Nagatsuki is the old Japanese name for the month of September. It is a shortened form of Yonagazuki, which means "long-night month." Why the long nights? A popular activity in Yonagazuki is tsukimi, or moon viewing, in which people set up decorations of dumplings and gaze for hours at the harvest moon.

There are 2 national holidays in Nagatsuki. Keiro no hi, or Respect for the Aged Day, is observed on the 3rd Monday of the month. A relatively recent holiday - only official since 1966 - Keiro no hi has few particular customs associated with it. Though, cultural programs and other events spotlighting the elderly are often held. The other official holiday this month is Autumnal Equinox Day. In addition to observing the change of the seasons, Japanese often visit the graves of ancestors, cleaning them and leaving flowers and food.

The 45th Annual Chicago International Film Festival opens Thursday, October 8th, and will run until the 22nd. This year, it will feature a veritable cornucopia (well, three) of Japanese-language feature films, including Hirokazu Kore-eda's most recent opus, "Air Doll," which will be showing in competition. Something like Pinocchio for the mid-life crisis set, "Air Doll" tells the story of a blow-up doll come to life, and the effect this has on her "owner," Hideo.

Showing out of competition are two recent popular successes from Japan, "Dear Doctor" and "Kanikosen." "Dear Doctor" chronicles the unique experiences of a country doctor travelling from house to house in rural Japan, until certain secrets about his past come to light, making the villagers reconsider everything they thought they knew about him.

"Kanikosen," meanwhile, is a stylish take on a popular 1929 novel that tells the story of a mutiny on a crab cannery ship after its workers are pushed too far for too long. The director, Sabu, lives up to his reputation for madcap action, but this time leavens it with a darkly gothic take on the industrial setting. Exciting!

Autumn brings the Japan America Society of Minnesota Mondale Award and Scholarship Dinner, which this year will be held on October 10th. This annual gala event is thrown to strengthen the ties between Minnesota and Japan, as embodied by Walter Mondale, the former Minnesota Senator, United States Vice-President, and Ambassador to Japan.

In honor of Mr. Mondale's life's work, the society annually fetes an individual who has made "outstanding contributions to the building of understanding, cooperation and respect between the people of Japan and Minnesota" with the Mondale Award. Additionally, two or three Mondale Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate Minnesotans who demonstrate a commitment to studying Japan. This year's keynote speaker will be the current senior senator from Minnesota, Amy Klobuchar.

Proceeds from the dinner go to the Mondale Scholarship Fund, helping the society to continue to encourage Japanese studies in the North Star State.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET Program), the Japanese government-sponsored annual opportunity for English speakers to teach in Japan, is gearing up for its 2010 iteration. But what is it? How do I apply? What of health insurance and salary? Am I qualified? What if I already did it more than five years ago? Do I need a haircut? Where will I get these questions answered?

Ask no more, Rhetorical Device! These questions and more will be addressed at the Japan Information Center's JET Informational Session to be held on the afternoon of this coming Halloween! All are welcome! Please don't wear a costume!

As the end of the year approaches, Japan-America Societies and groups and clubs across the Midwest prepare for their annual bonenkai (literally "forget the year gathering"), or end-of-year parties. As a service to our readers (get your tickets early!!), we are issuing early alerts to two of the largest bonenkai in the Midwest. The Japan America Society of Indiana's Annual Dinner, "Ganbaranakucha!," will be on November 11th, featuring the Honorable John Engler, former governor of Michigan, as its keynote speaker, with additional remarks from Honda Manufacturing of Indiana's Rick Schostek.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, The Japan America Society of Chicago's 23rd Annual Holiday Fundraiser and Bonenkai is to be held on December 10th, featuring its always exciting silent auction.

More details can be found on the websites of the JASI and the JASC, respectively.

If you're wondering about what kind of opportunities and fame the aforementioned JET Program can afford you, look no further than JET Alumnus and Chicago resident Xian Barrett. Mr. Barrett was recently awarded a Teaching Ambassador Fellowship from the Department of Education. As one of ten "Classroom Fellows," Barrett will work part-time with the DOE to participate in discussions about education in the United States, "learn about national education policy and to contribute [his] expertise to those discussions."

Since his time on the JET Program, Xian has been teaching Japanese Language and Culture at Percy L. Julian High School in Chicago. Asked what he hopes to take away from his Fellowship, Barrett said that he hopes to use the position as a "platform to continue the good work that JET has enabled me to start at Julian High School."

Each year, the DOE selects 13 Fellows from over 1400 applicants, 3 of whom are Washington Fellows, working full-time with the Department, and 10 of whom, like Barrett, are Classroom Fellows, who split their time between Washington and their classrooms. More information about the program can be found on the Department's website.

On Friday, October 2nd, the International Olympic Committee announced that Rio de Janeiro will be hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. We would like to offer our congratulations to Rio on their selection. Everyone at the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago sincerely hopes that the 2016 games will be a great success.

While we regret that neither Tokyo nor Chicago was chosen as the site for the 2016 Olympics, we are very pleased that both cities enjoyed a friendly competition that only deepened the friendship between Japan and the United States.

An English translation of Prime Minister Hatoyama's remarks on the decision, including his congratulations to the citizens of Rio de Janeiro, can be found here.

The Fujima Ryu dance style dates from the early 1700s, and grew up alongside kabuki. Today it finds one of its most dedicated and attentive practitioners in the person of Shunojo Fujima, director of the Fujima Ryu of Chicago troupe, who will be holding their 33rd annual dance recital on October 7th. As a classical form of Japanese dance, Fujima Ryu is highly attuned to gesture and subtle movement, and offers a beautiful sight to audiences from around the world.

The Iowa Bonsai Association's Fall Bonsai Show is back this October 10-11 at the Reiman Garden Center at Iowa State University. Since 1979, a dedicated group of Iowa Bonsai enthusiasts have been tending, growing, and displaying these unique trees. The Fall show is an excellent chance to see this beautiful horticultural art up close.

Twice a year, the Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois, offer visitors a chance to observe a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony, held right in the heart of their gorgeous grounds. The demonstration will be followed by a look at ikebana, or flower arranging.

If you've never witnessed the delicate refinement of a tea ceremony, this is a wonderful opportunity. But act fast! The afternoon sessions are sold out, and space is limited for the morning ones.

A warm, relaxing escape from this brisk October may be had at Central United Methodist Church this October 18th, as the New Chicago Japanese American Association and the Chicago Futabakai Japanese School together present their Autumn Concert. Featuring Ms. Fumi Nishikiori-Nakayama, pianist and harpsichordist, and Ms. Tokiko Takeuchi, violinist, it will be an extraordinarily pleasant afternoon!

Since 1993, the Yamato Drums troupe has been pounding its way across the world, bringing the many textures and rhythms of Japanese taiko drums to more than a million people. Come to Ball State University for a chance to witness the sheer physical spectacle of playing these enormous drums, as well as feel the deep bass rhythms.

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

Address by H.E. Dr. Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan, at the Sixty-Fourth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/assembly2009/pm0924-2.html

Leaders' Statement The Pittsburgh Summit September 24 – 25 2009
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/g20_summit/2009-2/statement.pdf

Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to Attend the Trilateral Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Japan, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/event/2009/9/1195958_1166.html

Statement by H.E. Mr. Yukio Hatoyama, Prime Minister of Japan, at the UN Security Council Summit on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/assembly2009/pm0924-1.html

Statement by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the United Nations Summit on Climate Change
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/assembly2009/pm0922.html

Here are three questions regarding news stories about Japan in September. 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 is the name of the nano-blog in Japan which limits its users to 14 characters, instead of Twitter’s 140?

2. Where was a second batch of Japanese Crested Ibises released in hopes of fostering breeding of the endangered birds?

3. 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?
   
   
   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:
It looks like the intrepid Irene Schechter has put an end to Dick Stump's well-earned lock on the news quiz. Congratulations, Mrs. Schechter, the Nancy Zerg of the e-Japan Journal's News Quiz!

1. Why might the Usagi-to cafe in Nagoya be an inappropriate destination for a leporophobe? The cafe lets patrons play with its many, many pet rabbits.

2. How is the Tsukuba University's Cyberdyne Corporation making a HAL robot humanity can love Cyberdyne and HAL are building a real life Iron man suit to help paralyzed humans.

3. Why does Hiroshi and Kyoko Yamao's facility with タンゴ(tango) have nothing to do with their vocabulary prowess? The Japanese couple Hiroshi and Kyoko Yamao win the Argentinean tango prize at the 7th Tango Dance Championship in Buenos Aires on August 29.

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.

• October 16: At the Japan Information Center
• October 22: At the Japan Information Center

Americurry

As a brisk fall blusters its way into Chicago, I remember something that I very much miss about Japan. Sure, stew and soup are alright when you're cold, and I guess coffee and tea are something. But seriously, wouldn't a Japanese curry really hit the spot right about now? But where to find one in America...

Why, just check out Americurry! Admittedly, it's a little worthless for the Midwest right now, as the site's proprietors have only visited 3 cities in the US so far, but their mission continues, so they're bound to find something out here. In fact, if you, our intrepid readers, were to recommend a Midwestern spot to the site's editors, they might venture out to one of our beautiful states and put us on their map. Plus, it's a pretty website!

So here we stand on the precipice of October. The festival season is over, and the film festival season begins. After Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Tokyo Sonata was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at last year's Chicago International Film Festival, three Japanese movies are showing this year, including Hirokazu Kore-eda's Air Doll, which is showing in competition. So all you cinephiles should trek into the city to see an excellent slate of films this chilly, chilly, chilly October.

But I remain ever positive about the weather. Perhaps a warm November?

Daniel Drake, Editor