This Month in Japan
Kisaragi is the old Japanese name for February, meaning “wear still more clothes” to protect against cold February winters in Japan.
National Foundation Day is February 11 and is the only national holiday this month. This is the date that Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan, was enthroned as documented in the
Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan). Today, there are
many celebrations and events that occur in February. It is a popular month to play in and enjoy the beauty of snow!
- Setsubun (February 3)
- Sapporo Snow Festival (Early February*)
- Ashikawa Winter Festival (Early February*)
- Otaru Snow Light Path Festival (February 5 – 14)
- Tokyo Marathon (February 28)
- Japanese Valentine’s Day (February 14)
- Setsubun Mantoro (February 3)
- Skiing and Snowboarding (Mid December – Mid March)
Announcements
Holidays the Consulate is Closed
The Consulate will be closed the following days:
- February 11 (National Foundation Day)
- February 12 (Lincoln's Birthday)
- February 15 (Washington's Birthday)
Thank you for your understanding and please
visit our website to see other days our offices are closed throughout the year.
Featured Interview: Hassan Awaisi
This month, I interviewed Hassan Awaisi, a recent graduate with a Master of Arts in Religion from the University of Chicago who is now pursuing a pre-medical program at Tufts University in Boston.
Read his full interview about his participation last year in our Japanese Language Speech Contest as well as about his experiences in Osaka as the Osaka Award Winner.
AK: What were your reasons for applying to last year’s Speech Contest at the JIC? How did you prepare for it?
HA:...Each of my five speech drafts incorporated comments and edits from my dedicated Japanese professor. Once I had a final version in hand, I took to committing it to memory. While this seemed like an uphill struggle at first, I began feeling increasingly comfortable the more I practiced. In the month running up to the Contest, I did around 50 full-length run-throughs, reading aloud the text to myself whenever I had a free moment: walking across campus, riding the bus, or even just relaxing in my dorm room. I found it immensely helpful to recite my speech in front of a native speaker—in this case, my mother—who could alert me to appropriate pronunciation, intonation, and pauses.
While driving to the Japanese consulate on the morning of the big day, I flawlessly recited the speech one last time under my breath. But to do the same on a stage in front of so many people is quite another matter! I stumbled twice during my delivery, temporarily forgetting my lines. Thanks to the hours of memorization I had put in earlier, however, I was able to recover my place within a few seconds. I would advise future contestants most of all to remember to breathe and give every syllable its due weight!
AK: Tell us about the Osaka Award. What was your itinerary like and what activities did you participate in? What did you most enjoy from your trip?
HA:...The Osaka Committee graciously arranged a diverse range of programming including guided tours of the Osaka Museum of History, Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Museum of Fine Art, Osaka Castle, and Osaka International Peace Center. I think the Abeno Life Safety Learning Center, which featured a fire-extinguishing lesson and 7.2 Richter-magnitude earthquake simulation, stands out to me the most! I also had the privilege of meeting one-on-one with Public Affairs Officer Keith Lommel at the Kansai American Center to discuss U.S.-Japan relations and daily life as a member of the Foreign Service. My welcoming and down-to-earth Japanese host family took me on weekend excursions to Nara to see the famous Buddha statues, pet the park deer, and attend an evening Okinawan music concert...
read the full interview article.
Japanese Language Speech Contest Application Now Open!
The Consulate is now accepting entries for the 30th Annual Japanese Language Speech Contest to be held at the JIC on
Saturday, March 26! The Contest is a fantastic opportunity for students studying Japanese to put their Japanese skills to the test and to demonstrate their perseverance in perfecting the language to the audience. It is also a great chance to win an assortment of prizes, including a round-trip ticket to Japan.
Interested? Visit our
Speech Contest page to find out more details. The Consulate must receive all applications by
Tuesday, February 16 for consideration.
RSVP on our Facebook Event Page.
"How Far We've Come: How Technology is Changing Anime" Film Screenings and Lecture
On
Saturday, February 20 join the JIC for a special FREE ADMISSION lecture and anime screening event featuring the following short films provided by the Japan Foundation:
A lecture immediately after the films will be led by Professor Elizabeth Lillehoj from DePaul University and will discuss the history and future of anime. The
doors open at 1:45 PM, and the event begins at 2:00 PM. Access the
flyer for more information. Please be sure to
RSVP on our Facebook Event Page.
MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship Application Now Open!
The
Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Japanese Studies Scholarship application is now open. This scholarship offers undergraduate students majoring in Japanese language, Japanese affairs, or Japanese culture an opportunity to deepen their understandings through academic study at one of several universities in Japan.
Please click here for FAQs related to this scholarship.
See the
MEXT Scholarship page for more information on the application and requirements. All applications must be sent by
Friday, February 26th to be considered.
Bibliobattle Callout
The Japan Information Center is looking for presenters to present at the Bilbiobattle event on
Saturday, March 12! The theme this time is
mystery.
If interested, contact Wataru Inoue now!
Bibliobattle is an intellectual entertainment competition, founded by Kyoto University, that is growing in popularity in Japan for its simple rules and easiness to host. All contestants must bring a favorite book and talk about it during a
5 minute presenation. Each presentation is then followed by a
3 minute Q & A session. At the conclusion of the event, the winner will be choosen by the audience based on a vote that determines which book they are inrerested in reading the most.
Information on the event is available here and more details will be published in our March newsletter. You can also watch previous presentations on
our YouTube channel as well as
RSVP on our Facebook Event Page.
Japanese Language Contests
The dates for Japan Bowls and Japanese Language competitions in our jurisdiction are fast approaching! Check each individually for more information:
Kizuna 5
The Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International is proud to present
Kizuna 5: Voices of the Youth, a series of events to remember the victims, celebrate the reconstruction of the Tohoku region and show continued support from the people of Chicago to those affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011. The Kizuna 5 series will span
March 6 - April 1 and consist of the commemoration ceremony, a photo exhibition, a short documentary film screening, a panel discussion and an economic seminar.
Read more about the upcoming series of events from the Osaka Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International website.
Japan Foundation Grants and Other Programs
Every year, the Japan Foundation and other organizations offer several scholarship and grant opportunities that our readers can apply for. The following deadlines for applications are fast approaching this winter and spring:
Cultural Events
View our Monthly Calendar here to see all events coming up this month within our 10-state jurisdiction! If there is a Japan-related event that you would like to have added to the calendar for this month or future months, please contact
Amy.
JIC Library
Highlighted Resources
This month's Highlighted Resources was written by JIC Librarian Ella McCann and features a notable library item we are recommending this month.
Planning a trip to Japan this year? The JIC library has a large selection of travel books that range from specific (
Hiking in Japan, call number 172008), to general (
Lonely Planet Discover Japan, call number 172036)
One particularly fun book that we added late last year is
Cool Japan Guide: Fun in the Land of Manga, Lucky Cats and Ramen by cartoonist Abby Denson. Follow Abby, Matt, Yuuko and Kitty Sweet Tooth (Abby’s cartoon cat alter ego) on an adventure all over Japan! Abby’s drawings introduce readers to the culture, as well as language without being overwhelming...
read the full February 2016 Highlighted Resources article.
Another illustrated book we added last year is
A Year in Japan by Kate T. Williamson. Kate spent one year living in Kyoto, exploring all the old capital has to offer. The book has anecdotes about the Kate’s favorite spots, foods and items (such as hand towels and socks). Kate’s beautiful drawings capture not just her time in Japan, but also the feelings attached to everyday and special events...
read the full February 2016 Highlighted Resources article.
New Additions
New Additions, compiled by Ella McCann, showcases the latest materials we have received in the JIC collection.
A complete list of our February 2016 New Additions
Fun Features
Last Month in Japan
This section of our newsletter asks questions about current events in Japan that happened in the previous month.
Email your answers now for a chance to win a small prize! The first person who answers all of the following correctly will be selected as this month's Japan News Quiz Champion:
- Who was the world’s oldest man that passed away this month at the age of 112?
- What is the name of the newly released McDonald’s Japan french fry product?
- Which Japanese animated film is nominated for the 2015 Oscars?
Congratulations to
Elena Osinskaya and
Matthew Andrews, the Champions from our January issue! Here are the answers:
- Which company has produced the first washable smartphone?
- What is the name of the top dish of 2015 in Japan?
- Who was the award-winning Japanese novelist that passed away at age 85 this month?
Website Highlights
Japantowns
Have you heard of the term "Japantown" in reference to Japanese communities located in large cities outside the island of Japan? Did you also know that there are only three official Japantowns that remain in the United States and all three are in California?
Japantowns were managed by generations of
nikkei Japanese emigrants, with businesses and restaurants located within also typically run by
nikkei families. They often featured Japan-inspired architectual styles, Japanese culture, and the Japanese language in signage and on buildings.
San Francisco,
Los Angeles, and
San Jose are the three cities with Japantowns you can visit to experience Japan closer to home!
Editor's Note
Setsubun is a holiday in Japan that is a type of spiritual cleansing ritual. It is customary for the father of the household to wear an oni (ogre) mask while children or other family members throw soybeans and shout "
Oni wa soto; fuku wa uchi!" ("Ogres out; good fortune in!") at him then slam the door shut. This is seen as a symbolic act of removing evil, misfortune, and bad health from the home. The image to the left is of a
Setsubun celebration at the JIC from February 2014!
*Please continue to pardon the mess in upcoming months while I work on perfecting this newsletter design!
Best,
Amy Klouse
(Editor, IT Coordinator)
Kisaragi is the old Japanese name for February, meaning “wear still more clothes” to protect against cold February winters in Japan.
