MONTICELLO — Japanese film, food and culture and an examination of the island nation’s efforts at recovery from a devastating earthquake and tsunami are the focus of “Japanese Day” on Nov. 12 as part of the International Film Festival at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
“Japanese Day” is the first day of the three-day International Film Festival, which runs from Nov. 12-15. The event begins in the auditorium of the Memorial Classroom Building at 3 p.m., with an introduction and welcome by Lesly Jean-Francois of the UAM faculty, followed by a screening of the documentary film “Fukushima Hula Girls” (in Japanese with English subtitles) at 3:30 p.m..
Saori Nagase, consul for culture and information for the Consulate-General of Japan, and John Gale, coordinator of the Consulate-General’s Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, will be on-hand to discuss cross-cultural understanding and the JET Program, which provides new college graduates and young professionals from around the world the opportunity to participate in international youth exchange.
A reception for Nagase and Gale will be held following the screening at 6 p.m. in the Memorial Classroom Building and will feature Japanese food and music.
Following the reception will be a screening of “Tohoku Summer Festivals: Repose of Souls and Kizuna” at 7:30 p.m. The 48-minute documentary chronicles efforts by communities in eastern Japan to hold their traditional summer festivals while recovering from the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake.
For more information, contact Jean-Francois at 870-460-1889.