What's On

Image: A monk painting the Kanji of the Year 2011, ‘kizuna’, meaning bonds, chosen following the 2011 Tohoku triple disaster. Credit: https://www.jiji.com/jc/d4?p=knj120-jpp11868337&d=d4_dd

Date: Wednesday 11 March, 2026, 6pm – 7.30pm

Venue: Lecture Room 6.213, University Place Room, The University of Manchester

This event will also be livestreamed via Zoom.

Are you someone with a general interest in Japanese culture and society? Or are you a sixth form student or current university student, either studying Japanese language or with an interest in learning more about Japan? Why not come and listen to our next lecture as part of our seminar series: 'Exploring the World of Japanese Studies'!

Our fourth talk, Voices for a Better Japan: Insights from Anthropology, Religion, Sociology and History, is supported by the University of Manchester. We will be joined by Dr. Chika Watanabe, Prof. Erica Baffelli, Dr. Yuki Asahina and Dr. Aya Homei, with a special introduction to Japanese Studies at the University of Manchester by Dr. Peter Cave.

Talk Description

On March 11, 2011, at 2:46 p.m., a 9.1magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan, triggering a devastating tsunami and a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Marking the fifteenth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, this event will explore what happens when disasters and crises occur and how individuals and communities respond to them. Each speaker will give a short presentation (approximately 10 minutes) drawing on their specific area of expertise, followed by questions from the audience.

The presentations will explore themes such as the intersections between disaster preparedness and art in activities with children; new social connections created through disaster relief activities in Tohoku with marginalised communities in Tokyo; collaboration between labour unions in supporting temporary and precarious workers; and actions, including formal apologies, addressing Japan’s painful past of forced sterilisation. Collectively these talks will reflect on examples from Japan that show how individuals and organisations mobilise to respond to disasters, crises, and difficult historical legacies.

About the Speakers: 

	Dr. Chika Watanabe Chika WATANABE is Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester. Her research and teaching focus on disaster preparedness, play, futurity, and humanitarian and development aid. She has two forthcoming books, Play to Survive: Disaster Preparedness Along the Ring of Fire (2026) and Patchwork Ethnography: a Methodological Guide (2027).
	Professor Erica Baffelli Erica BAFFELLI is Professor of Japanese Studies at The University of Manchester (UK). She is interested in religion in contemporary Japan, with a focus on groups founded from the 1970s onwards. Her research projects and publication focus on religion in contemporary Japan; religion and media; new and minority religions; religion, gender and violence; and Buddhism and emotion. She is currently PI on a Leverhulme Research Project on "Fear and Belonging in Minority Buddhist Communities" (2023-2027).
	Dr. Yuki Asahina Yuki ASAHINA is a lecturer in Japanese Studies at the University of Manchester. Trained as a sociologist, his research interests include social inequality and political sociology, focusing on Japan and South Korea. Yuki has recently completed his first book manuscript, Meritocracy’s Children (2027), and an edited volume, The Digital Rise of the Far Right in Japan (2026).
	Dr. Aya Homei Aya HOMEI is a Reader in Japanese Studies at the University of Manchester. Her research focuses on the history of medicine and science in modern Japan and East Asia, with interests in reproduction, population, gender and diplomacy. Aya is the author of Science for Governing Japan’s Population (2023) and co-edited Medical Women in the Japanese Empire (2025). Most recently, she is working on a historical book examining Japanese family planning and healthcare diplomacy in Southeast Asia and involuntary sterilisation in Japan after World War II.
	Dr. Peter Cave : Introduction to Japanese Studies at Manchester Peter CAVE is Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies and director of the Japanese Studies programme at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on education in Japan, both contemporary and twentieth-century. His publications include books on primary and junior high school in Japan, as well as articles about educational reform, history education, maths education, and club activities in Japanese schools.

This event is free to attend but registration is essential

ハイブリッドセミナー

「ヨーロッパの日本語教師のための、日本国内の日本語教育基礎講座 」

主催：パリ日本文化会館主催　　　共催：ロンドン日本文化センター＆ローマ日本文化会館

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【日程】
2026年2月27日（金）
10:00-12:00 ハイブリッドセミナー（パリ時間　オンラインZoom　対面会場：パリ日本文化会館）
12:00-13:00 アフタートーク（対面のみ・会場：パリ日本文化会館　限定15名）

【講師紹介・メッセージ】
神吉宇一（かみよし ういち）（武蔵野大学グローバル学部教授、武蔵野大学学外学修推進センター長 ）
専門は日本語教育政策、地域日本語教育。社会人の始まりは小学校教員、その後、さまざまな職を経て2013年から大学教員に。 元日本語教育学会副会長、元文化審議会国語分科会委員、その他国や自治体の委員等多数の実績あり。主な著書・訳書『ことばの教育と平和』（2023年 明石書店）、『日本語学習は本当に必要か』（2024年 明石書店）、『一歩進んだ日本語教育概論』（2024年 大阪大学出版会）、『よい教育研究とはなにか』（ガートビースタ著 2024年 明石書店）。『現代日本語教育ハンドブック』（2025年 大修館書店）。2021年度日本語教育学会学会賞、2021年度日本語教育学会学会活動貢献賞。 

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【セミナー内容】

現在、日本は特定技能ビザや育成就労制度などで外国人就労者の受け入れを進めており、文化庁が「日本語教育の参照枠」を策定、文科省が認定日本語教育機関制度を定め、登録日本語教員制度が開始するなど、大きな岐路に立っています。ヨーロッパの日本語教師にとっては、現在のところ直接的な影響はありませんが、グローバル化が進み、オンラインで授業を行うことができるようになっている今、いずれはその影響を受けると考えられます。 本セミナーでは、日本の日本語教育政策にも深く関わってきた武蔵野大学の神吉宇一氏を講師として迎え、日本の現在の日本語教育の動向を解説していただき、今後のヨーロッパの日本語教育への影響を考えます。 

【言語】日本語

【形式】ハイブリッド　ZOOM＆体面

【費用】無料

【お申し込み締め切り】　2026年2月25日（水）

【お申込み】こちらから

【主催】国際交流基金パリ日本文化会館

【共催】国際交流基金ロンドン日本文化センター・ローマ日本文化会館

【セミナーに関するお問い合わせ先】kenshu@mcjp.fr 

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チラシのダウンロードはこちらから

Date:	27 February 2026 from 10.00am to 1.00pm
Venue:	Online event
Download 20260227ヨーロッパの日本語教師のための

The UCL-Japan Youth Challenge is back again! This is a prestigious annual summer school programme.

In this summer school, pre-university students from Japan and the UK attend a series of university-style lectures on a wide range of subjects by academics from UCL, and engage in UCL Grand Challenge Workshop, which aims to investigate one of the social issues in the world and explore solutions to it through discussion between Japanese and UK-based participants. It is a great opportunity for young people interested in cultural exchange and in getting some unviersity experience.

2026 will be the 11th year of the programme. It will be held in three places in the UK:

Rikkyo School in England, West Sussex;

University of Cambridge, Cambridge;

and UCL, London.

Dates: Saturday 25 July – Sunday 2 August 2026 (9 days)*

Fee for UK-based participants: 800 GBP

*Not all dates are compulsory to attend.

For full details and to apply, please visit the official website here: https://www.ucl-japan-youth-challenge.com/join-us/

The #JFTFP26 official programme is now live!

Dates: Friday 6 February to Tuesday 31 March 2026

Venue: Cinemas nationwide

Get your tickets for the UK’s biggest Japanese film festival, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme, starting in February!

From one of the most talked-about social dramas by TAKASHI Miike, Sham, to The Hotel of My Dream, a light comedy based on the novel by the YUZUKI Asako (Butter), our diverse programme offers something for everyone.

We have even invited three filmmakers from Japan to visit various cities – do not miss our exclusive Q&A sessions!

Are you ready?

Directors Q&A Sessions:

IIZUKA Kasho (Director, Blue Boy Trial) 12 Feb: HOME, Manchester 13 Feb: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London 14 Feb: Chapter, Cardiff	YOSHIDA Daihachi (Director, Teki Cometh) 14 Feb: Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London 15 Feb: QUAD, Derby 16 Feb: Showroom, Sheffield 17 Feb: The Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP), Oxford	KAI Sayaka (Director, Adabana) 25 Feb: Storyhouse, Chester 26 Feb: Riverside Studios, London 27 Feb: Queen’s Film Theatre (QFT), Belfast 3 Mar: Hyde Park Picture House, Leeds

View our full exciting line-up at our official website:

https://www.jpf-film.org.uk/ 

We are delighted to announce that the 21^st Japanese Speech Contest for University Students Finals Day will be held on Saturday 7^th March 2026 at King's College London. 

The contest is co-organised by the British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (BATJ) and The Japan Foundation, London. It has been held annually since 2006, in order to give university students learning Japanese in the UK and Ireland a chance to demonstrate their Japanese speaking skills.

On the Finals Day, finalists will give their speeches and presentations, entirely in Japanese, to an audience consisting of members of the public, fellow students, teachers, families, key figures from the UK-Japan community and a panel of judges. In this year’s speeches and presentations, finalists will talk about various themes, including genjitsu tōhi (escapism), ichi-go- ichi-e (a Japanese idiom which translates to “once in a life time”), and social diversity.

Come along and listen to what university students studying Japanese in the UK and Ireland have to say. Everyone is welcome! This event is free to attend, but prior registration is required. The registration deadline is Wednesday, 4th March 2026 at 1pm.

Title: The 21^st Japanese Speech Contest for University Students, Finals Day

Date & Time: Saturday, 7^th March 2026   1pm – 6pm (TBC)

* The hall is located inside the university building. As there are no vending machines or cafes within the building we would recommend bringing your own bottle of water or drinks if necessary.

Venue: the Auditorium at Bush House, King’s College London (Strand Campus, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG)

* Please note that the venue is different to previous years. The auditorium is in a different building than the recent venue.

Maximum capacity: 150 people (spaces are limited, so early booking is recommended)

Fee: Free to attend but prior booking is required.

Language: Speeches and presentations will be given in Japanese. Speech summaries and abstracts of presentations will be made available in English.

Deadline for Registration: Wednesday, 4^th March 2026 at 1pm (GMT)

Download the event poster

Book here

Enquiries: speechcontest@jpf.go.jp

Organisers: The British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (BATJ) and The Japan Foundation, London

This event is supported by (in alphabetical order): British Association for Japanese Studies (BAJS), Central Japan Railway Company, Clearspring, Eikoku News Digest Ltd, E’quipe Japan, Ltd., The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Japan Airlines, Japan Association in the UK, Japan Centre, JP BOOKS, NIHON SHOKKEN HOLDINGS CO.,LTD, Nikkei Europe Limited, Ningyocho IMAHAN, Regions, Ricoh UK Limited

Date:	18 December 2025 - 7 March 2026
Download 21st Speech Contest Finals Day Poster

Do you think your Japanese level is getting rusty? Why not study Japanese online to brush up your Japanese level?

This course is for non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers who currently teach Japanese in secondary and/or primary schools. You can improve not only your Japanese level but also your teaching skills. Moreover you can build a network among other Japanese teachers. Trainee teachers are also welcome to join. School teachers who are not currently teaching Japanese but wish to do so are also welcome. For more information, see below.

Eligibility (any one or more of the following):

• Non-native-speaker-level Japanese teachers who teach or wish to teach at secondary and/or primary schools, including teaching extra-curricular activities such as school clubs.
• PGCE students wo are aiming to become Japanese teachers.
• SCITT trainees/candidates.

Suitable Japanese Level:

JLPT N2 or CEFR B2* (if you cannot assess your own level, please contact us.)

*This is an advanced course. The intermediate course will be held from April. Please wait for a future announcement.

Schedule:

This course consists of Online Sessions and a face-to-face Final Day event. The online sessions will be held on Mondays on the dates below, followed by the Final Day event, which will be held for all level native-speaking and non-native-speaking Japanese teachers together.

Online sessions

• Time: 18:00-19:30 (90 min x 4 lessons)
• Date: Monday 26th January, 9th February, 2nd March and 16th March.

In-Person Final Day Event (TBC)

• On a Saturday in late June or in early July, London Venue, 11:00-15:00.
• Workshops in person, commendation ceremony and lunch reception.
• More detailed information will be given later. Teachers of all Japanese levels are welcome. Applications for the Final Day event will open closer to the date.

N.B. The course will take place online, but on the final day of the course we would like to hold a special face-to-face session, with special speakers, and there will be a commendation ceremony. The Japan Foundation, London will provide lunch and cover your travel expense partly for the participants of the online sessions*.

* All participants are asked to pay up to £10 of their travel expenses out of their own pocket (no reimbursement). The rest of their travel expenses will be reimbursed by The Japan Foundation, London for amounts up to £100.00. If you need to travel the day before and stay overnight the night before the Final Day event, please consult us in advance.

Course fee: Free (including all handouts)

Registration Deadline: 18th January 2026

Languages used: Japanese (All handouts will be given during the lesson.)

This course may count as 10 hours of CPD (TBC)

Course Objectives: To be able to teach A-level or IB B-standard/higher level confidently

Course Content:

• Week 1 (online): Introduction, Review of A-level specification
• Week 2 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Week 3 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Week 4 (online): Review of Grammar and Kanji
• Final Day (face-to-face) : Workshop and resource sharing

To register, please click here

Further Enquiries: Ms Hiroko Tanaka

Hiroko_Tanaka001@jpf.go.jp

Applications for JaLaChamp 2026 are now open!

JaLaChamp, or Japanese Language Championship for Young Learners UK, is a contest for primary and secondary school students studying Japanese. There are two categories - the Speech Category, where students give a speech on a theme of their choice, and the Video Category where students are asked to create an original video based on a set theme either by individual or part of a group.

We want to encourage students to share with us their thoughts and viewpoints, as well as show us their creativity in full and have fun challenging themselves by entering this contest and using their Japanese!

The speech category is aimed for secondary school students who study Japanese as a foreign language, while the video category is open to all primary and secondary school students including those who have lived in Japan and who speak Japanese at home.

The theme for the video category of JaLaChamp 2026 is 私わたし(たち)のおすすめのサンドイッチ ”My/Our Favourite Sandwiches”. You can let us know about your favourite sandwiches, ingredients and recipes or create a video based on a sandwich you think would be a popular item if it were sold in supermarket or bakeries. It can be something else, such as onigiri, sushi rolls, wraps and hamburgers.    

From 2026, all videos created by students in the video category will be made available on the Japan Foundation London’s website, allowing your work to have a wider audience!

The Finals Day is scheduled to be held on Saturday, 20^th June 2026, in London. For JaLaChamp 2026, the Finals Day will be divided into two sessions: the morning session for Primary School Video Category finalists and the afternoon session for Secondary School Speech and Video Category finalists, with both sessions to be held on the same day.

For more details, please see the application guidelines below.

Download Guidelines for Primary School Students (English)/Guidelines for Secondary School Students (English)

Download Guidelines for Primary School Students (Japanese)/Guidelines for Secondary School Students (Japanese)

Download the Consent Form for the Video Category

Application Forms and deadlines

- Speech Category Application Form (Apply by Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 at 15:00)

- Video Category Application Form (Apply by Tuesday, 10th March 2026 at 15:00)

Download the JaLaChamp 2026 poster

Date:	16 October 2025 - 10 March 2026
Download JaLaChamp 2026 Poster
Download Guideline_EN_2026_Primary
Download Guideline_EN_2026_Secondary
Download Guideline_JP_2026_Primary
Download Guideline_JP_2026_Secondary
Download JaLaChamp2026_Consent Form Video Category

Dates: Thursday 26 - Friday 27 February 2026

Venue: The University of Sheffield

Registration for the 2026 iteration of the Japan Foundation/British Association for Japanese Studies PhD Workshop, "Navigating Your Future in Japanese Studies" is now open!

If you are a PhD student conducting research related to Japan, why not come along for our workshop which aims to support the ongoing development and future of Japanese Studies in the UK?

This time, we have decided to host the workshop over two days to allow more opportunity for insightful workshops and networking, enabling attendees to build valuable connections with Japanese Studies students and researchers across the UK.

We have listened to feedback from previous workshops and concerns of postgraduate students in Japanese Studies, and have decided to focus this workshop on how to navigate the changing landscape and job market in Japanese Studies.

Exact sessions at the workshop are yet to be finalised but the tentative timetable is below.

*Please note: We are still in the early planning stages and the following is subject to change*

Please note: attendees to the workshop must be able to attend both days.

Student Submissions:

As an essential part of the workhop, PhD and MA students will be asked to present their research in front of a small group of peers. Further information about this will be provided after the registration deadline has passed. However, if you have any questions please get in touch.

Financial Support: 

The following financial support is available to presenting attendees.

Travel Grant: JF will offer a partial travel grant for student participants. Once an initial 30 GBP is covered by the student, JF will provide up to a maximum of 90 GBP for public transportation to the event. For any questions, please contact Iona Vos using the contact emails at the bottom of this item.

Hotel Grant: BAJS will cover a one night stay up to a maximum of 90 GBP per attendee. If you have any questions about the hotel grant, please email BAJS Secretary Mara Patessio at mp78@soas.ac.uk.

Please note:

Attendance to this event is capped at 40 students on a first come, first served basis. As the number of participants is limited, please only register if you know you can attend both days of the workshop.

Current Ph.D. students will be prioritised. MA students will be placed on a waitlist, with places being confirmed after the deadline has passed.

If you have registered but can no longer attend, please contact us to cancel your place.

Contact

If you have any questions about the workshop, please email Iona Vos at LO_JapaneseStudies@jpf.go.jp. Please CC Natsumi_Abe@jpf.go.jp (Manager for Japanese Studies) and Iona_Vos@jpf.go.jp (Assistant Programme Officer for Japanese Studies).

This webinar is intended for librarians, researchers, and other people outside of Japan who are engaged in Japanese studies. The goal of this webinar is to learn and improve basic skills for finding and using information related to research in Japanese studies.

The advancement of digital technology has encouraged Japanese studies outside of Japan and made it easier to obtain a wide range of information on premodern Japan, not just classical literature. Consequently, innovative and authentic research is in progress in the field of Japanese classical literature.
There is no denying that Japanese premodern books, wahon (和本), are the primary subjects or resources for conducting research in the field.

In this lecture focusing on wahon, Dr. Sasaki TAKAHIRO demonstrates the basic knowledge required when using a vast number of digital images for research, as well as methods and precautions for utilizing these images, providing specific examples.

Video available to watch on demand on YouTube. You must apply before watching the video.

Date: Video available between Monday 2 February to  Monday 2 March 2026.

Eligibility: 

1. Librarians or researchers outside of Japan who are engaged in Japanese Studies.
   * This includes students and others who have a professional interest in Japanese studies.
2. Librarians in Japan

Language: Japanese (no translation or interpretation)

Click here to apply to watch the video.

• Applicants will be sent an email containing URLs needed to watch the video and download the handout.
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• For Enquiries, please contact：
• Training and Exchange Section,
  Library Support Division,
  Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library
  To contact us, please complete the Inquiry Form available on our website. Select 'Others', begin your message with 'Regarding Training Program,' and then provide the details of your inquiry.
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