What's On

Date: Friday 23 January 6pm - 7.30pm GMT

Venue: Lecture Theatre 2, Sir Bob Burgess Building, University of Leicester, Freemen's Common, LE2 7TF*

Online Streaming Available via Zoom

Are you someone with a general interest in Japanese culture and society? Or are you a sixth form student or current university student, either studying Japanese language or with an interest in learning more about Japan? Why not come and listen to our next lecture as part of our seminar series: 'Exploring the World of Japanese Studies'!

Our third talk, Beyond Words: Understanding Japanese Society Through Literature and Translation, is hosted by the University of Leicester.

Talk Description

In recent years, Japanese literature has been gaining attention in the UK. Reading literature offers much more than the enjoyment of a story; it provides a window into the social and cultural values that shape it. This session explores how literary works help us understand Japanese society and the wider world, and how we can make sense of Japanese literature's recent growth in popularity. We will also consider what happens when such works are translated from Japanese into English: how is the cultural context of the original text conveyed, adapted, or transformed in the process? For example, we will consider how onomatopoeic expressions used commonly in Japanese can be translated to be understood worldwide.

To discuss these questions, we will bring together a literary scholar, a specialist in translation studies, and a professional translator working between Japanese and English.

*Arriving by car: There is a paid car park available for visitors.

Paid car park: The Freemen's multi-storey car park is the closest parking space to the Sir Bob Burgess building. Access to the car park is on Putney Road (please see the map above). The cost for 3 to 6 hours will be £2.50, payable by card (no cash). THIS CAR PARK IS ACCESSIBLE FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS.

About the Speakers

	Dr Michael Tsang is Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies and Programme Director for BA Japanese Studies at Birkbeck, University of London. His research focuses on world literature, postcolonial literature, and popular culture with an emphasis on East Asia. He has published widely in journals and edited volumes, including Murakami Haruki and Our Years of Pilgrimage (co-edited with Gitte Marianne Hansen: Routledge, 2021). He is also a creative writer and has published tanka poetry in English.
	Professor Nana Sato-Rossberg is a leading scholar in the field with expertise in Japan and East Asia. She is currently Chair of the Centre for Translation Studies at SOAS, and the programme convener for the BA Translation pathway and MA Translation and Intercultural Studies. She is also an Executive Council member of the International Association of Translation and Intercultural Studies and the co-founder of the East Asian Translation Studies conference series (since 2014). She is author of thre monographs and five co-edited books, including Translation and Translation Studies in the Japanese Context (co-edited with Judy Wakabayashi, Bloomsbury, 2012) and 「翻訳と文学 (Translation and Literature)」(ed. Misuzu, 2021).
	Ms Joanna Dare is University Librarian at De Montfort University in Leicester. Alongside her work as a university librarian, Joanna Dare is active as an emerging literary translator and Coordinator of the East Midlands Regional Group of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting. She studied Japanese at the University of Sheffield, and Translation Studies at Portsmouth University. She currently studies Japanese through the Languages at Leicester programme at the University of Leicester. In 2020, she won second prize in the 4th Japanese Literature Publishing Project International Translation Competition, followed by first place in the Institute of Translation and Interpreting Japanese Network Translation Competition in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

This event is free to attend, but registration is essential for online and in-person attendees.

Organised by The Japan Foundation	With support from University of Leicester

*Please note that information about this seminar is only available in Japanese.

【研修本編】 

BATJ-JF共催　日本語教育セミナー

「CEFR」と「日本語教育の参照枠」を主体的に使いこなす

- Can do リストを超えて考える日本語教育-

（English below)

本セミナーは、英国日本語教育学会と国際交流基金ロンドン日本文化センターが共催で実施するものです。毎年、共催セミナーでは、参加者の教育実践の現場や学習者がどのようなものであれ、汎用性の高いテーマを取り上げ、その分野の最前線の講師の先生をお招きして、新鮮で魅力的な学びの機会を提供しております。

今回は、長年、文化審議会国語分科会等の審議会委員として、その知識とご経験を日本語教育施策の立案に反映させ、「日本語教育の参照枠」やCan doリストに基づくカリキュラム開発にも深くかかわっていらっしゃる学習院大学教授の金田智子先生をお迎えします。金田先生はその功績が認められ令和６年度文化庁長官表彰を受賞されました。25年8月のキールでの英国日本語教育学会大会にもご参加されましたので、現地でお会いになった方も多いのではないでしょうか。

2001年に「CEFR（ヨーロッパ言語共通参照枠）」が発表され、2010年には国際交流基金から「JF日本語教育スタンダード」が、また2021年には文化庁から「日本語教育の参照枠」が発表されました。今回のセミナーでは「CEFR」や「参照枠」の理念を理解し、背景にある行動中心主義、Can-doに結び付いた日本語教育の課題などについて考えます。

多くのみなさまのお申し込みを心よりお待ちしております。

概　要

• 日　時： 2026年 2月8日（日）　10:00～12:00（英国時間）
• テーマ： 「CEFR」と「日本語教育の参照枠」を主体的に使いこなす

                       -Can doリストを超えて考える日本語教育-

• 講　師： 金田智子先生（学習院大学 文学部日本語日本文学科 教授）
• 対　象： 英国・欧州の教育機関の現職日本語教師および日本語教育専攻の大学院生

　　　　　　（上記の方を主たる対象としていますが、その他の地域の方の参加も可能です。）

• 定　員： 80名
• 実施形態： オンライン（Zoom会議システムを使用）　使用言語： 日本語
• 参加費詳細と お申込み方法：こちらをご覧ください。（申請開始は12月23日から）
• お申込み締め切り： 2026年2月3日（火） 12:00（英国時間）　※定員になり次第、締め切ります。

      ※参加ご希望の方はこちらの「セミナー前調査票」のご記入もお願いします。

• 主　催：英国日本語教育学会、国際交流基金ロンドン日本文化センター

セミナー内容概要：（講師より）

ヨーロッパを中心に広く共有されてきた CEFR（ヨーロッパ言語共通参照枠） は、言語教育の共通基盤として国や言語を越えて大きな影響力を持ってきました。日本においても、2021年10月に文化審議会国語分科会より『日本語教育の参照枠』（以下「参照枠」）が公表され、CEFRの理念を踏まえた日本語教育の枠組みが示され、日本における日本語教育・学習に大きな影響を与えています。

現在、日本では A1、B2 といったCEFRや参照枠による能力レベルと、在留資格や大学入学資格などとの関連付けが進み、多くの日本語教育機関では「参照枠」の背景にある行動中心アプローチや Can doなどの受容を求められ、「参照枠」に基づいた教育課程をいかに編成するかが最重要課題となっています。

本セミナーでは、CEFR および参照枠の主要概念に対する理解を深めつつ、枠組みや Can do リストを、教育者自身が主体となって用いるということがどういうことかを考えます。外国語／第二言語としての日本語教育において、何を判断軸として授業やカリキュラムを設計していくべきなのか、日本語教育は何を大切にしたらいいのか、どうあるべきかについて、参加者のみなさんと共に、改めて検討する機会としたいと考えています。

講師プロフィール：金田智子（かねだ ともこ）

学習院大学文学部日本語日本文学科教授

Ed.M in TESOL (Teachers College)

文化外国語専門学校、Earlham College（米国）、

広島大学留学生センター、国立国語研究所を経て、現職

専門は日本語教育、教師教育。研究テーマは、授業分析の手法を用いた教師教育、教師の成長、地域における日本語教育。国立国語研究所在職時より、「生活のための日本語」に関する調査研究を行い、2013年からは大学院生らと共に在住外国人を対象とした日本語教室での実践に取り組んでいる。また、2011年から2020年まで、文化審議会国語分科会委員として、地域日本語教育、日本語教育人材の養成・研修、日本語教員の資格日本語能力の評価等について審議に携わる。2022年から３年間、文化庁／文部科学省による「『日本語教育の参照枠』を活用した教育モデル開発・普及事業」（日本語教育学会受託）に取り組み、生活Can doを基にしたモデルカリキュラムを開発した。

【関連する出版物・論文】

1.「学習につながる自己評価―「生活のための日本語」教育の可能性―」単著，『「評価」を持って街に出よう：「教えたこと・学んだことの評価」という発想を超えて』（宇佐美洋編著），2016年，くろしお出版．

2.『新・日本語教育を学ぶ：なぜ、なにを、どう教えるか』共著，2020年，三修社．

3.「生活のための日本語を学ぶカリキュラムのこれから―「日本語教育の参照枠」を生かす―」単著，『日本語学』44巻，3号，2025年，明治書院．

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This seminar is co-organised by the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and The Japan Foundation, London. Each year we choose a universal topic that is relevant to all participants regardless of their teaching institution or their students. We invite a lecturer who is a leader in that field to provide a novel and interesting learning opportunity for all participants.

This time, we will welcome Professor Tomoko Kaneda of Gakushuin University. Professor Kaneda’s wealth of knowledge and experience from her many years of work as a committee member of the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Japanese Language Policy and Education Section is reflected in Japanese language education policy planning. She is deeply involved in the development of a curriculum based on the “Framework for Japanese Language Education” and “Can-Do Lists”.

In 2024 Professor Kaneda was awarded a commendation from the Agency for Cultural Affairs in recognition of her many achievements. We are sure a lot of you met her when she participated in the BATJ Annual Conference in Keele in August 2025. In 2001 the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) was announced, with the Japan Foundation’s The JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education following in 2010 and the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Framework for Japanese Language Education in 2021. Through this seminar, you will revisit the principles of CEFR and these frameworks, and consider the action-oriented approach behind them, as well as challenges of Japanese-language education tied to Can-Do.

We hope to receive many applications!

Details

• Date/Time: 8th February 2026, 10:00 – 12:00 (GMT)
• Theme: Mastering “CEFR” and the “Framework for Japanese Language Education”

                   – Beyond the Can-Do List –

• Lecturer: Professor Tomoko Kaneda (Faculty of Letters, Department of Japanese Language and Literature, Gakushuin University)
• Intended audience: Japanese language teachers working at educational institutions in the United Kingdom and Europe or post-graduate students specialising in Japanese language education.  (We also welcome participation from people who do not fit into either category).
• Max. number of participants: 80
• Location: Online (Zoom meeting software).    
• Language used: Japanese
• Participation fees and information on how to apply: Please click here. *( 23rd December～).
• Application deadline: 3rd February 2026 (Tuesday), 12:00 (GMT).

      Applications will close early if the maximum number of participants is reached.

      If you wish to apply, please fill out the following: “Pre-Seminar Questionnaire”: here

• Organisers: The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and The Japan Foundation, London.

(For detailed information on seminar content and the speaker, please see the Japanese description above).

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Event Flyer: Japanese / English

Date:	8 February 2026 from 10.00am to 12.00pm
Venue:	Online
Download 2026_BATJ-JF共催セミナー_金田智子先生案内文_JP
Download 2026_BATJ-JF共催セミナー_金田智子先生案内文Eng

The 21st Japanese Speech Contest for University Students Finals Day is scheduled to be held on Saturday 7^th March 2026 in London.

We will be announcing more details in late January, so please follow our social media accounts and updates in this page.

Do you think your Japanese level is getting rusty? Why not study Japanese online to brush up your Japanese level?

This course is for non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers who currently teach Japanese in secondary and/or primary schools. You can improve not only your Japanese level but also your teaching skills. Moreover you can build a network among other Japanese teachers. Trainee teachers are also welcome to join. School teachers who are not currently teaching Japanese but wish to do so are also welcome. For more information, see below.

Eligibility (any one or more of the following):

• Non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers who teach or wish to teach at secondary and/or primary schools, including teaching extra-curricular activities such as school clubs.
• PGCE students wo are aiming to become Japanese teachers.
• SCITT trainees/candidates.

Suitable Japanese Level:

JLPT N2 or CEFR B2* (if you cannot assess your own level, please contact us.)

*This is an advanced course. The intermediate course will be held from April. Please wait for a future announcement.

Schedule:

This course consists of Online Sessions and a face-to-face Final Day event. The online sessions will be held on Mondays on the dates below, followed by the Final Day event, which will be held for all level native-speaking and non-native-speaking Japanese teachers together.

Online sessions

• Time: 18:00-19:30 (90 min x 4 lessons)
• Date: Monday 26th January, 9th February, 2nd March and 16th March.

In-Person Final Day Event (TBC)

• On a Saturday in late June or in early July, London Venue, 11:00-15:00.
• Workshops in person, commendation ceremony and lunch reception.
• More detailed information will be given later. Teachers of all Japanese levels are welcome. Applications for the Final Day event will open closer to the date.

N.B. The course will take place online, but on the final day of the course we would like to hold a special face-to-face session, with special speakers, and there will be a commendation ceremony. The Japan Foundation, London will provide lunch and cover your travel expense partly for the participants of the online sessions*.

* All participants are asked to pay up to £10 of their travel expenses out of their own pocket (no reimbursement). The rest of their travel expenses will be reimbursed by The Japan Foundation, London for amounts up to £100.00. If you need to travel the day before and stay overnight the night before the Final Day event, please consult us in advance.

Course fee: Free (including all handouts)

Registration Deadline: 18th January 2026

Languages used: Japanese (All handouts will be given during the lesson.)

This course may count as 10 hours of CPD (TBC)

Course Objectives: To be able to teach A-level or IB B-standard/higher level confidently

Course Content:

• Week 1 (online): Introduction, Review of A-level specification
• Week 2 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Week 3 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Week 4 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Final Day (face-to-face) : Workshop and resource sharing

To register, please click here

Further Enquiries: Ms Hiroko Tanaka

Hiroko_Tanaka001@jpf.go.jp

Are you planning your post-graduation career path? Are you interested in teaching Japanese in secondary schools in England? Would you like to get the teaching qualification to realise that ambition? If so, don’t miss this great opportunity!

The Japan Foundation, London and the National Modern Languages SCITT will be holding a career information event aimed at potential applicants for the National Modern Languages SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training). This is a national scheme approved by the government’s Department for Education. It is designed to train successful applicants to become Early Career Teachers by obtaining a QTS (Qualified Teacher Status).

On this information day, there will be a presentation about useful information concerning how to find a job in the education sector by Japan Foundation staff, followed by a speech given by Mr Keith Faulkner from the NML SCITT about School-Centred Initial Teacher Training, where he will explain how to apply for this programme.

----- What is NML SCITT? -----

The National Modern Languages SCITT (The NML SCITT) is the only national single-subject provider to specialise solely in the teaching of modern languages. The NML SCITT programme is a great opportunity for those who are looking to gain QTS together with a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) qualification. The PGCE programme is offered in conjunction with Sheffield Hallam University, and comes with credits towards an eventual possible Masters-level qualification. Subject to financial factors, degree classification and residential qualification, trainees accepted on the programme may receive a substantial bursary while training; this is currently £25,000 (subject to annual change). The training year consists of practical training in school placements, supported by University- and centre-based academic tuition.

The NML SCITT has introduced a new pathway for training Japanese language teachers.; There is an expectation that trainees can offer Japanese alongside either French, German or Spanish in order to better find a placement, and to ensure that there is a possibility of qualifying for the bursary. The NML SCITT is proud to add Japanese to the programme portfolio. The Japan Foundation, London may also offer financial support to assist NML SCITT trainees (a maximum of £2,000). Please note that this financial support is not guaranteed.

Please note that trainees are required to have French, German or Spanish as a primary foreign language they can potentially teach, with Japanese as an additional language. This means that trainees will be able to teach two languages.

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Date:

• 18:00-19:00 on Thursday 6th November
• 13:00-14:00 on Friday 7th November

*The same session will take place twice.

To apply, please click here:

https://forms.office.com/r/LgX6usYRaU

• Participation fee: Free (registration in advance is required.)
• Registration deadline: 4th November
• Languages used: English.
• Online (ZOOM meeting)

Applications for JaLaChamp 2026 are now open!

JaLaChamp, or Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK, is a contest for primary and secondary school students studying Japanese. There are two categories - the Speech Category, where students give a speech on a theme of their choice, and the Video Category where students are asked to create an original video based on a set theme either by individual or part of a group.

We want to encourage students to share with us their thoughts and viewpoints, as well as show us their creativity in full and have fun challenging themselves by entering this contest and using their Japanese!

The speech category is aimed for secondary school students who study Japanese as a foreign language, while the video category is open to all primary and secondary school students including those who have lived in Japan and who speak Japanese at home.

The theme for the video category of JaLaChamp 2026 is 私わたし(たち)のおすすめのサンドイッチ ”My/Our Favourite Sandwiches”. You can let us know about your favourite sandwiches, ingredients and recipes or create a video based on a sandwich you think would be a popular item if it were sold in supermarket or bakeries. It can be something else, such as onigiri, sushi rolls, wraps and hamburgers.    

From 2026, all videos created by students in the video category will be made available on the Japan Foundation London’s website, allowing your work to have a wider audience!

The Finals Day is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 20^th June 2026, in London. For JaLaChamp 2026, the Finals Day will be divided into two sessions: the morning session for Primary School Video Category finalists and the afternoon session for Secondary School Speech and Video Category finalists, with both sessions to be held on the same day.

For more details, please see the application guidelines below.

Download Guidelines for Primary School Students (English)/Guidelines for Secondary School Students (English)

Download Guidelines for Primary School Students (Japanese)/Guidelines for Secondary School Students (Japanese)

Download the Consent Form for the Video Category

Application Forms and deadlines

- Speech Category Application Form (Apply by Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 at 15:00)

- Video Category Application Form (Apply by Tuesday, 10th March 2026 at 15:00)

Download the JaLaChamp 2026 poster

Date:	16 October 2025 - 10 March 2026
Download JaLaChamp 2026 Poster
Download Guideline_EN_2026_Primary
Download Guideline_EN_2026_Secondary
Download Guideline_JP_2026_Primary
Download Guideline_JP_2026_Secondary
Download JaLaChamp2026_Consent Form Video Category

Dates: Thursday 26 - Friday 27 February 2026

Venue: The University of Sheffield

Registration for the 2026 iteration of the Japan Foundation/British Association for Japanese Studies PhD Workshop, "Navigating Your Future in Japanese Studies" is now open!

If you are a PhD student conducting research related to Japan, why not come along for our workshop which aims to support the ongoing development and future of Japanese Studies in the UK?

This time, we have decided to host the workshop over two days to allow more opportunity for insightful workshops and networking, enabling attendees to build valuable connections with Japanese Studies students and researchers across the UK.

We have listened to feedback from previous workshops and concerns of postgraduate students in Japanese Studies, and have decided to focus this workshop on how to navigate the changing landscape and job market in Japanese Studies.

Exact sessions at the workshop are yet to be finalised but the tentative timetable is below.

*Please note: We are still in the early planning stages and the following is subject to change*

Please note: attendees to the workshop must be able to attend both days.

Student Submissions:

As an essential part of the workhop, PhD and MA students will be asked to present their research in front of a small group of peers. Further information about this will be provided after the registration deadline has passed. However, if you have any questions please get in touch.

Financial Support: 

The following financial support is available to presenting attendees.

Travel Grant: JF will offer a partial travel grant for student participants. Once an initial 30 GBP is covered by the student, JF will provide up to a maximum of 90 GBP for public transportation to the event. For any questions, please contact Iona Vos using the contact emails at the bottom of this item.

Hotel Grant: BAJS will cover a one night stay up to a maximum of 90 GBP per attendee. If you have any questions about the hotel grant, please email BAJS Secretary Mara Patessio at mp78@soas.ac.uk.

Please note:

Attendance to this event is capped at 40 students on a first come, first served basis. As the number of participants is limited, please only register if you know you can attend both days of the workshop.

Current Ph.D. students will be prioritised. MA students will be placed on a waitlist, with places being confirmed after the deadline has passed.

If you have registered but can no longer attend, please contact us to cancel your place.

Contact

If you have any questions about the workshop, please email Iona Vos at LO_JapaneseStudies@jpf.go.jp. Please CC Natsumi_Abe@jpf.go.jp (Manager for Japanese Studies) and Iona_Vos@jpf.go.jp (Assistant Programme Officer for Japanese Studies).

Step into the world of Kabuki with six stunning kimonos worn by the legendary actor BANDO Tamasaburo V, known for his renowned onnagata roles (male actor who performs female roles). Experience the intricate artistry of these garments, highlighting a diverse range of complex textile techniques, encompassing weaving, dyeing, embroidery, and hand-painting. We are delighted to collaborate with the Ashmolean Museum.

Date: 14 December 2024 - 9 November 2025

Venue: The Ashmolean Museum

Click here for details

Date: Monday 3 November, 5pm GMT.

Venue: Duke Street Lecture Theatre, Norwich University of the Arts

The Japan Foundation London is proud to support our friends at the University of East Anglia on their upcoming lecture, Okinawan Crafts: History and the Present with Professor Junko KOBAYASHI (Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts).

This lecture by Professor Kobayashi will explore the history and contemporary relevance of Okinawan craft, addressing themes such as identity, regional heritage, and sustainability. The work of eight Okinawan artists will be reflected on, exploring their historical context, the evolution of Ryukyuan aesthetics, the preservation of identity through craft, and the adaptation of traditional practices in the modern era.

The lecture is part of the accompanying programme for the exhibition ‘Okinawan Kogei: Crafting Continuity and Change’ that runs from Wednesday 29 October – Saturday 1 November, at the Crypt Gallery, Norwich.

This lecture will be taking place in person, but will be available via livestream.

To find out more about the lecture and exhibition, click here.