Faculty-led Study Abroad Information Session

The deadline for applying to the Padnos International Center for study abroad for the spring and summer is next Tuesday, February 1st, so I will be holding one final information session for those interested in the faculty-led study abroad trip to Osaka. The session will be on Thursday, Jan. 27th, from 3-4pm, in Mackinac Hall Room B-2-226 (right near the MLL department office). If you've already been to an earlier session, the content will be the same so you needn't attend, but of course you would be welcome. If anyone can't make it to the session or has additional questions, either about the faculty-led program or about study abroad in general, please feel free to contact me at robinjer@gvsu.edu.

2011 Michigan Japanese Language Speech Contest

Every year the Consulate General of Japan in Detroit sponsors a Japanese speech contest for students of Japanese language in Michigan. There are only two levels, high school and university, which means that you'd be competing with students at all levels in universities throughout Michigan, but the judging includes language, content, and delivery, so there's certainly room for students at more than one level. The deadline for applications is Feb. 25th, and the contest itself is March 26th in Novi (near Detroit).

If you're interested, you can find complete information here.

Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Celebration

Throughout the month of February, the Office of Multicultural Affairs is hosting a number of events in honor of Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. You can check out the complete schedule here, but here are some of the more "Japan-relevant" events:

• Asian New Year Festival •
Thursday, Feb. 3rd, 6-9pm, Grand River Room (Kirkhof)
Unlike last year, I don't think any Japanese groups are going to be contributing to the festivities, but there's still fun, food, and fashion for all.

• Utake •
Wednesday, Feb. 9th, 5-7pm, Cook DeWitt Center
Utake is a trio or musicians (piano, percussion, and shakuhachi (Japanese flute)) who are well known for their unique fusion of Asian/Western folk/jazz. Their performance will be accompanied by a presentation on Japanese art and philosophy and recitation of Japanese poetry. It should be fun.

JCA Film Series Lineup

The lineup for this semester's JCA Japanese Film Series is now set, and here it is:

Jan. 27th - Wild Zero
Feb. 10th - Densha Otoko (Train Man)
Feb. 24th - Tokyo Sonata
Mar. 10th - Sakuran
Mar. 24th - Hula Girls
Apr. 21st - Kaidan

Screenings begin at 6pm in Manitou Hall Rm. 122. This week's film, Wild Zero, is the kind of simple human-interest story you've heard hundreds of times before: boy meets transgender girl, aliens invade and reanimate zombies, boy fights zombies aided by the leather-jacket clad punk band Guitar Wolf. Yes, we've seen it all before, but if we look closely perhaps we'll find something original in this understated film.

Here's a pdf of the schedule, so download, print out, and tell all your friends.
JCA Film Series Flier

JCA film this week

あけましておめでとうございます！Welcome back and I hope you all had a good break. I have a lot of announcements coming soon, but there is one that is more time sensitive than the rest, so I thought I'd just do a quick one on the JCA film series.

The Film series begins this Thursday with "Zettai Kareshi" or "Absolute Boyfriend." I have yet to confirm the classroom, but it will probably still be in Manitou Hall, but in a different room, Lecture Hall 122, starting at 6pm this Thursday (Jan. 13). We have tentatively decided on the rest of the schedule as well, but I'll wait until I get confirmation of the classroom before I announce it formally. In the meantime, I hope to see you on Thursday.

New movies in the LRC

I just wanted to call your attention to some of the new Japanese films that have come in to the Language Resource Center this year. Most of them are quite recent, and there's a nice mixed bag of drama, comedy, horror, samurai, ninjas, anime, giant superheroes... often all in the same movie. They aren't available to check out, but they can be viewed in the LRC and, if anyone would like one to be added to eVideon for remote viewing online, just let me know.

Departures, 2010
Kaidan, 2009
Sky Crawlers, 2009
Big Man Japan, 2009
The Astonishing Works of Tezuka Osamu, 2009
The Exquisite Short Films of Kihachiro Kawamoto, 2008
The Roots of Japanese Anime, Until the end of WWII, 2008
Tokyo Sonata, 2008
Love and Honor, 2008
Absolute Boyfriend, 2008
Maiko Haaaan~, 2008
Miyazaki Hayao's Ponyo, 2008
Hula Girls, 2007
Casshern, 2007
The Hidden Blade, 2006
Sakuran, 2006
Shinobi, 2005
Azumi, 2003
Kabuki - Sukeroku, Flower of Edo

And, as always, if you have any suggestions for future acquisitions I'm always looking for ideas.

Japanese Culture Day

The Japanese Culture Association will be hosting a "Japanese Culture Day" in conjunction with Campus Intercultural Week this Friday. From 3:30-6:30pm in Kirkhof 1142, they'll be hosting various events, including a screening of the film Linda, Linda, Linda, a presentation on Japanese popular music, Japanese snacks, etc. There is no fee for participation and all are welcome. For additional information, contact JCA president Pat Taylor at taylorp@gvsu.eu.