Bi-Weekly Newsletter
April 22 - May 6, 2020
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While we practice physical distancing, our events are going to look and feel different. So will our newsletter! Enjoy the resource filled newsletter that will keep you connected with the JSB Community!
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Now open for registration!
4/21 - 5/5 JSB Google Map Scavenger Hunt
-part 2-
5/1 Virtual Japanese / English Language Exchange
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Registration for the new Theme-based Online Japanese Classes will open on 4/24.
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Registration for the Cooking Class will open on 5/1. Make sure to take the poll and help choose what the menu will be!
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JSB Staff Pick of the Week
With more time at home, we've asked our staff to pick some of their favorite Japanese movies and books. Here's the staff pick of the week:
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Kiwako abducts the 6-month old child of a man she was having an affair with, then raises the child as her own. Eventually, she gets arrested and the child is returned to her parents.
Directed by Izuru Narushima. Japanese title 八日目の蝉 (
Yôkame no semi
).
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Join or Renew Your Membership
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Keep up with JSB on social media!
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Japanese of the week:
カタカナ (かたかな): "Katakana"
カタカナ(
katakana)
is one of the three writing systems Japanese use, along with ひらがな(
hiragana)
, and
漢字 (
kanji
, Chinese-derived characters). The term, カタカナ, means fragmentary syllabary because the カタカナcharacters are based on the parts of 漢字.
カタカナ was invented at the same time as ひらがな, in the 8-9th century. The カタカナ characters were originally developed to help the Japanese read
and understand Chinese Buddhist scriptures. However, now they are used to transcribe words in foreign languages, onomatopoeia, scientific terms, names of animals, plants, and minerals, and technical terms. For example, カタカナ is used for words such as ジュース(
juusu,
from juice, and アメリカ(
amerika,
from America), ボタン(
botan,
from the Portuguese word “botão,” which means button),ブリキ(
buriki
from the Dutch word, “Blikje,” meaning tin, and イクラ(ikura, from the Russian word “ikra,” which means caviar.
Think Japanese is a fascinating language? Come take our Themed-based Japanese Language Classes we will be launching in May! More details below.
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Facts about Hokkaido
Honoring the 30th Anniversary of the
Massachusetts - Hokkaido sister state relationship
Hakodate is Hokkaido's third largest city, sporting many attractions for both locals and travelers alike. From the star shaped fort
Goryōkaku, to Hakodate Nanae Snow Park, there is not a shortage of things to do and see here. Goryōkaku was built by the Tokugawa Shogunate to protect the Tsugaru Strait from possible Russian invasion.
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Japan Society of Boston: Information
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You Voted!
Last time, we presented you with 3 different types of noodles to be highlighted in this newsletter. Udon came out on top!
As you know, udon noodles are the thickest when it comes to Japanese noodles. They can be served both hot or cold and can be enjoyed in a variety of different styles based on the region of Japan.
(日本の三大うどん) Top 3 types of udon in Japan: Inaniwa, Sanuki, and Mizusawa
Inaniwa
comes out of Inaniwacho in Akita Prefecture. Thinner than commonly found udon, but thicker than somen, Inaniwa udon is easy to slurp and known for its chewy-ness.
Sanuki
is named directly after the city in which it originates in Kagawa Prefecture of Shikoku. They are the most famous out of all the udon that can be found in Japan today.
Mizusawa
makes the cut as the third spot for best udon. Reaching back 400 years into the past, this hand-cut udon was given to visitors of the Mizusawa Temple in Gunma Prefecture.
What's your favorite type of Udon?
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Make udon noodles from scratch
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Feeling adventurous? Why not make udon noodles at home with "Francis the dog" that our friends at Table for Two recommended! Follow along and give your noodles your own personal touch.
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The best location in Japan to eat udon
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Check out the various types of udon that can be found in Japan's Kagawa Prefecture. The location also served as the setting for the 2006 Udon based film
Udon
.
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The Japan Society of Boston is proud to be closely tied to Taizo-in Zen Buddhist Temple in Kyoto. Daiko Matsuyama was honored as our 2019 Shigemitsu Award recipient. Our friendship parallels the sister city relationship between Boston and Kyoto which celebrated 60 years of continued efforts to bridge the gap between cultures last year. Daiko Matsuyama sent us this "Introduction to Zazen Meditation" video we can use while we practice physical distancing.
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Learn how to meditate Zazen style with this introduction and lesson provided by Daiko Matsuyama at
妙心寺退蔵院 (Taizo-in Zen Buddhist Temple)
.
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こどもの日 (kodomo no hi) Children's Day
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こどもの日 (
kodomo no hi) or Children's Day is a national holiday that celebrates children's happiness and future every year on the 5th of May in Japan.
You often see こいのぼり (
koinobori) or carp-shaped windsocks hung in various places in Japan during this time. こいのぼり (
koinobori) consists of a big carp for the father, a medium size one for the mother, and a smaller carp for each child.
Children learn the こいのぼり(
koinobori) song to sing on こどもの日 Children's Day. Listen to the song, beautifully played on piano by Emma.
Listen here
Children's Day this year is going to be an extra special day as Giving Tuesday announced it as a Day of Global Action for Giving and Unity in Response to COVID-19.
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Japan Society of Boston Online Events
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Would you like to learn about Japanese food or interesting places in Japan while learning Japanese? We’re offering a series of theme-based Japanese online classes starting in May. This is a great opportunity for people who would like to learn about Japan while studying Japanese – or even people who aren’t sure about taking a structured 12-week Japanese course but would like to practice Japanese conversation.
Each class will have two levels: Beginners and Intermediate/Advanced.
Registration will open on Friday, April 24th.
Choose from 4 different exciting themes
- Like Japanese Food? Learn Japanese through Cuisine!
- Not just Tokyo and Kyoto. Discover Japan that even the Japanese may not know!
- Japanese in Manga
- The Japanese Writing System: Not as Scary as It Seems!
Reach out to us
here
for further inquiries.
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A fun and interactive way to explore the streets of Japan as if you were actually there!
We've set up some trivia to encourage participants to get to know popular and unique locations scattered across Japan. Take some time to explore the streets around these locations using the street view function of Google Maps and have fun "getting lost"! 5 lucky participants will be selected randomly on May 5th to receive a Shoyeido incense. We will be sending the incense out once we are able to get back into the office.
Lucky winners from the first round!
Edward and Lyn Christiansen
Smita Prasadh
Mary, Rafael, and Urso Blackburn
Morris Yen
Shivani Hernandez
Thank you all for participating and we will be sending out your prizes once we are able to safely do so. Make sure to check out part 2!
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Friday, May 1st
6:00-8:00 pm
Online
Our last Virtual Language Exchange was much fun with many participants joining. We hope to continue that momentum moving forward as we received lots of positive feedback. This time around, we have word from a lot of our friends in Japan that they would like to join in.
We will begin with a half an hour of speaking in Japanese, followed by a half an hour of speaking in English, and alternate until we hit 8 PM. We hope that our guests will meet others and find new paths for improving and enjoying their Japanese and English language skills. We expect all guests to come with a friendly disposition to learn and help others learn!
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Easy Japanese Home Cooking for the Non-Cooks!
Saturday, May 30th
5:00-7:00 pm
Online
As part of our initiative to keep us connected even amidst physical distancing, we've been asking you for more inputs into our programmings. Yuko, our Managing Director asked in her letter in March what specific online program you wanted to see and over 50% of you chose cooking with her! Yuko reminds you that she is in no way a professional cook. As a matter of fact, cooking is probably not something she will say is her #1 favorite thing to do, but rather a routine of life as a mom. So if you want to learn easy, no fuss, Japanese home cooking, join Yuko as she shows you what she makes for her two children at home!
Registration will open on Friday, May 1st!
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We love getting you involved! Help us determine what menu you would like to see in Yuko's "Easy Japanese Home Cooking for the Non-Cooks".
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What do you want to learn to cook with Yuko?
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Onigiri rice balls (traditional and contemporary ones) & 手まり寿司(ball sushi)
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Omurice オムライス (Japanese Omlette Rice)
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Online activities from other Japan Societies across the US
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Thursday, April 23, 1:30 - 2:30 PM
While healthcare workers across the globe work tirelessly to keep patients healthy, experts in medical technology are using innovative approaches to fight their own war against the Covid-19 crisis. The Japan-America Society of Georgia presents an executive dialogue Webinar featuring industry leaders who will discuss ways technology is key to overcoming the current pandemic.
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Tuesday, April 28, 4:30 to 5:30 PM
(
7:30 - 8:30 PM EST)
The US and Japan have adopted very different approaches to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including on testing, tracking, social distancing, procurement of medical materials and devices and treatment of the illness. We will know in the next weeks how successful these varying approaches have been. Please join us for a webinar on April 28 to listen to two medical doctors from Stanford discuss the different approaches that the US and Japan have taken, with reference to the strategies taken in China, Taiwan and South Korea; the results so far in countering the virus; what we can learn from each other; and prospects for containing the virus and restarting economic activity.
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Wednesday, April 29, 6:30 - 7:30 PM
(
7:30 - 8:30 PM EST
)
The spread of COVID-19 has drastically altered everyday life for hundreds of millions around the globe. In Japan, coronavirus numbers were maintained at a relatively low total after being exposed in early 2020, however cases have now seen a significant rise since early April. The U.S. has experienced a rapid increase, now holding one of the highest tallies for both confirmed cases and deaths. The higher education industry, in particular, has been significantly affected to the point where it has shuttered campuses and moved almost entirely to providing instruction online. Although this is a short-term solution, there are many mid-tern and long-term uncertainties, as well as opportunities to implement innovation for positive change.
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Non JSB Online Activities
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Thursday, April 23, 6:30 PM
Sponsored by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Foundation and Co-Sponsored by the National Association of Japan America Societies,the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, and the John Manjiro Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange US.
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Looking for a fun online educational program?
This is what our friends over at Table for Two are doing to bring people together virtually.
Join for an unique Japanese-inspired food education online course, “Wa-Shokuiku – Learn. Cook. Eat Japanese!” for free now through April 30th!
Through the course, participants can learn the principles of Japanese cuisine and food culture and gain the skills to prepare healthy, nutritious foods to strengthen the body and mind!
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Experience a virtual tour across Japan brought to you by NHK World.
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Painting Edo — one of the largest exhibitions ever presented at the Harvard Art Museums — offers a window into the supremely rich visual culture of Japan’s early modern era. Selected from the unparalleled collection of Robert S. and Betsy G. Feinberg.
Learn more about the exhibition in a series of videos, including an introduction by Rachel Saunders, as well as a recording of the opening night lecture “Into the Kaleidoscope: Painting in Edo Japan” by Timon Screech (SOAS University of London)
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