Takeshima Island  In response to recent events in the dispute over Takeshima Island, Prime Minister Noda expressed his position: "There is no doubt about the fact that Takeshima is Japan's territory in light of the historical facts and based upon international law." Read more of his statement and the Takeshima Island issue here:
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Japan Foundation's New Home
Japan Foundation has found a new home! Visit them at 5700 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100
in Los Angeles. The Japan Foundation is a non-profit organization for the promotion of international cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries. Their library has Japanese books, manga and magazines, and even CDs and DVDs.
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Cast Me If You Can
A screening of the comedy Cast Me If You Can will be held 7:00 pm on September 26 in the auditorium of the Japan Foundation's new facilities, followed by Q & A with writer-director Atsushi Ogata. The film will also be shown at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. For more information, visit the website.
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Noh: Moon Viewing and Sake
Master performers and musicians from the five hundred year old Noh school of Kanze will perform at JACCC on September 28 at 7:00 pm. Master Motonori Umekawa will demonstrate and perform two works from the moon viewing plays Kanenodan and Izutsu. During intermission, sip and enjoy sake!
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Wagyu Beef Returns to the U.S. Market!
Japanese beef exports to the U.S. resumed as of August following a two-year hiatus. The detection of hoof and mouth disease brought Japanese exports to a halt. But now, with a new clean bill of health issued by the USDA and Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, discriminating food connoisseurs will once again be able to enjoy the finest offerings of authentic Japanese beef here in the United States. For more information on genuine wagyu beef, look here:
MAFF
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Renewable Energy Program Off to a Strong Start!
A government power purchase program designed to spur renewable energy projects has enjoyed smooth sailing since its July launch, thanks in large part to high feed-in rates offered to power producers. Utilities received 33,695 applications to sell power in the first month of the feed-in tariff program, with overall output reaching 560,000 kilowatts. This figure is roughly 20% of the government target of 2.5 million kilowatts for the nine months through next March.
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Latest Updates from Japan
Want to check out the latest news on Japan all in one place? Visit the Japan Portal website powered by Kyodo News for information on government, industry, tourism, and many other topics. Read all of the details on Japan's showing at the Olympics, special events happening around Japan, and even how to download an app to have Hello Kitty be your tour guide. In English, Chinese, and Korean.
Japan Portal
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Today's Kotowaza
Uso wa atokara hageru
A lie, afterwards, is peeled off. A lie is eventually revealed. Lies melt like snow. At the length truth will out. |
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Prof.Tohji to Speak at USC
An environmentally friendly energy vision will be applied to reconstruction of the Tohoku region. Professor Kazuyuki Tohji of Tohoku University will speak at USC's Doheny Library on October 15 at 12:30 pm, about building smart communities with next generation sources. The event is co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan.
USC |
Japan and the TPP
Should Japan join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)? To discuss this trade agreement and related issues, Japan America Society has organized a timely briefing featuring a panel of experts: Consul General Jun Niimi, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler, and USC's Adjunct Professor Brian Peck. Be there on October 9 from 5:00 pm.
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Fly Kites at the Kite Festival!
Come with family and friends to see Japanese and international kites of all sizes and colors! There will be kite workshops and games for children, Japanese food and cultural booths, taiko, giant show kites, kite candy, kite battles, stunt kite demonstrations, and much more. It's happening at Seal Beach on Sunday October 14 from 11:00 am!
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US Sumo Open
Enjoy Japanese cuisine, beer, and sake while watching national and world sumo champions vie for the US Sumo Open title. It's a rare opportunity to see so many high caliber sumo wrestlers at one event in the United States. Be there on Saturday September 22 at the JACCC Plaza!
USA Sumo Open
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Japan Cat Network
A former English teacher in Japan, American Susan Roberts, has been helping save pets in Fukushima through her non-profit Japan Cat Network. Roberts regularly visits the government-set nuclear evacuation zone to feed animals, and to bring unclaimed pets back to her shelter and find new homes for them.
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Time Made Accurate!
 If you're a real stickler for time, the Optical Lattice Clock being developed by researchers in Japan is 1,000 times more precise than atomic clocks in use today. Current atomic clocks are accurate to within one second over a span of 30 million years - good enough for most purposes. But Optical Lattice Clocks are accurate to within one second over 30 billion years, promising to make the existing atomic timepieces obsolete. As an added bonus, real-world experiments in relativity should be made possible simply by placing two of these clocks at different heights on the same table! |
Tohoku's Eco-Friendly Reconstruction
In the reconstruction of Tohoku, environmentally friendly urban developments aim for energy independence through wind farms, biomass, and solar powered panels. Learn about these projects on Japan Video Topics.
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JAPAN-RELATED EVENTS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA & ARIZONA
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs News
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If you're a real stickler for time, the Optical Lattice Clock being developed by researchers in Japan is 1,000 times more precise than atomic clocks in use today. Current atomic clocks are accurate to within one second over a span of 30 million years - good enough for most purposes. But Optical Lattice Clocks are accurate to within one second over 30 billion years, promising to make the existing atomic timepieces obsolete. As an added bonus, real-world experiments in relativity should be made possible simply by placing two of these clocks at different heights on the same table! 
This newsletter is issued by the Japan Information & Culture Center