News and Reports Archive

On April 1st 2011, three of Japan Foundation’s StepOutNet Programme volunteers visited Sandgate Primary School in Folkestone as part of the school’s International Day of Languages. During each 30 minute session, the volunteers first told the pupils all about Japan, and then taught them numbers in Japanese with gestures and…

On April 6th 2011, eighteen StepOutNet volunteers came to the Japan Foundation London office for the final StepOutNet Training Day in our five-course series. After listening to detailed and interesting reports from two of our volunteers’ visits to Heathside Preparatory School and Sandgate Primary School, the volunteers took part in…

The Japan Foundation London office is pleased to support Play for Japan – an initiative set up in response to the earthquake and tsunami of March 11th. Play for Japan is working to help raise the profile of events created by groups or individuals in order to raise funds in…

We are delighted to pass on news of the announcement of the Yakult Lectureship for Japanese Language Studies at the University of East Anglia. The School of Language and Communication Studies at UEA is now inviting applications for this position, so please click here or view the attachment below to find…

Are the Olympics a waste of money?Do CCTV cameras prevent crime?Should we stop adding katakana words to Japanese?Which is the ideal pet – a dog or a cat? These were hotly-contested themes of the exciting final evening of Talking Contemporary Japan, the Japan Foundation’s four week course for advanced Japanese…

The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation has set up a special grant programme under which it will consider applications for small grants for projects (including seed money to get a fund-raising event going) related to the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. See their website for details.http://www.gbsf.org.uk/ “The Great Britain Sasakawa…

For those who may be without news of their relatives as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11th, the International Committee of the Red Cross has set up a Family Links web-page to help restore contact between family members. Please click here to visit this…

As you will be aware, following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on 11 March, many people are now struggling to cope with the aftermath. The Japan Foundation would like to thank all those who have sent messages of condolence and sympathy for the people of Japan. Please click here…

We’ve been saying a lot of sayonaras and konnichiwas at the Japan Foundation Language Centre, with two members leaving, and two new members arriving! Yoko Udagawa, Chief Japanese Language Advisor, has been succeeded by Seiji Fukushima. Kim Woodruff, Programme Officer, has been succeeded by Josephine Audigier. Leaving message from Yoko…

On 26th February, the finals of the Sixth Japanese Speech Contest for University Students were held in the Brunei Gallery, SOAS, showcasing ten individual speeches along with four group presentations by UK university students. The day got off to a brilliant start with the Category 2 competition, featuring speeches by…

Green tea, sushi and bowing were enjoyed by all at Japan Foundation’s first ever beginner’s Japanese language event Taste of Japan, which was held on January 26th 2011 by the Japan Foundation London Language Centre. After warming up with a Japan quiz, participants were taught by the Japan Foundation’s Chief…

Following her recent lecture at the Japan Foundation, Dr Inge Daniels has curated an exhibition ‘At Home in Japan – beyond the minimal house’ for the Geffrye Museum, which will be on display from 22nd March until 29th August 2011. Please click here for more information.