Events & Programmes Archive

An event for teachers of Japanese to show how to use play-readings within language lessons.

Japan Foundation are proud to support The Red Candle - Mermaids in the East presented by Théatre Lapis. A newly devised piece of physical theatre, it is based on Mimei Ogawa’s beautiful tragedy about mermaids in Japan. Initially inspired by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in 2011, it has evolved to echo the grief caused by disasters across the world. For more information, please visit http://theatrelapis.org/mermaids-in-the-east-2016/

In association with the Japan Foundation, Dartford Grammar School for Boys would like to invite Head Teachers, school governors and members of the Senior Management team to a networking event in order to discuss and showcase the significance of the Japanese language as part of the Primary and Secondary curriculum. (Maximum of 2 free places per school) Japanese was introduced at Dartford Grammar School in 1998 and was immediately popular. Over the next few years it became fully embedded in the curriculum and we now have 370 students throughout the school learning Japanese.  The enjoyment of Japanese learning has had a significant positive impact on the learning and success of other languages.  In 2015 Japanese became a compulsory subject for half of Year 7 (93 pupils) who will continue with Japanese until their GCSE in Year 11.  Therefore by 2020 there will be 450 Key Stage 3 and 4 Japanese learners and approximately 80 Key Stage 5 students studying Japanese at level 3. It is a subject that is remarkably popular with our students, who are motivated by its fascinating traditions, youth culture and the artistic appeal of writing characters. As a direct result of their interest in, and commitment to Japanese, we have achieved between 96%-100% grade A*-C with our GCSE students over the last 10 years. We would like to offer the opportunity to talk to a wider network of Head Teachers, Governors and members of senior management of schools who may be interested in taking Japanese up as an extra-curricular subject, introducing it to the curriculum, or further embedding it within the curriculum.  Therefore on the 2nd November we would like to invite you to visit our school and participate in a programme of lesson observations, discussions and sharing of practical ideas about the provision of Japanese at your school.  We will cover implications for the curriculum resources and teacher supply. If you would like to find out more about the transformational qualities of Japanese learning in a secondary or primary school, please email ksimpson@dartfordgrammarschool.org.uk to register your interest in this event.

Kaori Momoi is a cinematic icon. Internationally, Momoi is renowned for her role in Memoirs of a Geisha and her role alongside Quentin Tarantino in Sukiyaki Western Django. Within Japan, she is one of the most highly respected and controversial actresses of her time. Her individualism and ambitious film choices make her an indisputable authority on Japanese cinema. Moreover, her vast repertoire of work with distinguished Japanese directors (such as Akira Kurosawa and Yoshimitsu Morita) provides a solid foundation for her own efforts. Having recently turned her hand to directing, Momoi's highly acclaimed Hee is testament to her versatility as both an actor and director.In the wake of Hee's UK premiere as part of London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) Japan Foundation, in partnership with LEAFF, are proud to invite Momoi to explore her filmmaking experiences and directing works as well as reflect on issues within contemporary Japanese film. Momoi will be joined in conversation by curator and writer Jasper Sharp.

Mitsuyo Kakuta is an award-winning, prolific Japanese author whose works have earned her countless devoted readers

The Japan Foundation welcomes two promising artists, Ken Niimura and Miki Yamamoto, to illustrate their works in this talk event

Come and see the Japan Foundation at Language Show Live London 2016!

In partnership with Japan Foundation, the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival returns with an exciting line-up of some of the most innovative authors of the new generation of manga artists. In his exhibition Making a Scene, internationally acclaimed comic artist Ken Niimura provides a glimpse into his diverse portfolio including I Kill Giants, Henshin and unreleased works. These are brought to life through annotations and additional sketches on the Gallery walls. Ken Niimura also provides a platform for his contemporaries in handpicking five distinct voices for Five Rising Stars from Japan. This exhibition sees upcoming authors Est Em, Takehito Moriizumi, Tsuchika Nishimura, Keigo Shinzo and Miki Yamamoto bringing their artwork to the UK for the first time. Whilst these exhibitions are on display exclusively over the weekend, events at Lakes International Comic Arts Festival continue until 7th November. Find out more at: http://www.comicartfestival.com/ 

The Japan Foundation is pleased to support TUSK Festival 2016, a three-day festival of unclassifiable musical genius, films, talks, workshops, exhibitions and more. This year’s lineup includes Eiko Ishibashi, a Japanese multi-instrumentalist and frequent collaborator with Jim O’Rourke. At TUSK, Ishibashi will be on grand piano with her trio of Sudoh Toshiaki on bass and Tatsuhisa Yamamoto on drums.

A monthly series of events introducing the work of some of Japan’s most outstanding playwrights, all of which will be heard in English for the first time.

Here & Now is the first major curated exhibition of contemporary tapestry in England for over 20 years, showcasing international talent and innovative approaches to the medium. Alongside work of British tapestry weavers, the exhibition features over 20 international artists including a selection from Japan: Ayako Matsumura, Misao Watanabe, Yasuko Fujino, Saori Sakai and Ai Ito. Placing the works by Japanese artists in an international context, the exhibition will show the vigor and new aesthetic sensibility of contemporary tapestry in Japan.

The Japan Foundation and Centre Européen d'Etudes Japonaises d'Alsace (CEEJA) are now accepting applications for participation in Japanese Study Seminar: Women and Men (女と男) scheduled for 26th and 27th September, 2016 at CEEJA, in Kientzheim, France. The official language of the seminar will be JAPANESE. This seminar aims to encourage networking among young researchers in Europe specialising in Japan related topics, and further promote Japanese Studies in Europe. Participants will join a two-day intensive workshop in the cozy and intimate atmosphere of CEEJA's facility in Kientzheim where they will present and discuss their current research projects with fellow participants and guest mentors from Japan. The theme of this year’s seminar will be “Men and Women (女と男).”  We are calling for applications from young researchers in Europe specialising in politics, history, sociology, literature, arts, language, philosophy, economics, architecture, religion, etc.  The deadline for applications is 30 June, 2016. For further details including eligibility and application procedures, please visit the Japan Foundation Tokyo website here.