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. |
 Kannazuki, the old Japanese name for the month of October, is “the month of no gods.” According to Shinto tradition, all the gods throughout Japan gathered at Izumo Shrine during this month, leaving the rest of the country bereft of deities. In Izumo, though, the month is known locally as Kamiarizuki - "the month of gods."
The only official holiday in October is Taiiku no hi (Sports Day), observed on the second Monday of the month. The holiday was established in 1964 to commemorate the Tokyo Olympics and achieved national holiday status in 1966. It is mainly observed as the occasion of field days for elementary- and middle-school students.
Another interesting observance is Japan's Book Week, October 27 through November 9 (yes, it is actually two weeks long). The fortnight of lectures, exhibitions, book reviews and other promotions comes at a time of year when the shorter days and cooling weather entice people to curl up with a good book - and probably a hot cup of tea. |
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©Imperial Household Agency of Japan
On January 7, 1989, upon the death of Emperor Hirohito (posthumously Emperor Showa), His Majesty Emperor Akihito acceded to the throne as the 125th Emperor of Japan. The Ceremony of Enthronement was held at the Imperial Palace on November 12, 1990. From abroad, representatives of 158 countries, including monarchs, heads of state, and the heads of two international organizations attended the ceremony.
January 7 of this year marked the 20th anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne. The ministries and agencies concerned, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, plan to organize various events to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's Accession to the Throne.
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce activities carried out by the Imperial Family to foster friendly relations with foreign countries.
The Imperial Family, including His Majesty the Emperor, facilitates the fostering of good relations on an international level through visits to other countries and by receiving foreign monarchs and presidents.
They also receive other foreign dignitaries or leading figures from abroad, exchange correspondence and telegrams with foreign heads of state, dispatch representatives to foreign countries on the occasion of celebration or sorrow, and receive diplomatic missions residing in Japan. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' index of information about the Emperor.
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Hey. HEY! JET Applicants! Write this down on your hands (both of them): Applications for the 2010 JET Program must be received at the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. no later than 5:30pm EST on Tuesday, Nov. 24th 2009. That means everything: your references, your essays, your medical self-assesment, the application itself, your transcript(s), etc., etc. Here's a checklist!
Also, when you mail the whole thing, stamp the envelope. With enough postage! Address it correctly. Here is the address!
JET Program
Embassy of Japan
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Also, "received by," just to be clear, means "in the hands of the embassy." Not postmarked, I'm sorry to say. Best of luck!
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The Japan Foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes international cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. The Foundation operates on the income from an endowment and subsidies contributed by the Japanese government and private circles (approximately ¥17.1 billion). The Japan Foundation sponsors grant programs related to Arts and Cultural Exchange, Japanese-Language Education, and Japanese Studies. The Foundation’s programs are open to United States applicants in the 2010 Japanese fiscal year (April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011). So if you'd like to undertake a project in one of the above fields, click to the Japan Foundation's website for more information on applying and eligibility!
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| Following are some of the upcoming events taking place in our 10-state jurisdiction. For a complete listing of all events known to the JIC, see the Calendar of Events on our website. |
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The Universtiy of Ilinois at Urbana-Champaign's venerable Japan House will be having an Open House on Saturday, November 7th. It is a great opportunity to explore the facility, including its well-kept garden, pristine displays of ikebana, and traditional tatami rooms. Additionally, at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM on the day of the Open House, Mr. Hajime Sugawara and Mr. Masahiro Imafuji of the Central Indiana Kendo Club will be giving expert demonstrations of the traditional martial art of kendo.
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Czech Republic-residing Japanese artist Nori Sawa has dedicated his life to the mastery of puppetry, distilling his disparate influences (Japanese bunraku, Czech culture, Shakespearean drama) into a unique and dynamic stage show. Using his own handmade puppets, Mr. Sawa will be performing at the University of Chicago on the afternoon of November 8th. Following the performance, he will lead a workshop on the construction and performance of shadow puppets, open to children of all ages.
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 As we mentioned last month, now's the time for Indiana and Illinois residents to begin preparing for their respective bonenkai! Interested Indiana residents, in particular, must RSVP for the Japan America Society of Indiana's event by this Friday, November 6th.
Meanwhile, the Japan America Society of St. Louis will be having its Annual Dinner on November 12th at Sansui Restaurant.
Finally, in Illinois, The Japan America Society of Chicago's 23rd Annual Holiday Fundraiser and Bonenkai is to be held on December 10th. With over 250 attendees each year, the event is a celebration of the goodwill and close friendship between the Society's Japanese and American members.
More details can be found on the websites of the JASI and the JASC, respectively.
November 11
Patrons' Reception from 5:30 PM
General Reception from 6:30 PM
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Japan America Society of Indiana's Annual Dinner: "Ganbaranakucha!"
Featuring Keynote Speaker John Engler, former Governor of Michigan, with additional remarks from Rick Schostek of Honda and our very own Consul General George Hisaeda. This will be followed by a dance performance from New York's Yosakoi Dance Project. |
Japan America Society of Indiana |
November 12
6:00 PM |
Japan America Society of St. Louis Annual Dinner
This year's guest speaker will be Mr. Gen Horiuchi, the artistic director of the St. Louis Ballet. Following his remarks will be a dinner at Sansui Restaurant in Glendale, Missouri. |
Japan America Society of St. Louis |
December 10
5:30-9:30 PM |
Japan America Society of Chicago's 23rd Annual Holiday Fundraiser and Bonenkai
The JASC's Annual Dinner is always exciting as it is held on the 80th Floor of the Aon Center. RSVP by December 4th (November 20th for Corporate Groups) to reserve a space! |
Japan America Society of Chicago |
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As the New Year season approaches, the Japan Post shifts into overdrive. Much like Americans and their annual flurry of holiday cards, from now until January 1st, Japanese people the world over will be sending millions of New Year's Cards (or nengajo) to their friends and family. In the spirit of that tradition, the Japan America Society of Chicago is offering a chance to make your own Japanese Holiday cards, with the assistance of a certified calligraphy instructor. So bring $20 and an open mind for a great chance to learn about the Japanese alphabet and the art of calligraphy!
Friday, November 13 Session 1: 2:00-4:00 PM Session 2: 6:00-8:00 PM |
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Japan America Society of Chicago
20 N. Clark Street, Suite 750
Chicago, IL 60602
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$15 for Society members, $20 for non-members; admission covers materials and supplies.
Japan America Society of Chicago
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All fans of Japanese martial arts and athletics should mark November 14th in their calendars: the Midwest Kendo Federation will be holding an all-day tournament in Niles, featuring some of the best kendo players in the Midwest. Even those unfamiliar with the sport should consider the trek; if you've never seen a kendo match, you're missing a unique experience.
Saturday, November 14, 7:00 AM-8:00 PM |
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Feldman Gym
Golf Main Park District
8800 Kathy Lane
Niles, IL 60714
(Map) |
Midwest Kendo Federation |
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In early December, the always-interesting Gene Siskel Film Center will be bringing us an in-depth program of contemporary and cutting edge film, video, and digital work from Japan. Featuring work by artists such as Tomonari Nishikawa, Wada Atsushi, Maya Yonesho, Hiroshi Kondo, and Stom Sogo, it is a unique opportunity to see some of the latest trends in Japanese video art and cinema.
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The Japanese American Service Committee's annual winter festival is back again this December! Come for a chance to see handmade, Japanese crafts of every variety; stay warm by eating a variety of Japanese cuisine; and entertain your kids with an extensive program of Japanese performing arts.
Saturday, December 5th, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM |
Courtesy of Japanese American Service Committee
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Japanese American Service Committee
4427 N. Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640
(Map) |
Free!
This year's event info is not up yet, but go here for details about the 2008 Holiday Delight. The events and crafts are much the same! |
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The 2009 Japan Cultural Day just happens to also be the Japan America Society of Iowa's 20th Anniversary, so come prepared for six hours of exciting demonstrations, food, and fun. This year's theme is chanoyu (tea ceremony), so just after lunch time there will be a demonstration that's sure to ease you into the serene yet highly nuanced world of Japanese tea. There will also be exhibits of bonsai, ikebana, kimonos, and more all day. Be sure, too, to enter the anime poster contest!
Saturday, December 12, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM |
Photo Courtesy of: Elvin McDonald
Des Moines Botanical Center
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Des Moines Botanical Center
909 Robert Ray Drive
Des Moines, IA 50316
(Map) (Directions) |
Event Information |
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Monthly Economic Report (October, 2009)
http://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai3/getsurei-e/2009oct.html |
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Statement of G8 Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan Presidential Elections
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2009/g8state0910.html
Courtesy Call on Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/10/1196770_1144.html
Courtesy Call on Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Dr. William J. Perry, Former United States Secretary of Defense
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2009/10/1196754_1144.html
Meeting Between Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada and Secretary of Defense of the United States Robert Gates
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/security/meet0910.html
Visit to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2009/10/1196571_1168.html
Comment by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on the Award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Mr. Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/comment0910.html
Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 8 October 2009 - Announcement of Visit to Japan by US President Barack Obama
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2009/10/1008.html
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A handy report which gives up-to-the-minute background information with comments of major Japanese newspapers, in plain and concise form, on news items on the Japanese economy, politics, diplomatic activities, society, business, culture, and other matters of interest. Japan Brief is expanding its target readership and is now available in nine languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, and Arabic.
Prime Minister Hatoyama Delivers 1st Diet Speech(2009-10-29)
Prime Minister Hatoyama Explains East Asian Community Concept at ASEAN Meetings(2009-10-27)
US President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize(2009-10-16)
Leaders of Japan, China, and ROK Hold Talks in Beijing (2009-10-14)
Rio de Janeiro to Host 2016 Olympic Games(2009-10-08)
For more backnumbers, please visit the following FPCJ website:
http://fpcj.jp/modules/news8/index.php?storytopic=1
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Here are three questions regarding news stories about Japan in October. 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!
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How have tailors with the Haruyama Trading Company joined the fight against H1N1?
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How is the 7-patty Whopper at Japanese Burger King opening a whole new window onto dining?
- What kind of change has sushi chef Ken Kawasumi brought to his culinary repertoire?
To submit your answers by email, click here: jic@japancc.org and write "Japan News Quiz" in the subject line.
Answers from the September Quiz:
Like an ascendent Grover Cleveland in 1893, Dick Stump returns this month to quiet all doubters to his reign and pretenders to his throne. Congratulations, Dick, it's good to have you back.
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What is the name of the nano-blog in Japan which limits its users to 14 characters, instead of Twitter’s 140? Chuitter
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Where was a second batch of Japanese Crested Ibises released in hopes of fostering breeding of the endangered birds? Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture
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Why might married couples in Japan need to learn what a hyphen is, if a new revision to the country's Civil Code is approved? The Civil Code may be revised to allow hyphenated last names.
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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.
Upcoming visits:
- November 20: At the Japan Information Center
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 Kanji Practice
With the Japanese Language Proficiency Test fast approaching (December 6th! It's too late to register, but you could use the practice! We all could), it's time to begin studying in earnest. But unless you're still enrolled in school, it's really hard to find good teaching for free. Which is where Dartmouth University's Kanji Practice site comes in.
With an index of 300 kanji, each entry on the site provides on- and kun-yomi readings for the individual kanji, sample Japanese sentences for each reading, audio clips (!) for pronunciation, and a video (!!) for stroke order. How much more comprehensive can you get? Well, you could have more than 300 kanji, but this seems to be a project underway, and for anyone taking Levels 4 or 3 of the JLPT, it's a great place to start learning kanji.
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As 2009 slowly trundles to a close, Japanese people everywhere prepare themselves for the annual wave of bonenkai, or end-of-year parties. Bonenkai are traditionally a time for Japanese workers and their indulgent offices to party away the stress of a long year now behind them. For one glamorous, boozy, and too-brief night the inhibitions fall and boss, employee, and intern alike mingle and sing and occasionally air grievances, with the understanding that all will be forgiven come 2010.
This is not, of course, a hard-and-fast cultural rule. Certain gripes and inequities will remain buried, not everyone attends, and the parties can get quickly expensive. But as an ideal, the Japanese year-end office spirit-cleansing sure is nice.
So throw your own! Take your boss and co-workers out, liquor them up, and stay out all night alternately berating each other and singing karaoke. You'll never have a better chance to bellow Journey and Utada Hikaru to your HR director.
Daniel Drake, Editor |
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Kannazuki, the old Japanese name for the month of October, is “the month of no gods.” According to Shinto tradition, all the gods throughout Japan gathered at Izumo Shrine during this month, leaving the rest of the country bereft of deities. In Izumo, though, the month is known locally as Kamiarizuki - "the month of gods." 
