We are excited to offer online workshops during this summer. As in-person events will be limited for the foreseeable future, we would like to explore digital media to engage our community of young students and adults who love to learn about Japan and the language. All workshops are free but some requires a prior registration as a number of participants/audiences is limited. Please review the information below and make plans to join our casual, fun, and friendly activities for everyone.
Hiragana & Katakana Mini Tutorials
Grab a “quick bite” of Japanese
During these 15 minute Facebook Live mini lessons, the instructor and SJA board member, Satoko Best, will show you how to write the Japanese alphabet with the correct stroke order and the essence of calligraphy. These classes are appropriate for beginners.
WHAT: 15 minutes quick lunch time tutorial
WHEN: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:30PM -12:45PM
June 16 – July 2, 2020
LEVEL: Beginner
WHERE: Facebook Live
Classes are already underway, but you can watch the recordings from the prior classes on SJA’s Facebook page and join us for these additional classes:
June 23-25
– 6/23: Writing Japanese Katakana from ア行、カ行、サ行 (a-i-u-e-o, ka-ki-ku-ke-ko, sa-shi-su-se-so)
– 6/24: Writing Japanese Katakana from タ行、ナ行、ハ行 (ta-chi-tsu-te-to, na-ni-nu-ne-no, ha-hi-fu-he-ho)
– 6/25: Writing Japanese Katakana from マ行、ヤ行、ラ行、ワ行 (ma-mi-mu-me-mo, ya-yu-yo, ra-ri-ru-re-ro, wa-wo-n)
June 30-July 2
– 6/30: Writing Japanese Hiragana Dakuon が行、ざ行、だ行、ば行(ga-gi-gu-ge-go,za-zi-zu-ze-zo,da-zi-zu-ze-zo,ba-bi-bu-be-bo)
– 7/1: Writing Japanese Katakana Dakuon カ行、ザ行、ダ行、バ行( ga-gi-gu-ge-go,za-zi-zu-ze-zo,da-zi-zu-ze-zo,ba-bi-bu-be-bo)
– 7/2: Writing Japanese Hiragana & Katakana ぱ行＆パ行(pa-pi-pu-pe-po), youon(ex. kya-kyu-kyo), sokuon (small letter tsu)
Basic Japanese Class for Adults
Do you want to learn basic Japanese and brush up conversation skills?
Join our Zoom Basic Japanese Class over the summer for adults. You’ll learn how to say “I like something”, ” I eat/drink something”, and “What time is it?” etc. It’s free, but the slots are limited. Also, please sign up at least 24 hours before each class starts, so that we can send the Zoom link to you in time. If you haven’t used Zoom before, when you sign up for the class please mention that in the Comment Box. If you have any questions, please email sja2018sja@gmail.com.
Sign up at: https://tinyurl.com/AdultS2020
Youth Origami Workshop
Let’s Make Origami Together!
Learn basic folding skills to make simple animals to Pikachu
Come join us to learn the simple pleasure of origami crafts via online workshop (30 minutes) at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in July and August. The first few sessions focus on basic folding skills and we aim at making crane and Pokemon characters at later workshops. It is free but a prior registration is required for a limited number of students. After registration, we will send you a zoom link.
WHAT: 30 minutes origami crafts
WHEN: 4 pm on Wednesdays from July 8 to August 12
LEVEL: Anyone (Beginner)
WHERE: Zoom – Prior Registration Required
Session 1 (July 8): Simple Animals – Basic Folding Skills
Session 2 (July 15): Flying Objects – Airplanes and such
Session 3 (July 22): Samurai Hat
Session 4 (July 29): Playful Things
Session 5 (August 5): Origami Everyone Admires – Crane (you need to make water-bomb)
Session 6 (August 12): Bonus Session – Pikachu and Evee (Session 5 is required or if you can make crane yourself)
Virtual Cultural Exchanges
Want to meet and talk to students and families in Japan? Two great ways for our middle and high school students to connect with students in Japan!
Online “Home Stay” with Japanese Middle School Students
Hello, middle school students in Arlington! Do you want to make a trip to Japan but can’t? Join us for a Zoom chat with Japanese middle school students in Setagaya, Japan. Setagaya is a Host Town for Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2021. We’d like to connect students from both locations to experience a mini online homestay. What would you like to know or talk about concerning Japan? Please let us know. Japanese students want to chat in English, but if you know some Japanese, you can practice it, too. You can sign up for both days, 7/18 & 8/1, if you want. It’s free!
WHAT: 40 minutes zoom chat with Students in Japan
WHEN: July 18 and August 1
LEVEL: Middle School Students
WHERE: Zoom Link – Prior Registration Required
To sign up, click here.
Zoom chat with Japanese University Students for High School Students
Want to know about Japanese college? Want to chat with Japanese students in Japan? Tsukuba University in Japan is willing to do both (August 5th & 6th). One day is chatting with Japanese college students. If you know some Japanese, they’ll help you to practice it. Another day is an open house of bachelor Degree Program offered in English (science/engineer), where you can learn more about Tsukuba University, which has produced three Nobel Laureates and offers various degree programs in English, including International Social Science, International Medical Science, Global Issues, and Interdisciplinary Engineering.
WHAT: 40 minutes zoom chat with College Students in Japan and college information session
WHEN: August 5 and 6
LEVEL: High School Students
Media: Zoom Link – Prior Registration Required
You can learn more about Tsukuba University’s Bachelor Degree Program at: http://www.global.tsukuba.ac.jp/undergraduate/programs?lang=148
Participation is free but space is limited. High School students in Arlington, VA, please sign up by June 30th. After that, we’ll open it up to the other High School students in the DC Metro area.
Please sign up at this page.
Tea Ceremony Demonstration
Find beauty behind the ancient art of Tea Ceremony
Join to watch tea ceremony on Facebook Live every Sunday at 3pm. The tea ceremony live has been broadcasted since April and the response has been overwhelming! People from all over the world have joined. Some make their own cup of tea at home and enjoy watching on Facebook, while others have made their own matcha after the broadcast has ended.
Lockdown is hard for many reasons, but you will find beauty and tranquility through the Omotesenke experience.
WHAT: 60 minutes tea ceremony demonstration
WHEN: Every Sunday at 3:00 pm
LEVEL: Anyone
WHERE: Facebook Live
Intro to Zazen & Japanese Zen Buddhism
Take Deep Breath and Calm Your Mind
Kanzenchi (Peter Pocock–delrayzen.org) will lead a class through online demonstration of zazen (half-lotus, Burmese, seiza or sitting on a chair) plus some introduction to Japanese Zen Buddhism (our lineage is from Shunryu Suzuki, who was in Calm your mind in the heat of summer! On Sunday, July 26, from 4-5 pm, SJA Board Member, John McLaughlin, and Del Ray Zen Buddhist priest Peter Pocock, will provide a brief introduction to Japanese Zen Buddhism as practiced by our Soto-shu lineage, as well as to Zazen. After some warm-up exercises, participants will have various sitting positions demonstrated, such as full and half-Lotus, seiza, Burmese-style, and sitting in a chair. Then, everyone will experience a brief sitting (5-10 minutes) followed by a chant in Japanese and English. After a Q&A session, participants are welcome to stay for a longer sitting of 15-20 minutes. Whether you already have experience with Zazen or not, you’re welcome to join us on Wednesday evening and Saturday morning sittings through a zoom link at delrayzen.org
WHAT: 60 minutes: lecture, guided sitting meditation practice, Q&A, and additional sitting (optional)
WHEN: Sunday, July 26 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
LEVEL: Anyone
WHERE: Zoom link
If you are interested in attending this workshop, please contact us at sja2018sja@gmail.com for a zoom link and log in information.
