The CJS Movie Night is BOUNCE KOGALS 「バウンスKo GALS」

The Canada-Japan Society’s 2009 – 2010 Movie Nights series continues this Friday, with a screening of Masato Harada’s controversial award-winner, “Bounce Ko Gals”.

Set in the fading bubble economy against a backdrop of the “paid dating” (enjo kosai) scene, the film follows the trials and tribulations of three girls over the span of one day and night in the ultra-trendy Shibuya district of Tokyo. The film combines seediness and sentimentality in a coming-of-age drama, with some truly memorable characters.

Masato Harada is one of the more thoughtful directors in the Japanese movie industry. He has lived and worked for long periods in the West, informing his unique, insightful perspectives on Japanese society. “Bounce Ko Gals” won numerous awards on the film festival circuit in Japan, particularly for screenwriting and the acting of the three young leads Hitomi Sato, Yasue Sato, and Yukiko Okamoto. The films also features Japanese stalwart Koji Yakusho.

As usual, the screening will be followed by an after-party at Everest Café. Join us!


Bounce Ko Gals
1997, 110 minutes
Director: Masato Harada
Cast: Hitomi Sato, Yasue Sato, Yukiko Okamoto, Koji Yakusho

Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
NFB Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond), 2nd floor

CJS Members $5, Non-Members $10


After-party at Everest Café (232 Queen St. W.)

March 4/10: Ichi-Moku-Kai at Manpuku

Join us at Manpuku this Thursday (March 4th) for Ichi-Moku-Kai, our legendary monthly social event!

We’re now in our 15th year of IMK, stronger than ever. And as always, we receive special food and drink discounts as IMK attendees.


Ichi-Moku-Kai
Thursday, March 4, 2010
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Manpuku Modern Japanese Eatery
105 McCaul Street, Unit 29-31
(Inside the “Village by the Grange” building, south of the food court

Free for CJS members; $5 for guests


Hope to see you there!

March 6/10: Sake lecture at the Japan Foundation

On Saturday, March 6, 2010, our esteemed colleagues at the Japan Foundation are presenting a special, free-admission lecture on Sake culture. Tastings of three sakes will be offered. Please read on for details...















Date:
Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

Location:
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
131 Bloor Street West, 2nd Floor

RSVP Required:
416.966.1600 ext. 102, or through online registration.

Contact: info@jftor.org


Ms. Chieko Fujita was born in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. She is a writer and a journalist, writing mainly about the sake culture of Japan. She has visited many local sake breweries all over Japan and one of her goals is to bring this culture to the public. Ms. Fujita also organizes the “Fermentation Link”, which brings together sake brewers, the producers of Japanese traditional fermented seasonings (such as miso and shoyu), chefs, and consumers through various workshops and networking activities.

Her articles have appeared in many magazines, and she is the author of numerous books, including Bishu no Sekkei (“Designing Excellent Sake,” published by Magazine House), Japan’s Daiginjo 100 (published by Shinchosha), Touji toiu shigoto (“The Job Called Sake Brewer,” published by Shinchosha) and Gokujo no chomiryo wo motomete (“In Search of Ultimate Seasonings,” published by Bungeishunju).

March 5/10: "2010 Asian Footprints" conference on Japanese food

Our colleagues at the Munk Centre for International Studies Asian Institute, along with the Japan Foundation, the Consulate-General of Japan, and the Japan Information Centre, are presenting a conference on Japanese food. Read on...

Location: Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility, University of Toronto, 1 Devonshire Place
Date and Time: Friday, March 5, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Website: www.utoronto.ca/ai/asianfoodprints
Register for conference: General admission $10, Student admission $5. Register here
Register for dinner: General admission $75, Student admission $65. Register here
Contact: asian.institute@utoronto.ca

The 2010 Asian Foodprints conference will focus on Japan and Japanese food. The aim of this event is to use Japanese food and its culinary traditions as windows to explore both continuities and change in Japanese society.

From Sanrio’s global merchandising of Kogepan, to saturated television programming in Japan about cuisine, to the cultural economy of fish and rice, food makes up the very social, political, and economic fabric of Japan. The globalization of sushi and the syndication of the Iron Chef model worldwide are a testament to the popular reach of Japanese food. And the several academic treatments of Japanese cuisine and food more generally are proof of their scholarly intrigue.

As such, this conference marries the popular with the academic. Indeed, as an important nexus between east and west, modern Japan has played a significant role in shaping global society, prompting ever more curiosity about the evolution of Japanese cuisine and food culture. In addition to a more “hands-on” perspective on Japanese food, the conference will feature three panel discussions about Food and Social Identity; Practicing Japanese Food Culture; and Food, Politics and Economy.

Feb. 19/10 - CJS Movie Night & Special Reception

You are cordially invited to help celebrate the half-way mark of the sixth season of CJS Movie Nights at the National Film Board of Canada! Please join us on Friday, February 19th for a screening of Kenji Uchida’s “A Stranger of Mine” (Unmei janai hito), followed by a special wine & cheese reception.

This obscure gem of a film portrays the lives of a recently-jilted woman, a hapless salaryman, his con of an ex-girlfriend, a disillusioned private detective, and a mob boss. What starts off as a seemingly simple, typical “rom-com” develops into an intriguing, Rashomon-style web of perspectives as provided by each of the five characters. “A Stranger of Mine”, a multiple award-winner on the film festival circuit, is a charming, light-hearted tale that’s sure to generate conversation at the post-screening reception.

Speaking of which… Please do stay and join us for the wine & cheese reception after the movie. What better way to spend a mid-winter Friday evening than to watch a delightful film, and then mingle with your CJS friends over food and drinks.







A STRANGER OF MINE (Unmei janai hito)
2005, 98 minutes
Director: Kenji Uchida
Cast: Yasushi Nakamura, Reika Kirishima, So Yamanaka, Yuka Itaya, Kisuke Yamashita

Friday, February 19, 2010
6:30 p.m. (please note the early start time)
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond), 2nd floor

CJS Members $15, Non-Members $20 (admission includes film and reception)

There will be limited seating available for this event, so please RSVP to Jeff Harju to reserve a seat.