Events: Bunraku in Illinois

The University of Illinois, Northwestern University, The Consulate General of Japan at Chicago, The City of Osaka Chicago Office, and Japan House (UIUC) are pleased to announce that Bunraku, one of Japan’s best known and most highly prized traditional performing arts, will come to the Midwest in October. The internationally-acclaimed National Bunraku Theatre – the most authentic puppet troupe from Osaka – will come to America for its first major tour in 15 years. For the Midwest, it will appear on stage for the first time ever.

October 6, 2007: Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
October 8, 2007: Cahn Auditorium, Northwestern University - Evanston Campus

For ticket and general information on the Bunraku performances please visit the following website –

http://bunrakumidwest.com/

The press release for this event is located here –

http://bunrakumidwest.com/images/Bunraku_Press_Release.pdf

Regional Events

MISSOURI

“Japanese Fall Festival”
Springfield, Missouri.
September 7 – 9

The Missouri Botanical Garden's Japanese Festival
September 1 -3 (see previous entry)


KANSAS

Anime Festival Wichita
August 18 - 19
915 E 53rd Street N
Wichita, Kansas
(316)832-9387


MINNESOTA

Como Park Japanese Lantern Festival is this Sunday, August 19 (see previous entry).

Chicago Events

Two upcoming events at the Japan America Society of Chicago:

Meishi (Business Card) Exchange
Yokoyama & Associates.
Thursday, August 23 at 5 pm.
150 N. Michigan Avenue, #2800, Chicago

"Building Global Brands in Japan: Lessons Learned From Kellogg's and McDonald's"
Presentation by author Ken G Kabira, Executive Vice President, Lipman Hearne.
August 30 at 5 pm.
190 S. LaSalle Street, 40th Floor (Adams Room), Chicago

To register for either of these events, see the JAS Chicago web site.


FILM

Grave of the Fireflies will be shown at the National Museum of Mexican Art. This classic animated film deals with life during the air raids of World War II.

Screening organized by the radio show Nihon No Rajio ("Japanese Radio"), airing in Spanish on Fridays from 6 -7 pm on WRTE 90.5 FM Radio Arte Chicago.
September 9th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
1852 West 19th Street, Chicago
Nihon No Rajio website (Spanish language)


FESTIVAL

The Japan America Service Committee presents the 37th Annual Fuji Festival and Silent Auction. The festival includes buffet refreshments, entertainment, and dancing, as well as a raffle with a grand prize of $10,000.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard
For more information:
http://www.jasc-chicago.org/ff07.html


DANCE

More info about the Fujima Ryu dance mentioned last week:
"On August 25, 2007, Saturday, at 5 p.m., Fujima Ryu of Chicago is proud to present what will hopefully become the first of many performances and lecture series. The presentation highlights Fujima Shunojo, the founder and head of Fujima Ryu of Chicago."

"The lecture will provide an essential base of knowledge; a “How to watch Nihon Buyou“ so that the audience can appreciate the dance without understanding Japanese. Explanations of both dances, as well as contrast between male dance and onnagata, a female dance performed by a male, as well as Nihon Buyou’s origin from Kabuki, and how it differs from Kabuki."


A Fujima Ryu dancer performs Nihon Buyo at the Ginza Festival on Sunday

Abe Fellowship - Research in Japan

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY

The deadline for this year's Abe Fellowship application is September 1 at 5:00 pm. "The Abe Fellowship is designed to encourage international multidisciplinary research on topics of pressing global concern. The program seeks to foster the development of a new generation of researchers who are interested in policy-relevant topics of long-range importance and who are willing to become key members of a bilateral and global research network built around such topics. Applications are welcome from scholars and non-academic research professionals."

For more information, please visit http://fellowships.ssrc.org/abe/. Applications should be submitted online at http://soap.ssrc.org.

Chicago Events - August

FESTIVAL

The 52nd Annual Ginza Holiday festival will be held at the Midwest Buddhist Temple in Chicago's Old Town this weekend.

435 W. Menomonee St.
Friday, Aug 10, 5:30 - 9:30 pm
Saturday, Aug 11, 11:30 am - 9 pm
Sunday, Aug 12, 11:30 am - 8 pm

"Featured will be four master craftsmen from Tokyo who will demonstrate their centuries-old skills, two taiko drum groups, Japanese classical and folk dances, martial arts demonstrations (kendo, aikido, karate, judo), and various cultural exhibits." Merchandise and food will also be available.
For more information, call 312-943-7801.



Pictures from Saturday's Mitsuwa Festival in Arlington Heights

CONCERT

Rock group Go!Go!7188 plays Wednesday, 9 pm at the Empty Bottle. See previous entry for details.


DANCE

Fujima Shunojo will give a performance and lecture about Nihon-buyo, traditional Japanese dance, hosted by the Japanese American Service Committee. Admission is free.
Saturday, August 25, 5 - 7 pm.
4427 N. Clark St, Chicago
Call 773-275-0097, extension 226 for more information.