Events & Programmes Archive

Since its emergence in the late 1960s, video artistry has been gaining an increasingly prominent position in the visual arts sphere, forming a key element in many independent and large-scale exhibitions worldwide. Setting itself apart from conventional filmmaking, its unique way of conveying a particular vision or message has been adopted by many artists, including those who do not necessarily begin their career with motion image. So, what is the attraction of video art from the artists’ perspective? Is it easier to create in its infinite variety and in the current times which heavily rely on digital alternatives? Perhaps it provides a greater medium for expression? In conjunction with the Japan Foundation’s online exhibition, 11 Stories on Distanced Relationships - Contemporary Art from Japan (which ran 30 March - 5 May 2021), we have invited three of the exhibited artists,  who are either based in or closely connected to the UK, and who began their careers with other media of expression but later adopted moving image. The three artists are NOGUCHI Rika whose main medium is photography but who recently started incorporating video art, YANAI Shino who produces performances and installations mostly in video, and SAWA Hiraki who studied sculpture but is known for his videos which capture his subject’s full psychological territory. Together they will talk us through their individual relationships with video art and what inspired them to select this medium in their conceptualisations, while introducing some of their representative works. The conversation will be led by Stuart Tulloch, curator and Head of Programme at Firstsite.   About the speakers Stuart Tulloch is Head of Programme at Firstsite, Colchester (www.firstsite.uk). Previously Curator at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham (2012 – 2014) and Curator Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool (2003 – 2012). Between 1999 – 2003, Stuart was an Assistant Exhibition Organiser at Hayward Gallery, London.  At Hayward he was part of the team that organised the major exhibition of contemporary Japanese art entitled Facts of Life, in 2001. He has since led solo exhibition presentations and projects by Shimabuku (Ikon, 2013) and Makoto Nomura (Grundy, 2004). He is currently leading a mayor project of new work by celebrated artist Michael Landy for Firstsite opening June 2021 - Welcome to Essex. NOGUCHI Rika, born in 1971, lives and works in Okinawa Prefecture. NOGUCHI has been using the media of the photograph as a means to visualize “What is there, but invisible.” Recently she has also been working on video art focusing on subjects such as insects and plants. Major recent solo exhibitions include At the Bottom of the Sea (Taka Ishii Gallery, Tokyo, 2017) and To the Night Planet (Loock Gallery, Berlin, 2016). Group exhibitions include Twinkling Skin, Emission of Light by Life and Death (Ashikaga Museum of Art, Tochigi, 2020), and 21st Sydney Biennale SUPERPOSITION: Art of Equilibrium and Engagement (Sydney, Australia, 2018). YANAI Shino lives and works in London. YANAI has produced performances and installations mostly in video and sound that explore through fieldwork the brutality inherent in beauty and socially or historically disguised violence. Recently, she has been interested in pathways and relics. Major recent solo exhibitions include The Deep End (Sagacho Archives, Tokyo, 2019) and Blue Passages (White Conduit Projects, London, 2016). Group exhibitions include 'de-sport: The Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Sports through Art (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, 2020) and What We See (The National Museum of Art, Osaka, 2013). SAWA Hiraki is based in London and the Ishikawa Prefecture. SAWA creates videos that capture his subject’s full psychological territory, including mental landscapes and memories. In recent years, he has worked on installations that combine an axis of video with three- and two-dimensional works. Major exhibitions include Overlapping Circles: 5 Artists Collaborate with the Collection (Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art, Chiba, 2020), KAAT Exhibition 2018: Hiraki Sawa (solo exhibition–Kanagawa Arts Theatre, Kanagawa, 2018), Under the Box, Beyond the Bounds (solo exhibition–Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery, Tokyo, 2014) and the 17th Sydney Biennale (Sydney, Australia, 2010).   Please note that this will be an Online Event held on Zoom.    

Are you considering applying for funding but aren’t sure about how to go about it? Do you have a project in mind but aren’t sure if it’s eligible? We would strongly recommend that you sign up to take part in our Online Seminar and Q&A session. During this one-hour session, a member of our staff will talk participants through the application process, and then open the floor to questions and answers. We want to make sure the application process is as easy-to-understand as possible. This session will be held twice on 14th May 2021 (Friday). First Session: 13:00 to 14:00 Second session: 18:00 to 19:00 We will be using Zoom software. Once you have applied we will send you information on how to join the session. If you would like to take part, please sign up 12th May (Wednesday).  Apply for a place for Session 1 by filling out our Eventbrite Form here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/152709005747 Apply for a place for Session 2 by filling out our Eventbrite Form here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/152710070933 If you are unable to attend either session but are still interested in applying, please do not worry! We will be making a recording of the first part of the seminar (explanation of application process) and uploading it to our Youtube channel.  

Institutions can apply for up to £3000 for non-profit-making projects or activities which promote Japanese language education in the UK. Please check out our website for information on the type of projects we support, such as newly introducing Japanese into the curriculum or funding Japanese clubs.   We prioritise projects that fit into the following four categories:   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.   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.   3. 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, origami cost and calligraphy cost. Clubs may take place online or offline.   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.   The application deadline for the 2021-22 programme is 28th May.   This year’s first funding deadline is 28th May – so please get your applications in by that date!   Download the following three documents by clicking on the “attachment” links at the end of this article: - The General Information Document - The Application Form - The Grant Timeline Flowchart  

The Japan Foundation is pleased to present an online exhibition 11 Stories on Distanced Relationships: Contemporary Art from Japan as an endeavour to build a new framework for art exchange adapted to our reality with the coronavirus. The spread of the pandemic has meant that since last year it has been difficult for people and goods to move around the globe, and as a result many international cultural exchange projects planned by the Foundation were cancelled. In this age of uncertainty, online forums have rapidly developed as places for communication, and everyone is having to reappraise their “distance” from their surrounds. This exhibition emerged from the question of how, in this context, we might go about building connections with the world. It is first ever exhibition of contemporary art to be held solely online by the Japan Foundation. The exhibition introduces the work of 11 Japanese and Japan-based contemporary artists, centred on new pieces commissioned on the theme of “translating distance.” Psychological or physical distances have never been easy to reach across, or reduce. Nowadays distance has emerged as something we must learn to live with. This exhibition has been created to deliver works that earnestly address this kind of distance – from Japan to people everywhere in the world. We hope that everyone, wherever they may be, will enjoy it.   The Artists:   ARAKI Yu, HAN Ishu, IIYAMA Yuki, KOIZUMI Meiro, MOHRI Yuko, NOGUCHI Rika, OKUMURA Yuki, SATO Masaharu, SAWA Hiraki, YANAI Shino, YOSHIDA Shinya   For detailed information and to view the exhibition, please visit: https://11stories.jpf.go.jp/en/ 

Calling all secondary school teachers of Japanese! We will be holding a third 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 exams, and more.   As well as group discussion sessions, Dr Marina Sereda-Linley from Luton Sixth Form College will be giving a talk on the theme of “Teaching Japanese to Multi-level Class”. Dr Sereda-Linley received her Master and Doctor degrees in Japanese Applied Linguistics from Osaka University of Foreign Studies and Osaka University, Japan, respectively. Since joining Luton Sixth Form College as a Japanese language tutor in 2015 and facing the challenges of a multi-level classroom, she has been actively contributing to research into and the application of Differentiated Instruction in Japanese.    Date: 27th March 2021 (Saturday), 16:00-17:30   Schedule: First half: Presentation by Dr Marina Sereda-Linley (Luton Sixth Form College) Second half: Group discussion   To apply, please click here. https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ZJQ8Y1/   Participation fee: Free (Registration in advance is required.) Registration Deadline: 19th March Languages used: Japanese/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!

This Seminar will be organised by the Japan Foundation, London and the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language. Each year, we use these seminars as an opportunity to raise practical, every-day themes that apply to both younger and older learners at all types of educational institutions, and invite educators at the forefront of their fields, to provide a novel and exciting learning opportunity. It is our hope that through this year’s seminar we can once again contribute to the development of the community of educators of the Japanese language. We look forward to receiving applications from teachers from a wide variety of locations. Event Outline Date/Time: 14th March 2021 (Sunday), 10:30 to 12:30 GMT Theme: Exploring and Reflecting on Classes in an Online Setting: How can we cultivate ICT literacy for teachers of Japanese? (Keywords: online environments, active learning, ICT literacy) Speaker: Dr Tomohisa Yamada (Associate Professor at Hokkaido University) Target audience: Japanese language educators in the United Kingdom and Europe.   (We will also accept applications from those in other regions, depending on the number of applicants).  Post-graduate university students specialising in Japanese language education in the United Kingdom and Europe are also welcomed to join. Maximum number of participants: 150 Location: Online seminar using Zoom software Spoken language: Japanese Planned schedule: Following the seminar, there will be an optional social gathering from 12:30 Cost of seminar/applications: This is posted on the BATJ website.  Organisers: The Japan Foundation, London and the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language. To apply to attend this seminar, please visit the BATJ website:  The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language - BATJ Speaker Profile: Dr. Tomohisa Yamada Associate Professor at Hokkaido University (Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education/ Graduate School of International Media-Communication and Tourism Studies)  Dr Yamada has an MA from the Institute of Education, University of London, and a doctorate (academic) from Hokkaido University. After working with the University of London School of Oriental and African Studies Language Centre and Saga University Exchange Student Centre, he assumed his present post in 2012. His area of research is educational technology and teacher education. As well as his research activities, he is actively involved in giving lectures and professional development programmes aimed at increasing ICT literacy for teachers of Japanese.　He was awarded the Hokkaido University Excellent Teachers award (2014 to 2019). Among his key publications are “Practical Use of ICT (Second Edition)” (sole author), “Active Learning for Teachers of Japanese” (co-author) and “Creating Online Classes for Japanese Language Educators ” (author and editor; scheduled to be published) (All published by Kuroshio Shuppan). Message from Dr Yamada: In the spring of 2020, the structure of the world was hugely altered due to Covid-19. Our social lives were restricted, and it was decided that educators and students in educational facilities would move their classes online for just a few weeks. Under these circumstance, information and questions began flying back and forth between educators: What actually are online classes? How can I organise group activities online? I’ve found this useful ICT tool! And so on. Even the teachers who were initially able to keep up with all of the information out there found themselves at some point confused by the huge quantity of all the information out there. At the very least, this was the situation I found myself in. A year has passed since then. Looking at the world, it appears that online learning is becoming the de facto standard. What have we learnt over the past turbulent year? How should educators approach “classes” and “students” from now on? In this lecture, I want us to work together to compare the advantages and disadvantages of online classes compared to face-to-face classes, and to try to think about what factors we should be mindful of in realizing interactive online classes. Furthermore, I would like to introduce some of the new insights/knowledge obtained from the Japan Foundation, London ICT Literacy Course that took place in the 2020 fiscal year, regarding what are the key important points to increase ICT literacy for educators.    

We are excited to announce that the Finals Day of the Sixteenth Japanese Speech Contest for University Students will take place online on 6th March 2021. Finalists in three categories will give informative and inspiring speeches in Japanese on a number of fascinating topics. They will be judged by a panel of judges and there will be fantastic prizes for all finalists! More information on the event will be coming soon, so watch this space! Download an event poster - coming soon!

The Japan Foundation/BAJS Postgraduate Workshop is back! A lot has changed since the 2020 iteration, and this year’s online workshop will be tackling the effects of the global pandemic on academia head on. The workshop will take place online and will be spread over two mornings. The aim of this workshop will be to help postgraduate students develop their careers in JS navigating the 'new normal'.  This year, participating students will also be able to present their latest research to academics and their peers, gaining important feedback at a time when presenting opportunities is low. There will also be talks and discussions about key areas surrounding the rapidly changing world of Japanese Studies. Topics will include: Funding opportunities available to PhD candidates and early career researchers. The current state of academia in Japan and the effects of COVID-19 Job opportunities both inside and outside of academia  Creating a social media research presence And more… Eligibility Registration is open to postgraduate in any field of the humanities of social sciences with a focus on Japan (including comparative studies). Spaces are limited and priority will be given to PhD/Dphil students from the UK/Ireland. Master’s level students may apply at any time but their places will not be confirmed until closer to the event. Students must be able to attend both days. Registration is free for all participants. To register, please fill in this form.

Geographically, Japan is 6000 miles away from the UK but the position of Japanese cinema may be much closer to the hearts of some Brits. Thanks to the enormous efforts and enthusiasm of UK-based cinema experts belonging to such organisations as BFI, ICA, and many film festivals, certain names from Japan’s catalogue of filmmakers - Kurosawa, Mizoguchi or more recently Kitano and Miike, to name a few - are permanently engraved in this nation’s cinematic history. Two decades into the 21st century, is the admiration felt for Japanese film by British people still going strong? Has the perception of Japanese cinema changed? Celebrating the very first online edition of The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, on the launch night of the season, we have invited a cinema programmer, a critic and an academic mainly representing the next generation of UK film experts to informally discuss what Japanese cinema means to them and what the current position of Japanese cinema is in this country, while candidly exploring if the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, which marks its 18th year, has indeed made any impact on the people’s perception.   About the panellists   Alex Davidson (moderator), Cinema Curator at the Barbican Jennifer Coates, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies, The University of Sheffield Peter Munford, Satori Screen Programmer at QUAD, Derby Ren Scateni, Freelance Critic and Curator based in Edinburgh Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer, the Japan Foundation London   Please note that this session will be hosted on Zoom. To book your place, please click here.

Calling all secondary school teachers of Japanese! We will be holding a second Zoom 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 exams, and more.   As well as group discussion sessions, Mrs Satoko Suzui from the University of Bath will be giving a talk on the theme of “Tips for Making Teaching Resources for Busy Teachers”. Mrs Suzui used to be a secondary school teacher of Japanese and has a wealth of experience developing teaching resources for GCSE & A-level.   Date: -          28th January 2021 (Thursday), 19:00 to 20:30   Schedule: -          First half: Presentation by Mrs Satoko Suzui (University of Bath) -          Second half: Group discussion   To apply, please click here. https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/1S4SO5/   You can read some comments from participants of the first Zoom Online Get-Together 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. An excellent opportunity to meet and share. 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.

NAKAMURA Aya is a London-based theatre practitioner, puppeteer and puppet maker originally from Japan. The unique style she has cultivated within the field is distinctly recognisable in the productions she has been part of, including adaptations of traditional Western fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel (Horse+Bamboo Theatre, 2016), as well as Japanese literary classics like AKUTAGAWA Ryunosuke’s The Spider’s Thread (Rouge28 Theatre, 2020). Challenging our assumptions of what a puppet is, NAKAMURA works with a variety of mediums to produce puppets made in the paper theatre style, puppets constructed of everyday objects, and even human-sized Bunraku-style dolls. Kicking off 2021 in the first of our online events in the new year, the Japan Foundation presents a special webinar during which NAKAMURA will talk about what sparked her interest in taking up puppetry and her creative influences, in addition to her philosophy and work as a puppeteer, puppet-maker, and workshop leader in more detail. She will also discuss her artistic collaborations, both national and international, such as with the multi award-winning company Rouge28 Theatre (which the Japan Foundation has had the pleasure of supporting in the past). After her initial presentation, there will be a virtual showing of her short film production in the paper theatre style, The Spider’s Thread, followed by a discussion with the composer for the work, Verity Lane, uncovering the behind the scenes of the project. Among other topics, they will examine the feasibility of collaborative projects under the restrictive period of the ongoing pandemic and how performing art professionals can and do adapt to the new environment going forward.   About the guest speaker Verity Lane is a neurodivergent composer, writer, artist, director and producer that specialises in creating avant-garde multidisciplinary works steeped in Japanese culture. She lived in Japan for 10 years, graduating from Osaka College of Music with a masters in composition where her studies focused primarily on traditional Japanese instruments and aesthetics. She collaborates frequently with Japan and UK based artists and musicians and has recently set up Jo-Ha-Kyū Arts, an arts company focused on producing genre-defying works steeped in Japanese culture.   Please note that this session will be hosted on Zoom. To book your place, please click here.

Applications are now open for the 2021 Nihongo Cup. The Nihongo Cup is the Japanese Speech Contest for Secondary School students across three categories: Key Stage 3, Pre-GCSE Key Stage 4 and 5, and Post GCSE Key Stage 4 and 5. Finalists will be invited to perform their speeches as part of an online Finals Day. Their speeches will be watched by a panel of judges and VIPs from the field of Japanese language education and Japan-UK relations. They will also have a chance to win some fantastic prizes! Finals day will take place on 10th July 2021 (Saturday).  You can also find articles about previous Nihongo Cup finals on our News Page. To find out more and for application forms, please download this "Application Pack" zip file by clicking here. The Application Pack contains an application form, information and rules and a flier/poster. Please read the information carefully before applying. The closing date for applications is: 29th March 2021