Japanese Film Screenings: Dec. 9 - 13, 2009

Our colleagues at the Japan Foundation are offering free screenings of Japanese films. Read on...


FREE Screenings of Films from Japan
at the BLOOR CINEMA (506 Bloor St. W.)

December 9 - 13, 2009


The Japan Foundation presents four free screenings of contemporary Japanese films at the Bloor Cinema.

Films:
THE STARS CONVERGE - Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.
WOMEN IN THE MIRROR - Thursday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m.
THE MILK WOMAN - Saturday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m.
DOG IN A SIDECAR - Sunday, December 13 at 4:30 p.m.

Location:
Bloor Cinema
506 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON

Admission: FREE! No RSVP required.

Supported by the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto

Please visit the Japan Foundation Toronto site for more details.

BONENKAI! Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

December is coming and that means it’s time for the Canada Japan Society’s legendary BONENKAI celebration and party.

Bonenkai literally means “forget the year party” and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the end of another successful year and banish any negative memories you might have of 2009. The Canada Japan Soc...iety is building on our successful Bonenkai events of years past with this, our largest party of the year.

We would love to have you join this event and enjoy an evening of meeting new people with a connection/interest in Japan, reconnecting with those you haven’t seen for a while, informal networking, practicing your English and/or Japanese, learning more about the Canada Japan Society, and most of all…..have a great time.

This year we’re moving our venue from the now defunct Mochizuki to the cozy confines of the sleek ALIO Wine Bar on Dundas Street West near Bay.


BONENKAI
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
ALIO Wine Bar
108 Dundas Street West (at Bay)

CJS Members and Students $15
Non-Members $20
Admission includes lots of great food, live musical performances and fun.

If you would like to attend, or for more information, please RSVP to Jeff Harju.


***The Canada Japan Society is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing a better understanding between Canada and Japan.

****************************

今年最後の月がもうすぐやってきます。12月といえば日加協会の忘年会を抜きに語ることはできません。

「その年にあったことを忘れる会」忘年会とは文字通りその年を忘れる会。日加協会の忘年会はこの一年の成功を祝い、また嫌な出来事を忘れて新年への飛躍の糧にする絶好のイベントです。日加協会の忘年会で楽しいひと時を過ごすしませんか。年間行事の中で最大規模を誇る当協会の忘年会は毎年大変な好評を頂いております。

日本という共通の話題で新しい友達を作ったり、しばらく遠ざかっていた友人と再会する。忘年会をとおして友達の輪を広げたり、英語・日本語でいろいろな話をしてみる。楽しさ盛りだくさんのパーティーです。そして、日加協会の具体的な活動を知るまたとないチャンス。でも忘年会で一番大切なのはみんなで「楽しむこと」。皆様のご参加をお待ちしております！

今年の会場はMochizukiからおしゃれでリラックスした雰囲気のALIO Wine Barに移りました。Bayに近いDundas Street West で便利なロケーションです。料金には食事とライブ音楽の料金が含まれています。

日加協会忘年会
日時：2009年12月3日木曜日
午後6時から12時深夜まで
場所： ALIO Wine Bar
108 Dundas Street West (at Bay)

会費
日加協会会員及び学生：$15
日加協会会員以外：$20

参加希望の方及び詳細に関してはJeff Harjuまでご連絡ください。


日加協会は、日加間の交流を促進し、相互理解を深めるために設立された独立の非営利団体です。

Movie Night - "The Twilight Samurai" on Nov. 20/09

The CJS’s 2009 – 2010 Movie Nights series continues on Friday, November 20th with a screening of “The Twilight Samurai”.

Seibei, a lowly samurai, toils under financial hardship to raise his two daughters after his wife’s untimely death. He is nicknamed Twilight, for he always returns straight home after work to care for his family, never socializing with colleagues. Through an unfortunate turn of events, Seibei is forced to confront issues of courage, honour and love.

Director Yoji Yamada, perhaps best-known for his prolific output of Tora-san (Otoko wa tsurai yo) movies, brings a surprising perspective on the samurai period drama (jidai geki). Set in the late Tokugawa Period – near the twilight of the samurai years – the film portrays the domestic life of the average samurai, who struggle for survival with no wars to fight. Those expecting the usual hardboiled, sword-brandishing machismo will be surprised by this sentimental, quietly-paced work.

“The Twilight Samurai” swept the 2003 Japanese Academy Awards, winning in 12 categories including Film, Director, Screenplay, Actor, Actress, and Cinematography. It also earned a 2004 Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.


The Twilight Samurai (2002, 129 minutes)
Director: Yoji Yamada
Cast: Hiroyuki Sanada, Rie Miyazawa

Friday, November 20, 2009 at 7:00 pm
National Film Board of Canada
150 John Street (at Richmond), 2nd Fl.

CJS members: $5
Guests: $10

After-party at Everest Café (232 Queen St. W.) – join us!

Ichi-Moku-Kai (IMK) on Nov. 5/09

As much as I’d like to say that the Ichi-Moku-Kai coming up on Thursday, November 5th is the penultimate IMK for 2009 (just because I get to use the world “penultimate”), it is actually the final one for 2009.

Why? It’s because the first Thursday of December (Dec. 3rd) will be the date of our 2009 Bonenkai (end-of-year party). Save the date for this hugely popular annual event, and stay tuned for details.

So, back to the November IMK. As usual, Manpuku offers a fun Japanese menu and Japanese drinks at reasonable prices. This month we’ll be featuring a special live performance by Tatsu the Fiddler. Our house band, Bonito Beat, might be popping by as well.

Ichi-Moku-Kai
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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

CJS Movie Night - "Inugami" on Oct. 16/09

It's October! Get ready for the CJS's annual Halloween Movie Night!

This year we present Masato Harada's supernatural drama, "Inugami" (Dog God). The film mixes ancient myth and ceremony with the beauty of rural Shikoku in telling the tale of a family's inherited curse and descent into madness.

Popular actress Yuki Amami stars as a mysterious villager, who becomes involved with a younger man new to town. Soon, tragedies start to strike the village...

Don't miss this eerie,disturbing psycho-drama, the winner of several film festival prizes worldwide.

Inugami (2001, 106 minutes)
Director: Masato Harada
Cast: Yuki Amami, Atsuro Watabe, Eugene Harada, Shiho Fujimura, Eugene Harada

Friday, October 16, 2009 at 7:00 pm
National Film Board of Canada
150 John Street (at Richmond), 2nd Fl.

CJS members: $5
Guests: $10

Thurs., Oct. 1/09 - Ichimokukai

Come celebrate the start of autumn at the Canada Japan Society’s Ichimokukai party on October 1st!

Ichimoku-kai literally means the "first Thursday meeting" and since 1995 it has been the Canada Japan Society of Toronto's monthly social event, naturally on the first Thursday of every month.

It is a great place to make new friends, practice your English and/or Japanese, informally network, learn more about life in Canada and Japan, and most of all…have fun! Our attendees are usually around 50 percent Canadian and 50 percent Japanese, all with a common interest or connection with Japan.

At Ichimoku-kai you will receive special food and drink discounts and have the chance to win some exciting door prizes.

This month we're featuring a special live jazz performance by the Dennis Sung Trio. Bonito Beat, our "house band", might drop in as well!

Ichimoku-kai
Thursday, October 1, 2009
MANPUKU
6pm to 10pm +
105 McCaul Street
Units 29-31 (in the Village by the Grange building, south of the Food Court)

There is a $5 cover charge for non-CJS members. Discounts are available for groups of three or more people.

If you have any questions, please contact me: jeff@cjst.org

Jeff Harju
Director
CJS
jeff@cjst.org

Ichimoku-kai September 3, 2009

Come celebrate the end of summer at The Canada Japan Society’s Ichimokukai party on September 3rd!

Ichimoku-kai literally means the "first Thursday meeting" and since 1995 it has been the Canada Japan Society of Toronto's monthly social event, naturally on the first Thursday of every month.

It is a great place to make new friends, practice your English and/or Japanese, informally network, learn more about life in Canada and Japan, and most of all…have fun! Our attendees are usually around 50 percent Canadian and 50 percent Japanese, all with a common interest or connection with Japan.

At Ichimoku-kai you will receive special food and drink discounts and have the chance to win some exciting door prizes.

Our "house" band, "Bonito Beat", will return for another live performance , including some background music as well.

Ichimoku-kai
Thursday September 3rd
MANPUKU
6pm to 10pm +
105 McCaul Street
Units 29-31 (in the Village by the Grange building, south of the Food Court)

There is a $5 cover charge for non-CJS members. Discounts are available for groups of three or more people.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me: jeff@cjst.org

Jeff Harju
Director
CJS
jeff@cjst.org

Shinsedai Festival: August 21-23, 2009

The Canada Japan Society is proud to help promote this new and exciting film festival featuring the new wave of young Japanese filmmakers. Click on the image below for more details, or visit: www.shinsedai-fest.com

CJS Movie Night Season Finale and Reception; "The Uchouten Hoteru"

The Canada Japan Society cordially invites you to the end of our fifth season of showing great Japanese movies at the National Film Board of Canada, in the hopes of bringing Canadian and Japanese cultures closer together.

For this event we are presenting the highly acclaimed ensemble comedy piece “The Uchouten Hoteru” by director Koki Mitani (Rajio no Jikan, the Magic Hour). This hilarious film tells the story of an off the wall New Years Eve at a famous hotel. It stars a huge cast of “who’s who” in Japan, including Koji Yakusho, Takako Matsu, Koichi Sato, and Ryoko Shinohara, amongst many more. The film was nominated for 11 Japanese academy awards in 2006 and helped solidify Koki Mitani as one of Japan’s most gifted writers and directors.

The Canada Japan Society also invites attendees to the post movie reception at the National Film Board. This wine and cheese party (of course there will be lots of other beverages and snacks as well) will be a great place to meet and talk with others about the film, practice your English or Japanese, learn more about the Canada Japan Society, and most importantly have fun on a Friday night! The reception is included in the ticket price.

The Uchouten Hoteru (2006)
Friday, July 17th
6:30 pm start
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond)
CJS Members $15, Non-Members $20

There will be limited seating available for this event, so if you wish to attend please RSVP to jeff@cjst.org to have a reserved seat.

For more information, or to make a reservation, please contact me at jeff@cjst.org

_________________

日加協会による今シーズン最後の映画のご案内です。日本とカナダの架け橋となるイベントとして毎月National Film Board ofCanadaでムービーナイトが開催されます。

今 シーズン最後の上映は三谷幸喜監督（ラヂオの時間、ザ・マジックアワー）による「THE 有頂天ホテル」、2006年度の大ヒット作品。大晦日の夜、有名ホテルで起こる人間模様を描いたコメディーです。役所広司、松たか子、佐藤浩市、篠原涼 子、その他多数が出演、まるで俳優の人名録を見ているようです。

最も才能のある監督の一人として評価の高い三谷幸喜監督による当作品は2006年の日本アカデミー賞で11部門にノミネートされました。

映画の後は日加協会主催によるワイン＆チーズパーティーをお楽しみください。映画の話や英語や日本語の練習、また日加協会の活動内容を知る絶好の機会です。金曜日の夜、楽しいひと時をおすごしください。映画のチケット料金にはパーティーの会費も含まれています。



座席に限りがありす。参加ご希望の方は jeff@cjst.orgまで予約をお願いいたします。イベントの詳細についても上記のメールアドレスまでご連絡ください。

Canada Japan Society Annual General Meeting

The Board of Directors of the Canada-Japan Society
Invites all CJS members to attend

THE 2009 CJS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

At the offices of
McMillan LLP
Brookfield Place, Suite 4400 Bay Wellington Tower
181 Bay Street

Drinks and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Perfect time to renew your CJS membership

The following items are included in the agenda:
Report of the Directors
Presentation of the Financial Statements of the Society
Election of the 2009-2010 Board of Directors

Many of the current Board Members will be standing for re-election,
and a slate of proposed Board Members will be announced on our
website and blog by May 8th.

This is the perfect opportunity to renew your CJS Membership!

Come out and meet your fellow CJS members, exercise your vote, celebrate
another great CJS year, and share your ideas on how to make the next fiscal year
even better.

Please RSVP before May 25, 2009 to:

shalini.singh@mcmillan.ca or 416.865.7148

CJS Movie Night: BOY'S CHOIR

BOY'S CHOIR: A moving coming of age drama set in 1970's Japan

The Canada Japan Society shows a Japanese movie at the National Film Board of Canada on the third Friday of every month. This month we are featuring Akira Ogata’s touching coming of age drama set in an orphanage in 1970’s Japan. It's a moving film that brings many social/political issues of Japan at that time into the story. It is accompanied by some great performances by both Teruyuki Kagawa and Sora Toma.

The film was showcased in the Berlin Fim Festival and won numerous awards, both in Japan and elsewhere.

Boy’s Choir (Dokuritsu shonen gasshôdan) (2000)
Friday, May 15th
7 pm
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond)
CJS Members $5, Non-Members $10

There will also be a post party following the screening at Everest Café, which is a great place to meet new people, discuss the film, and learn more about the CJS.

CJS Movie Night: Welcome Back Mr. MacDonald

Come on out and watch this acclaimed comedy by director Koki Mitani (Suite Dreams, The Magic Hour). The story centers around a troup of live radio drama actors that decide to alter the script on the fly.....with hilarious results.

This film won 4 Japanese academy awards in 1997 and was nominated for 9 more!

Welcome Back Mr. MacDonald (Rajio no jikan)
Friday, April 17th @ 7 pm
NFB Theatre
150 John Street
Admission: $10.00 non-members, $5.00 members

Post party after the showing

Email: jeff@cjst.org

ＣＪＳ／日加協会が主催するこのイベントへのご参加、心よりお待ちしています “Surviving in Canada – カナダで暮らす・就職・移民について”

ＣＪＳ／日加協会が主催するこのイベントへのご参加、心よりお待ちしています
“Surviving in Canada – カナダで暮らす・就職・移民について”
４月２９日（水）　午後　６：３０ －９：３０ Japan Foundation　にて

今回、ＣＪＳ（Canada Japan Society）がお届けするのは、カナダに来て間もない方、もしくはカナダで学生として勉強をし、その後仕事を探そうとしている方、そして移民を考えている方々に焦点を当てたイベントです。カナダで何年か生活された、３名の日本人スピーカーの方々が、それぞれの貴重な体験談やアドバイスなどを話してくださいます。きっと、これからのあなたのカナダ生活に何らかのヒントを与えてくれるでしょう。

お話していただく内容は、それぞれ、カナダでの就職経験について・移民について・そして日本人としてカナダで生活していくことについて、となっています。

さらに、カナダで暮らすことと、異国の文化に慣れていくことのチャレンジなどについてもお話してくださる予定です。スピーチは英語で行われますが、その後に設けてありますＱ＆Ａの時間は英語、日本語どちらでも可です。それらが終わった後には、会場に軽食をご用意しますので、スピーカーの方々や参加者とご自由にお過ごしください。 こじんまりした会場でのイベントですので、お気軽にお越しください。

これらの参加費はCJSによって管理され、このイベントにかかる費用として充てられます。 お席に限りがありますので、参加ご希望の方は4月24日までにこちらへ: grethe@cjst.org
最近カナダに来たJapanese Newcomer, 必見！ぜひ足を運んでください！
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Canada - Japan Society of Toronto (CJS) cordially invites you to the event:

“Surviving in Canada – Immigration and Employment”
Wed. April 29, 6.30 PM – 9.30 PM at the Japan Foundation, Toronto

This event is for Japanese people new to Canada who are studying, looking for a job, or considering immigration. The purpose of this event is to make the transition to Canadian life easier by offering Japanese speakers with real life experience. We will have three speakers who will each share their unique experience and advice with the audience. They will cover topics such as job hunting and employment, immigration and living in Canada as Japanese. They will also share their view on the challenges of living in Canada and culture adoption.

The presentations will be in English followed by a short Q&A session in either Japanese or English. The second part of the evening includes a short reception where you will have the opportunity to network and talk with the speakers and other guests over some light refreshments. Participation fee collected by CJS will be used to cover the expenses of the event.
Please RSVP by April 24, 2009: grethe@cjst.org
If you are a Japanese newcomer to Canada, this is an event you don't want to miss.

CJS (Canada Japan Society of Toronto)は日本とカナダの文化交流、友好関係を目的として設立された非営利団体です。
The CJS (Canada Japan Society of Toronto) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing understanding of Canada, Japan, and Canada-Japan relations.
www.cjst.org

2009年4月29日（水）
6:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (３名のスピーチ・Ｑ＆Ａ)
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (軽食・懇親会)
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
131 Bloor Street West, Suite 213 （最寄駅　Bay Station）　
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R1
参加費：＄５

Wednesday, April 29, 2009
6:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Speakers - Q&A)
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (Reception)
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
131 Bloor Street West, Suite 213
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R1
Participation Fee: $5

Ichimokukai: April 2, 2009

It’s time once again for Ichimokukai! Ichimokukai literally means the "first Thursday meeting" and since 1995 it has been the Canada Japan Society of Toronto's monthly social event, naturally on the first Thursday of every month. It's a great place to make new friends, practice your English / Japanese, informally network, and have fun! Many different kinds of people come to Ichimokukai, including Canadians who've lived and worked in Japan, Japanese living and working or studying in Toronto, people interested in Japanese language or culture, and people with business ties to Japan.

We are now having Ichimokukai at the popular MANPUKU…there will be drink specials and most of the food is under $7!. Of course we also offer door prizes and lots of fun.

ICHIMOKUKAI
Thursday, April 2
6pm to 10pm +
MANPUKU
105 McCaul Street
Units 29-31 (in the Village by the Grange building, south of the Food Court)

Admission is free for CJS members, and visitors are welcome for a $5 cover charge. Discounts available for groups of three or more visitors.

CJS Movie Night; DEADLY OUTLAW REKKA 実録・安藤昇侠道伝 烈火

As part of The Canada Japan Society’s movie nights at the National Film Board, the CJS is proud to present Takashi Miike’s 2002 yakuza (gangster) epic “Deadly Outlaw Rekka”.

Starring Riki Takeuchi, Renji Ishibashi, Sonny Chiba, and Tetsuro Tanba, this is an electrifying movie that provides laughs, excitement, and some really crazy action. It has all the trademarks of a classic yakuza film; betrayal, revenge, honor and love set in the heart of modern day Shinjuku to a pounding rock score from the Japanese psychedelic rock group “Flower Travellin’ Band”.

Whether you’re a fan of action movies, the yakuza genre, or Miike as a director, don’t miss this little known gem from a prolific director.


Deadly Outlaw Rekka (実録・安藤昇侠道伝 烈火)
Friday, March 20, 2009 at 7:00 pm
NFB Theatre, 2nd floor
150 John Street (NW corner of John & Richmond)

$5 for CJS members; $10 for non-members

As usual, there will be an after-party following the screening at Everest Café (232 Queen W.).

Ichimoku-kai, Thursday March 5th

Ichimoku-kai literally means the "first Thursday meeting" and since 1995 it has been the Canada Japan Society of Toronto's monthly social event, naturally on the first Thursday of every month. It's a great place to make new friends, practice your English / Japanese, informally network, and have fun!

Many different kinds of people come to Ichimokukai, including Canadians who've lived and worked in Japan, Japanese living and working or studying in Toronto, people interested in Japanese language or culture, and people with business ties to Japan.

We are now having Ichimokukai at the popular MANPUKU…there will be drink specials and most of the food is under $7!. Of course we also offer door prizes and lots of fun.

ICHIMOKUKAI
Thursday, March 5th
6pm to 10pm +
MANPUKU
105 McCaul Street, Units 29-31
(in the Village by the Grange building, south of the Food Court)

Admission is free for CJS members, and visitors are welcome for a $5 cover charge. Discounts available for groups of three or more visitors.

“Japan Then and Now”

The Canada-Japan Society (CJS) cordially invites you to an evening of film and discussion in exploring Japan’s postwar development:

“Japan Then and Now”

The first part of the evening will be a screening of Japan in Translation, a documentary of postwar Japan by award-winning journalist Michael Maclear (producer of Vietnam: The 10,000 Day War). Shot between 1962 and 1975, this remarkable film provides a vivid snapshot of “the evolution of a new nation based on the best of the old traditions”.

After the film, Professor Michael W. Donnelly (Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Toronto) will be hosting an open discussion with the audience, where we will have the opportunity to explore and share ideas about Japan’s evolution since the period depicted in the film. Prof. Donnelly, a Japan expert, first visited the nation in the 1950s.

There will be a short reception following the discussion, where you can continue sharing your views with others over some refreshments.

“Japan Then and Now” will provide fascinating insights into how Japan has changed (or not changed) culturally, socially, economically and politically since the end of World War II.

This event is co-sponsored by the Asian Institute of the Munk Centre for International Studies, University of Toronto.

DATE: Thursday, February 26, 2009
TIME: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Documentary Film and Discussion)
9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Reception)
LOCATION: Room 208 N, North House
Munk Centre for International Studies, U of T
1 Devonshire Place (Entrance to the building on Devonshire)
ADMISSION: $5 (CJS members); $10 (non-members)

RSVP: e.shaul@sympatico.ca

OR register online through U of T:

CJS January Movie Night: MEMORIES OF MATSUKO

The Canada Japan Society Movie Nights at the National Film Board are back for 2009!

Our first showing will be Tetsuya Nakashima's award winning 2006 melodrama "Memories of Matsuko".

Miki Nakatani, who won the Japanese equivalent of their academy awards for best actress, portrays the titular character in her struggles through life. The film also won for best editing and music score, and was nominated for just about every other award that year as well.

Memories of Matsuko
Friday, January 16th
National Film Board Cinema
150 John Street
7 PM Start
CJS Members $5
Non Members $10

Email: jeff@cjst.org

There will be a post party following the showing as well. Please come on out and celebrate the start of another year of Japanese movies at the National Film Board.