Weekly Cultural News Substitute for monthly Cultural News March 15 - 21, 2021 (Reiwa 3) Keep Japanese Culture Alive Unshakable Friendship To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, on March 11, the Embassy of Japan in the U.S. sent a special edition of email newsletter “Japan Now” featuring “Unshakable Friendship” between and the U.S. and Japan, and expressing gratitude of the outpouring of aid and support from the U.S. to Japan. Unshakable Friendship campaign is continued throughout the month and during Cherry Blossom Festival through Apr. 10 in Washington, D.C. The related events are listed at: https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/events/unshakable-friendship.html Unshakable Friendship Estimate 24,000 Message US service members, 189 By Ambassador Koji Tomita aircraft, and 24 naval ships went My warmest wishes to you, all. into action. As I sit here in peace and comfort of this room, this hard If you are mem- to imagine that terror what bers of that happened 10 years ago on rescue efforts, March 11, 2011. on behalf of gov- ernment and The largest recorded earth- people of Japan, quake ever hit Japan, shock I thank you from my country. It’s called Tsuna- bottom of my mi with roll of water as tall as Ambassador Tomita’s message at heart. twelve-story building slammed https://youtu.be/-0vHqShXMDQ into North Eastern Japan de- If you are serving stroying everyone and everything in this part. in Japan right now, I thank you for your presence there and what you stand ready to do. 20,000 people were dead or missing. Japanese government and our self-defense forces respond- I know that if Japan were faced similar devasta- ed, but we were overwhelmed by the immediate tion today, you do again rush into action. scale of the need. I think back to crucial hours, days and weeks Then US forces rapidly came to assistance following disaster, in my mind, I see men and through Operation Tomodachi. In Japanese, women of US forces, I see them in helicopters on Tomodachi means friend, and their assistance ships, I see them showing in real and invisible that US provided gave true meaning to that word. ways what friendship looks like. I thank you all . Weekly Cultural News / March 15 - 21, 2021 (Reiwa 3) Page 2 Sci-Fi film shot in evacuated zones in Fukushima to be screened online for Japanese embassy campaign to remember 2011 disaster As a part of “Unshakable Friendship” campaign by the Embassy of Japan in the U.S., online free screening of “The Whispering Star” from March 26 through April 11 will be presented by The National Museum of Asian Art, Embassy’s Japan Information & Culture Center, and the National Cherry Blossom Festival. To register, visit to: https://www.us.emb- japan.go.jp/jicc/events/the- whispering-star.html The Whispering Star Sci-Fi, B&W, Drama, 2015, 100 minutes, Japanese with English subtitles, Directed by The Whispering Star. Images courtesy of Nikkatsu Corporation . Sion Sono for Earth, where humans have become an Inspired by the ruined landscape of Fukushima, endangered species. Japanese auteur Sion Sono (Love Exposure, Tokyo Tribe) created this eccentric science The fact that the planet’s landscapes “were shot fiction parable about humanity’s destructive effect in evacuated zones of Fukushima, primarily with on the environment. Megumi Kagurazaka plays non-professional actors living in the area affected Yoko, humanoid interstellar delivery robot who by the nuclear disaster, makes the film's themes runs on AA batteries and travels from planet to of memory and decay that much more haunting. planet in a spaceship that looks like a Japanese But The Whispering Star’s touch remains playful, bungalow. funny, and very human,” writes Giovanna Fulvi of the Toronto International Film Festival, where the During her journey, she becomes curious about film won the NETPAC Award for World or the packages she carries—specially those bound International Asian Film Premiere. Weekly Cultural News is an alternative publication for Monthly Cultural News which we had to stop the publication in April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Shige Higashi, Cultural News Editor [email protected] (213) 819-4100 328 1/4 South Alexandria Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020-2673 Weekly Cultural News / March 15 - 21, 2021 (Reiwa 3) Page 3 40 organizations, 150 individuals support memorial of 2011 Japan’s disaster Love to Nippon 2021, Japanese American Cultural DAWSON, David METOKI, Joanna TANANO, Yasu a memorial event of & Community Center (JACCC) DURON, Maria MIKAELA KAI TAYLOR, Sanae 2011 Great Eastern FALKENSTEIN, Hiroko MINOHARA, Katsuhiro TOMIYAMA, Tomoyuki Japan Earthquake and Japanese American National Tsunmai, was held Museum (JANM) FLEISCHMAN, Jeff MIYAZAWA, Naomi UEMURA, Takako online https:// JAPANAESE LANGUAGE FUJITA, Kimiko UMINO, Shigeko youtu.be/7iXblSreqSc SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION MORINAKA, Elizabeth L.A. DAIKU GRIFFIN, Masako MOROZUMI, Hiro WATANABE, Richard on Mach 10 with GRONER, Mayumi WIANCKO, Hiroko supports of 40 Little Tokyo Historical MONTGOMERY, Doug Society HAHN, Keiko WU, Ken organizations and 150 MURATA, Michael individuals. Little Tokyo Service Center HAMADA, Yuka NAGAYAMA, Shigeo WU, Lena (LTSC) Love to Nippon Project HAMAGUCHI, Arisa NAKA, Yuko YATOMI, Carolyn Tynan releases the following Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD) HASEGAWA, Izumi NAKAGAWA, Kouichi YOSHINARI, June list as of March 12: HASUDA, Junichi Los Angeles County Office NAKAGAWA, Osamu of Emergency Management HATTORI, Yuko Special Thanks to Supporting NAKAJIMA, Sae Los Angeles Police HERNANDEZ, Tomomi Production Team Department (LAPD) NIINUMA, Eietsu Organizations AOYAMA, Etsuko HIGUCHI, Chizuko NISHIO, Yuki ABC7 News LOS ANGELES BUDDHIST TEMPLE FEDERATION (LABTF) AUGER, Austin Jr. HIROTA, Akiko NOGUCHI, Yoshinobu Aratani Foundation MUFG Union Bank N.A. HONJO, Ken AUGER, Austin Sr. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF Nichi Bei Fujin Kai (NBFK) OGAWA, Hiroko JAPANESE UNIVERSITY WOMEN HORIKAWA, Noriko ERBER, Doug (AAJUW) ORANGE COUNTY FRIENDSHIP OLIVA, Heidi CHOIR GARDEA, Lori Cali Media HORITA, Yoshihiro OLSEN, Erika Mariko Orange County Japanese INOSE, Kay HATORI, Akira California Governor’s Office American Association PALM, Eiko of Emergency Services HONJO, Ken (OCJAA) INOUE, Chika REYES, Martha City of Ofunato, Mayor’s Omote Senke Domonkai ISHII, Mariko KAIFU, Yuko Office SAITO, Kenji KAMII, Kiyoko Stratiscope KAMEI, Hiroshi City of Ofunato, Fire SAITO, Masao Department KAMIMOTO, Katie KAMIMOTO, Katie Southern California Kendo SAKAI, Kumiko Organization (SCKO) KAMIMOTO, Mike Consulate General of Japan KAMITANI, Mayumi SANKEY, Kitty in Los Angeles KAMIMOTO, Noriko SHUSSE INARI SHRINE OF AMERI- KAMITANI, Shinji SASAKI, Shinichi CA Dr. Lucy Jones Center for KIRIHARA, Mayumi Science and Society KASAVAN, Hanako SHIBAZAKI, Kunie St. Paul’s RIKKYO UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AT LOS KENDALL, Rie LeBLANC, Janet Mari Gardena Valley Japanese ANGELES SHIMADA, Fumiko Cultural Institute KIMURA, Shogo LeBLANC, Ken Ted Tokio Tanaka Architects SHIMIZU, Asako Grace Notes LeBLANC, Jaron UCLA KYODO TAIKO KIRIHARA, Mayumi SHIMURA, Asako JAPAN HOUSE Los KOCHAR, Francesca MATSUNAGA, Miyuki Angeles UNION CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES SHIRAIWA, Masaaki NAMBA, Tamiko Westwood Presbyterian KOGAWA, Naoko SISSON, Troy Japan America Society of Church KOJIMA, Syumyo NAUMANN, Nishikawa Southern California (JASSC) SPREWELL, Roland Hiroko KOSHIO, Ken Japan Business Association Individuals SUKEGAWA, Koya SONOKAWA, Shu of Southern California (JBA) KUJIRAOKA, Saeko SUKEGAWA, Reina SUN, Emi AGAWA, Yasuyuki Japanese Women’s Society LeBLANC, Janet of Southern California SUMIYAMA, Hiroshi TANAKA, Ted Tokio AGISHI, Akiko (JWSSC) LeBLANC, Ken SUMIYAMA, Taeko TANAKA-UNOURA, Masako BARRETT, Atsuko Japanese Prefectural Asso- LEE, Olivia SUZUKI, Miriam TANI, Nori ciation of Southern Califor- BOTHWELL, Hisako LOZANO, Amy nia, Inc. SUZUKI, Takako UCHIKADO, Toru BRIONES, William MATSUMURA, Seiji Japanese Chamber of Com- TABE, Michael WAKAE, Kai merce of Southern California CHINEN, Susan MATSUNAGA, Miyuki (JCCSC) TAKAHASHI, Wakako YOSHIDA, Kuniharu COLLINS, Larry MATSUSHITA, Hiroshi TAKESHITA, Keiko Weekly Cultural News / March 15 - 21, 2021 (Reiwa 3) Page 4 Japanese Percussion Lesson #39: Let’s learn about why Kabuki instruments keep original form By Mariko Watabe There are dance videos and shamisen videos. But KABUKI HAYASHI (Japanese percussion) videos are rarely found or discussed especially in English or with English subtitles. I have decided to make them as I believe this art is too precious to be hidden or lost. With the guidance of Master Katada Shinjuro, I am trying to uncover the world of HAYASHI by producing YouTube videos in Japanese language with had been updated to suit the specific needs and English subtitles. the Japanese aesthetic. They had removed all the unwanted and unneeded parts, and the changes To view the previous videos from #01 to #38, were directed towards making quality sound and visit Tsuzumibito Chanel at YouTube to make silence stand out. Ohayashi Juku (Kabuki Series) #39 https:// When they had reached perfection, the progress youtu.be/jkM2-d-babo is about “Western stopped and the instruments we see today are Instruments with Refinements vs Kabuki quite close to those from centuries ago. Their Instruments Which Keeps the Original Form.” refinements were only aimed at making the best This is the first topic for the “Character of Musical and delicate sounds and still require quite a Instruments” which compares the difference process to prepare. between the Western orchestra and Kabuki Mariko Watabe has been introducing Kabuki music. dance and music to American audiences Western instruments received many refinements nationwide for over 40 years. She goes by her over the centuries to become what we see today. stage names such as; Kimisen Katada for Some of the changes were to raise the volume, Hayashi, Kyosho Yamato for Yamatogaku, widen the music scale, and make them more practical. On the contrary, Japanese instruments Kichitoji Kineya for Nagauta; and Marifuji Bando have remained the same for 650 years with Noh for dance. instruments and 1200 years with Gagaku instru- She is currently living in Los Angeles area.