Community Event: Japan Canada Christmas Eve Party

For all of you with nothing to do in Toronto on Christmas Eve, come on out to the 2nd Annual Japan/Canada Christmas Eve Party! Join lots of folk from both Japan and Canada for an evening of dancing and fun in the heart of Kensington Market.

Friday, December 24th, 2010
9:00 pm to 2:00 am
Augusta House
152 Augusta Avenue, Kensington Market
Tickets: $10 at the door (includes one drink)

Furhter Details here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=151674098214116

December 2nd, 2010: BONENKAI!

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

Bonenakai 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 2010. The Canada Japan Society 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 once again at the cozy confines of the sleek ALIO Wine Bar on Dundas Street West near Bay.

BONENKAI
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010
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 and fun. Cash Bar.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND, or for more information, PLEASE RSVP to jeff@cjst.org

November 26th, 2010 - The CJS Movie Night for November is "BAYSIDE SHAKEDOWN; the Movie" 踊る大捜査線

For our November MOVIE NIGHT, The Canada Japan Society is proud to present the 1998 Blockbuster “Bayside Shakedown: the Movie”.

Based on the massive hit TV series Odoru Daisosasen the story and characters continue in this thrilling, funny and action packed look into life and politics in a big city police station. Three different stories are skilfully intertwined. First, the Tokyo police commissioner has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom. Second, a twisted killer uses an internet site to troll for victims. And, third, a thief is loose within the ranks of the police!

The star studded cast features Yûji Oda, Toshirô Yanagiba, Eri Fukatsu and a host of others as officers fighting for justice and yet caught within the bureaucracy and red tape of the Japanese police force.

Come on out for an evening of fun and enjoy the film that started the movie franchise, spawning two sequels and two more spinoffs!

Bayside Shakedown; the Movie
Friday, November 26th
National Film Board Theatre, 2nd Floor
150 John Street (at Richmond)
7 p.m. start
CJS Members $5, Non-Members $10

Of course we will continue after the movie with our ever-popular post party at Everest as well. Hope you can come out for a night of good fun and film! Hope to see you there!

Community Event: April Bride at the Breast Fest Film Festival

There’s a great Japanese film playing in the 3rd annual Breast Fest Film Festival.

Chie (Nana Eikura) is a 'companion', a young woman hired to speak in a public-relations role at corporate events, who ends up in the wrong auditorium. There she encounters a young salaryman, Taro (Eita).

Their relationship proceeds quickly, and soon Taro is talking of marriage. Chie, however, is hiding something: she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
When chemotherapy causes her hair to fall out, she ends the relationship and moves away. Taro finds her after she has lost a breast to surgery; he insists that she is still the same person she was, and that his feelings have not changed. The two promise they will stay together no matter what happens.

The couple reunites, but then Chie's cancer comes back. Knowing that she has only a short time to live, Taro, her family, and her friends secretly plan a wedding...

April Bride (2009)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, ON
3 pm start
$10For more information or to order tickets please go here: http://www.breastfestfilmfest.com/about.shtml

The Breast Fest Film Festival uses the versatile medium of film to frame and explore the spectrum of issues surrounding breast cancer. This annual festival uses films, panels, workshops and speakers to connect people to the breast cancer cause, inspire dialogue, facilitate learning and foster community. Breast Fest is the world's first film festival dedicated to breast cancer awareness and is an initiative of Rethink Breast Cancer. on

November 13, 14, 2010 - CJS Co-Sponsors "TOILET" and "DEAR DOCTOR" at the REEL ASIAN Film Festival!

The Canada Japan Society is proud, once again, to be a community co-sponsor for the 14th Annual REEL ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, running from November 9-15th.

We are sponsoring TWO films again this year, and CJS members save 25% on regular screening ticket prices! Just enter promotional code CPORG when you buy tickets online at www.reelasian.com. Valid to Nov 8 2010.

TOILET (トイレット)
FEATURE PRESENTATION | SAT NOV 13 | 7:15 PM | INNIS TOWN HALL
Dir. Naoko Ogigami | Japan 2010 | 109:00 | 35mm | English | Rated: PG


Japanese director Naoko Ogigami’s most recent international cinematic offering, filmed in Toronto in 2009 and featuring a mostly Canadian cast and production team, is an off-the-wall comedy about three siblings — a nerdy engineer, a brilliant pianist and an aspiring air guitarist, who collectively struggle to relate to their estranged Japanese grandmother after the death of their mother.

Known for her poignant humour and the charming sensibility in her body of work — Kamome Diner (2006) and Megane (2007) — Ogigami delights in placing her characters in situations that force them to deal with the peculiarities and problems of everyday life. Nerdy thirty-something Ray (Alex House) is just fine, doing his own thing. Balancing his life somewhere in between peacefulness and boredom, he is content with his lab job, predictable work clothes and his obsession with plastic toys. But after his mother’s death, he reluctantly finds himself back home with his eccentric brother Maury (David Rendall), who suffers from severe anxiety, and their bossy sister Lisa (Tatiana Mazurani), who demands that Ray take more of an active role in the family. Still coping with the loss of their mother, the siblings must also care for their baa-chan, or grandmother (Masako Motai), who just arrived from Japan and doesn’t speak a word of English.

Frustrated by this disruption to his daily routine, Ray becomes increasingly obsessed with the bathroom rituals of his baa-chan and questions whether or not she is “really” part of their family. Through a series of hysterically comedic events, he discovers that she really isn’t who he’d expected. Of course, neither is he.


DEAR DOCTOR (ディア ドクター)

FEATURE PRESENTATION | SUN NOV 14 | 2:00 PM | INNIS TOWN HALL
Dir. Miwa Nishikawa | Japan 2009 | 127:00 | 35mm | Japanese w/ Eng. sub. | Rated: PG


In a remote Japanese rural village of 1,500 aged residents, the sole and much-beloved physician, Osamu Ino (Tsurube Shofukutei), has gone missing. During the police investigation into his disappearance, Ino’s reputation is questioned, with emerging discrepancies in his credentials pointing to fraud and willful endangerment of the health of local residents.

In spite of these revelations, the town and even the mayor comes to the defence of Ino, who is also deeply admired and considered a cherished mentor by his colleagues — nurse Akemi Otake (Kimiko Yo, Departures) and a young medical intern, Keisuke Soma (Eita).

The film’s humorous vignettes of the trio visiting elderly patients show Ino’s wonderful bedside manner and sensitive approach to medicine. And after he miraculously brings a man back from the dead, Ino’s standing in the community approaches a godlike stature.

But then he encounters the case of an elderly widow — Torikai-san (Kaoru Yachigusa) — complaining of a stomach ache that appears to be more serious than Ino’s initial diagnosis. Complicating the issue, he has developed an ambiguous relationship with Mrs. Torikai, who is neglected by her grown daughters, one of whom is a doctor in Tokyo.

Based on her own novel, Kino no kamisama, director Miwa Nishikawa’s Dear Doctor is an endearing and artful comedy about how patients sometimes suffer more from loneliness than from physical illness. Posing a philosophical dilemma, the storyline asks: what qualifies someone to care for others — credentials or life experiences? This charming and nostalgic film, with gorgeous cinematography and a popular cast, has won more than 21 awards in Japan.

November 4th: the LAST ICHIMOKUKAI of 2010

Yes, that's right...it is the LAST Ichimokukai of 2010!

Ichimoku-kai literally means the "First Thursday Meeting" and since 1995 it has been the Canada Japan Society’s monthly social event...It’s a great place to informally network, make new friends, practice your English and/or Japanese, learn more about life in Canada and Japan, and most of all…have fun!

You'll get special pricing on already inexpensive Japanese food and drinks, enjoy a great atmoshpere, and get a chance to win some door prizes!

PLUS...the first details of our Legendary BONENKAI event will be released! Don't miss it!

Thursday, November 4th, 2010
Doors open at 6:00
MANPUKU
105 McCaul Street (Unit 29-31, in the Village by the Grange building, past the food court)
CJS Members FREE, Non-Members $5
Hope to see you there!

Community Event: Free Lunchtime Video Screenings at the Japan Information Centre

Every month, the Japan Information Centre (JIC) screens short video features on modern Japanese culture, society and other subjects in the JIC Event Room.
These screenings are FREE and wonderful opportunities to discover many things about Japan.

This month's videos are: Japanology: The Past in the Present, Sho (Bamboo flute), Funadansu Sea Chests, Sweet Accessories, Yamaga Lantern Festival, Wagakki – Ancient Japanese Music Instruments, Unfolding the story of the kyo-sensu fan, Highly polished skills, Matsuri-zushi – festival sushi, and Iriomote’s Shichi Festival

November 5th (Fri) 12:10 -12:55pm.
November 17th(Wed) 1:10 -1:55pm.

Feel free to drop in with your lunch!

For additional information, contact the Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan at 416-363-5488.

Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan
Suite 110, 6 Garamond Court, Don Mills, ON M3C 1Z5
Phone: 416-363-5488
URL: www.toronto.ca.emb-japan.go.jp

Community Event: Koki Tanaka Artist Talk and Video Screening

KOKI TANAKA: Artist talk and video screening: "A Haircut by 9 Hairdressers at Once (second attempt)"

Drawing from his experience as artist-in-residence at Toronto’s YYZ gallery earlier this year, video artist Koki Tanaka continues to develop ideas inspired by his stay here. While in Toronto, Tanaka noted how the wide variety of international hair salons—Chinese, Portuguese, Indian, Jamaican, Japanese, old-style, hip-style, etc.—reflects the multicultural character of the city. During a recent stay in San Francisco, Tanaka observed the same thing, and created the video "A Haircut by 9 Hairdressers at Once (second attempt)" (duration 30 minutes). On Tuesday, November 2, at the Japan Foundation, he will show this new video and discuss his works and influences.

Tuesday, November 2, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. (doors 6:00)
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
131 Bloor St. W., 2nd floor of the Colonnade Building
Admission: free
This event is in English.

RSVP Required: jftor.org/whatson/rsvp.php or (416) 966-1600 x102

Tanaka’s work is currently on display at the Japan Foundation, Toronto as part of the exhibition “Winter Garden: The Exploration of the Micropop Imagination in Contemporary Japanese Art.” “Winter Garden” curator Midori Matsui describes his videos as documents of “transformations of banal everyday objects, motivated by his playful interactions with them.”

October 22/10: CJS Movie Night/Wine & Cheese Reception Features GREEN MIND, METAL BATS

The Canada Japan Society is proud to continue our 2010/2011 season of Movie Nights at the National Film Board with Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s nihilistic look at modern youth: “Green Mind, Metal Bats”.

This often dark comedy/drama tells the intertwining tale of three broken young people, whose lives are all seriously affected, good and bad, by their love of baseball. It is not a sports movie, but is instead an unpredictable and unsettling look at the sometimes negative influence of sport on daily lives of some modern young Japanese.

The film is directed by the up and coming Kumakiri, who has won praise for Hole in the Sky, Antenna, and Non-ko, and is based on the manga by Tomohiro Koizumi. It features an eclectic cast with newcomer Takehara Pistol, rising actor Ando Masanobu (Aegis, A Big Bang Love: Juvenile), and TV actress Sakai Maki (Kisarazu Cats Eye) in the lead roles. Look closely and you’ll see prolific pink film director Wakamatsu Koji appearing in a cameo as the spirit of Babe Ruth.

The event features the return of the ever-famous CJS RECEPTION following the movie. After the film, continue the fun with an all-inclusive wine and cheese party where you can meet lots of new people and talk about the film. It’s a perfect way to keep warm on a cold October night!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, PLEASE RSVP to jeff@cjst.org. We need and accurate count of numbers for the food and drinks.

Green Mind, Metal Bats
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond), 2nd Floor
6:30 PM start time
CJS Members $15, Non-Members $20
*Admission includes film and wine and cheese reception

October 15/10: The CJS Presents a Lecture by Tokio Ohska on YUZURU: The Twilight Crane

The Canada Japan Society and the Japan Foundation proudly presents a lecture by Tokio K. Ohska onYuzuru: the Twilight Crane, the first Japanese Opera performed in Japanese by a European cast.

Please come out and enjoy an intriguing evening with Tokio Ohska and find out why a
noted Doctor of Physics would want to direct a Japanese Opera!

Friday, October 15, 2010
The Japan Foundation Toronto
131 Bloor St. W, Suite 213
Toronto, ON M5S 1R1
Time: 6:30 pm
Admission: free

Seating is limited so PLEASE RSVP to JEFF@CJST.ORG

The lecture will be in English followed by a short Q&A session and reception.
Light refreshments will be served. For more informa􀆟on please contact jeff@cjst.org.

October 07/10 Start Off the Fall With ICHIMOKUKAI!

It sure feels like Autumn outside....so it's the perfect time to stay warm and enjoy the Canada Japan Society's Ichimokukai!

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.

It will be lots of fun, so make sure to get there early for a seat!

Ichimoku-kai
Thursday October 7th
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.

Community Event: An Evening of Classical Guitar, Flute, and Violin from Japan

On Wednesday, October 27th, the Japan Foundation presents an evening of classical guitar, flute, and violin featuring:

大萩康司　 Yasuji Ohagi (guitar): Graduate of Conservatoire de Musique, Paris
瀬尾和紀　　 Kazunori Seo (flute): Studied and currently resides in Paris, France
鍵冨弦太郎　Gentaro Kagitomi (violin): First prize winner of the National Students Competition at the age of 15

The most sought-after Japanese performers bring their excellence in music making to Toronto in this unique ensemble of guitar, flute and violin. The program reflects the poetic hearts of the musicians as global travellers, encompassing works from Europe, Latin America, and Japan.

This concert is part of a cross-Canada tour organized by The Japan Foundation.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 8:00 p.m.
Glenn Gould Studio
250 Front Street West, CBC Broadcast Centre
Admission: $30; students and seniors $20; reserved seating

Tickets available: In person at the box offices of Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall Please note that the tickets are not sold at Glenn Gould Studio)
Online www.roythomsonhall.com
Inquiry: 416.966.1600 x229 www.jftor.org
Presented by the Japan Foundation, in co-operation with the Consulate General of Japan in Toronto.

Community Event: Sayonara Hashima at the Japan Foundation

SAYONARA HASHIMA

The Japan Foundation Toronto, along with the Goethe Institut, Toronto and OCAD University present a screening of Sayonara Hashima, along with a discussion with artists Nina Fischer and Maroan el Sani on Friday, October 1st.

Sayonara Hashima takes as its subject Hashima, an island off the coast of Japan with a fascinating history. Entirely manmade, the concrete island served as a coal-mining operation that, at its peak of operation, housed some 5000 inhabitants, at that time the most densely populated place on earth.

Abandoned in 1974, when its mineral resources had been exhausted, the island has since taken on a ghostly, mythic status in the national imagination, aided by its appearance in a Battle Royale II, a recent Japanese adventure/science fiction film. Nina Fischer & Maroan El Sani explore the changing roles of the island throughout its history, capturing the accounts not only of former inhabitants but also the current impressions of high school students of a place they know only indirectly through representations. As with many of Fischer & El Sani’s previous projects, Sayonara Hashima asks how memory operates, how a site wears its history, both physically and metaphorically.

Date: Friday, October 1
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm (doors open at 6:30)
Location: The Japan Foundation, Toronto
Address: 131 Bloor St. W., 2nd floor of the Colonnade Building
Admission: Free
Reservation required: www.jftor.org/whatson/rsvp.php or (416) 966-1600 x102

September 24/10: CJS Movie Night is "I JUST DIDN'T DO IT" それでもボクはやってない

The Canada Japan Society is opening its 2010/2011 season of Movie Nights at the National Film Board of Canada with a showing of Masayuki Suo’s award winning “I Just Didn’t Do It”.

I Just Didn’t Do It tells the tale of a young graduate, Teppei Kaneko (portrayed by Ryo Kase) who is accused of molesting a schoolgirl on his way to a job interview. He is subsequently coerced by weary detectives to accept the charge and pay the fine instead of pursuing vindication. Teppei decides to try and prove his innocence, resulting in a surprisingly effective social drama that examines justice, truth and morality in the modern day Japanese legal system.

Acclaimed director Suo (Shall We Dance, Sumo Do Sumo Don’t) has put together an enthralling ensemble cast including Kase, Koji Yakusho, Asaka Seto, Koji Yamamoto, and Masako Motai. The film won 3 Japanese Academy Awards and was nominated for 8 more in 2008.

I Just Didn’t Do It
Friday, September 24th, 2010
7 P.M
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond)
$5 for CJS Members
$10 for Non-Members

As always, we will also be having a post-screening party at Everest (232 Queen W.) after the film. The informal get-together is a great way for attendees to practice their English/Japanese while discussing the film, meeting some new people and making some new friends.

September 09 /10: Opening Night Reception for Puzzle Project

The CJS is proud to be a sponsor of the PUZZLE PROJECT Canada 2010.

The Puzzle Project is a unique art exhibit that originated from Osaka, Japan in 2006. It later expanded to London, UK and is now coming to Toronto, Canada. Over 60 select artists from Japan and Canada will create work on individual puzzle pieces, unaware of the contents of the other artists work. Once finished, the individual pieces will be put together to form one final puzzle, representing the concept of "Fusion; exceeding the boundaries of nation, religion, and race with art." The Toronto edition will also feature the theme of "Your Movie Your Dream; Like a movie hero, believe in your dream and you can make it happen”. The final puzzle will be an exploration of the interplay of the different artists interpretation of the themes, with their individual styles and vision coming together to create a dramatic representation of the concept.

September 10th to October 9th, 2010
TYPE books
883 Queen Street West, Toronto
Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday 11a.m. – 6 p.m
Admission FREE

The opening night reception is Thursday, September 9th, from 7-9 pm at TYPE Books and will feature drinks, h'ors deauvres, a live performance, and a chance to see a sneak preview of the Puzzle Project. More info can be found at:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=141772372505788&ref=ts
Web site (International): www.puzzle-project.org

September 02/10: SAKE Tasting at Ichimokukai

The Canada Japan Society Presents SAKE TASTING AT ICHIMOKUKAI

Ichimoku-kai literally means the "First Thursday Meeting" and since 1995 it has been the Canada Japan Society’s monthly social event...It’s a great place to informally network, make new friends, practice your English and/or Japanese, learn more about life in Canada and Japan, and most of all…have fun! You'll get special pricing on already inexpensive Japanese food and drinks, enjoy a great atmoshpere, and get a chance to win some door prizes!

This month we are including a special SAKE TASTING featuring a variety of Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, and Junmai Daiginjo sakes, as well as a selection of Shochu and Umeshu. There will be a quick introduction to the world of Sake, followed by the tasting. S

Special thanks to both OZAWA Canada and Manpuku for their support in putting on this event.

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
Doors open at 6:00, Sake Tasting begins at 7:00 MANPUKU
105 McCaul Street (in the Village by the Grange building, past the food court)
CJS Members FREE, Non-Members $5 Sake tasting tickets begin at $1 each

To ensure you get a seat make sure you come early!

For more information please contact jeff@cjst.org.

Community Event: Ogata Megumi: Live in Toronto!

Ogata Megumi (緒方 恵美) is coming to Canada! Cubeshops Incorporated, JTB Entertainment and Fan Expo Canada are proud to announce that legendary voice actress Ogata Megumi will be performing a rock concert live at the lovely John Bassett Theatre inside of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

She and her rock band will be performing hits off her newest CD, 666, and as a special treat to her fans, she will be also singing some rare anime hits off of her aniMegu album. Come see one of Japan’s most prolific voice actresses perform live for the first time in the US or Canada!

August 28 · 7:30pm
Metro Toronto Convention Centre - John Bassett Theatre
255 Front Street West
Toronto, ON

More info HERE: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=128326967204481

Information Session From the Japan Foundation for the New Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) was first held in 1984 by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) in order to measure and certify Japanese language learners. Although only 7,000 people took the test in its first year, the number of examinees rose to about 770,000 by 2009. The JLPT is now the largest-scale Japanese language examination in the world.

In addition to measuring Japanese-language ability for academic purposes, test results are now also used by employers to assess job seekers’ credentials and evaluate employees for promotion and recognition. Students use the test to demonstrate their language ability when applying to educational institutions, study abroad programs, internships, etc. As the number of students of Japanese-language has increased, it has become apparent that the test must be revised to meet the diverse and changing needs of Japanese-language learners.

By evaluating past test outcomes and developments in Japanese pedagogy and test theory over the past 25 years, the Japan Foundation and JEES have revised the content of the JLPT and in 2010 the New Japanese Language Proficiency Test was created.

The Japan Foundation is planning to hold information sessions led by a researcher from the Japan Foundation’s Japanese Language Test Centre. These sessions will review the changes that will take effect this year, including explanations based on actual exercises used in the new JLPT. We look forward to your participation.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 1:30PM – 4:00PM
York University
Admission: Free
Registration: http://www.jftor.org/whatson/rsvp.php* You can participate in the session at York University (1) on site or (2) view a broadcast of the session on the internet. Please check the following site: http://buna.arts.yorku.ca/jlpt/

Main Target: Japanese language learners and teachers
Language: mainly English
Organized by: The Japan Foundation, York University
Contact: 416-966-1600 ext. 224 or nsaito@jftor.org 　

Community Event: Free September Lunchtime Video Screenings at the Japan Information Centre

Every month, the Japan Information Centre (JIC) screens short video features on modern Japanese culture, society and other subjects in the JIC Event Room.
These screenings are FREE and wonderful opportunities to discover many things about Japan.

This month's videos are: “Japanology: The Past in the Present – Mathematics” and "Japan Video Topics: The Cherry Blossoms of Yoshino, Titanium Tiles for Temple Roofs, How Old Firms Survive, Old Crafts in Modern Art, Hiking the Shinetsu Trail, When Mending Becomes an Art, A Better Way to Peaceful Sleep, New Technology for Disable Sports”

September 3 (Fri) 12:10 -12:55pm.
September 15 (Wed) 1:10 -1:55pm
Feel free to drop in with your lunch!

For additional information, contact the Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan at 416-363-5488.

Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan
Suite 110, 6 Garamond Court, Don Mills, ON M3C 1Z5
Phone: 416-363-5488
URL: www.toronto.ca.emb-japan.go.jp

Posted by Canada Japan Society at 2:47 PM 0 comments

LOVE EXPOSURE 愛のむきだし "Exposed" in EYE WEEKLY

Final notice for the CJS Special Toronto Premiere of Sion Sono's acclaimed, four hour masterpiece this Saturday, August 21st at the JCCC. It will be an evening of shocks, laughs and controversy. With a cash bar and Japanese snacks available, it's sure to be the can't miss event of August!

The film and event have recently been previewed in EYE WEEKLY (5 Stars!)
http://www.eyeweekly.com/film/feature/article/99660

Please contact jeff@cjst.org to reserve tickets and SUPPORT THE CJS!

Hope to see you there

TICKET INFORMATION FOR LOVE EXPOSURE

Hi All! Tickets are going fast for the CJS' special Toronto premiere of one of the most acclaimed and controversial Japanese films of the last decade; Sion Sono’s 2008 four hour magnum opus, LOVE EXPOSURE....please see info below!

Advance tickets will be available at the JAVA Pub night this Friday at ALIO (108 Dundas Street West). If you can't make it, you can ensure you're tickets will be available by RSVPing to jeff@cjst.org!

Hope to see you there!

August 05/10; Cultural Exchange and Fun at the CJS's Last ICHIMOKUKAI of the Summer

Come on out to the Canada Japan Society's last ICHIMOKUKAI of the summer for cultural exchange and fun!!!

Celebrate another great summer at our long-running event. Ichimokukai 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.

ADVANCE TICKETS FOR OUR SPECIAL AUGUST MOVIE NIGHT (SEE BELOW) WILL BE AVAILABLE THIS NIGHT ONLY.....SPECIAL.....THE FIRST TEN PEOPLE TO PURCHASE THEIR TICKETS AT ICHIMOKUKAI WILL GET A PRIZE!!!!

Also hear about he Canada Japan Society's event filled fall that will include a sake tasting, a special event for Opera lovers at the Japan Foundation, our upcoming movie night season.....and of course more Ichimokukai!

It will be lots of fun, so make sure to get there early for a seat!




Ichimoku-kai
Thursday, August 5th,
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.

August 21/10: SPECIAL SUMMER EVENT: The Toronto Premiere of LOVE EXPOSURE

The Canada Japan Society and the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre are proud to present the Toronto premiere of one of the most acclaimed and controversial Japanese films of the last decade; Sion Sono’s four hour magnum opus, LOVE EXPOSURE 愛のむきだし.

Takahiro Nishijima and Hikari Mitsushima star as two star-crossed lovers in a tale of a young man painfully dragged through the worlds of religion, family, violence, drugs, cults, and even pornography before he merely gets close to the girl he loves.

That being said, Love Exposure defies description…in a good way. The film is an action-comedy-drama-satire that touches on religion, family, sex, love, lust, guilt and more. It shocks, surprises, delights, and even disgusts, all the while cleverly dabbling in the unique otaku culture that is so seductive to some and repulsive to others. Love it or hate it, it’s sure to generate discussion and leave a lasting impression.

“Almost impossible to imagine a four-hour long film featuring castration, transvestism, religious cults and Catholic guilt complexes could be so darn passionate, so uplifting, so edge-of-the-seat entertaining. A one-off, indescribably experience”
– Jasper Sharp, Sight and Sound Magazine.

LOVE EXPOSURE
Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Garamond Court
7 PM Start (doors/bar opens at 6 pm)
$10
Admittance restricted to 18+

The night itself will be a fun way to finish off the summer. There will be a cash bar (with Japanese beverages of course), snacks and lots of chances to both enjoy the film and discuss it with your fellow attendees.

To guarantee admission advance tickets can by purchased at the Canada Japan Society’s ICHIMOKUKAI party on Thursday, August 5th, or contact JEFF at jeff@cjst.org
* Generously supported by BITS, the Japan Foundation, and the Royal Bank of Canada.

Community Event: The 2nd Annual Shinsedai Film Festival at the JCCC!

The 2nd annual Shinsedai Cinema Festival will be bringing the best in new Japanese film to The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre for four days between July 22nd and July 25th, 2010.

The Shinsedai Cinema Festival showcases films by some of the best new, young and independent Japanese filmmakers to Toronto, many for the very first time. The festival will have something for everyone; everything from insightful dramas, quirky comedies, hard-hitting documentaries, experimental shorts, and beyond.

For tickets and more information please visit http://shinsedai-fest.com/tag/shinsedai-2010/

PS. Come on out to the CJS movie night this Friday (The Hanging Garden; see below) for a chance to win free passes to the opening night of the Shinsedai Festival!

July 16/10: The CJS 2009/2010 MOVIE NIGHT Season Finale is "The Hanging Garden" 空中庭園

The Canada Japan Society concludes it’s 2009/2010 season of Movie Nights at the National Film Board of Canada with a showing of Toshiaki Toyoda’s acclaimed drama “The Hanging Garden” (空中庭園).

"The Hanging Garden" is a surreal satire of the dysfunctional modern Japanese family unit. Toyoda’s film tracks the life of a fairly typical Japanese family – a salaryman father, a hard-working housewife, a headstrong 16 year old daughter and a sulky 14 year old son. The twist is that they're all completely open with each other and hide nothing. Is everyone as happy as they seem?

Based on a novel by Mitsuyo Kakuta, the film features strong performances by Kyoko Koizumi as the housewife and Itsuji Itao as the father. Toyoda’s incredibly innovative and beautiful camera work complement the strong storyline and performances, offering a truly memorable but haunting film that you are unlikely to forget.



The Hanging Garden
Friday, July 16th, 2010
7 P.M
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond)
$5 for CJS Members
$10 for Non-Members

As always, we will also be having a post-screening party at Everest after the film. The informal get-together is a great way for attendees to practice their English/Japanese while discussing the film, meeting some new people and making some new friends.

PS. Please come on out to hear about our SPECIAL Movie Night event coming up in August!

June 30/10: July's ICHIMOKUKAI is on WEDNESDAY June 30th...really!

Ichimoku-kai literally means the "first Thursday meeting" but since the first Thursday of July lands on Canada Day, we've moved it to WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30th!.

Start off the long weekend at our long-running event. Ichimokukai 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.

Come on out and hear more about what the Canada Japan Society has planned for the summer!

It will be lots of fun, so make sure to get there early for a seat!

Ichimoku-kai
Wednesday, June 30th
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 Jeff jeff@cjst.org

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


一木会とは文字通り「最初の木曜日に行われる会」という意味で、毎月第一週の木曜日に開催されています。７月の第一週の木曜日はカナダデー。ロングウイークエンドの始まりのイベントとして今回は６月30日(水)に開催が決定しました！

新しい友達を作りたい。英語・日本語の勉強したい。ネットワーキング作りたい。日本やカナダの生活についての情報を集めたい。一木会は絶好のチャンスです。参加者はカナダ人と日本人が約半分づつ。日本に興味がある、日本と結びつきがあるという人々の楽しい集まりです。

一木会の参加者は食べ物やドリンクの割引がありとてもお値打ちです。またドアプライズで賞品が当るチャンスも見逃せません。皆様のご参加をお待ちしております！

一木会
６月30日水曜日
MANPUKU
6pm to 10pm +
105 McCaul Street
Units 29-31 (Grange横のVillageの中のフードコート南側)

CJSの会員でない方は5ドルの参加費を申し受けます。3名以上のグループには割引が適用されます。

ご質問がありましたらご遠慮なくメール（jeff@cjst.org）でご連絡ください。

June 11/10: CJS Movie Night: “Fine, Totally Fine”

The Canada Japan Society continues its series of Movie Nights at the National Film Board of Canada with a showing of Yosuke Fujita’s acclaimed quirky comedy “Fine, Totally Fine”.

“Life is more fun when you’re an idiot” sums up this touching comedy about a 30-something part-timer with dreams of opening up the world’s scariest haunted house. He inadvertently finds himself in a love triangle with one of his friends, and the hilarity ensues.

The film features the first leading role of the unforgettable YoshiYoshi Arakawa, whom we’ve previously seen in past screened films like Ping-Pong, Survive Style 5, and Kamikaze Girls. Arakawa, paired with Fujita’s impeccable comic timing, combine for a subtly funny and moving film.

“The plot unfolds as a collage of visual and quirky comic turns that are so deftly delivered and effective you'll be laughing so hard you never stop for one moment to question where the film is headed. And yet beneath the slapstick there's a genuine sense of warmth and affection for the eccentric characters that populate this oddball world.”
= Jasper Sharp, Midnight Eye

Fine, Totally Fine
Friday, June 11th, 2010
7 P.M
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond)
$5 for CJS Members
$10 for Non-Members

As always, we will also be having a post-screening party at Everest after the film. The informal get-together is a great way for attendees to practice their English/Japanese while discussing the film and meeting some new people.

Hope to see you there!

Community Event: Free Lunchtime Video Screenings at the Japan Information Centre

Every month, the Japan Information Centre (JIC) screens short video features on modern Japanese culture, society and other subjects in the JIC Event Room.
These screenings are wonderful opportunities to discover many things about Japan.

This month's videos are: “Japanology: The Past in the Present – Mathematics” and "Japan Video Topics: The Cherry Blossoms of Yoshino, Titanium Tiles for Temple Roofs, How Old Firms Survive, Old Crafts in Modern Art, Hiking the Shinetsu Trail, When Mending Becomes an Art, A Better Way to Peaceful Sleep, New Technology for Disable Sports”

June 4th (Fri) 12:10 -12:55pm.
June 16th(Wed) 1:10 -1:55pm.

Feel free to drop in with your lunch!

For additional information, contact the Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan at 416-363-5488.

Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan
Suite 110, 6 Garamond Court, Don Mills, ON M3C 1Z5
Phone: 416-363-5488
URL: www.toronto.ca.emb-japan.go.jp

June 03/10: Ichimokukai: Live Music and Traditional Dance Performance

It sure feels like summer outside....so it's the perfect time to enjoy the Canada Japan Society's ichimokukai!

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 feature a FINAL live performance by KEITA, a great Japanese singer songwriter who'll perform some famous covers and original songs as well. We will also have a performance of traditional Japanese dancing as well!

It will be lots of fun, so make sure to get there early for a seat!

Ichimoku-kai
Thursday June 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.

Hope to see you there! Please send any questions to IMK@cjst.org

Community Event: Zazen Meditation Guidance

Zazen - Meditation Guidance

"Communicating with nature, Imagining with a positive mind, Awareness of all senses, Harmonizing human relationships, Discovering yourself"

A free lecture by Katsuyuki Shimamoto, Master of Toyonaka Shosenji Temple
Osaka, Japan. With supplementary English translation

Attire: comfortable, relaxed clothing, and slippers or sandals. First come, first serve for 100 participants

Request a reservation at info@shinkikai.com

Sunday, June 6, 2010
3:00pm to 4:30pm
In the Aikido Tatami Dojo room
Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Garamond Court Toronto ON M3C1Z5, (416) 441-2345

This event is free, but donations to the Shinkikai or JCCC Aikikai are welcome.
Organized by the SHINKI-KAI Association of Japanese Canadian Business and Professionals and JCCC Aikikai

May 14/10: CJS 2010 Annual General Meeting

You are cordially invited to the Canada Japan Society’s Annual General Meeting on Friday, May 14th, 2010 at the National Film Board of Canada.

As always, the AGM features a generous array of Japanese food and drinks, and the event is free for all current CJS members – one of the great perks of membership! Further, we are offering two new enhancements this year:

1. The AGM & reception will be combined with Movie Night for a big, memorable Friday evening; and

2. In response to numerous requests, the AGM will be open to non-members for a $20 admission fee (or even better – become a CJS member and enjoy free admission)

The evening will begin with the AGM, where we will review the CJS’s activities over the past year, as well as discuss goals for the upcoming year and beyond. Also on the agenda is the election of the 2010/11 Board of Directors. Please note that only current CJS members will be able to vote.

The short AGM will be followed by a special screening of Tetsuya Nakashima’s (“Kamikaze Girls”, “Memories of Matsuko”) 1997 directorial debut, “Happy Go Lucky” (夏時間の大人たち). This delightful 73-minute comedy tells the tale of fourth-grader Takashi, who along with four of his classmates cannot succeed in doing a forward pullover around a horizontal bar; his entire future appears to depend upon mastering it! His parents both seem to be acting weird and his cousin won't stop kissing him and beating him up. He's definitely stressed... and he's asking a lot of questions and pondering why things are the way they are.

After the movie, we get to the festive part of the evening. Mingle with your CJS friends at the famous AGM reception featuring Japanese food and a host of beverages!

The AGM is the perfect opportunity to renew your CJS membership, meet your fellow CJS members, and exercise your vote. Let’s celebrate another great CJS year, and share our ideas on how to make the next fiscal year even better.


2010 CJS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Friday, May 14, 2010
6:30 p.m. to 11:00 pm (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond), 2nd Floor

CJS Members: FREE
Non-CJS Members: $20


Please RSVP to: jeff@cjst.org

AGENDA

1. Opening Remarks – Ken Bole, President

2. Highlights of Previous Year –Jeff Harju, Vice-President

3. Presentation of the Financial Statements – Don Waters, Treasurer

4. Departing Directors

Sonia Cardillo

5. Election of the 2010 – 2011 CJS Board of Directors


New Slate:

Don Waters: Treasurer

Jeff Harju: Vice President

Grethe Liverud: Vice President

Linda Adachi: Communications

Fumiko Shiba: Director

Atiq Ahmed: Director

Chi Diep: Director

Toshie Marinov: Director

Ryan Kam: Director

Masayo Toyama: Director

David Simpson: Director

Ken Bole: President

6. New President’s Address - President

7. Other Business – President

8. Adjournment of Annual General Meeting (film followed by reception)

May 06, 2010 Don't Miss ICHIMOKUKAI in May!

The cherry blossoms are almost gone! Come celebrate the Spring one last time this year at the Canada Japan Society's ichimokukai party!

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.

Hot off his gig last month, we're featuring a return live performance by “KEITA”, a great Japanese singer songwriter who'll perform some famous covers and original songs as well.

We'll also have new information about our next HUGE event.....our Annual General Meeting on Friday May 14th!

Ichimoku-kai
Thursday May 6th
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

Community Event: A Literary Evening with Takashi Atoda and Jiro Asada

Takashi Atoda (Black Humor Nyumon, Napoleon Crazy) and Jiro Asada (Metro Ni Notte, Poppoya) two of Japan's most respected contemporary authors, will discuss their works. The talks will be conducted in Japanese with English interpretation.

Date: Thursday April 29, 2010, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Location: Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC), 6 Garamond Ct., Toronto
Admission: $10 for JCCC members, $12 for non-members
*Please reserve your tickets by calling 416-441-2345

Organized by JCCC and The Japan Foundation in cooperation with PEN Canada and PEN Japan

April 16/10: The CJS's April Movie Night at the National Film Board is Takashi Miike's "Scars of the Sun" 太陽の傷

The Canada Japan Society, as part of our continuing Movie Nights at the National Film Board of Canada, is proud to present Takashi Miike’s 2006 controversial “Scars of the Sun”.

Starring Sho Aikawa, Scars of the Sun tells the tale of an everyday salaryman who decides to do a good deed……and suffers terribly for it. He’s crucified by the media and abandoned by the both the police and justice system. What should he do?

This film shows director Miike at his best. It’s a very dark tale excellently told, taking incidents straight from Japanese headlines and combining them into a suspenseful criticism of parts of Japanese society. Aikawa shines as he plays a character against his regular casting, struggling with a moral dilemma. The movie is a very scary (though not horror) and at times disturbing take on revenge vs. forgiveness, resulting in a powerful film that you will surely not forget.

As usual, the screening will be followed by a post-party at Everest Café…a great place to casually meet new people from the CJS and talk a bit about the movie and the issues it’s sure to raise. Also please come and hear about our “special” plans for our May Movie Night….

Scars of the Sun (2006)
Friday, April 16th
National Film Board Theatre
150 John Street (at Richmond)
7 p.m. start
CJS Members $5
Non-Members $10

Hope to see you there!

カナダでサバイバル – 新住民のためのカナダ情報 (Surviving in Canada – Information for Newcomers)

トロント日加協会(CJS)から第二回““カナダでサバイバル – 新住民のためのカナダ情報”のご案内です。

“カナダでサバイバル – 新住民のためのカナダ情報”
4月28日　水曜日　6.30 PM – 9.30 PM トロント国際交流基金
(Japan Foundation, Toronto)

当イベントは、留学や永住権を取得したい、またはトロントでの生活を経験したいなど様々な理由で滞在してる、カナダに来て間もない日本人を対象に開催されます。3名の講演者がそれぞれの体験談やアドバイスを当イベントに参加された皆様にお話します。講演の内容は移住に関する事項や日々の生活で生じる問題、そしてカナダに住む日本人としてどこにサポートを求めればいいかなど多岐に渡ります。また、カナダで生活していく上でどのような問題に直面するのか、カナダ社会への適応などもお話していただきます。

講演は日本語で行われ、終了後に簡単な質疑応答(英語または日本語)を予定しております。後半のイベントとしてレセプションが行われます。このレセプションでは飲み物が用意されます。

この機会を講演者や他の参加者とのネットワークにぜひご利用ください。

皆様からいただいた参加費は当イベントの費用として使わせていただきます。参加ご希望の方は4月24日までにgrethe@cjst.orgまでご連絡ください。カナダの生活を始めたばかりの皆様にとっては見逃せないイベントです。

2010年　4月28日　水曜日
6:30 p.m – 受付開始
6:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (講演 - 質疑応答)
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. (レセプション)
トロント国際交流基金(The Japan Foundation, Toronto)
131 Bloor Street West, Suite 213
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R1
参加費: $5

Community Event: Free Lunchtime Video Screenings at the Japan Information Centre

Every month, the Japan Information Centre (JIC) screens short video features on modern Japanese culture, society and other subjects in the JIC Event Room.
These screenings are wonderful opportunities to discover many things about Japan.

This month's video is "Project X: Innovators: Tokyo Tower - Mind over Matter"

A quick summary:

+ Tokyo Tower was completed after a miraculous fifteen months of high-speed construction and was then the tallest TV tower in the world.
+ Four thousand tons of steel beams were precisely bolted together at dizzying heights.
+ The project was made possible by a group of ambitious young construction workers.
+ Two of them were also planning to marry when the tower was completed.
+ On October 9, 1958 the workers ventured to raise the giant antenna.
+ Just as the antenna had been hoisted to a height of 250m, strong winds of 16 meters per second suddenly began to blow but the site supervisor ordered that they continue.
+ A voice echoed throughout the sight as it called out directions from the top of the tower to those operating the winch below.
+ At last the giant antenna was attached to the tower, extending it to 333 meters.

Wednesday, April 21st 1:10-1:55p.m.
Friday, May 7th 12:10-12:55p.m.
Wednesday, May 19th 1:10-1:55p.m.

Feel free to drop in with your lunch!

For additional information, contact the Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan at 416-363-5488.

Japan Information Centre, Consulate General of Japan
Suite 110, 6 Garamond Court, Don Mills, ON M3C 1Z5
Phone: 416-363-5488
URL: www.toronto.ca.emb-japan.go.jp

Ichimokukai is this Thursday, April 1st!

Spring is finally here and it's time to have some fun at the Canada Japan Society’s Ichimokukai party on April 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 feature a live musical performance from “KEITA”, a great Japanese singer songwriter who'll perform some famous covers and some original songs as well.

We'll also have new information about some of the CJS upcoming events including our famous Boat Cruise and Annual General Meeting!

Ichimoku-kai
Thursday April 1st
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.

Hope to see you there!

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.

Ichi-Moku-Kai (IMK) on Feb. 4/10

Has it been an awesome winter so far, or what? Snowless and mild for the most part – let’s drink to that!

So, come on down to Manpuku tomorrow night and enjoy a little February cheer with your CJS friends. As usual, IMK-ers receive great discounts on Japanese food and drinks.

Ichi-Moku-Kai
Thursday, February 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

Japan Trivia: Why zippers always have "YKK" on them

Read about Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha here.

CJS Movie Night - "A Taxing Woman" on Jan. 15/10

Please joins us next Friday for the first CJS Movie Night of 2010, as we present Juzo Itami’s 1987 comedy classic, “A Taxing Woman” (Marusa no onna).

Nobuko Miyamoto stars as a tax inspector, assigned to investigate the owner of a chain of love hotels. Over time, the plucky and earnest government agent learns that the hotel owner (Tsutomu Yamazaki) is very creative when it comes to taxes…but also rather sympathetic as a human being.

Itami, best-known for his ‘noodle-western’ comedy “Tampopo”, provides a wry commentary on Japan’s political corruption and tax quagmire, as well as a snapshot of the country’s bubble-economy culture. Released in 1987, “A Taxing Woman” won nine Japanese Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Actress.


A Taxing Woman (1987, 127 minutes)
Director: Juzo Itami
Cast: Nobuko Miyamoto, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Masahiko Tsugawa

Friday, January 15, 2010 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.)

Ichi-Moku-Kai (IMK) on Jan. 7/10

Happy New Year! I hope you had a great holiday season.

Come join your CJS friends this Thursday (January 7th) as we kick off the new decade with our legendary monthly gathering, Ichi-Moku-Kai, at Manpuku.


Manpuku menu = wallet-friendly.

Japanese food = healthy compared to what you had over the holidays.

These are important things in January.

So, do swing by on Thursday and help us celebrate the start of what promises to be another productive, fun-filled CJS year. Hope to see you there!

Ichi-Moku-Kai
Thursday, January 7, 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