|
Kannazuki, the old name for the month of October, is often translated as "month of no gods." It is said that in October, all of the gods throughout Japan gather at Izumo Shrine and forgo their responsibilities for the entire month. Conversely, in the town of Izumo where the shrine is located, the month is known locally as Kamiarizuki, or "the month of gods."
In Japan, the second Monday of October is Taiiku no hi (Health and Sports Day). Typically, schools and some businesses host field days to encourage both physical and mental health. Popular activities include track and field events and tug of war.
|
|
Featured Interview: U.S. Shidokan Karate
|
|
|
|
Yasunori Matsumoto training a student at US Shidokan karate
|
|
Every month, I interview a person who is active with Japan-related activities and introduce them in our newsletter. This is so our readers can learn more about the interesting people and groups within our community. I interviewed Yasunori Matsumoto and his wife Etsuko who own and operate U.S. Shidokan Karate in Arlington Heights, a martial arts center that has been running for 22 years. [Read the full interview]
AK: When did you start learning karate?
YM: When I was little I started learning sumo and judo initially as well as kendo in Japan. In high school I started judo and karate training together in the school club. After that, I started going to a karate school outside of the club. I decided soon after college that I wanted to be a professional athlete. I went to the Shidokan headquarters which used to be called Kyokushinkai.
With more training, I went on to compete and became an All Japan Full-Contact Karate Champion in 1984, 1985 and 1986 as well as a Two-time "No Holds Barred" Champion in 1986. Afterwards I was an instructor for Shidokan in Japan for maybe about 5 or 6 years.
AK: How did you both decide to open a karate dojo in Arlington Heights?
YM: I used to teach in Chicago, but decided to leave to open my own business here close to home. My partner in Chicago was a great guy but we were ready to start our own dojo and students told us they would come to support us. We decided to give it a try. It used to be a "ghost-town" around here but now it is very developed.
AK: Can you tell us a little about your training methods? ("Teach to Learn," Assistant Instructor, The Best Kata Club, Family Seminar) What would you like to convey to students through those methods?
YM & EM: We have two kids that grew up here. They did cheerleading, tennis, swimming...pretty much everything. We observed the coaches and trainers for a long time and we think the American style tends to take care of the gifted kids only. They want to go to state and be number one or be number one in this country or become Olympic champions. Just a minority of people can achieve this and the rest of the people are just normal while others need more attention. We want to help everyone attain their goals regardless of if they are the gifted, the normal kids or the ones who need more attention. We want everyone to be a black belt and that is our number one thing. That is why we have these programs...
Our systems were created to develop student’s confidence, responsibility and respect.
[Read the full interview]
|
|
Japan Information Center [TEMPORARY CLOSURE]
|
|
The Japan Information Center (JIC) will be closed from September 26 to November 30, 2016 due to interior construction. The library will be closed during the same period. Please contact us at jic@cg.mofa.go.jp if you have any questions.
Office Hours will be closed for the JIC as well as the other consulate offices on October 10 in observance of Columbus Day.
|
|
**2017 JET Applications OPEN until November 18**
|
|
Are you a U.S. citizen and a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the upcoming year? Have you considered applying to the JET Program? We hope so!
The JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Program is a government sponsored program that promotes internationalization and language education at the grassroots level. JETs participate in the program in one of two ways: as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), who team-up with Japanese colleagues to teach English in primary or secondary schools or as Coordinators of International Relations (CIRs), who perform various international and inter-cultural related functions in local government offices. CIRs must be fully proficient in the Japanese language.
Please visit the JET Program website to take the first steps toward becoming a JET! The deadline is 5:00PM EST Friday, November 18, 2016. Please note that this application should be sent to the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Consulates WILL NOT accept applications.
|
|
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bomb Exhibition at Japanese Cultural Center Chicago
|
|
|
The Japanese Culture Center's Hiroshima-Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Exhibition will be open to the public from October 1 - 29, 2016. Opening and closing ceremonies are at capacity at this time, but names are being collected for a wait list.
The exhibition features objects on loan from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum including artifacts from those affected by the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, paper cranes folded by Sadako Sasaki nearly 60 years ago as well as cranes folded by President Barack Obama this past May during his visit to Hiroshima. The exhibit will also include comprehensive information on the history, construction, and effects of the atomic bomb.
|
|
Greater Kansas City Japan Festival
|
|
The Greater Kansas City Japan Festival will be on Saturday, October 1 from 10 AM - 7 PM. It is a fun, family-friendly event for those new to Japanese culture and for enthusiasts alike. Enjoy live music, martial arts and tea ceremony demonstrations, delicious Japanese food and more!
Please visit the website to see a detailed schedule of events and be sure to purchase discounted tickets in advance.
|
|
Japanese Ambience Festival
|
|
Celebrate and experience Japanese culture on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2 from 9 AM - 5 PM at the beautiful Lauritzen Gardens!
Try Japanese calligraphy, koinobori, origami, chop sticks or play traditional Japanese games. Paid activities will help fund the construction of phases II and III of the future Japanese garden at Lauritzen Gardens.
Please visit the event website to view a detailed schedule of activities.
|
|
Secretary Norman Mineta Lectures at Northwestern University
|
|
|
|
The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta
|
|
Norman Y. Mineta is an American politician in the Democratic Party. He most recently served in President George W. Bush's Cabinet as the United States Secretary of Transportation, the only Democratic Cabinet Secretary in the Bush administration. Mineta was the longest-serving Secretary of Transportation after holding the position for more than five years. He currently is the Vice Chairman of L&L Energy, Inc.
Northwestern University will host Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to speak on the following topics:
- Tuesday, October 4 from 4:00 - 6:30 PM
- "The Relevance of the Japanese American National Museum to the Chicago Nikkei Community"
- Harris Hall (1881 Sheridan Road)
- Wednesday, October 5, reception 3:00 - 3:45 PM, lecture 4:00 - 5:00 PM
- "The Admiral Weber Lecture presented by Secretary Norman Y. Mineta on National Security and Civil Rights"
- Forum of the McCormick Tribune Center (1870 Campus Drive)
|
|
52nd Chicago International Film Festival
|
|
The Chicago International Film Festival is North America’s oldest competitive film festival. Filmmaker and graphic artist Michael Kutza founded Cinema/Chicago in 1964 to provide an alternative to the commercial Hollywood movies that dominated the city’s theaters.
Annually, the festival showcases the best in international cinema. The two films that were selected from Japan this year are:
- After the Storm
- (Showtimes Wednesday, October 19 & Thursday, October 20)
- SYNOPSIS: Ryota is a deadbeat private detective and struggling novelist who would grift his mother for a quick buck (and does). But when he’s forced to wait out a typhoon in her tiny apartment, alongside his alienated ex-wife and son, the broken family confronts their grandest dreams and deepest failures over the course of one night.
- Harmonium
- (Showtimes Friday, October 23 & Saturday, October 24)
- SYNOPSIS: Winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, this wry, existential drama focuses on a middle-class family of three, who graciously invite a stranger to live with them.
|
|
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 fall and winter:
|
|
Cultural Events
View our Monthly Calendar and our Facebook Calendar 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.
|
|
Political News
- TICAD VI official side event Peacebuilding through Promoting Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (Japan-UK collaboration project) (September 1, 2016)
- Messages following the terror attack in Davao, Philippines (September 3, 2016)
- Statement by the Prime Minister of Japan (on the Nuclear Test by North Korea) (September 9, 2016)
- Comment by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on a Possible Nuclear Test by North Korea (September 9, 2016)
- Joint Statement on the Nuclear Test by North Korea by the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) (September 14, 2016)
- G7 International Symposium on Food Security and Nutrition (September 15, 2016)
- Emergency Grant Aid for improvement of humanitarian situation in Syria (September 16, 2016)
- Joint Statement Following the Japan-U.S.-ROK Trilateral Ministerial Meeting in New York (September 18, 2016)
- Prime Minister Abe Receives a Courtesy Call from the former Secretary of State of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton (September 19, 2016)
- Statement by Prime Minister Abe at the United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants (September 19, 2016)
- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Article contributed to CNN (September 20, 2016)
- Statement by His Excellency, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan at the Leader’s Summit on Refugees (September 20, 2016)
- G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (September 20, 2016)
- G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism (September 20, 2016)
- G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Recent Developments in Asia (September 20, 2016)
- Nuclear Attacks by North Korea (September 20, 2016)
- Address by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Seventy-First Session of the United Nations General Assembly (September 21, 2016)
- 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (September 21, 2016)
- Prime Minister Abe Visits Cuba (September 23, 2016)
|
|
|
This month's Highlighted Resources was written by JIC Librarian Ella McCann and features a notable library item we are recommending this month. [Read the full review]
Japan Video Topics ・ジャパン・ビデオ・トピクス
Looking to get some listening practice in for Japanese studies? Look no further than Japan Video Topics. Japan Video Topics were created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) as short introductions to Japanese culture. From martial arts, to food, from robots to nature, these videos span a wide variety of topics sure to keep your interest. One other great aspect is that the videos can be viewed in multiple languages including French, Chinese, Korean, Arabic and English. If you’re studying for the Japanese language Proficiency Test (JLPT), this would be a great option to help with listening practice. They have also started uploading them onto YouTube, so you can view the videos on multiple platforms. I will highlight two recent videos that introduce some fun and interesting aspects of Japan. [Read the full review]
|
|
New Additions
New Additions, compiled by Ella McCann, showcases the latest materials we have received in the JIC collection.
Notice: there are no New Additions this month because the JIC and the Library are temporarily closed for construction.
|
|
|
The JIC JET Arigato Campaign took place September 15 – 30, 2016. We started the initiative in order to collect former and current JET’s favorite memories with images and video to share with our followers on social media and with our newsletter subscribers. Stay tuned throughout the month of October for us to share the stories. In the November newsletter, we will feature our favorites!
#JICChicago #arigatoJET #JET30years #JETprogram
|
|
If you look at our Events Calendar there are many different Japanese films being screened throughout the month of October. In light of this, I thought it would be appropriate to highlight the Japanese Film Database, a site managed in cooperation with the Japan Foundation and UNIJAPAN.
Currently, the database offers information on films from 2002-2015 with some 2016 titles recently added. When you click an entry, the database has information on the film including the release date, run time, genre, screening format, cast and director information as well as the storyline and links to contact information including the movie’s website (if it exists). It is the perfect resource for finding new films you may be interested in watching in the future!
|
|
Editor's Note
It’s autumn, arguably the season with the best foods in the United States and Japan! What’s your favorite fall food?
The following are some flavors associated with harvest-time in Japan:
- Chestnut (Kuri) is used in a variety of traditional sweets or cooked with rice for a more savory dish. In stores, chestnuts are rarely sold roasted as they are in other countries.
- Pumpkin (Kabocha) is different than the pumpkin you find in America. The outside is green with light green spots, the inside is orange and it has a softer texture when cooked. It’s a versatile ingredient that can be fried with tempura, added to soup dishes like nabe or lightly sweetened.
- Kabocha is REALLY delicious and is one of my favorite Japanese vegetables!
- Sweet Potato (Satsumaimo) is used in a similar way dishes in America and can be used in place of normal potatoes. It is fried, mashed and boiled to be used in dishes including Japanese sweets or in a type of Japanese alcohol (shochu).
- Taro Root (Satoimo) is often used in dashi or added to soups. It has a somewhat slimy texture which can be off-putting.
Best,
Amy Klouse
(Editor, IT Coordinator)
|
|
|
|
