Performance of “The Diary of Anne Frank”

The Tokyo International Players invite you to enjoy their production of the play “The Diary of Anne Frank,” to be performed from May 18th-21st at Nakano Pocket Square「THE POCKET」. There will be five performances in total over four days.

“The Diary of Anne Frank” is a play adapted from the book The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. It first appeared at the Cort Theatre in 1955. The play won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the playwrights Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich. The play also received the 1956 New York Drama Critics Circle award for best play.

Anne was a teenage Jewish girl who became trapped in Nazi-occupied Holland. She had to go into hiding with her family in a “Secret Annex” of an old office building in Amsterdam. Ultimately, the whereabouts of Anne’s family was betrayed to the Gestapo (Nazi secret police) and they were all sent to concentration camps where Anne perished. In her diary, Anne Frank vividly recorded her thoughts and feelings during this period.

You can read the “Diary of a Young Girl” in its entirety at: https://ia800405.us.archive.org/6/items/AnneFrankTheDiaryOfAYoungGirl_201606/Anne-Frank-The-Diary-Of-A-Young-Girl.pdf .

EVENT: “Diary of Anne Frank,” Directed by Jonah Hagans
WHEN: May 18th-21st
WHERE: Nakano Pocket Square (Click HERE for a map)

The Tokyo International Players (TIP) was founded in 1896. Its members have mainly been made up of talent from the Tokyo foreign community, but Japanese cast members and supporting staff have also played key roles.

The organization, 100% volunteer-run, provides quality English-language entertainment for international audiences. Over its long history, many active members have appeared in professional theatre in Japan and abroad.

TIP is always looking for new on-stage talent, directors, designers, and backstage crew, as well as people to support their various front-of-house, fundraising, and promotional activities. They consider enthusiasm, energy, and a fun-loving nature to be more important than experience.

Here are some resources provided to us by Deborah Bollinger.

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Talk: Shakespeare (As He Would Have Heard It)

Ben Crystal is an English actor, author, and producer, best known for his work on performing and promoting Shakespeare using original practices, especially in the
original pronunciation. A detailed look at the expansive and influential range of his work on Shakespearean theatre and education is available at bencrystal.com.

In this talk, Crystal will explore the fascinating 400-year-old original sound of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets, showing a world hidden beneath our modern accent, a linguistic world full of intended meanings that are not typically heard by modern audiences. For a preliminary explanation of Ben Crystal’s work, please see a selection of videos on YouTube.

EVENT: Lecture and performance by Ben Crystal
TITLE: Shakespeare: As He Would Have Heard It
WHERE: Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Campus): Building 4, Room 420
WHEN: Tuesday 9th May 2017; from 5th period (16:50)

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TELL’s Sound Mind, Sound Body Run & Walk

TELL is an organization that offers professional counseling, outreach services, and an English version of the service offered in Japanese under the name Inochi no Denwa, a sort of crisis counseling for people in distress. Throughout the year, TELL has various fundraising activities in order to keep their valuable services operating. One of the most enjoyable ones is a Runathon / Walkathon. This is a wonderful opportunity to support a good cause, make new friends, get some exercise, and interact with people from all over the world.

This year’s TELL Runathon has transformed into the “Sound Mind, Sound Body Run & Walk,” a celebration of mental and physical good health organized in partnership with Second Harvest Japan. The Sound Mind, Sound Body Run & Walk will take place at the Tama River (Tamagawa) running course on Saturday, May 27th, and all proceeds from the event will support TELL and Second Harvest Japan, both of which are accredited not-for-profit organizations.

EVENT: Sound Mind, Sound Body Run & Walk
WHEN: May 27th (from 10 AM)
WHERE: Furuichiba Track and Field Stadium [accessible via Kashimada Station (Nambu line); Shin-Kawasaki Station (Yokosuka line); Yaguchinowatashi Station (Tokyu Tamagawa line)]

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Performance of comedy “Dealer’s Choice”

The Black Stripe Threater Company invites you to enjoy their production of the comedy by Patrick Marber, “Dealer’s Choice,” to be performed from March 23rd – 26th at Trance Mission Theatre 「参宮橋トランスミッション」. There will be six performances in total. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here.

The play is set in a restaurant in London and follows the lives of six poker addicts – Carl, Sweeney, Ash, Frankie, Stephen and Mugsy. The action takes place over three acts and the third act is set around the poker table.  The play is about fathers and sons and the emotional deficiencies of men addicted to playing poker.

Directed by Chris Parham, co-founder of Black Stripe Theater, the play stars Tim Harris, Justin Davis, Walter Roberts, David Mashiko, Philip Arneill and Luke Happle.

EVENT: Dealer’s Choice, A play written by Patrick Marber.
WHEN: March 23rd – 26th
WHERE: Trance Mission Theatre 「参宮橋トランスミッション」(Click HERE for a map)

The Black Stripe Theater is a group of directors, actors, designers, and theater artists producing and performing English language theater in Tokyo. The company aims to present theater of high standard using material by contemporary playwrights. The company includes one of our distinguished faculty members, Chris Parham. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Black Stripe Theater and “Dealer’s Choice” is the company’s 20th production.

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Lecture on Emotion in SLA by Dr. Gabriele Kasper

On Saturday, January 21st —from 14:00 at Temple University’s Tokyo campus—Dr. Gabriele Kasper (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, U.S.A.) will speak on the topic “Emotion in SLA and in Multilingual Talk.” Sign up for the talk at https://www.tuj.ac.jp/tesol/seminars/form-seminars.html.

EVENT: Lecture on Emotion in SLA and in Multilingual Talk
SPEAKER: Dr. Gabriele Kasper
WHEN: Saturday, January 21, 2017; From 2:00 PM
WHERE: Temple University Japan 東京都港区南麻布2-8-12
CLICK HERE for directions

RSVP: This is a free event but register here.
LANGUAGE: Lecture is in English without Japanese interpretation
TARGET AUDIENCE: Graduate students in TESOL or applied linguistics; scholars; undergraduates interested in linguistics or language education; present or in-service language teachers[

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Film Screening of “Still Loved” and Panel Discussion

TELL presents a film screening of “Still Loved,” a movie that explores the reality of the loss of a baby from the perspective of families who experienced such a tragedy. The website of this film describes it as “a brave, inclusive and ultimately life affirming film, for anyone that has ever, or will ever, lose someone they love.”

EVENT: The film “Still Loved,” followed by panel discussion on topic of grief and loss
WHEN: Monday 30th January 2017; from 18:30
WHERE: Azabu Kumin Center (5-16-45 Roppongi, Minato-ku — 3 min. from exit 3, Roppongi Station)

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Special Performance and Lecture on the Koto in Traditional and Modern Music

In our continuing series of special lectures for students in the IE Program, we are pleased to announce a performance/ lecture by Masumi Timson Sensei, a master koto player who has helped to bring the koto into Western musical compositions. She will be accompanied in some of her performances by Kazuhiko Shindo (Shakuhachi), Nozimi Tokita (piano), and Takamori Fujima (Dance).

EVENT: Lecture and performance by Ms. Masumi Timson and collaborators
TITLE: Rediscovering Japanese Traditional Performing Arts
WHERE: Aoyama Gakuin University (Aoyama Campus): Room 620
WHEN: Thur 24th November  2016; from 3rd period (13:20)

Speaker’s profile: Masumi Timson holds a Master’s Degree (師範) in Koto from Seiha Conservatory of Japanese traditional music. She participated in the recording of the world-renowned band Pink Martini‘s several albums, including 2011 Japan Record Award Winner and iTunes No. 1 Jazz Chart Hit “1969,” with Japanese legendary singer Saori Yuki. Masumi has performed with the band at venues including Carnegie Hall (NY), the Hollywood Bowl (LA), Grand Rex Theatre (Paris), Tokyo Kokusai Forum, and Billboard Live Tokyo etc. She has also released her own CDs, Picture Dreams (Koto/Violin Duo), a collaboration album with Fumino Ando (Oregon Symphony), and Pacific Bridge, with Richard Crandell featuring the koto and mbira, a traditional African instrument.

Here are some materials that can be used to help prepare for the talk:

Overview of the talk

Article on Koto Music JAPAN DIGEST

Worksheet on Japanese Koto Music

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Talk by Linda Ohama on TOHOKU NO SHINGETSU

Speaker: Ms. Linda Ohama
Topic: A talk on a new documentary: TOHOKU NO SHINGETSU
Location: Aoyama Campus, 本多記念国際会議場 Building 17, 6th Floor, Honda Auditorium

Date: Friday, November 18, 2016
Time: 1:20 PM to 2:50 PM (3rd period)

Ms. Linda Ohama is an award-winning Japanese-Canadian filmmaker who produced and directed the film Obachan’s Garden. She will speak about the creation of her latest documentary film “Tohoku no Shingetsu” (“New Moon Over Tohoku”), which concerns the experiences of people in Tohoku who were affected by the earthquake/ tsunami/ nuclear disaster of March 11, 2011 and its aftermath.

The speaker has just returned from film festivals in Vancouver, Calgary, and Honolulu where her film was shown to critical acclaim and sold-out auditoriums. After her talk at AGU she will be heading to the Rome Independent Film festival in Italy and speak at the University of Rome.

You may view one of Linda Ohama’s previous films, Obachan’s Garden, in its entirety at the website of the National Film Board of Canada.

It would useful for students and teachers who plan to attend the lecture to do some background reading on the film the speaker will mainly be talking about, “Tohoku no Shingetsu,” by exploring this posting: カナダ人が追った東日本大震災 ドキュメンタリー映画『東北の新月』今秋完成に向け編集進む and viewing the excellent official page for the film.. Also, follow the Facebook page associated with the film at: https://www.facebook.com/TohokuNoShingetsu.

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Screening of “The Hunting Ground”

TELL and IamJane are co-hosting a free screening of the documentary “The Hunting Ground.” This powerful, award-winning film documents the personal stories of students who have been sexually assaulted on American university campuses. It follows survivors who attempt to pursue both their education and justice in the face of institutional failures to effectively respond to their reports.

The documentary confronts the reality of sexual assault and explores the impact of violence on survivors. It has helped to raise awareness of the meaning of “consent,” the process of reporting crime, and also the laws surrounding sexual assault on campus.

This special screening will be followed by a panel discussion highlighting the issues relevant to Japan from a wide range of perspectives, including legal issues, reporting, accessing services, and support for foreigners in Japan.

EVENT: Film screening of “The Hunting Ground”, followed by a panel discussion
WHERE: Azabu Kumin Center: 5-16-45, Roppongi, Minato-Ku
WHEN: Monday 21st November  2016; Doors open at 18:30 – movie starts at 18:45
RSVP: Seating is limited, so reserve your free seat by emailing [email protected] or calling 03-4550-1191.

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UNHCR Film Festival

EVENT: The 11th UNHCR Refugee Film Festival/ 第11回UNHCR難民映画祭
WHEN: October 8, 2016 – October 16, 2016 CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE
WHERE: At two venues in Tokyo.
COST: FREE (donations gratefully accepted)


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The 10th UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) Refugee Film Festival will take place from the 8th-16th of October at the Spiral Building in Aoyama and at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Tokyo. With the advance of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the various conflicts in Africa, and the troubles in the Ukraine all contributing to the problem, the world now has more than 60 million people who were forcefully displaced from their homes.

Due to these dire circumstances, the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival, which is held in Japan each autumn, is more relevant than ever. The films on the festival’s program include dramas and documentaries dealing with refugees from such diverse countries as Afghanistan, (South) Sudan, the Philippines, Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Serbia. Some of the films focus on how the refugees adjust to their places of refuge and cope with day to day challenges.

All the films are completely free. This year 13 films will be screened in total. Click HERE for a PDF of the program.

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