JAPAN FOUNDATION WORLDWIDE

From October 29 to November 10, 2009, the Japan Foundation, New Delhi hosted the Origami Exhibition 2009 and workshops by Delhi Origami Club.

Delhi Origami Club is a group of people who are interested in origami, from beginners to experienced people regardless of their nationality, gathering together at the Japan Foundation, New Delhi once a week to enjoy origami. Today, the nationalities of members include India, Japan, and Korea. The Club always welcomes walk-in participants.

This exhibition was the second occasion for the club following the first one held last autumn. At the exhibition hall, the origami works of members were exhibited. Around the same time, Tagore International School in New Delhi organized an origami competition, and the works of the finalists were also exhibited. The club members also provided origami workshops for visitors.

This exhibition was covered by local newspapers, and many local school students visited the site as an extracurricular lesson. Workshops held on weekends attracted many local citizens; most of them came with their families. These workshops were enjoyed by people of all ages.

Actually, origami has been quite well known in Delhi, and there are many occasions for the local citizen to experience the world of origami. Many elementary and secondary schools and kindergartens have already had origami lessons. Some even call themselves Origamists. There are many possible reasons for the popularity of Origami in this city; one of these is probably a mathematical and philosophical way of thinking that is required to fold origami suits Indians very well.

Good news is that the meeting of Delhi Origami Club is expected to be held twice a week from now on, thanks to favorable responses that the exhibition and workshops have received and many inquiries from visitors. The Japan Foundation, New Delhi will keep supporting the opportunities for Delhi citizens to experience the magic of origami in the hope that people in India will feel closer to Japan.

(c) The Japan Foundation

In October of 2009, the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, presented the Kabuki Lecture and Demonstration during a five city tour in the western half of the United States. These cities included Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland and Denver. The word “歌舞伎 (Kabuki)“　similar to the word sushi has been anglicized to kabuki and the word permeated throughout the English language. However, for your average American, kabuki is known as something that you can not understand unless you pay large sums of money for the ticket. This project was meant to explain the background of kabuki and its style in an easy to understand way through explanations and an actual scene from a famous scene so that many Amercans can grasp the true essence of the art of kabuki.  

(c) The Japan Foundation

Through the cooperation of the Shochiku Production, Kyouzou Nakamura, Matanosuke Nakamura, along with 7 other performers and 5 staff members totaling 14 members were able to travel to the United States for this project. During the performance, the actors provided explanations of the music and special characteristics of kabuki, mainly onnagata where a male plays a female role in addition to history and culture. There was also a demonstration of how the makeup is applied and how the actors are dressed for their roles.  This was not just a general lecture and demonstration but a live musical performance feature four performers playing shamisen while providing vocals and three other performers playing Japanese drums and other instruments. It was a rare opportunity to get a taste of the real thing and at the same time experience what the actors go through backstage. Performances included Heron Maiden and Lion Dance, which were very fascinating.

The Los Angeles performance was conducted in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of The Japan-America Society of Southern California and included two performances, one in the afternoon and one at night. The remaining four cities each had one performance, which filled to capacity during each event. Total, there were over 4,000 attendees during the entire course of this project, which made it a great success.

Japanese-language stand at the Language Show

In the last eight months of FY 2009, the Japan Foundation, London organized a variety of events in our three major categories: Japanese Language Education, Art and Cultural Exchange, and Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange.

Japanese Language Education Overseas programs are targeted mainly at children and youngsters to support the mid or long-term effects to broaden and deepen the understanding of Japan. With this aim, we have been contributing educational materials to the Japanese-language institutions overseas as well as providing and supporting various training programs for teachers. In June 2009, we held “Nihongo Cup 2009,” the national Japanese-language speech contest for secondary school students. 19 finalists selected from an initial 124 applicants gathered together in London for the final speech. In November, we ran our Japanese-language stand at the Language Show in London and provided a Japanese taster lesson.

 

Japanese-language stand crowded with many children

In Art and Cultural Exchange category, we have been introducing diverse genres and artists from Japan, and supporting projects. In June, two British specialists on traditional sashiko textiles and contemporary cross-stitch gave lectures and workshops. In July, Mr. Makoto Nomura an exclusive talk on the Melodica, also known as the "Keyboard Harmonica," a fairly well-known instrument in Japanese music education but less familiar to people overseas. Mr. Nomura and other Japanese and British composers/musicians demonstrated the mechanism of the Melodica and the array of sounds it can produce. From August to September, we organized a tour by Japanese Kendama (cup-and-ball) maestro and Edo-Daikagura (traditional Japanese circus skill) performer at six venues in five cities around the UK.
In Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange category, we supported scholars in the UK in visiting Japan and in holding conferences. In November, we hosted the roundtable on culture and peace-building at our office with participation of scholars and specialists from Japan and the UK.