His Majesty's New Year Thoughts
 Emperor Akihito offered reflections at the beginning of the 23rd year of the Heisei Reign. Read his message and the waka poems written by His and Her Majesties:
Emperor's reflections
Waka poems |
Foreign Minister Maehara Visits U.S.
 Foreign Minister Maehara met with Secretary Clinton in Washington D.C. on January 6 to discuss Prime Minister Kan's spring visit to the U.S. His speech, "Opening a New Horizon in the Asia Pacific," was presented at the Center for Strategic and International Studies:
MOFA |
JANM receives award from First Lady Michelle Obama
 The Japanese American National Museum was presented the National Medal of the Institute of Museums and Library Services, the nation's highest honor for museums, by First Lady Michelle Obama in ceremonies at the White House on Friday, December 17, 2010.
JANM
IMLS |
Dr. Shibata and Paro visit Los Angeles
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photo courtesy KTLA-TV |
Dr. Takanori Shibata and his baby seal robot Paro appeared on the KTLA Morning News with anchor Frank Buckley. Dr. Shibata and Paro will bring good cheer when they visit residents of Keiro Nursing Home and professors of University of Southern California on January 12.
PARO
KTLA |
Meet the future of GPS navigation! 
The satellite's name is Michibiki, and it has recently been proven to provide GPS coordinate signals much more precise than what the world currently uses. Japan plans to launch a series of such satellites over Asia to bring the accuracy up to the ultra-pinpoint range of one centimeter (less than half an inch) rather than the one meter (over 1 yard) range of accuracy which is standard today.
JAXA |
World's first scientific taste sensor
 Japanese scientists have developed the world's first scientific taste sensor. It recreates human taste cells artificially. It can measure tastes objectively and compare the subtleties of flavors.
Kids Web Japan |
Today's Kotowaza:
Shoshin wasuru bekarazu
 Youthful heart forgets - but it musn't.
Don't forget the aspirations of your youth and the things you set out to accomplish. Never forget the good intentions you had in when you were young. Never forget your main objective. So this year, resolve to stick to your New Year's resolutions. |
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New Year's Reflections by Prime Minister Kan
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courtesy Cabinet Public Relations Office |
At the beginning of the new year, Prime Minister Kan emphasized the need to move forward with reforms and "build the nation through growth and employment." Read his message:
Prime Minister's reflections |
New Year's Reception at JACCC
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Kodama Taiko's Mochitsuki |
The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles held a New Year's reception at the JACCC in Little Tokyo on January 2, 2011 with community guests. Consul General Junichi Ihara gave New Year's greetings:
Consul General's greetings |
New Year's Day newspaper editorials
January 1, 2011 editions of Japan's major newspapers carried editorials suggesting strategies for revitalizing Japan in the new year. Commentaries called for strong political leadership, reform of the tax and social systems, rehabilitating state finances, further opening of the country, and moving away from single-state pacificism. Read the editorial summaries:
FPC |
Japan's Social Manga Networks
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work posted to pixiv by "vania600" |
A new forum for budding young manga artists allows young talent to post on the Internet. Many Japanese young people draw manga as a hobby and exchange their drawings with their friends. Now their talents can be seen on social networking sites. And industry scouts can see their work.
Trends in Japan |
Nanotech Alchemy Creates Palladium
 Palladium is a scarce industrial metal, very much in demand these days, but the problem is, it is sourced in only a handful of countries throughout the world. So, wouldn't it be better just to make it at home from scratch? Researchers at Kyoto University dusted off the Philosopher's Stone (and some nanotech wizardry) to do just that, they claim. Do an internet search with "Japan nanotech palladium" for hundreds of articles on this breakthrough.
Internet paladium search |
Japan Joins VerdeXchange Green Economy Conference!
 Southern California's prominent VerdeXchange conference will feature speakers and companies from Japan with new ideas, finance mechanisms, technology and know-how to bring us all closer to living in a sustainable world. For more information on Japan's panelists, and the conference itself, click here!
VerdeXchange |
Japan-related events for Los Angeles & Arizona
 English
Japanese
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs News
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Emperor Akihito offered reflections at the beginning of the 23rd year of the Heisei Reign. Read his message and the waka poems written by His and Her Majesties:
Foreign Minister Maehara met with Secretary Clinton in Washington D.C. on January 6 to discuss Prime Minister Kan's spring visit to the U.S. His speech, "Opening a New Horizon in the Asia Pacific," was presented at the Center for Strategic and International Studies: 
The Japanese American National Museum was presented the National Medal of the Institute of Museums and Library Services, the nation's highest honor for museums, by First Lady Michelle Obama in ceremonies at the White House on Friday, December 17, 2010. 
Japanese scientists have developed the world's first scientific taste sensor. It recreates human taste cells artificially. It can measure tastes objectively and compare the subtleties of flavors. 
Youthful heart forgets - but it musn't. 
Palladium is a scarce industrial metal, very much in demand these days, but the problem is, it is sourced in only a handful of countries throughout the world. So, wouldn't it be better just to make it at home from scratch? Researchers at Kyoto University dusted off the Philosopher's Stone (and some nanotech wizardry) to do just that, they claim. Do an internet search with "Japan nanotech palladium" for hundreds of articles on this breakthrough.
Southern California's prominent VerdeXchange conference will feature speakers and companies from Japan with new ideas, finance mechanisms, technology and know-how to bring us all closer to living in a sustainable world. For more information on Japan's panelists, and the conference itself, click here! 
This newsletter is issued by the Japan Information & Culture Center