Consulate-General of Japan in New York
在ニューヨーク日本国総領事館

Ambassador Nishimiya Takes Office

On March 30th, new Ambassador and Consul General, Shinichi Nishimiya arrived in New York and took office, succeeding Mr. Motoatsu Sakurai.

Born in 1952, Mr. Nishimiya joined the foreign service of Japan in 1976. After working at the Embassies in Washington D.C., Moscow and London, he served as the Director of Policy Coordination Division, Foreign Policy Bureau and as Deputy Director-General, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, both in Tokyo. From 2005 to 2006, he served as a minister and subsequently as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of Japan in Beijing. His most recent post was Director-General of the North American Affairs Bureau in Tokyo.

Message from Mr. Nishimiya　

Ambassador Nishimiya Visits Philadelphia

On April 5th and 6th, Ambassador and Mrs. Nishimiya visited Philadelphia to join Sakura Sunday, the highlight of the 2009 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival. This visit was Ambassador Nishimiya’s first trip outside New York City, since assuming his post only a few days earlier.

Sakura Sunday was held at the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park, attracting a record-high 40,000 visitors. With beautiful weather and almost all the trees in bloom, various events like a Taiko drum performance, martial arts demonstrations, as well as other activities and Japanese food, were available to all throughout the day. Ambassador Nishimiya took part in a tree planting ceremony with Mr. Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia, and Mr. Dennis Morikawa, Honorary Consul of Japan. Mr. Nishimiya also spent time at the park with alumni of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) who reside in Greater Philadelphia.

The Cherry Blossom Festival was organized by the Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP). JASGP aims to promote a better understanding between Japan and the US by offering opportunities for people to experience Japanese culture.

Expressing his appreciation to the JASGP, Ambassador Nishimiya said in his speech, “The JASGP has spent a decade planting and caring for the flowering trees in Fairmount Park – a project that builds upon the legacy of the Japanese government’s 1926 gift of cherry trees to Philadelphia. It’s just another reminder that the unique strength of the Japan-US relationship is our solid foundation of grassroots diplomacy”.

The next day, Ambassador Nishimiya met with Mayor Nutter again, for a more in-depth conversation. Mayor Nutter expressed his hope to further strengthen, among other things, the economic and business relations between Philadelphia and Japan.

While in Philadelphia, Ambassador visited Shofuso, a Japanese house and garden in Fairmount Park, as well as historical sites such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Constitution Center. He also went to see the Japanese Language School of Philadelphia, located on the campus of Friend’s Central School, visited Villanova University, and the Olympus Corporation of the Americas factory.

Ms. Toshiko Calder of the Princeton Community Japanese Language School is Honored

Ms. Toshiko Calder, the chair of the board of directors of the Princeton Community Japanese Language School, was awarded the Consul General’s Commendation. On March 17, the certificate was presented to Ms. Calder during a ceremony at Ambassador Sakurai’s residence, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the promotion of Japanese language education for Japanese and Japanese-American children in the United States.

The Consul General’s Commendation is given to an individual or organization which has made outstanding, commendable contributions in the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and foreign countries, the promotion of cultural exchange, and assistance to the Consulate with consular and immigration related affairs.

Ms. Calder was one of the first who recognized the importance of promoting heritage language education. Since 1995, she has been involved in the development of text books, curriculum and teaching methods for elementary to high school students. The students are “heritage learners”, or children who want to learn the language and culture of their mother country. With her pioneering initiative, the Princeton Community Japanese Language School began to offer programs to teach Japanese as a heritage language in a systematic way. The school became the first Japanese weekend school in North America to provide such programs. Japanese-American kids and Japanese children, whose parents are long-term U.S. residents, have since benefited from these programs.

Currently, Ms. Calder serves as a facilitator for a study group on heritage language, established within the Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese (NECTJ). She is also a member of the editorial board for the Japanese Heritage Language Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ).

JETAANY Hosts First Author Showcase

By Gina Anderson (Nara-ken, 2003-05), former JETAA DC newsletter chair and Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02), editor of JQ (JETAA NY) Quarterly Magazine.

New York City's Holiday Inn hosted a summit for published JETs as JETAANY launched its debut JET Alumni Author Showcase on March 22. The panelists included pro writers Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), Robert Weston (Nara-ken, 2002-04) and James Kennedy (Nara-ken, 2004-06).

Drawing over 60 JET alums, friends and family, the event kicked off with opening remarks by Akira Sugiyama, director of the Japan Information Center of the Consulate General of Japan in New York. Moderator and playwright Randall David Cook (Fukui-ken, 1991-93), creator of the critically acclaimed Off Broadway plays “Sake with the Haiku Geisha” and “Fate's Imagination”, asked each author to share a favorite selection of their works with the crowd.

A professor at three different universities including Tokyo University, a writer and editor for two magazines and a columnist for the Yomiuri Shimbun, Kelts spoke about “Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.”, his non-fiction book about the eponymous subject. He began by pointing out that “Japanamerica” is in part a reference to his own mixed Japanese and American backgrounds, explaining that he spent a year in Osaka on the JET Programme in part to have "a real Japanese experience" despite growing up with a Japanese mother and a lifelong exposure to Japanese pop culture.

He then read an excerpt from the introduction of his book, in which he recalled a visit to friends in Los Angeles whose four-year-old daughter was captivated by “My Neighbor Totoro”, the classic anime film from Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. Kelts cited the story as a metaphor for what Harvard professor Joseph Nye coined "soft power," or Japan's increased influence over a new generation of the West through pop culture and media. What followed was an enlightening discussion that touched on otaku (obsessive fan) analysis along with the unique changes and challenges “Japanamerica” faced on its way to publication in Japan.

Armed with their flair for performing, authors Weston and Kennedy immersed the crowd in their readings, elevating the act of reciting fiction to total showmanship.

"This is a book that many people said couldn't be done, or more likely, shouldn't be done," Weston said, introducing his rhyming children's novel “Zorgamazoo”, which has won several awards since its publication last year. His impassioned reading featured a multitude of character voices (inspired by Monty Python and character actor Peter Lorre) that kept the audience entranced. The author, who traveled from Toronto to participate in the event, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to gain exposure in the U.S.

Kennedy's background in physics, philosophy and computer programming seem at odds with his creative side, but that didn't stop the young author from finishing his first book and inking a deal with publishing major Random House. Aimed at young adults, “The Order of Odd-Fish” was one of the Smithsonian's Notable Books for Children in 2008.

A musician and improv comic based in Chicago, Kennedy acted out a scene from his novel between two characters arguing over the lethalness of his made-up "Apology Gun," which he explained could be adjusted from sincere to sarcastic. The crowd erupted in laughter as he breathlessly fired off lines like "I choke your esophagus with the foodstuffs of destruction!" while darting back and forth across the stage.

Following the readings, Cook asked the authors questions about their past experiences as JETs, their present as authors and about their future projects. Each author already had plans to write a new book in the near future, and they all tackled Q&As from the audience to discuss today's publishing world and how technology is, for better or for worse, changing the way books are marketed and distributed.

For more information about the authors, each with their respective blogs, visit:

Roland Kelts, author of “Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.”, http://japanamerica.blogspot.com

Robert P. Weston, author of “Zorgamazoo”, http://www.zorgamazoo.com

James Kennedy, author of “The Order of Odd-Fish”, http://jameskennedy.com

The event was supported by some of the biggest name Japanese and American organizations including the Consulate General of Japan in New York; Anime Festival; Books Kinokuniya; New York Comic Con; and Jetwit.com.

Gina Anderson is an applied technology specialist at the State Department by day and a writer and aspiring novelist.
Justin Tedaldi encourages all JET writers and creative types to contribute to JQ (JETAA NY) Quarterly Magazine.

The World Heritage Sites in Japan: Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto

In this section of Japan Info, we will run a series featuring World Heritage Sites located in Japan. For this installment we look at the internationally renowned ancient city of Kyoto.

That Japan’s ancient capital Kyoto was named the top destination in Japan is nothing new to most of the global community, but Kyoto also received a more universal title from UNESCO. In 1994, UNESCO designated historic Kyoto and its neighboring areas, which includes groups of ancient temples and shrines, as a World Heritage Site for its representation of Japanese traditional culture as well as its cultural influence on the rest of the world.

Formerly the nation’s imperial capital, Kyoto was also Japan’s cultural center from the 8th to 17th century. During this period, Kyoto culture established the basics for Japanese culture which still thrives today, including tea ceremony, Zen philosophy, wooden architecture, Japanese-style gardens, and traditional cuisine. Because of the long cultural heritage that coexists with a 21st century urban lifestyle, Kyoto has been recognized as the top destination in Japan due to its traditional cityscapes and rich Japanese culture which remains to this day.

It is not only the natural landscapes and architectural beauty, but the Japanese traditional designs and lifestyle that still fascinates the rest of the world. Kyoto is definitely qualified to receive international acclaim for its cultural and social significance.

The key aspect of a Kyoto visit is to see the origins of much of what is commonly known as traditional Japanese culture in today’s world. Higashiyama, the eastern part of the city, was where things were happening. From the 15th century, Higashiyama was the birthplace of the aesthetics of Zen Buddhism and the ideas of wabi-sabi (beauty in simplicity). You can find old specialty stores and shops still doing business in this area such as tofu shops, green tea rooms and Japanese pottery shops. They are all signature stores for each industry, which remain common and significant in the Japanese society even today. Tourists can visit old shops and factories to witness how craftsmen and professionals carry on traditional techniques and methods to maintain the original quality of many products.

In contrast, the western part of Kyoto is much quieter. Its hilly landscape attracted many Zen monks looking for isolation from the urban bustling to concentrate and meditate. The Golden Pavilions, Saiho-ji Temple (the Moss temple), the Rock Garden at Ryoanji-Temple and other ancient quiet temples with timeless tranquility, century-old architectural beauty and cultural richness, enable visitors to escape from their busy daily lives. Once in a calm state of mind, one can listen to the sound of nature unchanged such as water, wind, leaves and birds. This calmness is required in Zen meditation, and these hidden temples have accommodated thousands of Zen monks looking for a quiet experience. The hillside of Arashiyama guarantees a breathtaking view of the city from the quiet highland area of Kyoto.

This article was contributed by Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO).

Manga as a Tool for Learning Japanese

Manga, Japanese comic books, has achieved a phenomenal level of success outside of Japan as popular entertainment. It has certainly motivated many to start learning the Japanese language and culture. But can manga be useful in the teaching process as well? The following is an interview with Mr. Marc Bernabe, who developed the popular textbook series titled, “Japanese in Manga Land”, which incorporates manga into a language textbook. Let us take a look at manga as a tool for learning the Japanese language.

JIC (Japan Information Center): First of all, how did you come up with the idea of incorporating manga into a language textbook?

Mr. Bernabe: This happened by pure chance. I met the editor-in-chief of a magazine in Spain specializing in manga and animation from Japan. She was looking for somebody who could write a kind of Japanese course for her monthly magazine, and I agreed immediately. I thought using manga would be a good way to attract readers’ attention. The course I ran was composed of two different parts for each lesson: the first part was the theory part, not really different from any other Japanese learning book. The second part was based on examples taken out from real manga which illustrates what had been explained in the theory part. For instance, if we had a lesson on adjectives, I would explain how they work in Japanese and then have some manga panels with actual usages of adjectives in context. This idea worked very well in the magazine and, after a couple of years, the book came out. It was an immediate success, first in Spain and then internationally. So far, it has been translated into seven languages.

JIC: It seems that many Western language speakers find the Japanese language, kanji characters in particular, difficult to learn which results in a loss of motivation. How does your method help them overcome such difficulties?

Mr. Bernabe: Japanese is not an easy language to learn, especially when it comes to writing and reading. When people find out that learning the language is not as easy as they thought, they lose motivation and walk away. I think that manga has a lot of potential in this field, as it can help ease the learning process, making it more fun and consequently lowering drop-off rates.

My books are designed to be self-study materials that start from the very basic and learners can progress step-by-step. The complementary workbooks can be used for practice and to test oneself. They also have an original manga story that people can read using the skills they have acquired at every step of the process. The new series, “Kanji in Manga Land”, provides a graphic image for every part of the shape that forms the many kanji characters, and then we combine these images in order to get the whole kanji. This approach has been well received by students.

JIC: Manga has motivated a significant number of people to start to learn the Japanese language in the U.S., Europe and Asia. What is your opinion of this phenomenon?

Mr. Bernabe: This is actually my case. I became fascinated with Japanese language and culture because I liked Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball a lot and the “strange characters” (kana and kanji, of course) that appeared on screen attracted me so much that I thought I’d like to learn them. The influence that manga and anime is having on the world is very positive for Japan, as it helps to fill the culture gap between Japan and other cultures of the world. Its influence as a “soft power” is potentially huge and, fortunately, in the past few years, the Japanese government has also realized this and has begun promoting Japanese popular culture all over the world. Manga, anime, videogames and other forms of Japanese pop culture are very powerful weapons, as they create a positive image of Japan to young people around the world, thus facilitating cultural exchange.

JIC: So you think that Japanese pop culture has the potential to be a “soft power” which Japan can offer to the world?

Mr. Bernabe: Absolutely YES. The Japanese government is finally beginning to be aware of this, mainly because of the work done by former Foreign Affairs Minister and current Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is a big fan of manga and anime himself. He is very aware of its potential power. Japanese people are still not fully aware of it, but gradually they will be.

JIC: Do those who started to learn Japanese because they love comics continue learning the language and gradually open their eyes to broader subjects, such as Japanese traditional culture, linguistics and sociology?

Mr. Bernabe: Yes, many of them do. I myself am one of them; I am now a professional translator and an author. I also know many people with similar stories who are now successful professionals in various areas, from literature to Internet to rocket science (yes, seriously). I believe that people who learn Japanese because of what begins as a hobby are not just “J-geeks”, but people with the potential to become a bridge between their countries/regions of origin and Japan. This is why I think Japanese pop culture is such a big “soft power”.

It is a pleasure to say hello to everyone.

As you see by the headlines, I arrived in New York on March 30th to assume the post of Ambassador and Consul General. This is my first message to you through Japan Info. In this column, I look forward to telling you my views and ideas. I think that the relationship between the Consulate and the local community should be as “interactive” as possible. Your voice matters to us; so please give us your feedback and share your comments with the Consulate (japaninfo@ny.cgj.org).

Since taking office, these past few weeks have been a busy time of courtesy calls and meetings with people in various fields. On April 5th and 6th, I visited Philadelphia, where the entire city was livened up by the excitement of the Cherry Blossom Festival. In addition to being impressed by the beautiful blossoms, I also enjoyed an opportunity to meet with alumni of the JET Program, Japanese language teachers and students, and last but not least, Mr. Michael Nutter, Mayor of Philadelphia. In the future, in order to promote such active contact, I intend to take it upon myself to go out and meet as many people as I can and speak directly with them in every corner of every state under my responsibility.

This issue of Japan Info features Japan Day @ Central Park 2009. As I told reporters at a press conference yesterday, preparations for Japan Day are now well underway. Japan Day @ Central Park is a very precious, once-a-year opportunity for the Japanese community in New York to come together and say “Thank You” to the City and all New Yorkers. I hope many of you will join us. I look forward to bringing you more updates through this website. Your suggestions are always welcome. Please write to us: japaninfo@ny.cgj.org or the Japan Day Committee: info@japandaynyc.org.

Experience the Sights, Sounds and Tastes of Japan
JAPAN DAY @ CENTRAL PARK
SUNDAY, MAY 31ST

On Sunday, May 31st, Central Park’s East Meadow will blossom into a Japanese village, offering a day-long celebration of Japanese traditions and “Japan cool.” With a stage show featuring top entertainers from Japan, tents offering family-friendly activities like origami, calligraphy and miniature “robot battles,” and samplings of popular Japanese cuisine, Japan Day @ Central Park will mark its third year as a New York City tradition.

An event which drew an estimated 40,000 participants last year, Japan Day @ Central Park kicks off with the Japan Run , a four-mile race organized by New York Road Runners, at 8 a.m., followed by a runners’ award ceremony, a raffle for all race participants and Kids’ Run at 9:30 a.m.

At 10 a.m. the public is invited to visit tents with activities ranging from a tea ceremony to children’s games and a photo op with Hello Kitty herself, in person. The stage show begins at 10:15, featuring karate demonstrations and performances from top Japanese musicians and dancers from New York City and Tokyo, including Cobu, award-winning hip hop dancer Kenichi Ebina, J-pop star Ai Kawashima and violinist Taro Masuda.

“We felt we needed to say thank you to New York City for being such a wonderful home to America’s largest Japanese community, “says Japan Day Honorary Chairman Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya, Consul General of Japan in New York, “Our idea was: why not offer New Yorkers a chance to see and hear and taste some of the best of Japanese culture by taking a walk through Central Park on a summer day?” Ambassador Nishimiya notes that the event also depends upon the generous efforts of the corporate and Japanese grassroots community, the New York Department of Parks and Recreation, the Mayor’s Office, the New York Road Runners and the Central Park Conservancy. Major support for Japan Day is provided by leading Japanese and American corporations and is supplemented by individual donations.

Japan Day Chairman Yoshiaki Kawamata (CEO for the Americas of the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd.) says, “The goal of Japan Day @ Central Park is to share our culture in the hope that New Yorkers from all walks of life will enjoy it!” Kawamata adds, “We hope that the event will entice people to want to learn and experience even more about Japan.”

Japan Day @ Central Park will also offer a video program between live performances on the stage, and Japan Day t-shirts, tote bags and charity wristbands will be available for a donation to Japan Day and the Central Park Conservancy. “We hope New Yorkers will want to celebrate the spirit of Japan Day throughout the year, and they can do so by picking up a wristband or t-shirt or tote as a memory of the day,” says Japan Day Chairman Kawamata. “The donation goes to help continue the tradition of Japan Day, and part of each contribution goes toward the care and planting of cherry trees around the Central Park Reservoir.”

Honorary Chairman Ambassador Nishimiya adds, “The original cherry trees around the Central Park Reservoir were a gift from the Japanese people one hundred years ago. So we feel it is wonderfully appropriate that part of donations to Japan Day go to the Central Park Conservancy’s effort to maintain the original cherry trees and to plant new ones. Donating for a Japan Day t-shirt, tote or wristband, is a great way of saying: Thank you New York! Thank you Central Park!”

For more information, please visit the Japan Day @ Central Park Website: http://www.japandaynyc.org. To register for the Japan Run please visit NYRR’s Web site at www.nyrr.org.

Japan Day 2008 Photo Gallery

Japan Run

Japan Day Festival Part1

Japan Day Festival Part2