JAPAN FOUNDATION WORLDWIDE

The 8th Nihongo (Japanese-language) Teachers’ Forum, a project of the Association of Filipino Nihongo Teachers (AFINITE), in cooperation with the Japan Foundation Manila was held on November 15 and 16.

Around 120 Nihongo teachers and other participants from all over the country joined the seminar with the aim of reinforcement and development of Nihongo teachers network formation in the Philippines; including update regarding the situation of Japanese Language Education in the various regions/provinces in the Philippines; and providing a venue for discussing current issues/problems experienced by Nihongo teachers through a variety of workshops.

During the group discussions, concerns were raised on the need to create new Japanese Language Education materials to cater to specialized courses like hotel and restaurant management; and insufficient resources on the introduction of Japanese culture were also discussed. Subsequently, with the help of this forum, through the network of Nihongo teachers, in the course of sharing of information, techniques, actively tackling every problem with its corresponding solution, progress should not be far way.

 Even after the forum, new ideas came to realization on how to expand networking through a social network via online exchange of information and ideas. A chance to develop closer relations among the Nihongo Teachers, thus providing a strong foundation in building a working network in the exchange of ideas and materials.

The Japan Foundation, Manila has high hopes on the improvement of Japanese Language Education in the Philippines; and will continue to support the flourishing network of Nihongo teachers in the country.

Nuit Blanche, an all-night, Toronto-wide contemporary art exhibition, took place from sunset to sunrise on Saturday, October 4. This was the third year this festival has been held in Toronto. Nuit Blanche is an event that gives young and old alike the opportunity to enjoy contemporary art casually. According to the news, approximately 1 million people participated in the festivities this year. The magnitude of the event is clear when you consider that the population of Toronto is 5.5 million – indeed, a very large segment of the community came out to join in the fun.

A work titled “Into the Blue” by Japanese artist Takahiro Fujiwara was selected as one of this year’s feature exhibits. The Japan Foundation lent its support to the realization of this exhibition.

“Into the Blue” is a vibrant, corn-shaped blue balloon that was suspended in mid-air in the city’s largest shopping mall, the Eaton Centre. The balloon revolved in the air while glimmering in the light of the mall. The shopping area was transformed from its everyday context by the appearance of the giant blue object which, when looked at from underneath, afforded the audience the sensation that they were being drawn up into the blue. As may be expected from the busiest shopping mall in Toronto, hundreds of people surrounded the piece, regardless of the fact that it was the middle of the night. Everyone enjoyed it in their own way by taking pictures and videos of the work with their cell phones and lying underneath it and staring up into it. It is estimated that over 20,000 people saw the work that night.

There were many twists and turns leading up to the realization of this exhibit.It was during this past spring that Mr. Fujiwara received a request from curator Gordon Hatt to use environmentally friendly materials to create his piece.Mr. Fujiwara began searching for an appropriate material, and finally arrived at soft acrylic after a long struggle. Soft acrylic can be processed in a similar manner to vinyl, and when Mr. Fujiwara put in a request to Inabata & Co., Ltd., a developer of environmentally friendly soft acrylic sheets, the company graciously accepted, and the realization of the exhibit became tangible.Because it is quite a new material, there were no soft acrylic sheets in the blue colour that the artist needed for his piece, and the company’s inventory had essentially no surplus. However, they were able to provide Mr. Fujiwara with colourless, clear soft acrylic, free of charge.

The processes of printing the soft acrylic in the blue colour and forming the sheets into the shape that the artist had envisioned were entrusted to different companies. With the help of engineers in the field, the piece was completed just days before the exhibition. The fact that the Japanese companies and engineers had devoted immense effort for the sake of art gave this blue object the power to draw tens of thousands of people to see it while it was suspended in the large mall throughout the night.

The Japan Foundation provided the project with a grant for some of the shipping charges for the piece, worked closely together with curator Gordon Hatt and Mr. Fujiwara, and cooperated in a variety of other ways to help realize this exhibit. The Foundation also participated in a woodblock print exhibit at Nuit Blanche, which received more than 3,000 visitors that night. It was a great pleasure to enjoy contemporary art together with the citizens of Toronto.

The Japan Cultural Institute in Cologne is placed slightly outside of the inner city where the city’s famous Cologne Cathedral resides. Nonetheless, the surroundings of the Institute are marvelous: there is a lake on the west, the Museum for Oriental Art on the north, the Italia Cultural Institute is on the other side of the street, and a large park on the south.
At the Japan Cultural Institute, two Japanese films are screened every week. From this October to December, documentary films in 70s and 80s are on the screen. Since there is no other organization to introduce Japanese films systematically, the screening at the Institute is highly appreciated by film magazines.  
This November started with a public reading by OE Kenzaburo. The audience enthusiastically listened to the reading of his novel by the Nobel Prize winner himself, and it was followed by a reading of its German translation by an actor. Mr. Oe also gave a lecture on his view of world and literature, at which the audience was particularly impressed by his thoughts that developed seamlessly from a private domain to the criticism against the society.
On November 25, we hosted the lecture and demonstration of Chanoyu (the Way of Tea) by Sen Sooku, hereditary successor to the Mushakoji Senke Tea School. Some 200 audiences were moved deeply by Mr. Sen when he talked with great zeal that Chanoyu tended to be regarded as a typical traditional Japanese culture, but it should not be isolated from daily lives of the times.  
On November 21 and 22, we hosted the symposium on the comparative study of the aging society in Japan and Germany. It may not be widely known that both Japan and Germany are the most advanced countries of the aging society. These two countries are placed in similar position in the world economy and have similar social system; they share common interests and many common problems to solve. At this symposium, the panelists discussed, sprinkling with practical examples, how to establish the network among elder people and to provide them with opportunities to learn and enjoy activities to lead their lives vigorously. A number of coverage in the mass media indicated a high concern of German people for this issue.  We are intending to host such events on the common issues to Japan and Germany to foster mutual understandings of modern Japanese and German societies.
In addition, on November 21, the “Dialogue Exhibition” opened with collaborative works by young Japanese and German artists. This year, Taka Kagitomi and Johannes Hensen, both living in Dusseldorf, have been amazing the audience by exhibiting their novel idea utilizing familiar objects such as garbage containers.
We are also hosting various concerts and performances throughout the year. If you're ever in the neighborhood, you are always welcome to drop by our institution.