All Things Japanese with John Ota

Origami requires only one material to perform – paper. Rooted in history, how did this art form became so prevalent in the lives of many beyond Japan? How does contemporary artists elevate this art form? In exploring these topics, John Ota is joined by special guests: Kathy Yamashita, co-curator of the exhibit, Origami: The Art of the Fold; Miya Turnbull, a visual artist living in Halifax, NS who primarily works  with masks and self-portraits; Mui-Ling Teh, an artist, photographer, and poet of Japanese and Chinese descent best known for her miniature origami; and Kaz Shikaze, a member of the Japanese Canadian community and making origami cards as a way to raise funds for various charitable organizations.Origami: The Art of the Fold exhibit is available for viewing at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre until April 22, 2022. Join us for a reception on April 3, 2022 at 2pm at the JCCC Gallery. Image credit: Alex K. Hiroshina.

Valentine's Day - A day of chocolate, cards and romance is the norm in North America.  But what about Japan?  Is there Valentine's Day in Japan?  Is it the same as in North America? Join us in exploring the topic of love , evolving dating etiquette, and humanity's search for companionship whether in Canada or Japan. John Ota is joined by special guests: JCCC Executive Director, James Heron; JCCC new receptionist, Shino Ihara who was born and raised in Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan's Kyushu island; and Alice Ngan, founder of Ecila Choco Inc., Canada's first chocolate maker specializing in using Sake in chocolate. Would you like a taste of Ecila's Sake Chocolates? Head over to their website or visit Arts Market at 790 Queen Street East in Toronto, Canada. 

“Christmas morning broke on a beautiful white world. It had been a very mild December and people had looked forward to a green Christmas; but just enough snow fell softly in the night to transfigure Avonlea. Anne peeped out from her frosted gable window with delighted eyes.” Please join us for a special podcast episode on Anne of Green Gables and in Japan. Our special guests this episode are Mariko (Anne) Sasayama who led a cosmopolitan life and the wife of Consul-General Sasayama; Yuka Kajihara author and expert on Anne of Green Gables and Lucy Montgomery's influence in Japan; Florence Fletcher, actor and producer of many musicals including Anne of Green Gables at the Vos Theatre who will be reading an excerpt from the book. In this episode, John and his special guests explore the significance and influence of Canadian classic, Anne of Green Gables in Japan especially during periods of upheaval to bring hope, cheer, and encouragement.  Let's read! You can purchase Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgomery in all major bookstores as well as your favourite local bookstore. Yuka Kajihara highly recommends this wonderful read: Anne's Cradle: The Life and Works of Hanako Muraoka    

“Please,” It whispered. “Let me in.”  Please join us for a special podcast episode on Horrors and Ghost Stories from Japan. Our special guest is Rui Umezawa - Toronto novelist, as well as a storyteller, essayist, children and YA writer. Rui is the author of Strange Light Afar: Tales of the Supernatural from Old Japan, selected for the CBC Best Books of the Year 2015. In this episode, John and Rui dissect scary folktales from Japan rooted in the Shinto tradition as well as why you should be wary even when venturing to the washroom in your own home...Check out Rui Umezawa's Strange Light Afar in your favourite local bookstores or online on House of Anansi, Indigo, or Amazon. 

Episode 9: Did you ever wonder, who are the samurai? What did they do? Who are these guys? Please join us for our latest podcast episode on The Story of Samurai.  Our special guests will be Michael Wert, Professor of History at Marquette University and author of the book, “Samurai: A Concise History” and James Heron, Executive Director of the JCCC who will discuss the history of the samurai in Japan, their function and the international attraction to samurai films.  This samurai podcast supplements the screening of the Samurai Marathon 1855 film presented by the JCCC on August 20, 2021. To check out Michael Wert's Samurai: A Concise History, click here.For more information about JCCC's virtual screening of Samurai Marathon, click here.

Episode 8: The 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games is here and we are excited! John Ota sits down with architect and judo sensei, Ken Fukushima to talk about judo, from the sport's philosophy to its introduction to the Olympic Games in 1964 when Japan hosted the Olympic Games for the first time. Ken also talks through the rising stars in the field this year including the first Olympian from the JCCC, Shady El Nahas.Check out Judo competition information: https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/judo/event-schedule-men-100-kg.htmDid you know JCCC offers eight martial arts programs? https://jccc.on.ca/programs/martial-arts

Episode 7: With the Province of Ontario finally reopening in the summer of 2021 after a world record lockdown, the City of Toronto is buzzing and ready for for celebration. What better way to celebrate than to watch the Tokyo Olympics while drinking the national drink of Japan? In this episode, John Ota is joined by sommelier and sake aficionado, Laura Dijana Higgins, CEO of Amethyst Wine Agency and they had a lively discussion on the history and production of sake, as well as sake recommendations for sake lovers as well as first timer.Would like to learn more about the history of sake? https://www.eat-japan.com/all-about-sake/more-about-sake/history-of-sake/

Episode 6: This episode, John Ota sits down with Toronto Japanese Film Festival (TJFF) director James Heron and novelist David Benjamin, the author of SUMO: A Thinking Fan's Guide to Japan's National Sport to discuss one of the world's most compelling sport, sumo. Link for tickets to watch Sumodo - Successors of Samurai, a film line up at the 2021 TJFF, go to: https://jccc.on.ca/film/sumodo-successors-samuraiLink to David Benjamin Author website: http://www.lastkidbooks.com

This episode, John Ota dwells into JCCC's very own Toronto Japanese Film Festival - from tidbits about trends, movie stars to the ingenuity of the Japanese film industry when compared to Hollywood blockbusters. Podcast guests for this episode are TJFF co-directors, Chris Hope and James Heron, and TJFF's Executive Producer and Artistic Director, Aki Takabatake. James and Aki also gave their personal recommendations and highlights including films by female Japanese film directors and family-friendly picks. Click here to see this year TJFF's film line up.

Join John Ota in exploring the story of Kimono - from cultural history to its depiction in films like The Devil Wears Ju-Ni Hitoe Kimono. Podcast guests for this episode are anthropologist and author, Liza Dalby as well as  visual and digital arts educator, Katherine Yamashita.Check out Liza Dalby's website: http://www.lizadalby.com/

Join John Ota in exploring the magic of Sakura - from symbolisms and national pride to cherry blossoms in the city of Toronto, Canada. Podcast guests for this episode are James Heron, Consul-General Sasayama Takuya,  and Chako Setoyama, Sakura visionary and tree planter.  

Episode 2: Join John Ota in exploring:  Traditional  Japanese HousesPodcast guests for this episode includes: James Heron and Eiri Ota, principal architect at UUfie Architecture and Design Studio. To see photographs and examples curated by John Ota, go to https://jccc.on.ca/traditional-japanese-house-nomura-samurai-house-garden.

Join John Ota, architectural writer, designer, historic preservationist in exploring the question: What is a Japanese Garden?Podcast guests for this episode includes: James Heron, Irene Foulkes, and Jiro Fukushima.To access the virtual exhibition of proposals for public art and Japanese gardens at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC), SHIKAKU – sight, vision, click here.