Events & Programmes Archive

Spring 2024 Applications Now OPEN!  Institutions can apply for up to £3000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education in the UK. Please see the attached documents at the bottom of this page for more detailed information. We prioritise projects that fit into one of the four following categories: Category 1 - Newly Introducing Japanese into the curriculum Up to £3,000 for projects that promote the introduction of Japanese into the curriculum (or onto the main school timetable) at primary and secondary schools. This grant covers staff costs and the cost of Japanese language books. Projects may take place online or offline. Category 2 - Supporting GCSE or A-level courses Up to £3,000 for projects that support GCSE or A-level courses. Particularly, if schools/organisations require support to ensure a large number of candidates are able to take formal qualifications in Japanese, they will be able to maintain their project by re-applying the following year. This means organisations will be able to apply for up to a total of £6,000 over two years. (Please note that we do not supplement the salary of teacher(s) already hired by the applying organisation.) Covers staff costs and costs of Japanese language books. Projects may take place online or offline. Category 3 – New Japanese clubs Up to £2,000 for organisations that newly introduce Japanese as an extracurricular activity or enrichment subject. In the case of schools, this is even if this is not within the school timetable. Covers staff cost, Japanese language book cost, some costs for items contributing to Japanese language learning, such as origami and calligraphy materials. Clubs may take place online or offline. Category 4 - Projects that enable links between primary/secondary institutions and institutions of higher education Up to £3,000 for projects that strengthen connections between secondary institutions and institutions of higher education and create and/or strengthen networks among pupils, students, and teachers for the purpose of helping to promote Japanese language education in the UK. These projects can be aimed at both potential learners of Japanese and people who already are learning Japanese. This is a recently added category, so please contact us if you have any questions or would like to apply but are unsure as to whether your project is suitable. These projects may take place online or offline. Application deadline: 23rd May 2024, 23:59 (Thursday)  General Information document LPSP 2024-2025 Grant Flowchart Grant Application Form (May 2024) We would be grateful if you could read the General Information document and the Grant Flowchart document before submitting an application.   If you have any questions, please contact info.language@jpf.go.jp Please also refer to the “General Information” document above for detailed answers to many frequently asked questions.   Related Event!  Click here to find out about our seminar for potential applications for the Local Project Support Programme!

The Japan Foundation offices in Europe (Budapest, Cologne, Paris, and London offices) will jointly hold an online teachers’ seminar on the topic ‘The Professionalism and Agency of Japanese Language Teachers: Thinking Through Dialogue and Reflection’ on 6th April 2024 (Saturday). The theme, date and time of the seminar are as follows. Please find the event details below written in Japanese. *Please note that information is only available in Japanese, as the seminar will be conducted in Japanese. Thank you for your understanding.    Theme: ‘The Professionalism and Agency of Japanese Language Teachers: Thinking Through Dialogue and Reflection’  Date/Time: 6th April 2024 (Saturday),  13:00-14:30 (BST/UTC+1)  Application Deadline: 31st March 2024 (Sunday) , 17:00 (BST/UTC+1) Online form  Enquiries:  The Japan Foundation, Budapest:  BP_nihongo@jpf.go.jp (Japanese)   The  Japan Foundation, London enquiries: events.japanese@jpf.go.jp  (Japanese / English)   ------- このたびブダペスト日本文化センターが中心となり、国際交流基金の欧州4拠点共催で、2024年4月6日（土）にオンライン日本語教師研修会を開催する運びとなりました。   テーマ：　「日本語教師の専門性と主体性―対話と省察から考える―」 講師　：　舘岡 洋子先生（早稲田大学） 日時　：　2024年4月6日(土)　13:00～14:30 (BST/UTC＋1) 共催　：　JF欧州4拠点（ブダペスト、ケルン、パリ、ロンドン） 形式　：　オンライン（Zoomミーティング） 対象　：　日本語教師 参加費：　無料 使用言語：日本語   講師からのメッセージ： 　私たちは今、激動の時代を生きています。そのような中で、日本語教師は何をする人なのか、その専門性についても教師自身の主体性についても、動態的に捉える必要があるのではないでしょうか。本講演では、専門家としての日本語教師を「どんなフィールドに行っても、あるいは現在のフィールドが社会的影響の下で変化しても（実際には変化しないフィールドはありえない）、自身のめざす日本語教育観を軸として自らの経験やもてる力を総動員して、フィールドに合った日本語教育実践を編成し、必要に応じてフィールドそのものを変えていく力」（舘岡編2021、p.104）を備えた人であると捉えています。これからの時代、日本語教師として主体性をもって教育活動を行うとはどういうことかをいっしょに考えましょう。 参考文献： ・舘岡洋子編（2021）『日本語教師の専門性を考える』（ココ出版） ・舘岡洋子（2019）「『日本語教師の専門性』を考える―『専門性の三位一体モデル』の提案と活用―」『早稲田日本語教育学』26,pp.167-177, https://waseda.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/47067   【参加申し込み】 　オンラインフォーム　〆切：2024年3月31日（日）17：00（BST/UTC＋１） 【広報用ポスター】 　ポスターはこちらからダウンロードください。   【問い合わせ先】 　ブダペスト日本文化センター日本語チーム BP_nihongo@jpf.go.jp　（日本語） 　ロンドン日本文化センター events.japanese@jpf.go.jp （日本語／英語）   みなさまのお申込みをお待ちしております。  

Join the University of Edinburgh for the final talk in their Asian Studies Seminar Series for the academic year 2013 - 2014, in partnership with The Japan Foundation. This free talk by Dr Caroline Astell-Burt is entitled 'Translation of Bodies: performance work of a professional puppeteer inspired by Japanese otome bunraku'. Dr Astell-Burt first encountered puppets based on otome bunraku at a training workshop in 2009 at the London School of Puppetry. This developed into a long study of the bodily presence of the puppeteer before being formalised into a doctoral enquiry and the opportunity to observe the extremely rare and beautiful performances at Hitomiza in Japan. She regularly writes academic articles about puppets and puppetry often within an educational or therapeutic context. She is a puppet-maker, performer and teacher and co-founder of the first full-time professional training for puppeteers in the UK. She holds two Masters Degrees from Middlesex and Royal Holloway Universities and a doctorate from Loughborough University. No booking essential, just turn up! To visit the event page on the University of Edinburgh's website, click here.

The Sixth Online Get-Together Calling all secondary school and language school teachers of Japanese! We will be holding a sixth Online Get-Together. This is a great opportunity to talk with your colleagues about your work in a relaxed, casual setting. We hope you can use this as a chance to talk about any issues you are facing in the classroom, exchange information on resources or exams, and more. As well as group discussion sessions, Dr Chisato Ofune, Chief Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation London will be giving a talk on the theme of “What is ‘culture’? Should we teach it?”. If you were asked what culture is, how would you answer? Can you explain it simply? In this session, we would like to think together with the participants about what culture is and what students can learn by studying culture.   About the speakers Dr Chisato Ofune is Chief Japanese Language Advisor at The Japan Foundation London since September 2021. Before joining the U.K. Japan Foundation Office, she has been engaged in Japanese language education in Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines, and has been involved in the development of various textbooks for secondary school students and teacher education projects throughout her career. Date: 26th March 2024 (Tuesday), 17:00-18:30 (BST), 18:30-19:00 *18:30-19:00 (Participants are welcome to stay beyond the end of the seminar to ask questions, exchange exam information, network and so on.） Schedule: 17:00- : Main presentation by Dr Ofune including some group work. QA Group discussion and exchange information. 18:30-:  Further group discussion (extended time) To apply please click here Participation fee: Free (Registration in advance is required.) Registration Deadline: 19th March Languages used: Japanese (PowerPoint slides and resources will be shown in English.) You can read some comments from participants of the previous Online Get-Togethers below: It was really good to join in with fellow Japanese colleagues from around the country (and world!) and listen and see in Japanese how these colleagues created and use these resources. I spent a hugely worthwhile time getting to talk with other teachers that I do not often get a chance to meet and exchange new information. I have gotten a lot of ideas and tips from the speaker’s presentation. Thanks to the presentation I think I can improve my teaching skills to encourage my pupils to learn more!

In collaboration with William Morris Gallery, we're proudly presenting the UK's most wide-ranging exhibition dedicated to Mingei, the influential folk-craft movement originating in Japan during the 1920s and 1930s. Showcasing a diverse array of works including ceramics, woodwork, textiles, and more, this exhibition explores Mingei's cultural significance and its enduring relevance in contemporary craft and consumerism.

As part of the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2024, and in view of its theme of Unforgettable: Memories, Times and Reflections in Japanese Cinema, this roundtable discussion reunites a panel of UK- and Japan-based experts in Japanese cinema from last year’s online talk series to reflect on Japanese films that embedded themselves in their minds, and to explore what makes Japanese cinema memorable.

The Japan Foundation offices in Europe (Budapest, Cologne, Paris, and London offices) will jointly hold an online teachers’ seminar on the topic ‘The Professionalism and Agency of Japanese Language Teachers: Thinking Through Dialogue and Reflection’ on 6th April 2024 (Saturday).  The theme, date and time of the seminar are as follows. Please find the event details below written in Japanese.  *Please note that information is only available in Japanese, as the seminar will be conducted in Japanese. Thank you for your understanding.     Theme: ‘The Professionalism and Agency of Japanese Language Teachers: Thinking Through Dialogue and Reflection’   Date/Time: 6th April 2024 (Saturday),  13:00-14:30 (BST/UTC+1)   Application Deadline: 31st March 2024 (Sunday) , 17:00 (BST/UTC+1)  Online form   Enquiries:   The Japan Foundation, Budapest:  BP_nihongo@jpf.go.jp (Japanese)    The  Japan Foundation, London enquiries: events.japanese@jpf.go.jp  (Japanese / English)    -------  このたびブダペスト日本文化センターが中心となり、国際交流基金の欧州4拠点共催で、2024年4月6日（土）にオンライン日本語教師研修会を開催する運びとなりました。    テーマ：　「日本語教師の専門性と主体性―対話と省察から考える―」  講師　：　舘岡 洋子先生（早稲田大学）  日時　：　2024年4月6<span class="TextRun SCXW36122541 BCX8" lang="JA-JP" style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; font-variant-ligatures: none !important; font-size: 11pt;

Don't miss the chance to see KUBOTA Akiko, a renowned singer and biwa musician, perform in the UK! Experience a unique programme showcasing music by and about pioneering Japanese women. Highlighting this concert programme is a new song cycle created by British composer Francesca Le Lohé. This piece commemorates the life of writer and feminist anarchist Itō Noe (1895-1923), sung in Japanese with English surtitles.   Dates and Venues Venue: The Actors' Church, Covent Garden, London Date: Tuesday 5 March, 7:30pm   Venue: St. Paul's Hall, University of Huddersfield Date: Thursday 7 March, 1pm Tickets: Free, no need to book   Venue: Musica Festival, Martin Harris Centre, University of Manchester Date: Friday 8 March, 7pm   Venue: Howard Assembly Room, Leeds Date: Saturday 9th March, 7:30pm

Join seven kabuki musicians (known as hayashikata) led by TANAKA Denzaemon Xlll and including TANAKA Denjiro VII, for a captivating selection of classic kabuki compositions. Gain deeper insights into kabuki music and its musical instruments through a brief talk by the musicians.     Dates and Venues   Venue: Frankopan Hall, Jesus College (Cambridge) Date: 4 March,18:00 For more details, click here    Venue: St James’s Church, Piccadilly (London) Date: 5 March, 13:00 For more details, click here    Venue: V&A Dundee (Dundee) Date: 7 March, 13:00 For more details, click here   

Are you currently studying Japanese or interested in learning Japanese? Have you lived in Japan or are you teaching Japanese in the UK? Or are you from Japan and currently living in the UK? Whatever your answer, everyone is welcome! Why not join us for the Finals Day of the 19th Japanese Speech Contest for University Students and listen to what university students studying Japanese in the UK and Ireland have to say? The finalists will give their speeches and presentations in Japanese to an audience consisting of members of the public, fellow students, teachers, families, key figures from the UK-Japan community and a panel of judges. The Finals Day will take place on Saturday 2nd March 2024 at Great Hall, King's College London. This event is FREE to attend, but prior registration is required via Eventbrite. Title: The 19th Japanese Speech Contest for University Students, Finals Day Date & Time: Saturday, 2nd March 2024   1pm – 6pm (TBC) Venue: Great Hall, King’s College London (Strand Campus, Strand, London WC2R 2LS) Maximum capacity: 150 people (spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended.) Fee: Free to attend but prior booking is required. Language: Speeches and presentations will be given in Japanese. For the Speech Category, speech summaries in English will be made available. Enquiries: speechcontest@jpf.go.jp Organisers: The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (BATJ) and                      The Japan Foundation, London  

DAZAI Osamu, a renowned literary figure in Japan, left a lasting impact despite his short life from 1909 to 1948, through numerous novels now emblematic of modern Japanese literature. Prior to the London performance of Good-Bye at the Coronet Theatre, a round table discussion featuring experts will delve into DAZAI's life, works, and his enduring influence, including an overview by Dr. Irena Hayter from the University of Leeds.   Date: 1 March 2024, 18:30 (GMT) Online Webinar Click here to book your place 

Embark on a Japan-UK musical odyssey as Kit Downes on piano harmonises with KIMURA Shunsuke on the shinobue (traverse bamboo flute) and ONO Etsuro on Tsugaru shamisen (three string banjo).