After the AKUTAGAWA performances on Sunday, puppeteers Koryu Nishikawa V (Tokyo) and Tom Lee (Chicago) will join academics Chris Lowy, Yiwen Wu and Elizabeth Oyler to discuss the process of adaptation to a puppetry form and the intricacies of international creative collaboration. Their talk will address the history and influence of kuruma ningyo in Japan, how traditional performing arts are adapting to the modern era, and the enduring legacy of Akutagawa Ryunosuke and the impact of his works have had on both Japanese and global culture.
Attend in person or on Zoom.
Chris Lowy is an assistant professor of Japanese Studies at Carnegie Mellon University. He received his PhD in modern Japanese literature from the University of Washington in 2021. He teaches courses on contemporary Japanese literature, queer literature, contemporary thought, and literary representations of illness and disease. His research focuses on two main topics: the role of written language in Japanese literature and depictions of HIV/AIDS in Japanese literature from the 1980s and 1990s.
Yiwen Wu is a doctoral student at the University of Chicago Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. Yiwen's research focuses on Chinese opera and the history of performance. She is particularly drawn to the transitional period from the imperial nineteenth century through the iconoclastic twentieth century because of its revolutionary nature and proliferation of theatrical entertainment.
This engagement of Hachioji Kuruma Ningyo Puppet Company and Tom Lee is made possible in part through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and Japan Iron and Steel Federation and Mitsubishi Endowments at the University of Pittsburgh.
Kappa 河童 Sponsors
John F. and Nancy L. Oyler Charitable Trust
AKUTAGAWA is supported by Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture) and The Osaka Community Foundation / anonymous fund No.22.
After the AKUTAGAWA performances on Sunday, puppeteers Koryu Nishikawa V (Tokyo) and Tom Lee (Chicago) will join Pittsburgh-based puppeteer David English in a panel discussing how puppetry can be a vehicle to express art and literature, as well as the cultural differences in the medium.
This panel is conducted in partnership with City of Asylum. Register on their website.
This lecture is part of the 2023 Japan Lecture Series sponsored by Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc.
Learn taiko drumming with Pittsburgh Taiko!
On Sundays starting February 12, Pittsburgh Taiko will hold a four-week introductory class for people who are interested in joining our performing group or anyone who wants to just give taiko a try.
No experience necessary!
Taiko combines energetic hits with calm focus, balances group unity with individual expression, and requires both power and subtlety.
For more information, see pittsburghtaiko.com/classes.
Masks must be worn during class, and the studio is only accessible by stairs.
Join us for the Japanese-English Reading Circle!
Mission: to promote language learning through reading and language exchange. We aim to keep positivity and motivation high while developing reading fluency, vocabulary, content discussion, and reading strategies in a fun, collaborative environment.
Meetings: will consist of icebreaker language games, discussions about book topics, questions about language, formation of reading goals, and reading strategy sharing/reflection
Who can join: Japanese learners of English or English-speaking learners of Japanese. Any proficiency level is okay, although it would help to have at least beginner level knowledge of the second language you are studying. You can also sign up for the Facebook group or Google group for reminders.
This competition is designed for high school students from Western Pennsylvania and the tristate area studying Japanese language. Japanese language students of all levels and students who are involved in Japan-related cultural activities, are able to compete against other area students in speech or poster activities. Non-language students are eligible to compete in the poster contest. Each year over 80 students participate. There will be lots of fun Japan-related activities for participating students and parents.
Students who compete in speech levels are required to write and memorize a speech on the chosen topic for the contest. Winners receive prizes and trophies! Please visit the contest page for more information.
The Middle School Japan in Art Contest theme is also "Meibutsu" Specialty Foods. Students submit a postcard-style piece of artwork with a Japanese sentence describing the food for popular vote on the contest day. Please contact us for more information.
2023 Themes:
"Meibutsu" Specialty Foods
Heritage: "Meibutsu" Specialty Foods
Japanese language teachers or students studying Japanese in high school should contact the JASP office at 412-856-8608 or email Katsuko Shellhammer to learn more about the competition. The contest is held in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh.
Sponsorship opportunities are available - please contact Amy Boots for more information.
Network with JASP members and supporters at this day-long event. This is a great opportunity to spend the day with a client, treat employees, or network with industry colleagues while supporting a worthy cause.
Start the day with a business seminar, then take your team-building and networking to the course for a fun day on the links.
This year's event will be held at Montour Heights Country Club. An 18-hole championship golf course that stretches across 6,632 yards from the Black Tees, it is the only Pete Dye Design Golf Course in western Pennsylvania. From its rolling hills to its green complexes, it is truly a one-of-a-kind golf experience every time, mixing traditional southwestern Pennsylvania golf terrain with the signature style of Pete Dye. Visit their website for a tour.
The golf tournament will begin at noon. Golfers compete for winning team trophies, individual skill prizes, and hole-in-one prizes. A post-golf cocktail hour will provide opportunities to meet the other guests and win raffle prizes, including Grand Prize ticket vouchers from Delta Airlines!
We hope you will join us for this fun and popular event.
The schedule for the day is: Registration Opens - 8:30 AM
Breakfast Seminar - 9:00 AM
Lunch - 11:00 AM
Putting Green and Driving Range Available During Lunch
Shot Gun Start - Noon Cocktails and Prizes- 5:00 PM
TEL: 412-856-8608 E-MAIL: jasp@japansocietypa.org
Address: 2735 Mosside Blvd, Suite 402 Monroeville, PA 15146
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The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania