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WHEELING -- Starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, and continuing for five consecutive Thursday evenings, the Ohio County Public Library in Wheeling will partner with The Japan Outreach Initiative (J.O.I.) at West Liberty University to present classes about Japanese culture.
The Japanese Outreach Initiative is a joint program of the Global Partnerships Department of the Japan Foundation in Japan and the Laurasian Institution, USA, that brings volunteer Japanese coordinators to regions of the United States where Japanese culture has been less accessible.
This two-year program provides JOI coordinators an opportunity to engage their American community in Japanese-theme programming, from lectures to hands-on elementary school activities to events focusing on traditional Japanese art forms.
West Liberty University, through the Rollie Williams International Center, has been selected as a host site for J.O.I. Program from 2022 through 2024. In August 2022, Manami Kawazoe, who will serve as instructor for the People's University series, arrived from Kyoto, Japan and will stay in West Liberty for two years. While in West Liberty, her mission is to promote awareness and understanding of Japan through activities and events for culture exchange.
In keeping with the mission of public libraries as sanctuaries of free learning for all people, the Ohio County Public Library created The People's University, a free program for adults who wish to continue their education in the liberal arts. The People's University features courses -- taught by experts in each subject -- that enable patrons to pursue their goal of lifelong learning in classic subjects such as history, philosophy and literature.
The full schedule for the Japanese Culture series will be as follows:
∫ May 4 at 7 p.m. -- Class 1-Basic Introduction to Japanese Culture with Yukata try-on:
This interactive program will survey different aspects of Japanese culture, such as popular food, anime, travel destinations and Japanese alphabets and language. It will feature a try-on of a Yukata, a type of Japanese traditional clothing that is lighter, more casual and versatile than a standard kimono -- a garment somewhere between breezy summer dress and robe.
∫ May 11 at 7 p.m. -- Class 2-The Art of Origami:
Origami is the art of paper folding. In Japanese, "ori" means folding and "gami" means paper. Origami is more than just paper folding. It's art. Origami can range from the super complex with realistic models to the simple models that are easier to fold.
∫ May 18 at 7 p.m. -- Class 3-Japanese Calligraphy:
Japanese calligraphy is one of the most celebrated and revered forms of artistic expression with writing. The tradition of calligraphy was first brought to Japan by China in the 6th century A.D. Since then, a style and technique unique to Japan has formed, and it has been practiced by samurai, nobility and ordinary people ever since.
∫ May 25 at 7 p.m. -- Class 4-The Japanese Tea Ceremony:
Tea ceremony is a way of preparing and drinking green tea typically in a traditional tea room with a tatami (straw mat) floor. Beyond just serving and receiving tea, one of the main purposes of the tea ceremony is for the guests to enjoy the hospitality of the host in an atmosphere distinct from the fast pace of everyday life.
∫ June 1 at 7 p.m. -- Class 5-Making Onigiri:
Onigiri are a quick easy meal, much like sandwiches in the United States, eaten for lunch, dinner, a snack -- even breakfast! Fillings can include fish, veggies, herbs -- truly whatever you like. They are also an important comfort food, a symbol of love and caring, in Japan. Like a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies or a bowl of chicken soup, rice balls remind one of home and feeling cozy.
In addition to the five People's University classes, Manami Kawazoe will also present three noon Lunch With Books programs at the library this spring and summer.
The first will take place at noon on May 16 and will feature a Book Discussion of Mottainai Grandma. The word "Mottainai" is a Japanese adjective that describes how unfortunate it is for something to go to waste. It expresses a sense of guilt, regret or sorrow felt for the act of wasting. The feeling connected to the word is deeply entrenched in the culture and the ways of thinking in Japan.
Then at noon on May 30, Kawazoe will lead a discussion of the Japanese film, "My Neighbor Totoro."
In the film, two young girls, 10-year-old Satsuki and her 4-year-old sister Mei, move into a house in the country with their father to be closer to their hospitalized mother. Satsuki and Mei discover that the nearby forest is inhabited by magical creatures called Totoros (pronounced toe-toe-ro). They soon befriend these Totoros, and have several magical adventures. A free screening of the film will be held at OCPL at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 26.
The final program in the Lunch With Books series will take place at noon on July 25, when Kawazoe teaches useful words and phrases for travelers to Japan.
All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information, call 304-232-0244 or visit www.ohiocountylibrary.org.
For more information on the Japanese Outreach Initiative and the Rollie Williams International Center at West Liberty University, visit westliberty.edu/international-center/.