A Year of Events:
Anime in Buffalo
Buff State goes to Japan
Electronic Highways article
Kanazawa Council in Buffalo
Kanazawa visit
Kanazawa article
Simpson in Japan
East Meets West
What is Anime? Susan Napier gives insight into the art of Japanese animation |
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(The following is from the University at Buffalo's publicity materials on the upcoming visit of professor, Susan J. Napier)
The term 'anime' is an abbreviation of the word 'animation'. Today the term has come to refer to Japanese animation of all kinds. By the 1930s anime had become an alternative form of story telling in Japan, more popular than the underdeveloped liveaction industry. During the 1970s there was a surge of popularity of manga, or Japanese graphic novels, many of which were turned into anime TV-series or movies. Anime was accepted into the mainstream in Japan in the 1980s and experienced a boom in production. Anime began to appear in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. Japanese shows such as Pokémon, Speed Racer, Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z were dubbed into English, edited and aired on American television as children's shows. Today the anime industry in the United States is thriving. Anime dubbed in English can be seen as part of children's programming blocks or on channels such as the Cartoon Network. Manga have their own section in bookstore and anime dvds (in English and Japanese) can easily be found in any media store. The words 'anime' and 'manga' are now as common to American youth as 'the internet' or 'cell phone' which has led numerous scholars to examine anime and its impact on American culture.
Susan Napier is the holder of the Mitsubishi Chair of Japanese Studies at Tufts University where she is a Professor of Japanese. She received her doctorate in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. Napier's research interests include Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), modern Japanese literature, popular culture, especially science fiction and fantasy, contemporary constructions of gender and the body, and technology and culture. She has written several books about anime, including Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle: Experiencing Japanese Animation and the forthcoming From Impressionism to Anime: Japan as Fantasy and Fan Culture in the Eyes of the West, as well as numerous articles on the subject.
On Friday, November 9 at 2:00 pm Susan Napier will give a lecture entitled "Anime and Visual Culture: Is Animation the Medium for the 21st Century?" in the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts Screening Room. The Twentieth Century was known for the importance of the cinema as its new medium. Live action film captured the excitement and presence of new technology. For the 21st century, animation captures another new world---that of virtual reality where the world is not always what it seems and where the most important technological developments can seem almost invisible. Japanese animation in particular, with its emphasis on fantasy, science fiction, apocalypse and metamorphosis, beautifully conveys the new world that we are entering into.
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery will be hosting an Anime Night on Friday, November 9 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm during Gusto at the Gallery. The Anime Night will feature a Japanese culture exhibition, with cosplay (anime related costumes) by the University at Buffalo Anime Club and a showing of Satoshi Kon's Sennen joyû (Millennium Actress) introduced by Susan Napier. Millennium Actress chronicles the life of a famous actress whose life and the lives of her characters span Japanese history. The Asian Studies Program, the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Committee are sponsoring the event, with funding graciously provided by Birdair, Inc.
Buffalo State College Art Department set to visit Kanazawa |
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On November 20th - November 23rd, Buffalo State College Professors Lin Xia Jiang (from the Department of Fine Arts) and Richard Ross (from the Department of Design) will visit Kanazawa to further discuss future collaboration between Buffalo State College and Kanazawa College of Arts. This past September, two Rotarians from Kanazawa visited Buffalo to attend the Explore Buffalo Niagara convention and had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Xin and Dr. Ross and discuss the issue. Their visit will be a step forward into future positive collaboration between two institutions.
Japanese culture online (UB Reporter article in the Electronic Highways section) |
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Thursday, November 1, 2007
Volume 39, Number 9
Since Nov. 3 is Bunka-no-hi (Culture Day) in Japan and 2007 has been dubbed "Year of Japan in Buffalo Niagara" by the Buffalo-Kanazawa Sister City Committee, it seems like the perfect time to learn more about Japanese culture. Read the full article...
Kanazawa City Councilmen visit Buffalo |
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Four of Kanazawa City Council councilmen plan to visit Buffalo from November 14th - 16th. A welcome dinner is planned for the evening of the 14th hosted by Takako Michii and friends. On November 15th, the councilmen will meet with Mayor Brown at 1:00 pm and the Council Head at 1:30 pm. That evening there will be a dinner reception with the other sister city members. While in Buffalo, the councilmen will visit Niagara Falls, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Japanese Garden. They will also explore the Buffalo waterfront and attend an open rehearsal of Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. On November 16th, they will fly to another of Kanazawa's sister cities: Porto Alegre in Brazil.
Friendship Through Art Exchange: visiting Kanazawa, Japan |
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Tour to commemorate 45th anniversary of sister city relationship between Buffalo, NY and Kanazawa, Japan and celebrating the opening of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery collection at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa is the oldest sister city of Buffalo and is one of the most culturally enriched places in Japan. The city was founded in the mid 16th century and has still been able to retain many of its traditions of culture and elegance that distinguished it for hundreds of years.
Today Kanazawa not only continues to preserve its past, but is also taking a lead in advancing modern culture by creating new trends in socio-cultural and economic aspects of Japanese society.
We Buffalonians are blessed by this long time relationship with Kanazawa as a sister city through our various exchanges in education, commerce and resources. To mark the 45th year of our relationship, a delegation from Buffalo is being sent to Kanazawa to celebrate this memorable occasion. There the delegation will attend the opening of a new exhibit at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art based on the Albright-Knox Art Gallery's collections. They will also have the oppotunity to meet with Kanazawa officials and experience much of the cultural traditions this city has to offer.
View a tentative itinerary of the delegation's tour
"Sister cities share and share alike: Albright-Knox, Japanese gallery to exchange exhibits to highlight contemporary artworks" |
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Buffalo News -- CENTRAL EDITION
March 7, 2007
by Tom Buckham - NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Though founded nearly 145 years apart, Buffalo's Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan, share the goal of bringing contemporary art to the forefront.
And they plan to do it together by exchanging exhibits of modest scale from each other's collections.
The Albright disclosed Tuesday that a number of works, including some recent acquisitions, will travel to Japan's Hokukiru region this summer for the dual purpose of giving Japanese art lovers a taste of new American art and celebrating the 45-year sister-city relationship between Buffalo and Kanazawa.
...continue reading from an archived version of the online article [pdf].
UB PRESIDENT AND MRS. JOHN B. SIMPSON VISIT JAPAN
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Tuesday, April 3 |
Depart Buffalo for Japan |
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Wednesday April 4 |
Arrive in Tokyo, received by Professor Stephen C. Dunnett, Vice Provost for International Education at UB |
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Thursday, April 5 |
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Friday, April 6 |
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Saturday, April 7 |
UB Japan Alumni Chapter Reception, organized by Dr. Toshio Matsutani |
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Sunday, April 8 |
Travel to Kobe accompanied by Dr. Matsutani |
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Monday, April 9 |
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Tuesday, April 9 |
Visit Kyoto |
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Wednesday, April 10 |
Visit Kyoto |
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Thursday, April 12 |
Travel to Kanazawa, Buffalo's sister city, and visit Kanazawa University, UB exchange partner |
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Friday, April 13 |
Visit Kanazawa and Kanazawa University |
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Saturday, April 14 |
Return to Buffalo |
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"EAST MEETS WEST" - A YEAR OF JAPAN IN BUFFALO AND NIAGARA!
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See a slideshow of photos from the event!
Tea anyone? Not just any tea! How about an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony, presided over by trained tea ceremony instructor, Mrs. Atsuko Mitchell, Japanese native residing in Buffalo. The Buffalo-Kanazawa (Japan) Sister City Committee invites you to explore this powerful symbol of Japanese Culture to be held at Clara's House, 10748 Main Street in Clarence, April 29th through May 5th.
The Tea Ceremony kicks off a year of "East meets West", a project organized to strengthen the ties between Buffalo and its sister city in Japan, Kanazawa and Japan in general. An exciting number of events has been planned including the ongoing "Thoroughly Modern Meiko", an exhibition of Tea Ceremony objects and information at the University Archives, 420 Capen Hall, on the North Campus of the University at Buffalo.
The Tea Ceremony is an elaborate and elegant event that requires a great deal of preparation. Those who attend will be treated to an experience they will never forget. Along with the ceremony at Clara's House, there will be an exhibition of authentic Japanese Kimonos, sculptured dolls by famed Canadian-Japanese artist, Kimiko Koyanagi, floral art (Ikebana), silk screen paintings and ceramics.
"East meets West" is supported by the City of Buffalo, the Japanese Group of Buffalo, Friends of the Japanese Garden, Ikebana International (Buffalo Chapter), Clara's House of Clarence and UB Asian Studies. But don't think this project is just about tea and flowers! The real purpose is to boost the economy of this area.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown recognizes the importance of "selling" the city, and the entire Niagara region internationally. He has been invited to visit Kanazawa this summer, as part of delegation that will enthusiastically market Buffalo-Niagara in Japan, with the intention of opening up more economic ties and developing strong business partnership.
Tickets for the Tea Ceremony and Art Exhibit with docent program
($30.00 each, senior discount available) may be purchased by calling
565-3120.
Checks and credit cards accepted.
Schedule of Events at Clara's House
Sunday April 29, 2 pm -- Opening tea ceremony and docent program
Monday April 30, 10am -- Special program for Buffalo school children
Tuesday-Friday May 1 - 4 -- Mutiple tea ceremonies performed for visitors
Saturday May 5 -- Closing tea ceremony. Also ikebana demonstration with Taishogoto musical performance.