JAPAN FOUNDATION WORLDWIDE

Our renovated library

The Japan Foundation, Seoul opened as a JF office in Korea in 2001. Since then, cultural exchange between Japan and Korea has been flourishing; with the significantly increased popularity of Hanryu (Korean Wave) in Japan and Japanese pop culture in Korea. The cultural exchange projects that the Japan Foundation, Seoul has been focusing on in particular are Japan-Korea Collaboration (projects of joint performance or production) and discussion on shared social issues such as aging society and juvenile crimes.

In the fall of 2009, the Japan Foundation, Seoul relocated its office from the government and business district Gwanghwamun to Shinchon, the student quarter with many universities including Yonsei University and Ewha Womans University that is therefore well known as the “Town of Youth” where new Korean cultures are coming from.

This relocation of our office to the Town of Youth seemed to be welcomed by Korean people. We held a ceremony commemorating the relocation on February 1 with attendance of Mr. Inchon Yu, Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. (Mr. Yu visited Japan in 2006 when he was an associate professor at Chung-Ang University as a JF Japanese Studies fellow.)

At the ceremony, singer-songwriter Tomoe Sawa sang her original songs in Japanese and Korean, the languages of her parents. She was the first singer with Japanese nationality to hold a concert in Korea in 1996. In 1998, she sang the first Japanese song ever sang officially in Korea. Ms. Sawa held concerts in Seoul on February 2 and 3 and in Busan on February 5, all of these were well received.

The screening of the silent film was accompanied by live performance of Korean traditional musical instruments.

Another program in the ceremony was the screening of Yasujiro Ozu’s silent film “Daigaku wa detakeredo (I Graduated, but…)” with a narration by Korean actor Dae-jong Kim and live performance of Korean traditional musical instruments by young Korean musicians.

The Japan Foundation, Seoul has been hosting various commemorative events in cooperation with several organizations until March 2010, including the exhibition of Chihiro Iwasaki’s works, Furoshiki Design Contest Collection, the special screenings of Kenji Mizoguchi’s films, and performance and workshops of Shakuhachi (bamboo flute) by Kifu Mitsuhashi.

The office is conveniently located near the station and has a cultural information room where audio visual materials and books are available for visitors and seminar rooms for Japanese-language courses, conferences, and exhibitions. We are looking forward to seeing you at our office reborn in Shinchon, the Town of Youth. It’s the best place to feel what is going on in Japan today.

Q&A after Dr. Ikeda’s lecture

Recently Japan has been experiencing major changes in its political and social landscape. Despite the fact that many Canadians are interested in current events in Japan, this news is not widely reported or discussed in the Canadian media. With this in mind, in early 2010 the Japan Foundation, Toronto held two lectures focusing on the changing society of contemporary Japan. By presenting this information from the viewpoint of Japanese Studies scholars in Canada, we hoped to facilitate a deeper understanding of what the present situation in Japan really is, and how this is relevant to Canada.

On January 29, Dr. Satoshi Ikeda, of Concordia University in Montreal, delivered a thought-provoking and highly-motivating lecture entitled, “Japan and the end of the Capitalist World-system: An Exploration of Emerging Alternatives”.  Dr. Ikeda’s social economy-themed lecture was followed by a lively Q&A session, which kept people debating and discussing even as they left the lecture hall.

On February 11, Dr. Yves Tiberghien, of the University of British Columbia, guided audience members through the intricacies of the Japanese governmental system and explored the significance of the August 2009 election, with his lecture, “Regime Change in Tokyo?: Promises, Stakes, and Realities of the Revolutionary Hatoyama Administration”.  The audience was impressed with Dr. Tiberghien’s depth of knowledge and eager to hear his insights into the future of Japan.

During Dr. Tiberghien’s lecture

Both lectures were very well attended, despite the blisteringly cold Toronto winter weather. The audiences were diverse, made up of graduate students, professors, business people, and members of the general public who are interested in Japan. Audience members were asked to complete a questionnaire providing feedback about the event, and comments included, “I was very impressed. I am glad that the JF is supporting the dissemination of exciting academic studies in areas where Japan and Canada can learn from each other,” and “Very informative, as we get so little news on Japan”. Our patrons also expressed a wish for more lectures on these kinds of contemporary topics.

The response to these lectures was overwhelmingly positive, and the subject matter drew in many first-time visitors. As visitors were encouraged to visit our library and gallery before the lecture, we had the opportunity to introduce them to the many services that we offer. With the success of these events, we hope to arrange more lectures on current events in Japan in the near future.

Japanese-Language workshop (c)Jun Ueno

Since its open in September 1969, the Japan Cultural Institute in Cologne has been engaging in and supporting various cultural exchange projects not only in Cologne but also throughout Germany. 2009 was its 40th anniversary of being the bridge between Japan and Germany. From September 1 to 9, the Institute celebrated the anniversary with the ceremony and a variety of events as follows: the Ensemble Yusei’s Gagaku (traditional Japanese music) concert at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall; memorial concert of the 100th anniversary of Koichi Kishi, a Japanese composer who was a conductor at the Berlin Philharmonic in the 1930s; an exhibition of contemporary Japanese art “Winter Garden”; a symposium co-organized with the Ministry for Innovation, Science, Research and Technology of North Rhine-Westphalia, "Quality of Life in an Aging Society: What Can Germany and Japan Learn from Each Other"; a lecture by Japanese-Language learners and a workshop of Origami; and film screenings of “The 21st Century Boy” and other Japanese pop films. This week of celebration attracted many visitors not only from Cologne but also from distant cities. Among the exhibitors of “Winter Garden,” Mr. Taro Izumi visited Cologne in time for the opening of the exhibition. The audience of all ages enjoyed his performance, and this performance in Cologne produced his new work.

Performance of Mr. Taro Izumi (c)Jun Ueno	Memorial concert of the 100th anniversary of Koichi Kishi (c)Jun Ueno

A wide variety of Japanese culture, from traditional Gagaku to contemporary pop culture, was introduced to German audience, and many of them praised the profundity of Japanese culture.

40th anniversary ceremony (c)Jun Ueno

At the anniversary ceremony, a video message from Kazuo Ogoura, the president of the Japan Foundation, was presented in German and congratulatory speeches were delivered by following guests: Dr. Shinyo, the Ambassador of Japan in Germany; Dr. Lehmann, the President of the Goethe-Institut; and Mrs. Spizig, the Deputy Mayer of Cologne. These were followed by a symposium entitled “The Prospects of Japan-German Relationship” chaired by Koji Ueda, the Director of the Institute, and panelists include Mr. Hielscher, a journalist who spent years in Japan. Participants were those who had been involving in cultural projects in Japan and Germany, and they all renewed their friendship with each other while discussing actively about their activities in the future. The collection of articles donated from people in various fields entitled “The Memorial Collection for the 40th Anniversary” was distributed among the participants and well received.

The year of 2011 will be the 150th anniversary of friendship between Japan and Germany. As this bilateral relation will increase its importance more than ever, the Japan Cultural Institute in Cologne will contribute further to the friendship. As always, we appreciate your continuing support and cooperation for our activities.