On the minute news & events from jpf.org.uk http://www.jpf.org.uk/ Report from Japan Foundation Cultural Invitation Programme by Prof John Holden Professor John Holden has provided us with a very enjoyable report from his recent visit to Japan as part of the Japan Foundation Cultural Individual Invitation Programme. Please click on the attachment below in order to read it. Prof Holden will be launching a new publication for Counterpoint,  the think-tank of the British Council, entitled Class and Culture at an event on the 7th September. Please click here to find out more information about this event and the publication.... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=161 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=161 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:56:34 BST Hello from Megan! Hajimemashite! My name is Megan Balanck and I'll be taking over from Chris Shone as the Assistant Programme Officer at the Japan Foundation London Language Centre. I have recently returned from Nagasaki City, having spent two very enjoyable years teaching English at five schools as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Programme.  Prior to JET I took Japanese Studies at Durham University, which included one year in Japan at Kumamoto University. As a JET participant, my role was to introduce aspects of British life to Japanese students, while demonstrating that learning a foreign language is not only incredibly useful, but also a lot of fun.  Now that I'm back in my home country, I'd like to try and do the reverse - to spread awareness and enthusiasm for Japanese culture and encourage more and more people in... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=160 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=160 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:10:48 BST Japanese Language Refresher Courses 2010 From 21st – 30th July, 25 participants took part in the Japanese Language Refresher Courses for Teachers. They visited the Japan Foundation to brush up on their language skills and network with other teachers of Japanese. An advanced course was held in the first week and an intermediate course was held in the second week, in an attempt to cater to as many different levels as possible. The advanced course focused primarily on keigo and manners/taboos in a typical Japanese workplace. The participants were able to hone their skills through role-plays, quizzes and written activities before finally interviewing a series of mystery guests and reporting their findings back to their classmates. In the intermediate course the class revised various language points, while also talking about recycling issues and any new ideas they had for tackling the w... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=159 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=159 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:04:00 BST UK Japanese learners top in Europe! There are more people learning Japanese in the UK than in any other country in Europe, according to the results of the Japan Foundation’s latest worldwide survey.  The survey found a total of over 19,600 learners of Japanese, with France in second place with just over 16,000. The number of learners in the UK has also increased by 32% since the last survey, carried out in 2006.  Globally, the number of learners outside of Japan has now reached 3.65 million (an increase of 22% since 2006), with the biggest rise seen in Indonesia. The country with the highest number of learners is Korea, followed by China.  “We are delighted to see this rise in learners of Japanese in the UK,” said Takashi Ishida, Director General of the Japan Foundation London. “We woul... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=157 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=157 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:14:21 BST Japanese Language Proficiency Test – Now Available in Five Levels The 2010 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) will be held in the UK at SOAS, University of London, on Sunday 5th December 2010. The exam will also be held on the same day at Dublin City University in Ireland. This is the first time that candidates will sit the new JLPT, and be able to choose from five levels, instead of four. The new levels N1, N2, N4 and N5 will be roughly equivalent in difficulty to the old levels 1-kyu, 2-kyu, 3-kyu and 4-kyu, respectively. The new N3 level will bridge the gap between 3-kyu and 2-kyu. The new exam will focus more on communication skills, and give a better pictu... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=156 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=156 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:38:42 BST Talking Contemporary Japan: 'Question Time at The Foundation. What do the Japanese really think.' This course provided a chance for advanced learners of the Japanese Language to finally discover what Japanese people really think about various topics. The participants spent some time learning about formal ways of speaking and also worked together in small groups to think of questions to ask the special mystery guests. Questions topics ranged from the position of women in the Japanese workplace to the acceptability of tattoos in public baths! Each group also had the chance to present their findings to their classmates and compare conclusions. The next Talking Contemporary Japan course will take place in November. Please look out for details in the What’s On section of this website and in JF-News. ... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=154 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=154 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:28:58 BST Nihongo Cup 2010 On 19th June the finals of the Nihongo Cup were held at the Embassy of Japan in London. Despite the rival event of Japan vs Holland taking place at exactly the same time – clearly an oversight on the part of the World Cup schedulers – the auditorium was full to capacity, as the audience settled down to listen to the speeches. Without a vuvuzela in sight, the finalists showcased their considerable talents, competing in three separate categories in an attempt to impress the judges and win an array of fantastic prizes. The 18 finalists had done extremely well to reach this stage of the competition, with this year’s number of applications totalling 268 pupils from 22 different schools. Speech topics ranged from the traditional way of the Japanese samurai to Seattle saxophonists and all participants had clearly put a great deal of time and eff... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=153 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=153 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:14:20 BST Performing Arts Network - New Articles Added The Japan Foundation in Tokyo runs the Performing Arts Network; a comprehensive resource for information on performing arts related happenings in Japan, featuring interviews, reviews and articles in both Japanese and English. The website has recently been updated and new articles include:- The unique appeal of old playhouses. Links to Edo Period theater culture.- CINARS, over a quarter of a century. The vision and accomplishments of founder Alain Pare.- Play of the Month, Irairasuru Otona no Ehon (Frustrating Picture Book for Adults) by Tanino Kuro. To read the articles, please click here.... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=78 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=78 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:06:38 BST June StepOutNet Training Day On 9th June 20 teachers came to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available through the Japan Foundation’s StepOutNet Programme. Through this programme, fluent speakers of Japanese can volunteer to give one-off Japanese language taster sessions at schools in the UK. At the training day the participants listened to a report by Kayoko Fujii about her recent visit to Chafford Hundred Campus Secondary school. They also received lesson ideas based around simple greetings and the Tanabata festival. If you would like more information about the StepOutNet Programme please click here.... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=152 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=152 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:41:45 BST Japanese Study Seminar - Meiji II: Call for participation Centre Europeen d'Etudes Japonsaises d'Alsace (CEEJA) and the Japan FOundation (JF) are inviting applications to participate in the Japanese Study Seminar - Meiji II, scheduled to take place on 24 and 25 September 2010 at CEEJA in Kinetzheim, France. This Japanese Study Seminar aims to encourage networking among young researchers on Japan in Europe and deepen further promotion of Japanese Studies in Europe. Participants will join a two-day intensive workshop in the cosy and intimate atmosphere of CEEJS's facility in Kientzheim and present and discuss their current research projects amongst each other, as well as with a guest Mentor from Japan. Following last year, the subject of this year's seminar will be "Meiji" We are calling for young researchers in Europe who specialise in politics, history, society, literature, arts, language, thoughts, economy, cit... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=150 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=150 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:40:47 BST 13th Nihongo Summit 2011 'Hope and Peace': A Gateway for World Scholars of the Japanese Language The Japan Return Programme (JRP), NPO, organises the Nihongo Summit by selecting panellists (Junior Category age 15-19, Senior Category age 20-27) from among young foreign people throughout the world who have studied Japanese, and inviting them to Japan. In addition to the presentation of their opinions at the Nihongo Summit, they will participate in various programmes such as discussions with Japanese students, homestays, and experience Japanese traditional culture. Please click here for further information in English. Please click here for further information in Japanese.... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=148 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=148 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:20:43 BST Japan Foundation Cultural Individual Invitation Programme: Lecture by London Office invitee John Holden in Tokyo Under our Cultura... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=147 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=147 Mon, 24 May 2010 12:08:58 BST Annual Grant Programme Results Announced ... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=144 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=144 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:40:19 BST Japan Foundation Prize to fund new Stockwin Scholarship in Modern Japanese Studies We are delighted ... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=143 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=143 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:04:45 BST Request for Proposals for Intellectual Exchange Conferences The Japan Foundation... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=130 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=130 Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:43:41 BST 2010-11 Annual Grant Programme Guidelines and Application Forms Available The new programme gu... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=129 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=129 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:26:03 BST Professor Arthur Stockwin to receive Japan Foundation Award for Japanese Studies and Intellectual Exchange The Japan Foundat... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=128 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=128 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:10:26 BST 2009 Japan Foundation Group Study Tour to Japan for Secondary School Teachers and Administrators – Inviting Applications The Japan Foundation... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=119 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=119 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:06:24 BST 2009/10 Annual Grant Programme Results announced The results of our A... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=115 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=115 Thu, 14 May 2009 15:29:13 BST Launch of JF news UK e-bulletin The Japan Foundation... http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=44 http://www.jpf.org.uk/news.view.php?id=44 Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 BST