December news and events

Apologies for the long delay since the last entry. Things have been busy around here. With the holidays coming up, this will probably be the only entry until mid-January.

A reception for returning JET programme and the Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund participants, and another reception celebrating the birthday of Emperor Akihito, were held at the Consulate General of Japan at Chicago was held on December 1st and December 11th, respectively. In spite of hostile weather on both occasions, the events were well-attended.

The Japan America Student Conference is recruiting participants for the 2008 Conference. American delegates will be selected from all fields of study and will range from 1st year college students to Ph.D. candidates. Applications are due February 8th. This is a great opportunity for students interested in Japan.


IOWA

Polly Fortune, President of the Japan America Society of Iowa, is stepping aside after a successful term. She will be replaced by Mayumi Ameku. The JASI has a new website at http://www.japaniowa.org. They will host their New Year meeting in Des Moines on January 13.


ILLINOIS

Aikido seminar with Horii Shihan
February 1 - 3, 2008
Aikido Shimboku Dojo, 9115 Trinity Drive, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156


CHICAGO - FILM

Zebraman
Takashi Miike's bizarre superhero film is playing at Facets Cinematheque.
December 28 - January 3rd.


A major Shohei Imamura retrospective is playing at Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago in January and February. If you are unfamiliar with his rowdy, emotionally complex pictures, this is an excellent chance to get acquainted, as many of these films are unavailable on video. Between January 5th and March 4th, 18 of Imamura's films will be screened.


Coming soon...Watch for announcements in January about Japanese figure skater and Olympic medalist Yuka Sato and an anime event in Chicago...

Regional Events

CHICAGO

TAO Wadaiko Group Performing at Chicago Human Rhythm Project
From Nov. 23–25 Japanese drumming group, TAO will perform at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park. TAO specializes in the art of wadaiko, a traditional form of Japanese drumming rich in rhythm and movement. Don't miss this exhilarating performance!
November 23 - 25, 2007
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
205 E Randolph Drive (Millennium Park)
Chicago, IL 60601

FILM

Honey and Clover – This quirky romantic comedy revolves around the lives of five art school students. Adopted from the popular manga. U.S. premiere.
November 30 – December 6 at Facets Cinematheque.


MINNEAPOLIS

Ken Moylan – New Work: Japan Series
Remarkable paintings and mixed media pieces incorporating classical Japanese themes and images.
October 27 - December 1
Thomas Barry Fine Arts
530 N 3rd Street #B-10
Minneapolis, MN 55401
612.338.3656
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11-5


MILWAUKEE

Messenger of Friendship: The Adventures of Kasumi Tsukuba Doll

Kasumi Tsukuba is a torei ningyo – a doll of gratitude – sent to the United States from Japan in 1927 as a goodwill gesture. After 80 years of rotating between display and storage she returned to Tokyo’s Yoshitoku doll factory, where she was created, to undergo restoration. She has now been fully rejuvenated and returned to Milwaukee after a tour of Ibaraki, Japan, her "home" prefecture.
November 3, 2007-June 30, 2008
Milwaukee Public Museum
800 West Wells Street, Milwaukee


IOWA – LECTURE

On Saturday, November 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. noted Japanese professor of architectural engineering, Dr. Sadamasa Komaki, will present a lecture on the buildings of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido. Hosted by the Japan America Society of Iowa.
November 10th, 1:00-3:00 (Saturday)
Living History Farms
2600 111th St.
Urbandale, Iowa, 50322
Contact John Wetherell at 515-280-7480 for more information.

more October Events

BORIS preview in today's Chicago Tribune. Sunday at the Empty Bottle - don't miss it!


EVENT - ST LOUIS


Treasured Tales: Shin-nai Narrative Song and Kuruma Ningyo Puppetry
"Traditional Japanese Narrative Song by Tsuruga Wakasanojo XI and Puppetry by Nishikawa Koryu. As part of a three-city tour these two masters will perform the light-hearted travelogue “Yaji Kita,” and the dark love story “Kurokami” at UMSL."
October 19, 2007 (Friday) 8:00 pm
J. C. Penney Auditorium at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (click for PDF map)


PRESENTATION - CHICAGO

"The Only Woman in the Room: A Memoir" - Beate Sirota Gordon
Beate Sirota Gordon was one of twenty members of the Constitutional Assembly created in Japan in February 1946 by Doublas MacArthur to draft a new constitution. She was chosen to write the women's rights clause for this constitution and participated in the famous secret session between American and Japanese officials that determined the articles to be included in the new constitution, which ensures gender equality and a peaceful role for Japan in world affairs.

Ms. Sirota Gordon will speak about her contributions to the constitution and the recent debate over constitutional revision in Japan. Coffee and dessert will be served following the Q&A. This is sure to be a fascinating presentation!

Friday, October 26, 5:30pm - 8:00pm
Japan Information Center
Free admission. To make a reservation please call (312) 263-3049 by October 24. More info should be available soon on the JASC events page.


CONCERT


Polysics - first U.S. tour for the experimental Japanese pop/rock group. This should be a great tour - Polysics are a lot of fun!

October 22, 2007 - Milwaukee, WI - The Eagles Ballroom
October 24, 2007 - Chicago, IL - Congress Theater
October 25, 2007 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore

Full tour schedule and more info at Japanator.


MISC.

From a reader: A chance to trade something (of slightly greater value) for an antique set of hinamatsuri dolls. If possible, she is hoping to trade with someone in Iowa. Visit the trading blog.