More Japanese culture at JAGS

Japanese teacher, Hiroshi Okura, has done it again! Not content with the success of introducing Japanese (for both staff and pupils) at GCSE and A level, plunging them into the culture of Taiko drumming, Kabuki drama and Ikebana, he is now delighted to announce that the internationally acclaimed novelist and animation director, Mr Makoto Shinkai, will be here to talk to us in the Prissian Theatre on Thursday 18 December.

The visit will start at 4pm with a showing of Makoto Shinkai’s film 5 Centimetres per Second (Best Animated Film in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards). Those 25 girls who have been enjoying Japanese animation at a lunchtime club will be a little ahead of us in their appreciation of the Japanese culture, but everyone can catch up, and anyone interested in how films are made using the latest computer technology should be fascinated by Mr Makoto Shinkai’s demonstration of techniques, which will follow the film showing.

To apply for tickets, open to all JAGS girls and families, please click here. (The deadline has been extended)

Lucky learners of Japanese at JAGS will get first-hand experience of Japan and its culture on a trip to Kyoto and Tokyo at Easter in 2009. Advice to potential Japanese learners from the current GCSE, AS and A level pupils: Seize the opportunity! Very few schools offer the chance to experience such an interesting culture and a challenging language!