What's On

We are delighted to announce the top eight shortlisted entries for the Japan Webpage Contest for schools. We received so many wonderful and imaginative entries and it was very hard to choose just eight to shortlist!

You can now view all entries to the contest, and vote for your favourite entry here*:

http://www.japanwebpagecontest.org.uk/vote2011.php

The school that receives the most online votes will win the Public Vote Award. The Overall Winner, Runners-Up and Design Award Winner will be decided by the final judging panel, and announce on March 1^st 2012.

Please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may be interested, and encourage them to look at the entries and cast their vote. Voting closes on the 25^th February 2012.

* Please note that we only allow one vote per person.

The Japan Foundation will record e-mail addresses for the remainder of the voting period. Details will be checked to ensure one vote per person. E-mail addresses will not be disclosed to any third party or used for any other purpose. Once the voting period has ended, the Japan Foundation will not keep records of any of these e-mail addresses.

For more information about the contest, visit our Japan Webpage Contest for Schools website at www.JapanWebPageContest.org.

This event is being supported by the Association for Language Learning (ALL), CILT - the National Centre for Languages, the Consulate-General of Japan in Edinburgh, the Embassy of Japan, the Great British Sasakawa Foundation and the Japan Society.

Even So I Didn't Do It / Dear Doctor (part)

This year’s Japan Foundation annual touring film programme looks at narrative creativity by contemporary Japanese directors in contrast to the recent storm of adaptations, and how they express their voices through cinema. Ranging from the emerging to the established, this programme showcases directors who are not necessarily well-represented in this country, but whose works demonstrate their keen creativity.

Giants such as Akira Kurosawa and Yasujiro Ozu are renowned for their uniquely creative signature styles, along with more recent examples such as Takeshi Kitano and Kiyoshi Kurosawa, but recent years have revealed a more mundane side to the industry, where the top-grossing titles have largely been generic spin-offs of TV shows or adaptations of other sources such as popular manga and novels unpublished outside Japan, in order to generate audiences based on a pre-existing associated market.

This programme is an effort to demonstrate that there are in fact still a number of Japanese directors who, rather than being swayed by ever-fickle markets and following a “safe” formulaic film model, have instead elected to pursue their own methods of expressing themselves and using film as a voice. 9 directors have been selected for this programme, including the respected Masayuki Suo and unique auteure Miwa Nishikawa.

The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme continues to go from strength to strength, returning this year with more films and more venues than ever before!

Director Masayuki Suo will be hosting a Q&A session after both screenings of his film Even So, I Didn't Do It at the ICA, and also Katsumi Sakaguchi the director of Sleep will also be available after the showing of his film at both the ICA (London) and Showroom (Sheffield).

The Japan Foundation would like to thank Jasper Sharpe, Kyoko Hasegawa, and Kiyomi Nakazaki for their valuable advice in deciding the theme and then programme this year.

Date:	10 February 2012 - 28 March 2012
Venue:	London (ICA Cinema), Sheffield (Showroom Workstation), Edinburgh (Filmhouse), Glasgow (Glasgow Film Theatre), Belfast (Queen's Film Theatre), Bristol (Watershed), Nottingham (Broadway)
Download [FINAL] JF Press Release
Download [FINAL] Suo Press Release
Download JF film programme 2012 press (J)
For more information, please click here.

In May 2011, the Japan Foundation developed the trial version of Marugoto: Japanese language and culture, an A1 (break through) level  textbook based on JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education. Marugoto was developed in order for students to learn both language and culture together, in accordance with JF Standard’s basic principal of Japanese for mutual understanding. It therefore features a wide range of techniques, including Can-do target and level settings and portfolio assessment, designed to promote competence in accomplishing tasks (what a person can do by using Japanese) and competence in intercultural understanding (understanding and respecting other cultures by expanding one’s horizon through encounters with various cultures).

In this seminar, participants will examine the relationship between A1 (break-through) level Can-do and classroom activities, using Marugoto as an example. Additionally, as intercultural understanding is now arguably a key feature of modern foreign languages in UK secondary education, participants will also discuss how Marugoto addresses the issue of integrated language and cultural teaching methods.  

This seminar is co-organised by the Japan Foundation and the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a foreign language BATJ.

Date and Time: February 4^th (Saturday), 14:00 – 17:00

Lecturer: Seiji Fukushima (Japan Foundation London)

Fee: £3.00 (both BATJ members and non-members)

Language: Japanese

Please apply through the BATJ Website: http://www.batj.org.uk/en.html 

This seminar is co-organised by the Japan Foundation and the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a foreign language BATJ. 

この情報を日本語で見るために、ここをクリックしてください。

Date:	4 February 2012 from 2.00pm
Venue:	The Japan Foundation, London
Download Marugoto flier EngJps
For more information, please click here.

Internationally acclaimed Masayuki Suo is one of Japan’s leading directors, with an impressive and wide-ranging oeuvre of films including the award-winning Shall We Dance?, which went on to inspire that well-known American remake of the same name starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. He may not be a prolific filmmaker, but Suo is meticulous; renowned for the way in which he nurtures each film, being intimately involved with the creative process from script to print.

As part of this year’s Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, Whose film is it anyway? - Contemporary Japanese auteurs, Masayuki Suo, reflecting on his substantial career to date, will introduce his creative process and approach to film making. Joined in conversation by Jasper Sharp, writer/curator and Director of Zipangu Fest, Suo, who has been quite often opted to write scripts himself against the current mode in Japanese cinema, will also talk about the meaning and significance of a director’s narrative creativity, as well as what it is like to be a film director in Japan.

A very rare visit to the UK for Suo, this event will offer audiences the opportunity not only to hear first-hand about his work, but also to gain a real insight into how he approaches his craft.

The next Volunteer Training Day for our Japanese Taster for Schools (JTS) Programme (formerly “StepOutNet”) will take place on Friday, February 10th 2012.

Our regular Training Days at our London office are a great opportunity to meet other volunteers, get teaching ideas, and ask any questions you may have.  We ask our volunteers who live within travelling distance to London to attend at least one Training Day before making a school visit), in order to get a full understanding of the JTS Programme.  Those who are not yet members of JTS but are interested in joining are also welcome to sign up for the training day.  You can read about our November 2011 Training Day here.

The day will begin with an induction for new attendees at 12:30. Those who have attended before may attend from 13:00.  You can find a provisional timetable of the event below.

How to apply

To register, please click here to use our online application form. *The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google's standard terms and conditions of use.

Alternatively, you may register by downloading and printing the PDF application form below, completing it by hand and sending it to the Japan Foundation by email, fax or post. Please note that your application may take slightly longer to process via this method.

If you are not yet a member of JTS, please click here for more information about the programme and to complete an application form.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, February 8th.

Please note that this is event is free, but prior booking for this event is essential.  Attendees who arrive without booking, including those accompanying attendees who have booked, may be denied entry.

Click here to apply for our February 2012 Training Day

Date:	10 February 2012 from 12.30pm
Venue:	The Japan Foundation, London
Download JTS Training Day 02-2012 Application Form
Download JTS Training Day 02-2012 Programme

Sleep

As a director, scriptwriter, cameraman and editor, Katsumi Sakaguchi is one of Japan’s most talented filmmakers, boasting a wealth of experience working for both television companies and also independently. Although with a background in documentary, the versatile Sakaguchi sometimes opts instead to create feature films, with equally incredible results.

Prior to the screening of Sleep, acclaimed in Screen magazine, Sakaguchi will reflect on his background and experience in documentary in relation to his style as a director and as a story-teller. Sakaguchi is always conscious of social issues in contemporary Japanese society, in particular with young people and families. In conversation with Roger Clarke, writer for The Independent and critic on Sight & Sound, and with a particular focus on writing, he will discuss how films such as his are able to convey the voice of their director.

This event offers a rare opportunity to hear from a versatile director who is able to switch effortlessly between fiction and non-fiction.

The Japan Foundation are delighted to announce that we will be providing a unique opportunity for advanced Japanese language learners to practice their Japanese while interacting with renowned Japanese director, Katsumi Sakaguchi, in a one-evening special of Talking Contemporary Japan.

The evening’s programme will begin with a showing of one of Mr. Sakaguchi’s most powerful documentaries, “Karin no ie,” in its original Japanese language.  Karin no ie addresses the topic of children who, through a variety of circumstances, cannot live with their parents – a serious social problem in contemporary Japan. Participants will then have the opportunity to discuss the documentary’s content in Japanese among themselves and with Mr Sakaguchi himself.  The discussion will be guided by Seiji Fukushima, Chief Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation, who will provide explanations of the language featured in the documentary.

Participants will also receive a free ticket to see a one-off screening of Mr. Sakaguchi’s 2011 movie, Sleep (“Nemuri Yusurika”), at the ICA cinema on 16^th February at 6:30pm, as part of Japan Foundation’s Touring Film Programme, Whose Film Is It Anyway?

This truly is an unmissable chance to practice real-life, advanced Japanese while meeting one of Japan’s most insightful commentators on modern Japanese society.

Date: February 15^th, 2012 (Sleep will be shown at ICA on February 16^th from 6:30pm)
Time: 18:30 – 21:00
Venue: The Japan Foundation, London
Fee: £7.00 (fee includes free ticket to view the movie Sleep at ICA, worth £10.00)

Due to anticipated high demand, prior booking for this event is essential. 

Participants are limited to 32 people - first come, first served. Applications received once this limit is reached will be placed on a waiting list and contacted in the event of cancellations.

Please note: This event is aimed at non-native Japanese learners with advanced level Japanese (Around JLPT Level 2/N2 or above).

:: How to Reserve

To reserve your place, please click here to use our online application form.

*The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google's standard terms and conditions of use.

If you do not wish to use our online application form, please contact us for alternative booking methods.

There is a participation fee of £7.00 for this event, which participants must pay on the day in cash (we are unable to accept credit cards or cheques). 

Click here to apply for this event

Japan is known as a leading country in the culture of Video Games, but it was only in May 2010 that the Agency for Cultural Affairs in Japan started making preparations for a Video Game archive, in association with the National Diet Library. These developments raise some important questions - given that there has been much criticism of Video Games as potentially harmful things, some people would wish to ask 'Why we should archive them?'. Have Video Games in fact taken root in Japanese and other societies to such an extent that they need to be recognised as a form of culture that is something approaching equivalent to Cinema or Literature? More practically, how can an archive of Video Game culture be made and what should be archived? Consoles? Softwares? Game Magazines? Finally, how should the Video Games industry, government and academia work together within this archiving project?

The Japan Foundation have invited Prof Akira Baba from the University of Tokyo - the chairperson of the committee on Video Games within the Media art archiving project of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs - to take part in a lecture event alongside Prof James Newman from Bath Spa University, who is leading a similar initiative here in the UK. They will examine the current situation and issues that are arising from these efforts to create Video Game Archives in Japan and in the UK.

There will be a prize-draw during the evening to win tickets to attend the Hyper Japan event, which takes place from 24th-26th February.

This event has been supported by ANA.

Image by Mathieu Thouvenin from Flickr.com, used under a Creative Commons Licence

In 2008, the market for the consumption of video games in the UK became the second largest in the world, and it is still expanding. Within this situation, it is common knowledge that a great number of the games people in the UK play every day are made in Japan. However, the Japanese game industry, which has held an advantage for a long time, is now facing a series of challenges as new centres of video game production appear in developing countries. How can Japanese companies strengthen their position in markets around the world, taking into account the emergence of social gaming? Is the solution to prioritise the development of their human resources and rationalise the process of making games?

Prof Akira Baba, University of Tokyo, will make a presentation on the current situation and problems of the Japanese Game Industries and Takuma Endo, president of ACQUIRE and Development Director of Tenchu, a game which has sold 1.5million copies, will talk about where Japanese game makers are going. Steve Boxer, freelance journalist and member of the award-winning Video Games coverage team at The Guardian will respond to their presentations as a discussant.

There will be a prize-draw during the evening to win tickets to attend the Hyper Japan event, which takes place from 24th-26th February.

This event has been supported by ANA.

Zen, 2008

The 13th season of contemporary Japanese Films 2012, the Gilmorehill Centre is showing 4 exciting features, free of charge, at the Gilmorehill Centre. This year's programme begins with Hotel Hibiscus, set in Okinawa. This is followed by Masahiko Makino's Penguins in the Sky - Arashiyama Zoo, Kazuo Kuroki's The Face of Jizo, and finally Banmei Takahashi's Zen. Each feature film will be preceded by a short cultural documentary, and all films are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Free tickets are available from 6.00pm from the box office, and no reservation is available.

Come along and listen to what young people studying Japanese in the UK have to say, at the 7th Japanese Speech Contest for University Students! The finalists will give their speeches and group presentations in Japanese to an audience of fellow students, teachers, parents, key figures from the UK-Japan world and a panel of judges.

:: Where and When?
The contest will take place on Saturday 25^th February 2012 at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS.

:: Categories

Speech Categories 1 and 2: Students take part in these categories as individuals, and are free to choose their speech topic. Category 1 is for those studying Japanese as a degree course or as part of a degree course, and who have spent less than three years in Japan.  Category 2 is for those studying Japanese for a non-degree course at a university, who have spent less than three months in Japan.

Group Presentation Category: Aimed at those studying Japanese at beginner level. Participants will take part in groups of two to four students and give a PowerPoint presentation using Japanese.

This contest is supported by the following sponsors:

Date:	25 February 2012 from 1.00pm
Venue:	Brunei Gallery, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
Download Rules and guidance - Speech Categories 1 and 2
Download FAQ
Download Finals Day Flyer

Japanese architecture, whether it is traditional or modern, is believed to share common principles of beauty and forms that are indigenous to Japan. Influenced by and interacted with various landscapes, the principles have been expressed in many architectural structures in Japan.

In this special lecture, Dr Teruaki Matsuzaki, architecture historian, currently based in the Science and Engineering department of Meiji University Tokyo, will introduce the various principles of beauty and form that have informed Japanese architecture over the centuries, showcasing three distinguished types of examples such as “suspended forms” built in the mountains, “floating forms” constructed on the sea, and the form with the concept of “Ma” in the flatland. He will then explore how these principles are also embodied in the most recent Japanese architecture designed by notable architects including Tadao Ando and Kazuyo Sejima, and what pros and cons they may bring.

This event will extend beyond a simple overview, instead promising to delve into what lies at the heart of Japanese architecture, and perhaps go some way to explain what it is that makes it so particularly distinctive.

At the same time as contributing to economic development through their businesses, companies observing best practice use their CSR strategies to make a continuing commitment to ethical behaviour, and to improving the quality of life of their workforce, the health of the local community and society and the environment more widely. Can these companies be called ‘social impact businesses’? How do the objectives of socially responsible businesses and social impact businesses differ from those of social enterprises, a term which is increasingly popular in this country and around the world? The speakers in this seminar will unpick the terms and, drawing on first-hand experience, explain how maximising social return can motivate and enable commercial success.

John Pepin is founding Director of Aperio Group (Europe) Ltd, which is a consultancy advising social entrepreneurs on social enterprise creation, development and implementation, through strategic and business planning support with the objective of maximising social impact. Based in the UK for 12 years, John Pepin has over 15 years as a chief executive of a variety of Canadian charities/social enterprises; including strategic and business planning, governance, enterprise development and growth, research and evaluation, social investment, fundraising, change management, collaboration and sales. John has published a book providing guidance on social enterprise.

Karl Richter is Social Impact Investment Adviser to the Euclid Network, a growing Europe-wide community of civil society professionals, and a social entrepreneur in the process of establishing the JenLi Foundation - a charitable organisation which aims to shape and fund capital projects and social programmes internationally by combining the functions of development agency, investment bank, private equity firm and fund manager with the purpose of transforming deprived communities. Trained as a chartered architect and having worked in the urban regeneration, design and construction fields, he is author of ‘Making Good in Social Impact Investment: Opportunities in an Emerging Asset Class’. 

This event is organised by the Japan Foundation and Links Japan, and supported by the Embassy of Japan, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in the UK, the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) London and the Japan Europe Entrepreneurs Forum (JEEF).

この情報を日本語で見るために、ここをクリックしてください。

The Japan Foundation London are delighted to present a Japanese Language Teacher’s Seminar with Kazuhiro Isomura, Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation Cologne and the author of “Onsei o oshieru”.

As Japanese language education becomes increasingly focussed on communication, the necessity of teaching pronunciation as an essential part of communication is being re-examined. Using live demonstrations of “mora and rhythm” and “accent and intonation” practice, this seminar will examine the practical methods and key points for teaching pronunciation as introduced by the author of “Onsei o oshieru.”

Date and Time:  Saturday, March 3rd 2012; 10:00~12:00 
Venue:  The Japan Foundation London
Lecturer: Kazuhiro Isomura, Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation Cologne and author of “Onsei o oshieru,” Volume 2 of Japan Foundation’s Nihon Kyojuho Series.
Language: Japanese
Participation fee: Free
How to Apply: Please click here to apply via our online application form.

Alternatively, please use the PDF application form below.

Kazuhiro Isomura will also be presenting a Japanese Language Teachers’ Seminar, “Teaching Japanese language and culture through Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese (Web Edition)”, at SOAS (University of London) on the same day (March 3^rd), from 2:00pm - 5:00pm. For more information, please click here.

Date:	3 March 2012 from 10.00am
Venue:	The Japan Foundation, London
Download Onsei flier - English
Download Onsei flier - Japanese
For more information, please click here.

The Japan Foundation London and the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), University of London, are delighted to present a Japanese Language Teacher’s Seminar with Kazuhiro Isomura, Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation Cologne and developer of the Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese Web Edition.

 There’s more to the Web Edition of Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese than just free videos. This website features a huge amount of content, including Japanese grammar and vocabulary exercises, quizzes and games introducing Japanese culture, and interactive role-plays incorporating target language.  In fact, there is so much content that it can at times be difficult to find exactly what you are looking for. This seminar aims to completely solve this issue by introducing the many ways in which you can use the Web Edition of Erin for effective lesson planning.

Date and Time: Saturday, March 3rd 2012; 14:00~17:00 

Venue:  SOAS (University of London) 

Lecturer: Kazuhiro Isomura (Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation Cologne and developer of the Erin’s Challenge! I Can Speak Japanese Web Edition)

Language: Japanese

Participation fee: Free

Capacity: Places are limited to 25 participants (computers will be provided), and 10 observers (no computers) – first come, first served

How to Apply: Please click here to apply via our online application form.

Alternatively, please use the PDF application form below.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: February 23rd 2012

You can view the Erin's Challenge! Nihongo Dekimasu Web Version at erin.ne.jp

Kazuhiro Isomura will also be presenting another Japanese Language Teachers’ Seminar, “Teaching Pronunciation”, at the Japan Foundation London on the same day (March 3rd), from 10:00am - 12:00pm.  For more information, please click here.

この情報を日本語で見るために、ここをクリックしてください。

Date:	31 January 2012 from 2.00pm
Download Erin Workshop Flyer and appliction form - English
Download Erin Workshop Flyer and appliction form - Japanese

The Japan Foundation has launched a new Japanese language and culture course for advanced learners, Japanese Plus.

Japanese Plus is designed for adult learners interested in updating and refreshing their knowledge about Japan whilst practising their Japanese language skills in a series of evening classes at the Japan Foundation London. Whilst providing a genuine chance to look behind some of Japan’s cultural issues, the course will also provide you with an ideal opportunity to improve all four skills of Japanese.  The course format and content may already be familiar to previous participants of our former Talking Contemporary Japan seminars.  The course level is aimed at learners with a Japanese level of approx.  JLPT Level 2/N2 and above.

This term’s theme is「新聞を読んで、新聞を作ろう」- “Read and Write Japanese Newspapers.”

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Enjoying discussing articles in Japanese newspapers, in Japanese
• Understand the style of Japanese used in newspapers and work together to create their own articles.
• Develop language skills in listening, reading, speaking and writing of Japanese.
• Gain confidence and broaden their knowledge of Japanese language, culture and society.

The course will be led by Hiroko Tanaka, Japanese Language Advisor at the Japan Foundation London.  It will be held in Japanese.

Please note that unlike Talking Contemporary Japan, there is a participation fee for this course of £20.00.  This includes all four sessions plus two free Japanese language newspapers.  Payment must be made in advance or in person at the first session (23rd or 24th February), and cash only will be accepted.  We regret that we cannot refund your fee once payment has been made and the course has begun.  Prior booking is essential.

Essential Course Details:

Date: 23rd February – 23rd March (4 weeks), on Thursday or Friday – the content is the same on each day, and you can choose which day is most suitable for you.  You will not be able to switch days once the course has started.
Please note that there will be no session March 8th or 9^th.

Time: 18:30 – 20:30

Course Capacity: Each course is limited to 24 people – strictly first come, first served.   The minimum number of participants is 12; we reserve the right to cancel the course if fewer than 12 people apply.

Payment details: The participation fee for this course is £20.00. Payment must be made in advance or in person at the first session (23rd or 24th February), and cash only will be accepted.  We regret that we cannot refund your fee once payment has been made and the course has begun, except in cases where Japan Foundation cancels the course.

Course Level: Advanced Japanese (JLPT N2/level 2 and upwards). Learners will be encouraged to engage in lively discussions in Japanese with fellow course participants.  If you are unsure whether or not the course level is suitable for you, please complete a Self-Assement Test here (please mark it yourself using the answers here).

How to Register

To register, please click here to use our online application form.
*The registration form uses Google Forms and is subject to Google's standard terms and conditions of use.

Alternatively, you may register by downloading and printing the PDF application form below, completing it by hand and sending it to the Japan Foundation by email, fax or post. Please note that your application may take slightly longer to process via this method.

Your registration will not be considered complete until you have paid the £20.00 course fee in cash, either in advance or on the first day of the course (Thursday or Friday)

Deadline to Apply: 16th February 2012

Click here to book your place

Date:	23 February 2012 - 23 March 2012 from 6.30pm
Venue:	The Japan Foundation, London
Download Self Assessment Test
Download Answers for Self Assessment Test
Download JPlus Mar-2012 Flyer and appliction form

This 8-week online course is for teachers with a basic level of Japanese who would like to build up their language skills. Through the course, you will develop a basic working knowledge of Japanese grammatical structures and build up your confidence and skills in using Japanese effectively in your classroom.  This course is provided by the Japan Foundation Sydney.

Course fee: approx. £85 - £125 (Depending on language level and exchange rate)

Who can sign up?
Any teacher residing in the UK, Australia or New Zealand who has a basic knowledge of Japanese, and can read hiragana and katakana.

What level of Japanese is it suitable for?
Four stages are available. We recommend you take the “level check test” to make sure you choose the best level for you. Stage 1 (the easiest) is suitable for those who know hiragana and katakana.  Stage 4 (the hardest) is about the same level at N5 (old Level 4) of the JLPT.

How does the course work?
Every week a new unit is uploaded. You will work through the unit at your own pace, and then complete your homework by the end of each week. Your homework will be marked and returned to you with helpful advice and comments from our Japanese Language Advisor. 

Feedback from previous participants:

“I have really enjoyed it, the course content is useful as covers all areas of the Japanese language i.e. speaking, listening, reading, writing – lots of writing practice which is a challenge but good practice!”

“I really, really like the Production task, especially as you get some prompt feedback from the Language Advisor. Brilliant!”

Term 1 Dates

Enrolment Dates: Thursday 5th January - Tuesday 7th February      

Term Dates: Tuesday 28th February - Monday 23rd April

 For more information, future term dates and to enrol, please go to http://www.jpf.org.au/jbasic

Hideki Noda and Colin Teevan's award-winning play The Bee returns for a 2012 International Tour. After debuting at Soho Theatre in 2006, The Bee made a clean sweep at the 15th Yomiuri Theater Awards 2008, winning the Grand Prize, Best Play as well as Best Actor and Best Director for writer, director and performer Hideki Noda.

Based on the short story by Yasutaka Tsutsui, The Bee tells the story of Mr. Ido, a successful businessman and upstanding member of society, who arrives, home one day to find his wife and son has been taken hostage. Rather than sit tight, Ido decides to take matters into his own hands and kidnap the kidnapper’s family in revenge.

The highly successful playwright, director and actor Hideki Noda became the artistic director of Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in July 2009. In 1993 he established a production company called NODA MAP and has presented along with The Bee a succession of major hits including Kill, Pandora no kane (Pandora's Bell), Oil, Akaoni (RED DEMON), The Diver, Piper, The Character, and South.

Ai Matsumoto

Lost in Lace will see 20 leading international artists take over the Gas Hall at BMAG this winter, exploring the relationship between textiles - specifically lace - and space through a series of dramatic and ambitious new site-sensitive installations.

Japanese artists represented in this exhibition will include Ai Matsumoto, who will install a series of panels of silicone within which is trapped the imprint of a hand-embroidered handkerchief. Another Japanese artist showcased at Lost in Lace will be Naomi Kobayashi, who will be showing 12 floor-to-ceiling columns made by constructing and stitching together Japanese washi. Suzumi Noda, Chiharu Shiota and Reiko Sudo are also exhibiting. This is a rare opportunity to see the work of not only well-established Japanese artists but also that of exciting new talent.

Japanese artist Suguru Goto has created an installation Cymatics, as part of Waterman's International Festival of Digital Art. A kinetic sculpture and sound installation that expresses the artist’s vision of nature through a series of symbolic elements that are used harmoniously in a technological context, the main materials used in Cymatics are sound and liquid.

Suguru Goto has been internationally active and has received numerous prizes and fellowships. Now based in Paris, he is considered one of the most innovative and the mouthpiece of a new generation of Japanese artists. His works have been performed in major festivals, such as Resonaces/IRCAM, Sonar, ICC, Haus der Kultures der Welt, ISEA, NIME, AV Festival, STRP Festival 2009, Venice Biennale. He has been producing computer music and researching at the group Gestural Controller in IRCAM, Paris since 1995. Lately, he has been working for Brass instrument robots with Artificial Mouth at IRCAM, as well. His RoboticMusic was shown at the 53rd Venice Biennale 2009 in Italy.

Art, Performance & Activism features the work of artists/activists based in Japan who push the boundaries of where art, performance and activism intersect. Presenting visually powerful and pioneering works from the mid-1990s to the present the exhibition explores differing strategies of intervention that seek to engage in contemporary debates and to change how we think and act.

Engaging with contemporary themes of art and action, private and public, memory and identity, the exhibition is the first to present their work in the UK and to provide a context for their interventions. Works include Teiji Furuhashi’s mesmerising solo production, The Lovers (Dying Pictures, Loving Pictures) and S/N performance by the Kyoto-based art collective DumbType, Cho Yukio’s thought-provoking Pandemic, the print-based activist work of Yoshiko Shimada, and the visceral performance-based film work of emergent artists Soni Kum and Chikako Yamashiro. Provocative, beautiful, haunting, disturbing…moving.

The Japan Foundation will be hosting a related talk event on January 27 2012 - please click here for more details.

The nine decades of Yayoi Kusama's life have taken her from rural Japan to the New York art scene to contemporary Tokyo, in a career in which she has continuously innovated and re-invented her style. Well-known for her repeating dot patterns, her art encompasses an astonishing variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, film, performance and immersive installation. It ranges from works on paper featuring intense semi-abstract imagery, to soft sculpture known as "Accumulations", to her "Infinity Net" paintings, made up of carefully repeated arcs of paint built up into large patterns.

This is a varied, spectacular exhibition of a truly unique artist. There has never been an exhibition of this size of her work in the UK and this is an unmissable opportunity for both Kusama fans and those new to her work.

This vibrant exhibition offers the chance to encounter characters from television, computer games and comics. Many have become much loved household names around the world.

Kingdom of Characters comes to the Sainsbury Centre following displays in Manila and Sydney. Providing an overview of manga and anime through the second half of the 20th century, the exhibition provides a unique insight into this cultural phenomenon.

It will also give fans the chance to come face-to-face with some of their favourite characters, including humansized Ultraman, Pikachu and a Hello Kitty ‘skipping’ through the gallery.

As well as 3D characters, the exhibition includes graphic illustrations and even a room-set of a teenager’s Hello Kitty bedroom. The set has also been specially designed by the Sainsbury Centre to allow younger visitors the chance to peep into the room, which is decorated with merchandise featuring Kitty in her many manifestations, from duvetcover to alarm clock. Anime screenings and graphic illustrations are included in the exhibition and create a context for the visiting characters.

The exhibition asks some thought-provoking questions about what characters are, why they are so popular and how they have become central to everyday life within contemporary Japanese society. The exhibition also considers ideas such as the importance of characters as design products.

For credit information for the above image please click here.