Behind the Scenes – Stories from backstage
Every edition of Wochi Kochi covers a special topic. The Japan Foundation’s activities are wide-ranging and span the whole world. In these articles, staff bring you behind-the-scenes stories about the joys and struggles they experience, and about some of the unexpected (and expected) incidents they encounter while implementing programs in particular locations.
2025.9.30
The 51st Japan Foundation Awards Report on the 2024 Japan Foundation Awards Ceremony
Since 1973, the Japan Foundation has presented the Japan Foundation Awards to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to promoting international mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and other countries through academic, artistic and other cultural pursuits. The awardees for 2024 are artist Chiharu Shiota, Association of Japanese Language Teachers of Mongolia, and The Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (SISJAC) [U.K.]. In Special Feature 84, we report on the award ceremony for the 2024 Japan Foundation Awards and on the commemorative lecture by each recipient.
2025.9.30
The Japan Foundation Awards 2024 Commemorative Lecture
How Japanese Arts and Cultures Make Us Happier
The Japan Foundation Awards 2024 Commemorative Lecture
How Japanese Arts and Cultures Make Us Happier
2025.9.30
Bringing the World Closer, One Community at a Time
Highlights from the Presentation Ceremony for the Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship 2024
Bringing the World Closer, One Community at a Time Highlights from the Presentation Ceremony for the Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship 2024
2025.9.30
The 51st (2024) Japan Foundation Awards Commemorative Event
Japanese Language Education in Mongolia and the History of the Association of Japanese Language Teachers of Mongolia
The 51st (2024) Japan Foundation Awards Commemorative Event Japanese Language Education in Mongolia and the History of the Association of Japanese Language Teachers of Mongolia
2025.9.30
Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship Public Roundtable Report 【Part 2】
Fostering Communication Through Art: Case Studies in Global Citizenship Activities
Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship Public Roundtable Report 【Part 2】Fostering Communication Through Art: Case Studies in Global Citizenship Activities
2025.9.30
Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship Public Roundtable Report 【Part 1】
Fostering Communication Through Art: Case Studies in Global Citizenship Activities
Japan Foundation Prizes for Global Citizenship Public Roundtable Report 【Part 1】Fostering Communication Through Art: Case Studies in Global Citizenship Activities
2024.5.24
The 50th Japan Foundation Awards
―Culture Transcending Borders― <1>
Report for 2023 Presentation Ceremony for the Japan Foundation Awards
［Special Feature 080］The Japan Foundation Awards, held for the 50th time in 2023, began in 1973, one year following the establishment of the Japan Foundation. Every year, the awards are presented to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to promoting international mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and other countries through academic, artistic and other cultural pursuits. This year's Award recipients to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Awards included two individuals and one organization: Miyagi Satoshi (Stage Director/General Artistic Director of the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center), Ogawa Yoko (Novelist) from Japan, and Peruvian Japanese Association/Asociación Peruano Japonesa (APJ) from Peru. This is a report of the presentation ceremony held in Tokyo attended by the recipients on October 18, 2023.
2024.3. 4
Movie Theaters around the World <4>
Japan Mini-Theater Report
[Special Feature 079] According to the the Eiga Joei Katsudo Nenkan 2022 (Almanac of Film Screenings 2022)*¹, "mini-theaters" refer to small cinemas or movie theaters conducting independent business not under the direct influence of major movie production and/or distribution companies and running programs mainly featuring "independent" or "art" films released in one or several theaters, as well as revival houses called "Meiga-za" that run programs featuring older films or new films which have finished showing at first-run movie houses.
2023.4.10
The 49th Japan Foundation Awards
―Building Bridges Across Differences― <1>
Report for 2022 Presentation Ceremony for the Japan Foundation Awards
[Special Feature 078] The Japan Foundation Awards, held for the 49th time in 2022, began in 1973, one year following the establishment of the Japan Foundation. Every year, the awards are presented to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to promoting international mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and other countries through academic, artistic and other cultural pursuits. This year's award recipients included two individuals and one organization: Robert Lepage (Actor, Playwright, theatre and movie Director) from Canada, Korean Japanese Association from Korea and Goenawan Mohamad (Poet, Writer and Painter) from Indonesia. This is a report of the presentation ceremony attended by the recipients on October 19, 2022.
2023.3.28
JF's Initiatives for Crossing Borders, Engaging in Exchanges and Harnessing the Power of Creation amid COVID-19 <7>
Connecting Japan and the World Through Japanese Films - Digital and Live JFF Projects -
[Special Feature 073] JF has been working towards integrating and branding its two businesses, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) Network, which holds live screenings in theaters, and JFF Plus, an online platform. Let's take a look at these two projects and see how they came about.