East Asia for Teachers

 

Newsletter of the Five College Center for East Asian Studies

Spring and Summer 2009

 

FOCUS ON JAPAN

Conferences, Workshops, Lectures, and Discussions

Performances, Films, Exhibitions, and the Arts

Education & Travel * Resources * Announcements

 


Home Page * General/East Asia

Calendar * Focus on China and Korea

 

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, AND DISCUSSION GROUPS    

UMASS AMHERST
The Five College Japan Lecture Series at the University of Massachusetts announces its programming for spring 2009. Focus is on gender and sexuality in Japan.

For further information, contact: Bruce Baird. Email baird@asianlan.umass.edu.

WESLEYAN U, MIDDLETOWN, CT
The Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 343 Washington Ter, presents Full Metal Apache: On the Post-Cyborgian Identity of Japanoids at 4:30pm, Tue, Apr 28. The lecture is given by Tatsumi Takayuki (Keio University). For more information, contact: Shirley Lawrence. Tel 860-685-2330; Email slawrence@wesleyan.edu ; Web www.wesleyan.edu/east/mansfieldf/ .

SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS, MA
The Springfield Museums presents The Japan Craze, a lecture by William Hosley (New Haven Museum and Historical Society), on Sat, Mar 28, 1pm. Hosely discusses the Victorian-era passion for all things Japanese and how it was reflected in the decorative arts of the period. For more information, contact: Wendy Somes, Springfield Museums. Tel 413-263-6800 x323; Email wsomes@springfieldmuseums.org.

NECTJ, BOSTON, MA
The 14th Annual Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese (NECTJ) Conference is held Sat, May 23, 9am-5pm, at the Boston Children’s Museum. The program focuses on developing content-based instructional materials based on Japanese culture. The proposal deadline for teachers interested in giving a 20-minute presentation on language pedagogy, technology, or applied studies is Mon, Mar 30. Contact: Tomoko Graham. Tel 781-320-7180; Email tomoko_graham@nobles.edu.

HARVARD U, CAMBRIDGE, MA
The Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies presents the following lectures by Harvard University faculty:

To learn more, contact Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies. Tel 617-495-3220; Email rijs@fas.harvard.edu; Web www.fas.harvard.edu/~rijs.

YALE U, NEW HAVEN, CT
The Council on East Asian Studies at Yale University presents the following lectures at 5pm, as part of the Japan Colloquium Series:

Titles and locations of these lectures TBA.
Contact: Anne Letterman. Tel 203-432-3428; Email anne.letterman@yale.edu.
A lecture by Marilyn Ivy (Columbia University) on Fri, Apr 17, 12pm, is part of the Japan Anthropology Colloquium Series. Title and location TBA. To register for this event, contact: Ellen Rubinstein. Email ellen.rubinstein@yale.edu.

The Journey of Chanoyu, an International Symposium on the Tea Culture of Japan, Past and Present, is held on Fri, Apr 17, 9am-5pm, in the McNeil Lecture Hall, Yale University Art Gallery. International tea practitioners, scholars, curators, and art dealers discuss the international content and aesthetics of Japanese tea culture. Registration is required. For more information, contact: Ami Potter. Tel 203-432-7379; Email ami.potter@yale.edu



 

PERFORMANCES, FILMS, EXHIBITIONS, AND THE ARTS

 

§*FCCEAS/NCTA, S. HADLEY, MA
The Five College Center for East Asian Studies invites present and past FCCEAS/NCTA seminar participants and their colleagues to experience Japanese Tea Ceremony at Wa-Shin-An Teahouse and Meditation Garden, Eliot House, Mount Holyoke College. The program is offered from 7:30-8:30pm on Thu, Apr 9, and Thu, Apr 16. Registration deadline is Wed, Apr 1. For more information, contact: Arlene Kowal. Email arlnkoala@aol.com.

UMASS AMHERST
The Asian Arts and Culture Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst presents Salute to Baseball Japan Style: Taiko Drums and Trumpet in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, on Wed, Apr 15, 10am. The traditional Japanese and American music set to the beat of taiko drums is performed by Odaiko New England and Japanese Trumpeter Tiger Okoshi. For tickets, call 1-800-999-UMAS or 413-545-2511; Web www.umass.edu/fac/.

JAPAN-AMERICA SOCIETY OF VERMONT
Matsuri ’09, a Japanese cultural festival, is held at the Ross Sports Center, St. Michael’s College on Sun, Mar 29, 11am to 5pm. The event includes arts, crafts, music, and food. For more information, contact: Japan-America Society of Vermont. Tel 802-655-4197; Email info@jasv.org; Web www.jasv.org.

YALE U, NEW HAVEN, CT
Tea Culture of Japan: Chanoyu Past and Present is on view at the Yale University Art Gallery through Sun, Apr 26. This exhibition consists of approximately 100 objects, ranging from the 9th century through the present. Ceramic tea bowls, bamboo tea scoops, iron kettles, maki-e lacquer incense containers, and Zen-inspired calligraphic works are among the objects on display.
Tea Demonstration and Tea Services are offered on Sat, Apr 18, 2-2:45pm and 3-4:30pm in the Mayer Lobby of the Gallery. The Gallery also presents a series of films focusing on how tea utensils are handled.
For more information, contact: Ami Potter. Tel 203-432-0629; Email ami.potter@yale.edu; Web http://artgallery.yale.edu.

JAPAN SOCIETY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT
The Japan Society of Fairfield County is planning an Ohanami for Sun, Apr 19. For more information, visit www.home.earthlink.net/~jsfc/upev.html.

ODAIKO NEW ENGLAND, MA
Odaiko New England’s 15th Anniversary Concert is held in May with 2 performances: Sat, May 30, 8pm and Sun, May 31, 3pm. The group also conducts classes and workshops. For more information, contact: Odaiko New England. Tel 781-316-1948; Email info@onetaiko.org; Web www.onetaiko.org.

WESLEYAN U, MIDDLETOWN, CT
The Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 343 Washington Ter, presents Spring Taiko Concert on Sun, May 3, 7pm, in the World Music Hall. The program is led by Mark H. Rooney of the Boston-based drumming group Odaiko New England.
            A Lecture/Tour of the Freeman Family Japanese Garden conducted by Stephen A. Morrell, Landscape Designer, Wesleyan University, is held on Mon, Apr 13:
A Japanese Tea Ceremony Demonstration and Tour of the Freeman Family Japanese Garden is scheduled for Mon, May 4, 4:30pm, with Morrell. He also conducts the “Open Days” Garden Conservancy Garden Tour of the Garden on Sat, May 9, 10am-noon.
            For more information, contact: Shirley Lawrence. Tel 860-685-2330; Email slawrence@wesleyan.edu; Web www.wesleyan.edu/east/mansfieldf/.

RISD MUSEUM, PROVIDENCE, RI
The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum of Art presents The Lure of Ink: Japanese Monochrome Prints and Books through Sun, Jul 5. This exhibition focuses on the variety of printed effects that are possible in monochrome printmaking, including book illustration. For more information, contact: RISD Museum of Art. Tel 401-454-6500; Web www.risdmuseum.org.

BURINGTON TAIKO GROUP, VT
The Burlington Taiko Group offers taiko classes, an art form of music and movement, to children and adults. Classes are conducted at the Burlington Taiko Space, 208 Flynn Ave, Burlington, and at the Richmond Free Library, 201 Bridge St, Richmond. The public can observe classes and rehearsals. To learn about classes, contact: Burlington Taiko Group. Tel 802-658-0658; Email classes@burlingtontaiko.org.
The Group also gives school performances and conducts workshops. Contact: Burlington Taiko Group Booking Agents. Email booking@burlingtontaikio.org; Web www.burlingtontaiko.org.

ASIAN CULTURAL CENTER, BRATTLEBORO, VT
Double Japanese Festival of Tanabata and Obon is held at the C.X. Silver Gallery, 814 Western Ave, West Brattleboro, on Sun, Jun 28, 1-4pm. To learn more about this celebration-potluck program, contact Adam Silver, Asian Cultural Center of Vermont. Tel 802-257-7898, x1; Email acc.vt@myfairpoint.net; Web www.asianculturalcentervt.org.

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON
The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston, 465 Huntington Ave, offers the following exhibitions on Japan:

  • Thru Sun, May 31:  Visions of Kyoto: Scenes from Japan’s Ancient Capital showcases prints of Kyoto from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, depicting cityscapes, history, legends, and festivals.
  • Thru Sun, Aug 9:  Celebrating Kyoto: Modern Arts from Boston’s Sister City focuses on contemporary ceramics and prints created by artists in Kyoto and the Kansai region.
  • Thru Mon, Nov 9: Showa Sophistication: Japan in the 1930s consists of 17 recently-acquired Japanese paintings that portray such images as skiers, stylish tea-house attendants, and young women in Parisian fashion.

Contact: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Tel 617-267-9300; Web www.mfa.org.

KAJI ASO STUDIO, BOSTON, MA
The Kaji Aso Studio, 40 Saint Stephen St, presents the Shakuhachi and Koto Concert, traditional Japanese music by Ryudo Takahashi and Sumie Kaneko on Sun, Mar 22, 7pm.
Inspiration for the Dot Project, an exhibition of works by Kaji Aso, is showing Sat, Mar 28 − Thu, Apr 30. An opening reception takes place on Sat, Mar 28, 7-9pm, with a short gallery talk at 8pm.
            A Japanese Calligraphy and Sumi Painting Exhibition runs from Fri, May 1 − Thu, May 21. An opening reception is held Fri, May 1, 7-9pm.
            Japan Festival 2009 takes place Sun, May 3, 2-7pm. This event includes traditional music performance of koto and shamison, ikebana demonstration, haiku readings, theater performance, Japanese food, and tea house tours.
            Star Festival is a group exhibition of visual arts on view Sat, Jul 11 − Sat, Aug 1. An opening reception is held Sat, Jul 11, 7-9:30pm. Poetry reading and new music compositions are performed at 8pm.
For more information, contact: Kaji Aso Studio. Tel 617-247-1719; Fax 617-247-7564; Email administrator@kajiasostudio.com; Web www.kajiasostudio.com.

BOSTON UNIVERSITY, MA
Boston University’s Department of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature and the Center for the Study of Asia, with the cooperation of the Japan Society of Boston,  presents Japanese Film Masterpieces. Films are shown on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm, at the Photonics Center, Rm 205 (8 St. Mary’s St). A number of films set in Kyoto are included in recognition of the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Kyoto-Boston Sister City Relationship. These films are currently scheduled as follows:

  • Mar 18: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
  • Mar 25: Naniwa Elegy
  • Apr 1: Hula Girls
  • Apr 8: The Burmese Harp
  • Apr 15: Sisters of the Gion

All films are in Japanese with English subtitles. For-up-to-date information on films, call 617-353-2642.

BLACK SHIPS FESTIVAL, NEWPORT, RI
The Black Ships Festival commemorates the historic achievements of Commodore Matthew C. Perry. The 2009 Festival is held in Newport Thu, Jul 16 − Sun, Jul 19. The program focuses on Japanese art and culture, such as origami, martial arts, Japanese tea ceremony, and drumming. To learn more, contact: Japan-America Society of Rhode Island. Tel 401-846-2720; Web www.newportevents.com/Blackships/main.shtml.  

ANIME BOSTON
Anime Boston 2009 is held Fri, May 22 − Sun, May 24, at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St. Japanese Band Bespa Kumamero and artist Misako Rocks are among the many guests. To learn more, visit www.animeboston.com/.

BOSTON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, MA
The Boston Children’s Museum welcomes spring with a Sakura Matsuri, Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival. The event offers a variety of activities and takes place at the Museum Sun, Apr 26, 11am-3pm.
            Kamishibai, Japanese Storytelling & Take-home Activity is a program conducted at the Museum every 2nd Saturday of the month.
Kyoto Natsu-matsuri – Summer Fest! is in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Boston-Kyoto Sister City Relationship. Activities, performances, and workshops take place at the Boston Children’s Museum throughout the summer. Meet 60 Kids from Kyoto, Japan, one such program, is held on Sun, Jun 14, 1-4pm.
The Museum is also celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Japanese House. Kyo-no-machiya, an authentic 100-year old house, came to Boston in 1979 as a gift from Kyoto, Boston’s sister city.
For more information, contact: Akemi Chayama. Tel 617-426-6500 x295; Email Chayama@BostonChildrensMuseum.org; Web www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org.

WORCESTER ART MUSEUM, MA
Alive in Colorful Display is the second rotation of the exhibition Heavenly and Earthly Delight at the Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St. This rotation is on view through Sun, Jun 7. It features six-panel and two-panel screen paintings in the Japanese ukiyo-e genre and Rinpa school styles. For more information, contact: Worcester Art Museum. Tel 508-799-4406; Fax 508-798-5646; Web www.worcesterart.org.

KAJI ASO STUDIO, BOSTON, MA
The Kaji Aso Studio is conducting a Haiku Tour in Japan, scheduled for Fri, Jul 31 − Wed, Aug 12. This tour of Japan focuses on visiting important places for haiku poets, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Iga Ueno, and Oku No Hosomichi. For more details, confirmation of schedule, and price, contact: Kaji Aso Studio. Tel 617-247-1719; Web www.kajiasostudio.com.

JAPAN SOCIETY, NYC
KRAZY! The Delirious World of Anime + Manga + Video Games is showing at the Japan Society, 333 East 47th St, Fri, Mar 13 − Sun, Jun 14. The exhibition features life-size blowups of popular figures from the worlds of anime and manga.
   Buriki: Japanese Tin Toys form the Golden Age of the American Automobile, The Yoku Tanaka Collection is on view Thu, Jul 9 −Sun, Aug 16. This collection focuses on toys made for the U.S. market during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Society also presents these films.

  • Fri, Apr 17: Hearts and Flowers for Tora-san
  • Fri, May 22: Tora-san, My Uncle

For more information, contact: Japan Society. Tel 212-832-1155; Web www.japansociety.org.

EDUCATION AND TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

THE LAURASIAN INSTITUTION
The J-corps, Jr. Program is an academic year high school exchange program. The Laurasian Institution (TLI) selects Japanese high school students who are interested in learning about the U.S. and eager to share the Japanese language and culture with others. These students receive coaching to enable them to share Japanese teen culture and native language in the classroom, school, and community. For more information, contact: Mari Kim. Tel 206-367-2152; Email mkim@laurasian.org;  Web www.laurasian.org/Programs.htm.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

NEW COUNCIL GENERAL OF JAPAN IN BOSTON
The Five College Center for East Asian studies welcomes to New England recently arrived Consul General of Japan in Boston Masaru Tsuji and his family. Mr. Tsuji, a 1978 graduate of the University of Tokyo, has led a distinguished career, during which he held several important posts, including Minister, Embassy of Japan, Singapore, and Minister, Embassy of Japan, Russia.  He comes to Boston after serving for two years as Director-General for International Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Tokyo. We look forward to his visiting western Massachusetts.

NEW PRESIDENT OF JAPAN SOCIETY NY
Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York Motoatsu Sakurai has been appointed by the Japan Society of New York as its next president. Mr. Sakurai, who is former president of Mitsubishi's American subsidiary, succeeds Richard J. Wood on April 7. The Center welcomes him and wishes him well in his new position. 

MINEAR’S TRANSLATION
Richard Minear’s (University of Massachusetts Amherst) recent translation, The Scars of War: Tokyo During World War II: writings of Takeyama Michio, published by Rowman & Littlefield, is among Choice magazine’s “Outstanding Academic Titles, 2008.”

BOSTON-KYOTO SISTER CITY RELATIONSHIP
Kyoto became Boston’s first Sister City in 1959. There are programs in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Boston-Kyoto Sister City Relationship at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Children’s Museum of Boston, and Boston University. Some of those programs are noted elsewhere in this newsletter. Other special Kyoto-related events are still being developed. Check the Japan Society of Boston’s Web site for updates: www.us-japan.org/boston.

CHILDEN’S DAY
Designated as a national holiday by the Japanese government in 1948, Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day, is celebrated annually on May 5. This day is set aside to respect children and to celebrate their happiness. The following site gives more information on Children’s Day: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kodomo_no_hi.

 

TEACHERS ... ALERT YOUR STUDENTS TO…

-->The 61st Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is held Fri, Jul 24 − Fri, Aug 21. This is an academic and cultural exchange program for university students in the United States and Japan. The conference theme is “Towards Global Awareness: Everyday Impact through Interactive Empowerment.” The tentative schedule begins in Seattle with the American Orientation, then goes to Tokyo, Hakodate, Nagano, and Kyoto/Osaka. To learn more, contact: International Student Conferences. Tel 202-289-9088; Email jasc@iscdc.org; Web www.iscdc.org.

-->Keio Academy of New York, in Purchase, NY, is offering a 2-week Bilingual Summer Program on digital media creation for students aged 13-15 from both the United States and Japan. The theme is “Japan in New York.” Participants explore aspects of Japanese culture and business in New York and take English as a Second Language (ESL) or Japanese as a Second Language (JSL) classes. The dates for this residential program are Sat, Jul 25 −Sat, Aug 8. Application deadline is Thu, Apr 30. To learn more, go to www.keio.edu/summerpgrogram. 

 

 

RESOURCES

The Five College Center for East Asian Studies’ Resource Library, which has served thousands of area teachers since the 1970s, will continue to be open to visitors on weekdays—except on Wednesday afternoons. However, we can no longer respond to requests for mailing resources—the exceptions are requests from teachers enrolled in our 2008−2009 NCTA seminar and study-tour programs. We encourage everyone to come in to the Center, browse, and borrow! To learn more, contact: FCCEAS. Tel 413-585-3751; email fcceas@email.smith.edu.

Japanese Old Photographs in Bakumatsu-Meiji Period is a database consisting of approximately 6,000 hand-colored photographs taken in Japan between 1860 and 1920. A search for specific photographs can be done by photographer, category, keyword, or location. The site is located at http://oldphoto.lb.nagasaki-u.ac.jp/en/.

New Online Curriculum: Imaging Japanese History
The Program for Teaching East Asia at the University of Colorado announces a free online curriculum. Imaging Japanese History contains five modules:

Designed for secondary school social studies and art history teachers, each module includes an introductory essay and an interactive lesson. Four of the five modules
in the series are currently available at http://www.colorado.edu/cas/tea/imagingjapan.

 

 

Conferences, Workshops, Lectures, and Discussion Groups
Performances, Films, Exhibitions, and the Arts * Education & Travel
Resources * Announcements

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