Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

NEW! Ono’s Japanese Cooking Class! – Two different classes. These are NOT sushi classes but Japanese cooking classes that will be taught in our kitchen! Saturday January 19 and Saturday, March 2 from 12 Noon-1:30 p.m. Led by renowned sushi chef Sadao Ono, founder of Edohei Sushi & Japanese Restaurant, this is a culinary delight because you learn, get to eat what you make, plus get to eat some of Ono-san’s creations! Each class will teach different Japanese cooking methods. Cost is $50 for one class (includes all materials)! Register by end of day January 14 for the January 19 class, by February 25 for the March 2 class. Non-member cost is $75.

Yoga at the Centre – Starting Tuesday, January 8 for 10 weeks. Classes 5:30-6:30pm led by Andrea Silver, a highly experienced and certified Yoga instructor. This is alignment based yoga that is healthy and safe for all ages. All 10 sessions $100. Drop-ins are $15 and not guaranteed. We require a minimum of 6 people or the class will not proceed. Non-members $130 this session; drop-in fee $20.

Manitoba Karaoke Club - This group meets on alternate Sunday afternoons starting January 13 in the afternoons and using its specialized karaoke equipment sings both traditional and new material. Newcomers are welcome to join.

The WSO is bringing in Nobuyuki Tsujii, a world renowned blind Japanese pianist for concerts in January. He will play with the WSO on Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19, and at the University of Winnipeg for the Virtuosi Concert program on Sunday, January 20th. Thursday, January 17 there will be a film on his life shown at the University of Winnipeg with Nobuyuki there for a Q & A period following the film. The MJCCC will be hosting a reception after the question & answer period. The film will run from 7 – 8:30 p.m., the Q & A from 8:30 – 8:45, and the reception from 8:45 to about 9:30 pm. WE will have a special code soon from the WSO for a ticket discount. To check on Tokyo born Nobuyuki Tsujii there’s excellent information on Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuyuki_Tsujii

Donburi Lunches in 2013 - These wonderful lunches return on Fridays starting January 18 at 12 Noon until 1:30(ish) p.m. Dine in or take out. Reservations recommended for groups over 6. We provide free delivery within 5km of the Centre for large orders (over 8 people). Choose from such delights as Shrimp or Beef & Vegetable Donburi, Pork Tonkatsu Donburi, Salmon and Chicken Bentos, Assorted sushi and Special Sushi, soup and salad and other goodies. Each lunch is different from the next. Full schedule: January 18; February 1 & 15; March 1 & 15 April 12 & 26.

Movie Night – Saturday, February 23– A full-length feature film with a Japanese style snack bar! English subtitles. Doors open at 5:00 p.m.; Movie starts at 6 p.m. at the Centre. The movie is Zatoichi–The Blind Swordsman – duels, wit and a touch of zen! Cult anti-hero Zatoichi is back in a sword-fighting adventure written, directed, and starring Takeshi Kitano. Admission by donation.

CUISINE NIGHT– Saturday, May 4 – Our Fall Cuisine was a roaring success, both from attendance and from happy eaters! This culinary delight is a popular evening at the Centre because it is all you can eat and many of you do exactly that – eat all you can! And who can blame you with that line-up of food – salmon teriyaki, chicken teriyaki, shrimp tempura, vegetable tempura, chow mein, gyoza, sushi, suno-mono and so much more! The mouth waters just reading this, doesn’t it? Tickets are $32 per person BUT if you buy before April 27 they cost $28! On sale likely in mid-March.

UDON SALE Saturday March 9 - Yummy noodle time! Late morning into early afternoon. Details TBA but expect to be able to eat, browse and take out!.

NEW! EYES ON JAPAN LECTURE SERIES A presentation of the Manitoba Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Language School Lecture #1: Taking the Plunge – Kiyomizu-dera Wednesday, January 30, 2013 6:30 p.m. at the Centre.

Japan is a sensory delight for residents and visitors alike. There are literally thousands of places to see and explore, steeped in tradition and history. These sights, sounds, smells and tastes provide a distinctive link to the past, and provide lessons for the future. In this, the first of a planned series of free lectures aimed at students of Japan and the Japanese language, as well as the public at large, we connect to this grand history in a visual and visceral way. The lecture series will also be of interest to anyone simply curious about Japan and its people.

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple was founded in 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills.

The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "taking the plunge".This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive a 13m jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. Two hundred thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, about 85 % survived. The practice is now prohibited (thank goodness!).

Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water fall into a pond. Visitors can catch and drink the water, which is believed to have wish-granting powers. This is both our lecture beginning and stopping off point. This is also a landmark event for the MJCCC Language School as the three presenters are from three separate educational institutions that have previously not worked together on one theme such as this. Their experience and knowledge will provide for a highly informative evening that will be of interest to anyone curious about Japan and Japanese culture and history.

Jeffrey Newmark, Assistant Professor, Religion & Culture – University of Winnipeg. Teaching Areas: Japanese intellectual, social, and cultural history; Japanese language; Japanese religion; East Asian cultural foundations; pre-modern Asian civilizations.

William Lee, Associate Professor and Director, Asian Studies Centre – University of Manitoba. Research and Teaching Interests: Japanese literature and theatre; Japanese folk performing arts; Japanese popular Culture.

Teruka Nishikawa, Instructor, Religion & Culture- University of Winnipeg; Coordinator, MJCCC Language School.. Teaching and Research interests: Japanese Language and Culture; History of acceptance of Western music in Japan; Women and Western Music in Japan.

Event Calendar