College
of Charleston. Charleston, SC
Miraieno Chiimuwaaku:
Japanese Culture in Charleston
Project Director: Dr. David Cohen
$5,000
The purpose of this project is to introduce Japanese language and arts to 207
children in pre-K 4-year olds through grade 2, their
families, and teachers through a series of teacher workshops and a culminating
one day festival.
Community Works. New York, NY
Global Connections: The American-Japanese Education Project
Project Director: Linda Muller
$5,000
Combining oral history lessons, arts workshops, cultural exchange activities,
exhibition and public programs, the American-Japanese Education Project intends
to increase student and public awareness of WWII era incarceration of Japanese
Americans and generate dialogue between public school students in New York city
and Japan.
Halifax County Public Schools. Halifax, VA
Japanese Sakura and Shiitake Planting Project
Project Director: Kazuko Yamasaki
$5,000
This project introduces the Japanese national flower, the sakura,
and shiitake mushrooms to Halifax County Virginia. To enhance the understanding
of Japanese culture, we will use sakura to teach
about the history of how cherry blossoms were introduced to the US. We will
instruct students at high school on how to grow shiitake mushrooms, point out
the value of shiitake as a healthy traditional cuisine, farming as a career. We
will hold two events: a sakura tree planting event,
and a shiitake spawning event open to students, farmers and residents.
Heart of America
Japan-America Society. Kansas City,
MO
2008 Japan Festival
Project Director: Francis Lemery
$5,000
This is the Heart of America Japan-America Society’s 11th annual Japan
Festival. The one-day public event will be held in Kansas City on Saturday,
September 27, and present performances, exhibits, hands-on workshops, special
children’s activities, foods and other activities that promote a better
understanding of Japanese people and culture. A special Festival Reception is
held the evening before to preview some of the performances.
Hendrix
Elementary. Boiling Springs, SC
First Annual Hendrix Elementary School Cherry Blossom Festival
Project Director: Tina Humphries
$3,975
The main objective of the First Annual James H. Hendrix Cherry Blossom Festival
is to promote the awareness and appreciation of the Japanese culture to our
students and the community by providing an opportunity to experience Japanese
art, music, artifacts, cuisine and dance. The Hendrix Cherry Blossom Festival
will sustain, as well as increase the community support of the Izumi Chuo
Kindergarten and Hendrix Elementary Cultural and Education Exchange.
Hillsborough County Public
Schools. Tampa, FL
Succeed in Japanese
Project Director: Melissa Morgado
$4,800
The first component of Succeed in Japanese focuses on Professional Development
for the teachers of the Japanese elective at Tampa Bay Technical High School , Middleton Senior High School and Young Middle
Magnet School. The participants will engage in an eight hour
training facilitated by a highly qualified instructor who will lead them in the
exploration of the Japanese culture and traditions. The second component of
Succeed in Japanese will immerse students in the culture and traditions of
Japan. The students from all three targeted schools will convene at one site to
enjoy the event, Japanese Immersion Day.
Honolulu Festival Foundation. Honolulu,
HI
15th Annual Honolulu Festival
Project Director: Masakazu Asanuma
$4,900
Honolulu Festival’s Ennichi Corner is a replica of a
typical Japanese Saint’s Day festival with traditional Japanese fun and games
for children to play, providing them an opportunity to learn about Japanese
culture. Two lectures are planned for children to properly understand Japanese
culture and festivals at Ennichi. We are also
introducing Doraemon, the Official Ambassador of
Anime recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by showing DVD
movies provided by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu.
International Cinema Education. New
York, NY
United Nations International Film Festival: Tour of U.N. Event and Screening of
Film “Hannari Geisha Modern.”
Project Director: Dr. Roberta Seret
$1,200
A tour of the United Nations for New York City high school students, followed
by a screening of the film “Hannari Geisha
Modern” to introduce the students to the importance of the Geisha
tradition in Japanese culture.
Japan America Society of Greater Detroit & Windsor. Dearborn,
MI
Forging the New Japan: Turbulent Times at the Turn of the Century
Project Director: Dr. Sheldon Siegel
$3,000
JAS Greater Detroit and Windsor, in association with the Museum Project,
University of Michigan-Dearborn, is sponsoring an exhibition of Japanese
woodblock prints produced during the turbulent years of the Meiji Restoration. Two lectures, followed by a public discussion with the panel
composed of the two lecturers plus a moderator are planned. Each lecture will
be tailored to emphasize the educational aspect of the project: 1) the
characteristics of Meiji woodblock prints and 2) the historical, cultural,
social and political changes in Japan.
Laurens Middle School. Laurens,
SC
Learning Soaring to New Heights with Japanese Kites
Project Director: Cindy Wright
$4,400
The goal of this project is to heighten awareness of the contributions of
Japanese culture and business to the local community. The project will provide
the students of Laurens Middle School with the opportunity to learn about
Japanese art, culture and local business interests. Objectives: By the end
of the project, 1) all Laurens Middle art students will work with a Japanese
artist, 2) all students interested in manufacturing as a career will hear a
presentation by Kimura, a local Japanese company and 3) students will host a
Japanese art and culture event on May 25, 2009.
Marquis Studios. New York, NY
Marquis Studios Japanese Arts and Culture Project
Project Director: Cassidy Jones
$4,908
The Japanese Arts and Culture Project will reach 200 elementary school students
at PS 152 in Jackson Heights, Queens, an immigrant-rich neighborhood of New
York City. Three teaching artists will work together to design a program that
will introduce students to taiko drumming, origami and bunraku puppetry, as
well as to the general history and geography of Japan. Four classes will
participate in 14 residency sessions each, with ten devoted to taiko, three to
origami and one to bunraku. At a culminating event, students will present their
work to parents and other members of the school community through a taiko
performance, a display of origami, and oral presentations on the history and
culture of Japan.
Memphis Botanic Gardens. Memphis,
TN
Memphis Botanic Gardens Japanese Festival
Project Director: Angie Johnson
$2,000
The Memphis Botanic Gardens, in collaboration with Memphis
University and members of the community, will present a 3-day Japanese
Festival to showcase cultural art forms and traditional entertainment from
Japan. There will be hands-on arts activities for students as well as a variety
of live entertainment.
New York de Volunteer. New
York, NY
Explore Japanese Culture After School Program
Project Director: Noriko Hino
$4,900
The goal of this program is to allow young children from disadvantaged
communities or low-income families in New York City the opportunity to
cultivate a sense of “global citizenship” and to learn to understand
and respect cultural differences via coming into contact with people from Japan
and their values. The program also serves to promote volunteerism among the
Japanese in NYC and provides them with an opportunity to interact with the
local community.
Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese. New York,
NY
Haiku Contest
Project Director: Masayo Ohyama
$1,000
The Haiku Contest is for students throughout the New York City
area. Entries can be submitted in either English or Japanese,
and must reflect a deep understanding of the aesthetic principles of
haiku, as opposed to simply focusing on the syllable count.
Piedmont Arts Association. Martinsville,
VA
Theatre of the Sky
Project Director: Tina Sell
$5,000
Piedmont Arts, in conjunction with the Martinsville and Henry County After 3
Program Initiative (MHCA3), is seeking to bring exhibits and educational
programs surrounding Japanese kites and printmaking to the Martinsville and
Henry County, Virginia area. The exhibits (2), associated educational
materials, and programming are being acquired via The Drachen
Foundation, the University of Virginia (UVA) and the Virginia Museum of Fine
Arts (VMFA).
Primary Source. Boston, MA
Primary Source Japan Program
Project Director: Deborah Cunningham
$5,000
The purpose of this project is to educate students in a meaningful way about
Japan. Our professional development programs on Japan are designed to improve
the content knowledge educators bring to their students and to facilitate
infusion of content on Japan into K-12 education by providing onging support to educators.
Tribute World Trade Center Visitor Center. New
York, NY
Projects of Peace
Project Director: Jennifer Adams
$5,000
Projects of Peace uses visits to the Tribute Center ,
printed materials, and web based tools to teach young people about the legend
of Sakako Sasaki in the context of the September 11th
story, focusing on how students can build from an emotional and intellectual
response to these stories to taking action in their world. Students will be
directed to think about their responsibility to contribute toward an improved global
community. Projects of Peace culminates in inspiring projects to involve
students in civic engagement. The goals for Projects of Peace are aligned with
the overall Tribute Center educational goals and long-term education plan.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Champaign, IL
AEMS (Asian Educational Media Services) Anime Project: Teaching Japan Through
Anime
Project Director: Tanya Lee
$4,958
Children in east central Illinois , as everywhere, are
increasingly captivated by Japanese anime. Capitalizing on this enthusiasm for
anime as an opportunity to interest more students in Japan, this project aims
to help teachers stimulate their curiosity about Japanese culture and society,
give them a better understanding of their favorite cartoons by providing a
richer cultural and historical background for them, and inspire them to learn
more. We propose to emphasize the social science approach in our teacher
workshop, regarding anime as a gateway into a better understanding of Japanese
society, while our student event will emphasize fun to encourage further
pursuit of Japanese Studies.
University of Iowa International Programs. Iowa City, IA
Japanese Bunraku Puppet Camp
Project Director: Buffy Quintero
$4,998
A summer non-resident camp for sixteen upeer
elementary and middle school students, grades 5-6, that will introduce students
to the basics of Japanese language and culture. Students will learn about
artistic traditions of Bunraku puppetry through instruction and hands-on
learning conducted by a professional puppeteer. The project aims to introduce
the broader public to Bunraku puppetry by holding two public performances.