Fumizuki is the old Japanese name for the month of July. Its kanji characters literally mean "book month." However, there are several theories about the origins of this name. One is that fumizuki is a shortened form of hofumizuki, which refers to the time when rice becomes ready for harvest. Another possible explanation is that it's short for fumihirakizuki, which means to hope for and improvement in one's calligraphy skills. Tanabata - the major holiday during fumizuki - is a time to pray specificall for improvement in calligraphy.

The only official holiday in July is Marine Day, celebrated on the third Monday of the month. It is Japan's newest national holiday (first observed in 1996), and commemorates the return of Emperor Meiji to Yokohama port from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876. A more traditional celebration is Tanabata, observed on July 7th. According to legend, a cattleherd named Hikoboshi and a weaver named Orihime are allowed to meet just once a year: on the 7th day of the 7th month. They are represented by the stars Altair and Vega, which come together from across the Milky Way. One popular custom on Tanabata is to write one's deepest wish on a piece of paper and hang it on a bamboo tree (hence the emphasis on calligraphy).

We may have mentioned before, but it is now almost one week until the Megumi Kanda trombone recital in Arlington Heights. So clear your calendars, and jump on the Metra/Union Pacific Northwest Line. Mrs. Kanda and her accompanist, Mio Nakamura, are both accomplished and incredibly talented performers; it will be quite a treat to see them together playing an ambitious program. Interested parties should email the Japan Information Center at jic@japancc.org to ensure that there will be space in the theater.

For the 23rd straight year, the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago is thrilled to be sending a talented and excited group of Americans off to Japan to teach English. Every year, more than 3000 American, British, Australian, Irish, and South African people (to name just a few of the participating Eglish-speaking countries) travel to Japan under the aegis of the Japanese government, in order to teach English to public school students. This year, the Chicago Consulate will be bidding bon voyage to 138 program participants.. A hearty good luck to all of them! I know from personal experience that it is a lot of fun!

For more information on the JET Program, please visit our website!

The Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration Committee has organized 3 days of events in August at various locations in the Twin Cities. These events are designed to learn from the past and take action now in order to find lasting peace and secure a future world without nuclear weapons.

Led by two representatives from Tsukasa Taiko, this workshop will be both a demonstration of the rumbling taiko sound, a lesson on the history of Japanese music, and a chance to try your hand at playing the famed Japanese drums. Sponsored by the Japan America Society of Chicago.

As the Chicago Fire battle the Colorado Rapids, August 23rd will also be a chance to see the only Japanese National playing for Major League Soccer, Colorado's Kosuke Kimura. Concordantly, August 23rd is Japanese Heritage Night at Chicago's Toyota Park. There will be Japanese arts and martial arts demonstrations, as well as food, music, and fun. Fun! Who doesn't like it?

Monthly Economic Report (July, 2009)
http://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai3/getsurei-e/2009jul.html

Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Deposit of the Instrument of Acceptance of the Convention on Cluster Munitions
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/7/1193807_1138.html

Agreement between Japan and the US on the implementation of the relocation of III marine expeditionary force personnel and their dependents from Okinawa to Guam
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/7/1193664_1138.html

G8 Summit 2009 in L'Aquila
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2009/index.html

Press Conference by Prime Minister Taro Aso Following the G8 Summit 2009 in L'Aquila (Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet Website)
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/asospeech/2009/07/10laquila_naigai_e.html

Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Joint Understanding Signed by the Presidents of the United States of America and the Russian Federation for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty I (START I) Follow-on Treaty
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/7/1193527_1138.html

Speech by H.E. Mr. Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan "Japan's Diplomacy: Ensuring Security and Prosperity" (Prime Minister of Japan and his Cabinet Website)
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/asospeech/2009/06/30speech_e.html

Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on withdrawal of the United States combat troops from Urban Areas of the Republic of Iraq
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/6/1193455_1136.html

Here are three questions regarding news stories about Japan in June. 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 looks like a dolphin, and get from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori in 3 hours?

2. Why did the launch of space shuttle Endeavor give Japanese people new reason to hope?

3. How did the Kawamura Gishi Company help a 20-year-old sea turtle learn to swim again?
   
   
   To submit your answers by email, click here: jic@japancc.org and write "Japan News Quiz" in the subject line.

Answers from the June Quiz:
Congratulations to Sabrina Kaiser, who succesfully guessed two out of the three questions. Good luck on number three next time, Sabrina!

1. What achivement did Tomoji Tanabe recently pass to a World War I veteran? Mr. Tanabe was the world's oldest man, until his passing on June 19th. Henry Allingham, a British World War I veteran is now the world's oldest man.

2. Whose sumo career, lauded by Richard Nixon in 1972, was recently honored by the United States House of Representatives? Jesse "Takamiyama" Kuhaula's

3. Why is "Toyoda" no longer just a misspelling of the Toyota brand? A gentleman named Akio Toyoda is the new chairman of Toyota Motor Company.

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

• July 23: Near North Montessori School
• July 30: Edgewater Library

Tofugu

As a web publication, it is in the e-Japan Journal's interest to stay abreast of current trends in the youths cultures. So we at the Japan Information Center dove headfirst into this "Web 2.0" craze, and went hunting for a Web Journal (the tweeting tweens call them blogs!) about Japan.

Well, thanks to a tip from alert reader Irene (thanks, Irene!), we have found such a thing. Tofugu.com is just what you could ask for in a blog: informative but interesting, often funny, and updated with enough frequency to merit weekly check-ins. It's three-person writing staff focuses mostly on Japanese language-learning, with entries and links about all manner of Japanese learning resources, but leavens the whole-grain taste with plenty of posts on Godzilla conventions, Japanese fashion, the nature of being a foreigner in Japan, and many things in between.

College students: go find their Japanese Particles Cheat Sheet (ok, I'll link to it), print it out, and tape it to your wall.

No complaints this month! The weather is perfect, there's a clutch of Japanese festivals happening all across the Midwest, and there's an incredible trombone concert coming up in Arlington Heights. In the spirit of this summery goodwill, I'm going to relieve you all of my nagging editorial voice.

Happy July, see you in August!

Daniel Drake, Editor