Consulate-General of Japan Seeking to Contact Scholarship Recipients

Dear friends of CJS,

The Consulate-General of Japan is seeking contact with former recipients of the Japanese Government Scholarship. Depending on when the person received the scholarship, it would have been known as Mombusho, Mombukagakusho or MEXT. The Consulate-General is currently assisting in the formation of an alumni association made up of past recipients.

If you are a past scholarship recipient of a Japanese Government Scholarship, the Consulate-General of Japan would very much like to hear from you. Please contact Rui Umezawa, Senior Advisor, Information and Culture at the Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto by e-mail to rui@japancg-toronto.org and provide your contact information, what years you were on the scholarship and the institution in Japan you attended on the scholarship.

Sincerely,

Lisa Houston

CJS Communications Director

Exciting Japanese Visual Arts Events Around Toronto

This season is shaping up to be a busy one for Japanese film and other visual art-related events around the city of Toronto, including events presented by The Japan Foundation, the Toronto International Film & Video Awards (TIFVA) and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF):

The Japan Foundation, Toronto presents

Tamasaburo Bando Poster Exhibition

February 1-June 22, 2012

Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando V is one of the cultural icons of Japan and an international theatrical phenomenon and by far the most published actor in Japan. This exhibition at The Japan Foundation includes posters, photo books, theatrical flyers and house programs on Tamasaburo. For more information, please visit The Japan Foundation website.

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Toronto International Film &

Video Awards

at the University of Toronto

March 2-4, 2012

The Toronto International Film & Video Awards is a Toronto-based film festival and award ceremony, honouring the hard work of independent filmmakers worldwide. To celebrate the success of their 2011 season, TIFVA is hosting a 3-day screening event of winning and nominated films from the 2011 season. Two Japanese films are being featured at this event, Yukkunn Chikyujin's avant-garde film La Vie and Satoru Sugita's La poesie de Kiyumi, la broderie de Sayuru. For more information, and to purchase tickets, please visit the TIFVA website.

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Spirited Away: The Films of Studio Ghibli

presented at the TIFF Bell Lightbox

March 10-April 13, 2012

Often referred to as the Disney of Japan, Studio Ghibli has created some of the most wondrous and groundbreaking animated films in the history of cinema. Discover (or re-discover) such classics as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and many others. For more information, please visit the Toronto International Film Festival website.

February 29, 2012: Talk at the Japan Foundation

Our friends at The Japan Foundation in Toronto are presenting a talk by Professor Kimie Hara of the University of Waterloo, "60 Years Later: The San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Regional Conflicts in East Asia." Professor Hara is the Renison Research Professor and Director of East Asian Studies, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, who specializes in modern and international relations of the Asia-Pacific region. She has authored numerous publications, including Cold War Frontiers in the Asia-Pacific: Divided Territories in the San Francisco System (2007). She will be joined by Professor Nobuo Shimotomai of the Faculty of Law, Hosei University (Tokyo). The event takes place on Wednesday, February 29 at 6:30pm at The Japan Foundation, 131 Bloor Street West, 2nd floor of the Colonnade Building. For more information from The Japan Foundation and to RSVP for the event - RSVP is required - please visit The Japan Foundation website. Thank you.

March 1, 2012: Join us for LIVE JAZZ at Ichimoku-kai (IMK)

The first Thursday of the month is nearly here, and the Canada-Japan Society is proud to offer another great reason to join and make new friends at Ichimoku-kai (IMK): the return of LIVE JAZZ with the Chris Kao Trio!

Ichimoku-kai literally means the "first Thursday meeting" and since 1995 it has been the Canada-Japan Society's monthly social event. It is a great place to make new friends, practise 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 50 percent Canadian and 50 percent Japanese, all with a common interest in or connection to Japan. At IMK you will receive special food and drink discounts, get to talk to lots of interesting people, and have the chance to win some exciting door prizes.

Another great reason to come to IMK: be among the first to hear about some exciting CJS events happening this spring, including a Tea Ceremony, a Sake-Tasting Event, a Business Networking Event, and more!

We hope to see you there! (And be sure to come early for a good seat!)

ICHIMOKUKAI

Thursday, March 1, 2012

6-10 pm

Manpuku Japanese Eatery

105 McCaul Street

Units 29-31 (in the Village by the Grange building, south of the food court)

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

February 10, 2012: The February CJS Movie Night is "The Choice of Hercules"

The Canada-Japan Society is proud to present at its upcoming February Movie Night the acclaimed drama, "The Choice of Hercules" (突入せよ！あさま山荘事件).

(NOTE: while our Movie Nights usually take place on the 3rd Friday of each month, this screening takes place on Friday, February 10...)

This picturesque 2002 film from director Masata Harada gives an account of the Karuizawa Hostage Incident, which took place in the winter of 1972 in Nagano, Japan.

Radicals from the Japanese "Red Army" terrorist group have taken a local woman hostage in this resort town, and Police Officer Atsuyuki Sassa, played by veteran actor Koji Yakusho (13 Assassins, Shall We Dance?, Unagi), is sent to diffuse the situation. While Sassa and his force face a daunting set of challenges, including winter weather and local power struggles, perhaps their greatest challenge comes in the form of public opinion, as the whole event is broadcast live on Japanese national television.

Director Harada (Bounce Ko Gals, Inugami, Kamikaze Taxi) tells this historical story with deft humour, impressive cinematography, and "bite your nails" suspense. Unlike other films about this famous incident, "The Choice of Hercules" is portrayed solely from the viewpoint of the police force. The film was nominated for 9 Japanese Academy Awards in 2003, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

As always at CJS Movie Night, the screening will be followed by our post-party at Everest on Queen Street West, which is a great opportunity to meet new people and talk about the film over great food and drink.

We hope to see you there!!

THE CHOICE OF HERCULES

Friday, February 10th, 2012

National Film Board Theatre

150 John Street (at Richmond)

7:00 pm Start

CJS Members $5, Non-Members $10