Events & Programmes Archive

The Japan Foundation, in collaboration with Kobe University and Miyagi University of Education, is delighted to present this special public seminar looking at the role of education in disaster risk reduction.  We will be joined by scholars from both universities who will introduce their projects for promoting disaster risk reduction and creating more resilient societies.     Presentations: Risk Communication after Severe Earthquakes, Prof Tsuyoshi Matsuda, Kobe University Disaster Risk Reduction and Education for Sustainable Development, Dr Takashi Oda, Miyagi University of Education Education for Disaster and Recovery in Sendai and Kesennuma, Dr Takaaki Koganezawa, Miyagi University of Education   Chair: Prof Kiyomitsu Yui, Kobe University Discussant: Prof Ros Wade, London South Bank University

In this special public seminar, Japan’s leading young sociologist and author of the controversial book ‘The Happy Youth of a Desperate Country’ Noritoshi Furuichi (Tokyo University), joins us to explain why, despite rising inequalities and fewer opportunities for long-term stable employment, the majority of Japan’s youth are in fact satisfied with their lives, and how this contentment challenges the dominant media discourse which portrays young adults as a disappointed and unhappy generation.   Joining Furuichi in discussion following his presentation will be Dr Tuukka Toivonen from SOAS, University of London.  

Ryosuke Nishida (Ritsumeikan University) joins us to chart the rise of web-based election campaigns in Japan 

noshowspace in London will present a solo exhibition by Rie Nakajima titled Fall. Nakajima works with foudn objects and electrical devices, arranging them in response to a space. In a process of listening, adjusting and composing, Nakajima places objects on the walls and floor, with object and sound filling the space in a sculptural act.

In this special public seminar, sociologist Professor Masahiro Yamada (Chuo University) joins us to discuss the reasons behind Japan’s falling marriage rate and the consequences of this decline on the country’s population structure.  Joining Prof Yamada in discussion will be Professor Joy Hendry, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Oxford Brookes University. 

This year's Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF), taking place in York, will feature a selection of Japanese films, courtesy of Short Short Film Festival & Asia, spanning genres in experimental film, animation and drama. Titles include Koyuki's Wandering Football by Satsuki Okawa and animation Hashi no mukou by Shigeyoshi Tsukahara amongst others. In addition to the programme, there will also be a panel discussion alongside the intial screening on 7 November including Aki Isoyama, Programmer of Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia and filmmakers from Japan.

This autumn, step into the world of yōkai – Japanese ghosts and ghouls! 

The Japan Foundation is delighted to present this special public seminar marking the 50th anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen

How video tutorials might improve Japanese lessons at your school An exclusive opportunity to learn more about “flipped learning” and how you can use Anne Rajakuma’s free online video tutorials to support your GCSE-level students. The Head of Japanese at Hockerill Anglo-European College, Anne Rajakumar, has used the Japan Foundation’s Local Project Support Programme to create a series of short video tutorials to accompany the series of workshops entitled “Everything you ever wanted to know about the GCSE-level Japanese course.”These videos allow “flipped learning” as students are able to pre-learn vocab and grammatical patterns prior to using them in class, consolidate their learning through watching the video after the relevant lesson, or even complete the GCSE course online if there is no specialist Japanese teacher available. The videos are freely accessible at:  www.youtube.com/channel/UC023lHYF_-heyjOjhejXWAQ This seminar will introduce these video resources and show how they have been used in the classroom to improve exam results at Hockerill Anglo-European College.

The 1960s marks a crucial turning point culturally, socially and politically.

As part of the Japan Foundation’s Primary Japanese Campaign to support and encourage primary schools teaching Japanese language, we will be giving 20 head teachers the opportunity to take a study trip to Japan at the end of October 2014 on the Japan Group Tour Programme for UK Head Teachers. The programme will include Japanese cultural experiences to help deepen your understanding of Japan, as well as a visit to a Japanese school to observe the Japanese education system first-hand. It will also provide an excellent opportunity to network with teachers in Japan, as well as with other head teachers in the UK whose schools are enthusiastic about Japanese. The Japan Foundation will cover all travel, accommodation and meal expenses. Priority will be given to head teachers based at primary schools that are teaching, or planning to teach, Japanese language within the curriculum.*Registration for this programme has now closed.*    Tentative Itinerary (to be confirmed...) 25th Oct (Saturday) Afternoon: Pre-departure session over lunch at the Japan Foundation London Evening: Flight to Tokyo 26th Oct (Sunday) Arrival in Tokyo – No scheduled events so you can rest and avoid jetlag.  27th Oct (Monday) - Introductory session at the Japan Foundation Head Office - Visit Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 28th Oct (Tuesday) - Visit Elementary School in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo - Visiting British Chamber of Commerce in Japan 29th Oct (Wednesday) - Go to Kyoto via Shin-kansen (Bullet train)  - Cultural experience (Visiting old shrines and temples) - Group Dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant 30th Oct (Thursday) - Elementary School visit in Kyoto - Return to Tokyo 31st Oct (Friday) - Morning: free time - From 15:00 Wrap-up session at the Japan Foundation - Farewell reception hosted by the Executive Vice President, Japan Foundation 1st Nov (Saturday) Flight back to London Heathrow. We will arrive in the afternoon.  Tentative Itinerary (to be confirmed...) 25th Oct (Saturday)- 12:00: Pre-departure session over lunch at the Japan Foundation London- Evening: Flight to Tokyo26th Oct (Sunday)- Arrival in Tokyo – No scheduled events so you can rest and avoid jetlag. 27th Oct (Monday)- 10:00 Introductory session at the Japan Foundation Head Office- 14:00 Visit Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 28th Oct (Tuesday)- 10:00 Visit Elementary School in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo- 14:00 Visit British Chamber of Commerce in Japan 29th Oct (Wednesday)- 8:30 Go to Kyoto via Shin-kansen (Bullet train) - Cultural experience (Visiting old shrines and temples)- Group Dinner at a traditional Japanese restaurant30th Oct (Thursday)- Elementary School visit in Kyoto- Return to Tokyo in the afternoon31st Oct (Friday)- Morning: free time- 15:00 Wrap-up session at the Japan Foundation- 18:00 Farewell reception hosted by the Executive Vice President, Japan Foundation1st Nov (Saturday)- Flight back to London Heathrow. We will arrive in the afternoon. 

Enhance your Japanese language lessons by giving your pupils the opportunity to gain formal recognition for their learning. The WJEC Language Units are small bite-sized qualifications which enable learners to demonstrate their competence and progress by producing evidence in the classroom.