Elementary school Japanese teachers recently coordinated an authentic rakugo experience through the Japan Center. Mariko Yokosuka and Kyoko Takano (Japan Center directors) write on the elementary school Japanese foreign-track classes’ exploration into Edo-period culture and a visit by rakugo master Kokontei-Komaji.
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On March 14, students and faculty celebrated four decades of ASIJ kyogen performances. The annual tradition begin in 1978, with its first shows during the school’s 75th anniversary Matsuri and has continued to this day, led by the same family of kyogen teachers. Kyogen faculty advisor, Machi Nakamura, and students reflect on the anniversary performance. Continue reading
Eighth-grader Matthew Kaung writes on the Middle School Student Service Leadership Team’s (SSLT) yearly trip to Tohoku as part of the Tohoku Virtual English Classroom (TVEC) program in support of victims of the 3/11 earthquake. Continue reading
High school teacher Ryosuke Suzuki writes on the biggest cultural and service excursion of the year, Explorations Week—a week when the whole high school heads out to all parts of Japan and beyond. Continue reading
On Friday, October 20, Japan Foundation Award-winner, Japanese Imperial Honor recipient and ASIJ class of ’68 alum Frederik L Schodt delivered a commemorative lecture at the Japan National Press Club titled Cultural Surfing: Riding the Waves of Transnational History, Technology, and Pop Culture. Fred discussed cross-cultural exchange in a wide range of Japan-US pop culture topics with moderator Yukari Shiina, comic book translator and part-time lecturer at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.
Fred and Yukari shared stories about his first visit to Japan while in high school, his first experience with Japanese manga and its popularization in the US through the works of artists such as Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki and Yoshiyuki Tomino. Fred also spoke on his own life and work facilitating exchange between Japan and the United States. Attendees of the lecture included students from our advanced Japanese course. Tenth graders Anna Komisarof and Rona Kitamura write on the trip. Continue reading
