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.

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This fall, the Japan Information Center at the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago is proud to host a weekly series of Japanese films that serve to expand our understanding of the Great East Japan Earthquake, as well as the Tohoku area it devastated. On Wednesday, October 3rd, come to the JIC at 6:30 PM for a showing of the powerful documentary, Can You See Our Lights, which tells the story of the people of the town Rikuzen-Takada in Tohoku as they try and stage their annual summer festival in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Then, October 10 will bring the film Eclair, which follows a young boy during and after World War 2, as small kindnesses from strangers and citizens bring him peace in the wake of the terrifying realities of war. Both screenings are free.

Date	Wednesday, October 3, 6:30 PM: Can You See Our Lights Wednesday, October 10, 6:30 PM: Eclair	(c) NHK
Place	Japan Information Center 737 N Michigan Avenue #1000 Chicago, IL 60611 (Map)
Info	Free! Visit this flier for more information on the screening [PDF]

The 15th Annual Greater Kansas City Japan Festival, an extravaganza of Japanese art, music, dance, food, performance, pop culture, and more, kicks off at ten in the morning on Saturday, October 6th. Held at Johnson County Community College's Carlsen Center in Overland Park, Kansas, this year promises a group of professional sumo wrestlers who will be holding demonstrations all day. In addition, there will be taiko performances by Denver Taiko, candy from professional candy artist Miyuki Sugimori, and music by J-Pop sensation Aya Uchida!

Date	Saturday, October 6, 10:00 AM - 8:30 PM	Photograph by Jamie Kanki
Place	The Carlsen Center Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park, Kansas, 66210 (Map and Directions)
Info	Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and children, and free for children under 5. Greater Kansas City Japan Festival Website

In 2005, the city of Shizuoka built a replica of the gate to Sunpu Castle, famed shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu's former home in Shizuoka, in Omaha's Lauritzen Gardens. In honor of their sister city's great generosity, every year since the gift, the Omaha Sister Cities Association and the Lauritzen Gardens have held the Japanese Ambience festival at the gardens.

This year, for the 7th Annual Japanese Ambience, entertainment will include performances by the Kokyo Taiko drum group from Lincoln, Nebraska (pictured at right in front of the Sunpu Gate), as well as Japanese martial arts displays, dancers, food, and more. Money raised at the event will also go towards work on the Japanese garden currently being installed at Lauritzen Gardens.

Date	Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Place	Lauritzen Gardens – Omaha’s Botanical Gardens 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, NE 68108 (Map and Directions)
Info	Attendees will have to pay admission to the gardens Lauritzen Gardens Website Omaha Sister Cities Website

On October 6, now that the votes have been tallied and the photographs printed and framed, the Chicago Chapter of the JET Alumni Association will be holding an exhibit and silent auction of the top images from the first annual Chicago JETAA photo contest. Hundreds of beautiful pictures of Japan were submitted, so come to Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood to see what you, the online voting public, deemed your favorites. And if one of your favorites was selected to be on display, then you should think about bidding on it in the silent auction! All proceeds from the auction, as well as from the exhibition reception (food and drinks!) will go to the Soma City Tsunami Orphan Scholarship Fund.

Date	Saturday, October 6, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Place	Studio 24 2418 W. North Ave, 2nd floor Chicago, IL 60647 (Map)
Info	Go here for more info: JETAA Chicago

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 2013 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 Saturday, October 20! All are welcome! Breathe in the fall air!

Date	Saturday, October 16, 1:30 to 5:00 PM, Registration from 12:30 PM
Place	Japan Information Center 737 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1000 Chicago, Illinois 60611 (Map)
Info	Free! If you get a chance, read through this page about JET and the Chicago application process so that you're a little prepared. Further inquiries may be directed to Austin Gilkeson at jic@japancc.org

Join us in welcoming to the Midwest three new cultural ambassadors from Japan! Ms. Yoriko Hasui and Ms. Erika Norikami will be travelling to Urbana, Illinois and Lawrence, Kansas, respectively, as Japan Outreach Initiative Coordinators, while Ms. Katsura Shimano will journey to Bloomington, Minnesota as a teacher with the Japanese Language Education Assistants Program.

The Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) came out of a partnership between the Japan Foundation's Center for Global Partnership and the Laurasian Institution. JOI's goals are to promote American understanding of and interest in Japan and to cultivate leaders in grassroots exchange between Japan and the United States. This is carried out mainly with the help of the JOI Coordinators, Japanese citizens selected by the program to live in the US for an extended period of time. While here, they work with cultural, educational, and other institutions to foster grassroots exchange and understanding of Japan. They give presentations on Japanese language and culture, opening dialogue with people and communities that have limited exposure to Japan and Japanese people.

The Japanese Language Education Assistants Program (J-LEAP), also a cooperative initiative between the Japan Foundation and The Laurasian Institution, focuses specifically on Japanese language education. J-LEAP teachers are selected in Japan and sent to schools in the United States to strengthen language programs, where they will act as assistant language teachers.

If you see any of the new coordinators or teachers in your town, please give them a friendly wave! Also, Ms. Hasui and Ms. Norikami, as JOI Coordinators, are always happy to give Japan-related presentations. Contact them if you'd like to have them help out at your school, community center, or otherwise interested institution!

Ms. Yoriko Hasui University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies
http://www.eaps.illinois.edu/ Email: lianjing90@hotmail.com Tel: 217-418-5468
Ms. Erika Norikami University of Kansas, Center for East Asian Studies
http://www.ceas.ku.edu/about/staff.shtml Email: enorikami@ku.edu Tel: 785-864-1176
Go here for more information about the Japan Outreach Initiative

You only have a few more days to register for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in the United States. People in the Midwest are encouraged to take the test in either Chicago or Ann Arbor, Michigan. Click below for details. Here's the link! http://www.jflalc.org/jlpt.html

• October 3: The Twilight Samurai Will Play at Fort Wayne, Indiana's Cinema Center
• Opening October 4: Awash in Color: French and Japanese Prints at the University of Chicago
• October 4: Soga Shohaku, The Wanderer of Heian: A Lecture at Washington University at St. Louis
• Opening October 5: Awakened Spirit: Calligraphy and Dolls of Japan in Ottawa, Kansas
• October 5-7: Japan Study 50th Anniversary Conference at Earlham College
• October 7: Denver Taiko and Three Trails Taiko Drummers in Lawrence, Kansas
• October 11: Yasujiro Ozu's Film An Inn in Tokyo to Screen at Indiana University
• October 11, 12, 18, 19: Choreographer Ayako Kato Presents Her Piece Existencia Esencia in Chicago
• October 11-25: Four Japanese Films Showing at the Chicago International Film Festival
• October 12-November 9: Kenji Misumi Film Series at University of Wisconsin's Cinematheque
• October 14: Fujima Ryu's Annual Dance Recital in Chicago
• October 23: Shunsuke Kimura Live at the University of Chicago
• October 27: Open House at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Japan House

Monthly Economic Report (September, 2012)
http://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai3/getsurei-e/2012september.html

The Basic View on the Sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/senkaku/senkaku.html

ADDRESS BY H.E. MR. YOSHIHIKO NODA, PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN AT THE SIXTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/un/assembly2012/67_address_pm_en.html

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 20 September 2012 – Including Agreement between Japan and the United States on the new aircraft in Japan (MV-22)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2012/9/0920_01.html

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba, 19 September 2012 – Including The Osprey
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm_press/2012/9/0919_01.html

Meeting between Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Leon Panetta, U.S. Secretary of Defense (Overview)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/meeting1209_fm.html

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba, 17 September 2012 – Including Meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm_press/2012/9/0917_01.html

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba, 13 September 2012 – Including Meeting with U.S. Ambassador John Roos
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm_press/2012/9/0913_01.html

Statement by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan on the attacks on the U.S. diplomatic facility in Libya
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2012/9/0912_01.html

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba, 12 September 2012 – Including Energy Policy and The Osprey
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm_press/2012/9/0912_01.html

Press Conference by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba, 11 September 2012 – Including Dispatch of the Osprey to Japan
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm_press/2012/9/0911_01.html

Press Conference by the Deputy Press Secretary, 6 September 2012 – Including Japan-US Aid Coordination in the Pacific Region
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/2012/9/0906_01.html

Japan-U.S. Aid Coordination in the Pacific Island Countries
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2012/9/0901_01.html

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.

With the school year starting back up, now is a perfect time to learn about Japanese and American history! Here are some of the excellent history books highlighted at the Japan Information Center's Library.

Japanese Americans: The Formation and Transformation of an Ethnic Group by Paul Spickard
Call #320019

This riveting book outlines the history of Japanese Americans since 1855 up until the modern day. Japanese in the United States have a rich history. Settling mostly in the West, many became skilled entrepreneurs. Japanese immigrants to America, however, were also victimized by discrimination. Japanese Americans discusses the hardships Japanese immigrants faced, but also shows the fascinating positive impact that Japanese culture has had on American society. Strengthen your understanding of the Japanese-American relationship with this informative and fascinating book.

The Issei: The World of the First Generation Japanese Immigrants 1885-1924 by Yuji Ichioka
Call #320020

The Issei is an engaging read that highlights early Japanese immigration to the United States and the persecution Japanese immigrants faced when they arrived. The book explains discriminatory immigration laws specific to the Japanese, and also highlights Japanese perseverance through early hardships. The Issei is sure to merit any history buff’s interest, especially if you are looking for some dark, obscure, but truly fascinating history!

Globalization of Japan: Japanese Sakoku Mentality and U.S. Efforts to Open Japan by Mayumi Itoh
Call #412021

Globalization of Japan is abundant with intriguing information about what led 18th Century Japanese leaders to adopt a policy, Sakoku, that made entering Japan illegal for foreigners (except the Dutch near Nagasaki), and made leaving Japan for its own citizens illegal. This book explains how and why this policy came into being, explains the role of the United States in opening Japan after 200 years of Sakoku, and then explains the changes in Japan after being opened to the world in the 1800s. This book is a wealth of information still relevant to the study of Japanese and American relations. Do not miss out on this informative piece.

This month’s What's New in the Library article was written by JIC intern Alexander Hoare. Thanks, Alexander!

I'm going to try again with this month's essay, which went unanswered last month! Write us a 250-word essay about your favorite Japan-related experience. The winner will have their essay published in next month's Webletter, on our Facebook page, and will receive a small bit of Japanese swag!

About Satsumaimo

As the weather dips below 60 degrees fahrenheit, many Americans probably get excited and nostalgic about pumpkin-flavored everything. But for Japanese people, it is a different fibrous vegetable that holds onto their hearts. This month's link is to a Japan Times article all about satsumaimo, the Japanese sweet potato often sold piping hot off the back of a truck by ishi-yakiimo-ya. These roasted potato sellers tool around neighborhoods, blowing a high-pitched whistle and selling delicious, delicious sweet potatoes. Click through to learn more, and also for a few great recipes!

October is my favorite month, bar none, and despite not celebrating Halloween, Japan, to my memory, really does October right. The changing leaves rival their spring sakura for beauty, and the roasted potato sellers (mentioned above) are a weird and wonderful and delicious feature you won't see anywhere else in the world. If I could recommend visiting Japan in any month, it would be October. Controversial opinion!

Daniel Drake, Editor