JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles

Japan is gearing up for the Olympic Games in Paris this year with the newest lineup of 27 swimmers qualified for individual and relay events. It should be noted, that Japan typically sets its qualifying times faster than the Olympic Standard Time set by the World Aquatics. The 27 chosen swimmers were a mix of veterans and newcomers with standout performances. 2-time Olympic gold medalist Yui Ohashi and experienced Olympic medalist Daiya Seto secured their spots for the 200m Individual Medley, however, they faced tough competition from young talented swimmers such as seventeen-year-old Mio Narita, Tomoyuki Matsushia who surpassed Seto in the final race, and Ageha Tanigawa who beat out Ohashi for the women’s 400m Individual Medley. Although the competition was tough, Seto mentioned he was happy to see young swimmers improving and hopes to lead the way for the next generation since he has been competing for a long time. Perhaps one of the most inspiring races of the trials was Rikako Ikee’s return after battling leukemia in 2020. Ikee competed in the Tokyo 2020 Games in relay events but now earned her place in an individual event for the first time since 2016 with the 100m butterfly event. Sixteen-year-old Mizuki Hirai, who won the final, also qualified and is excited to be on an Olympic team with her swimming idol, Rikako Ikee. Read more about the standout performers like veteran swimmer Satomi Suzuki, world record holder Ippei Watanabe, Tomoru Honda, and other noteworthy performers of Japan’s qualifying Olympic swimmers for the Paris 2024 Games here: https://bit.ly/4bDaLjN. Are you excited about the swimming events in the Games? Share your thoughts below! #JapanHouseLA #Paris2024OlympicGames #JapaneseAthletes #Olympics #Swimming #OlympicSwimming #SwimTeam #Sports #YuiOhashi #DaiyaSeto #RikakoIkee #MizukiHirai #AAPIAthletes #Paris2024 #OlympicGames #Tokyo2020 #Tokyo2020OlympicGames #JHLA

Ishinomaki is a city in Miyagi Prefecture of Japan and is widely known for its delicious, fresh seafood since it is located on the coast. It is considered one of the top three fishing grounds in the entire world. 🎣🌏 The variety of seafood provided from the coast allows for many different seafood dishes like kinkadon, bonito, conger eel, abalone, and more. Visitors can try fresh sea urchins and hoya, which are rarely available in other regions. 🐟🍣🦪 Hoya is a type of sea squirt, commonly known as a sea pineapple due to its look and shape. 🍍 Hoya has a rich and unique flavor which people have described as “eating the sea itself” and can be eaten raw, fried, grilled, or cooked in several dishes. This popular dish is from the Tohoku region, which was recently affected by an earthquake, however, they are now recovering nicely. Ishinomaki also offers various activities for anime and manga fans, beautiful shrines, and other sights to visit. ▶️ Watch to learn about Ishinomaki here \(SAVOR JAPAN\): https://bit.ly/3L9lLug ▶️ Read about the delicious food of Tohoku here: https://bit.ly/3xLuM9V #Japan #Ishinomaki #Miyagi #MiyagiPrefecture #JapaneseFood #Seafood #JapaneseCuisine #TravelJapan #SavorJapan #Tohoku ##JapaneseSeafood #SeafoodDishes

Kawaii, the Japanese term for “cuteness,” extends far beyond fashion and can be seen and expressed through in just about anything, including food. From cute lunch boxes to decked out sweets, Japan loves to add visual flourish in their food to make it “kawaii.” Bentos (“lunch boxes”) has been part of Japan’s history and culture for centuries, being an integral part of both everyday lives and special occasions. In recent years, kyaraben (“character bento”) which are homemade bentos that uses the food to resemble popular anime or manga characters, have taken lunch to a new level with their decorative designs. Although it may not seem like it, these animal and character designs are all edible! They are made with rice, ham or spam, pasta, cheese slices, and even thinly cut pieces of nori, or seaweed, for intricate details such as eyes or lines. Many of Japan’s sweets are also known for both their tastiness and their kawaii look, such as shaved ice desserts and soft serve ice cream in various unique flavors such as matcha and sweet potato. Kakigori is made with crunchy yet soft shaved ice topped with colorful syrups. Soft-serve ice creams and kakigori are perfect for the summer season in Japan! It’s not just the food itself that Japan puts the “kawaii” in, the cafes themselves are often decorated with unique, cute theming as well, often representing character brands like Sanrio or Pokémon. “King of Kawaii” Sebastian Masuda also had his own Kawaii Monster Cafe in Harajuku as well, with both the interior and food decorated in his signature colorful and quirky “kawaii” look. These food items, while delicious, also look aesthetically pleasing as a feast for the eyes; they're almost too cute to eat! They are examples of ways the kawaii aesthetic and movement extends to all parts of life. Have you ever tried any of these treats? Let us know your thoughts on this cute food in the comments below! “Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF-“ exhibition: https://bit.ly/3v5nTyT Media Sponsors: LAist & Los Angeles Magazine #JHLA #Kawaii #YesKawaiiIsArt #ExpressYourself #JapaneseFood #KawaiiFood #BentoBoxes #Kakigori #IceCream #ShavedIce #JapaneseCuisine #JapaneseDesserts #JapaneseTreats #JapanHouseLA #JHLAKawaii #KawaiiMonsterCafe #KawaiiCafe #SoftServe #BentoBox #Foodie #LAFoodie #JHLosAngeles

Get a taste of KAWAII at Anime Expo®! 🌈 ✨ Visit us at Booth #2500 in the Exhibit Hall to take some kawaii (cute) pictures 📷 at our photo spot with our cute props 🍓 🌸 and learn about our current, free exhibition "Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF-"! We're part of JETRO's Geek Street Sticker Rally, so don't forget to collect your Booth XP when you visit 💖 Want a more in-depth look into the 'kawaii' culture? "King of Kawaii" Sebastian Masuda is back in LA and ready to talk about everything kawaii, from its history to its global influence, July 5th from 11:30 AM - 12:50 PM at 408AB 🎀 🐻 💕 Don't miss this chance to learn about the beloved cultural phenomenon from the King of Kawaii himself with moderator, Michelle Nguyen Bradley! Learn More here: https://bit.ly/3yJ2nS0! ⚠️ Please note: AX Badge is required to attend the event. Media Sponsors: LAist & Los Angeles Magazine #JHLA #Kawaii #AnimeExpo #SebastianMasuda #MichelleNguyenBradley #JETRO #GeekStreet #JHLAKawaii #YesKawaiiIsArt #ExpressYourself #JapanHouseLA #AnimeExpo2024 #LAConventionCenter #AX2024 #KawaiiCulture #KawaiiHistory #JapaneseArt #JapaneseCulture #JHLosAngeles

In the spirit of our current exhibition, Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF- we are still accepting toy plushie donations for the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital for their Chase Child Life Program! 🧸 We appreciate all the amazing donations we've received so far! 🎁 Each plushie will go to a young patient in the Chase Child Life Program to help them feel comforted during their hospital visits. ❤️🩹 We are extending the donation deadline to the end of the exhibition in November 3rd, so if you're planning to visit, please consider bringing a donation! Spread the spirit of kawaii by donating a new, tagged plush toy or stuffed animal of any size. 🧸 📬 We are also accepting donations via mail for those who are not in the area but would still like to donate. Please send donations to the address below and click to learn more here: https://bit.ly/4b0dyDU JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles Attn: PR & Marketing 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Suite 205 Los Angeles, CA 90028 Thank you for your generosity and for supporting the Chase Child Life Program at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital. Please share this post with others who would also like to donate! 💌 Media Sponsors: LAist & Los Angeles Magazine #JHLA #UCLAMattelChildrensHospital #ChaseChildLifeProgram #Kawaii #YesKawaiiIsArt #ExpressYourself #ToyDrive #DonationDrive #JapanHouseLA #LosAngeles #ChildrensHospital #OvationHollywood #JHLosAngeles

🎥 Presenting "Our Little Sister," the next installment in our Movie & Bites series! "Our Little Sister" (2016) was directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda and is based on a popular manga which follows the lives of 3 sisters whose lives are transformed by the death of their estranged father and the arrival of their younger half-sister. The movie features various Japanese comfort dishes that offer a glimpse into the cultural and familial bonds central to the story. A demo and tasting of authentic Japanese curry will follow the screening. 🍛 Don't miss out on your chance to try this versatile "soul food" dish, learn how to prepare it at home, and enjoy a compelling movie in the process! 🎬 The screening will include English subtitles and take place on August 3, 2024 at 10:30 AM. Tickets are $35 so make sure to register for the event here: https://bit.ly/3ROobSC Special Thanks: Champion's Curry and S&B Image Credits: 2015 Akimi Yoshida, SHOGAKUKAN, FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK INC., SHOGAKUKAN INC., Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics #JHLA #MovieandBites #FilmScreening #MovieScreening #OurLittleSister #JapaneseDirectors #JapaneseFilms #JapanHouseLA #LAFilmScene #JapaneseCurry #JapaneseCuisine #JapaneseFood #ThingsToDoinLA #OvationHollywood #JHLosAngeles

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles' newest exhibition, “Yes, KAWAII is Art -EXPRESS YOURSELF-” takes an in-depth look at the origins of “kawaii,” a Japanese term that translates to “cute” or “adorable” and has evolved into a global phenomenon. The kawaii movement has built communities and kawaii tribes that transcend borders and languages, offering people a way to express themselves freely through kawaii art. 🎀 The freedom to be yourself, celebrate your self-expression, and especially feel accepted by large, global communities is a similar theme of Pride Month. 🏳️🌈 Today is International Pride Day and there is no better time to express yourself! 🌈 We encourage all guests to celebrate their pride and express themselves when visiting Yes, KAWAII is Art, or show off your pride in the comments below! 👇 See the global impact of kawaii and its rich, vibrant history of self-expression at “Yes, KAWAII is Art” open now through November 3, 2024 at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles! Media Sponsors: @laistofficial & @lamag 🏷️ @sebastian_masuda #JHLA #YesKawaiiIsArt #ExpressYourself #SebastianMasuda #Kawaii #JHLAKawaii #JapanHouseLA #PrideMonth #InternationalPrideDay #JapanesePopCulture #JapaneseArt #KawaiiArt #PrideDay #JapaneseCulture #ArtGallery #JHLosAngeles #OvationHollywood #ThingsToDoinLA

The ability for something to be “kawaii” or cute in Japan is ingrained throughout Japanese life with the prolific use of Hello Kitty imagery, anime, and animal cafes. Michael Motamedi, host of the Matador Network podcast “No Fixed Address: The World’s Most Extraordinary People,” traveled to Tokyo to speak to Joshua Paul Dale, Ph.D, a professor who founded the field of “cute studies” at Chou University, to discuss the phenomenon of kawaii. Motamedi and Dale met in Harajuku, the epicenter of the kawaii culture (and home of 6%DOKIDOKI!) where it originated, to record the podcast on cuteness culture. In it, Dale explains that “cuteness is universal,” since studies have shown that seeing something cute, like puppies, babies, or drawings, releases oxytocin in the brain to prepare for empathetic and highly social interactions. While “cuteness” can vary from place and person to person, there are a few commonalities across cultures like large eyes and chubby cheeks. To learn more about Professor Dale’s findings on “cute studies” or listen to the full podcast episode, see here: https://bit.ly/3xB1mLl #JHLA #YesKawaiiIsArt #ExpressYourself #Kawaii #CuteStudies #KawaiiHistory #JHLAKawaii #JapanHouseLA #JapanesePopCulture #Podcast #MatadorNetwork #JapaneseCulture #KawaiiPodcast #JHLosAngeles

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are coming up soon, and they include sports such as swimming, beach volleyball, cycling, judo, and surfing, to name a few. Japan House Los Angeles previously had the opportunity to host a panel about facing adversity with previous Olympic athletes, Apolo Ohno, Aaron Philip Wolf, and Kanoa Igarashi. Apolo Ohno is a former short-track speed skater and 8x-medal-winning Olympian, Aaron Philip Wolf, a Japanese judoka and gold medalist at the 2020 Summer Olympics, and Kanoa Igarashi is a pro-surfer and silver medalist at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Both Wolf and Igarashi has qualified for the upcoming 2024 Olympics in Paris. In this webinar, titled “Why Resilience Matters: How Adversity Molds Us,” these athletes shared their personal experiences with facing challenges both on and off the field and how they persevered through those setbacks. To watch this webinar and hear more about these Olympic athlete’s strength and resilience ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games, click here: https://bit.ly/3ngJdbq #JapanHouseLA #Paris2024OlympicGames #JapaneseAthletes #Olympics #Judo #Surfing #ProSurfer #Sports #ApoloOhno #AaronPhilipWolf #KanoaIgarashi #AAPIAthletes #Paris2024 #OlympicGames #Tokyo2020 #Tokyo2020OlympicGames #JHLA

The revival of vintage Japanese music has become a trend that’s broken mainstream, even getting a Japanese ambient and new age music compilation album from the 1980s nominated for “Best Historical Album” at the 2020 Grammys. While the album didn’t win, it still marked a historical moment for older Japanese music gaining more popularity and recognition in the era of today. This ongoing revival of Japanese music is all thanks to the magic of the internet, with YouTube and other online communities allowing users to find music from decades ago. One of the popular music genres of the 80s in Japan, City Pop, a blend of international disco, funk, and R&B with an upscale feel, has had one of the most prominent renaissances online, with thousands of videos uploaded by fans to YouTube, a dedicated online community on Reddit, and even City Pop-themed DJ nights at clubs around the world. On the opposite end of the spectrum, another genre that has been given a second life through YouTube is ambient or environmental music. It's a minimalist and soothing sound with a Japanese twist. Whether you’re a fan of the experimental upbeat City Pop genre or prefer the calming effects of ambient music, there’s never been a better time to explore vintage Japanese music online! Read more about the history of these various genres and the global expansion of Japanese music here: https://bit.ly/3xnvrOC Have you listened to any vintage Japanese music lately? Share your thoughts below! #Japan #CityPop #WorldMusicDay #AmbientMusic #JapaneseMusic #JapaneseArtists #MusicHistory #80sMusic #JapaneseTrends #JapaneseCulture #SoothingSounds #SoothingMusic