks the Spot ad he appears in.

The following is a list of all educational visits the Japan Information Center will make in the next month. For more information, or if you would like to register for a cultural presentation, please visit our website.

Web Japan

We're going to take another break here from our "Travelling in Japan" link series, this time to take a step back for the sake of the general-interest reader. That is, where is there a resource for people that have little experience or interaction with Japan and want to start learning? Or for those who do have a base of knowledge, but need a resource that can get them started on more specific topics, where to go? Where is there an encylopedia about Japan online?

Glad you asked! Web Japan is what you are referring to. From the site's breezy Fact Sheet, which covers most basic topics you could ever want information about (What's the weather like? How is their government structured? What is the national anthem?), to the Trends in Japan section that offers mini-essays on the cultures of different Japanese cities or the look of contemporary fashion, it is a great first stop for anyone looking to learn a little (or a lot) about Japan.

Happy (almost) Summer!

Thanks for all of your suggestions about how to update the e-Japan Journal! You can expect to see a few changes to the format and layout of this humble publication in the next few months, and, of course, I am always looking for more suggestions. Feel free to email me at jic@japancc.org at any time, with the subject line "e-Japan Journal," if there's anything you'd like to know about or see in these pages.

Additionally, as summer marches slowly onward, cities across the Midwest sponsor and host Japanese summer festivals. We've already mentioned the Mid-America Japanese Club's 2010 Festival (see above), and you'll be reading about many more in the coming months. But I don't always find all of them. Please let me know if you'd like to see your Summer Festival listed in these pages!

Daniel Drake, Editor