Nagoya, Dec. 16-17 - PAS Nagoya sponsored a performance/lecture/demonstration by three U.S. digital artists, Golan Levin, Assistant Professor of Electronic Time-Based Art at Carnegie-Mellon University, Zachary Lieberman, Adjunct Faculty Member, Parsons School of Design, and Gregory Shakar, Research Fellow at the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University, at Nagoya City Art Museum. The three artists, internationally acclaimed leaders in the digital art scene, presented four different works entitled "Scribbles," "Scrapples," "Drawn" and "The Manual Data Input Session." All the works were created on original computer programs that produce music and images in reaction to movements of the human body. Over 150 people including artists and art students came to the program, and were fascinated by the magical integration of digital output and human movement. After the performance, the artists answered questions from the audience, and allowed them to perform on the devices by themselves.

UN Reform is Process, not Event

Nagoya, December 15 - Edward Luck, Director of the Center on International Organizations and Professor of Practice in International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, gave a lecture to over 130 students, professors and business people entitled "U.S. Goals for UN Reform." PAS Nagoya organized the event, held at Chukyo University. Professor Luck explained that, as the UN's two principal donors and advocates of liberal internationalism, the United States and Japan have much common ground on efforts to enhance the UN's effectiveness and efficiency. He also discussed American support for a permanent seat for Japan on the Security Council. He added, however, that Japan needs to take the lead in easing or eliminating regional hurdles to achieve that goal.

In Central Japan, Progress in Iraq is Personal

NAGOYA, December 9 - Iraq is making progress and becoming democratic, said Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Godec today via digital video conference to audiences across Japan. In Nagoya City, located in Central Japan, fourteen people gathered to listen to Mr. Godec give the U.S. assessment for the upcomming elections in Iraq. By chance, the timing coincided with Prime Minister Koizumi's announcement that the Japan Self-Defense Force would remain in Iraq for 12 more months.

US & Central Japan Celebrate Friendship

NAGOYA, December 7 - The Aichi America-Japan Society and the Nagoya American Center toasted the end of 2005 and celebrated the enduring friendship of the two countries at the annual winter holiday party. Michel Turner, Director, Nagoya American Center, gave opening remarks where he thanked the society's members for their support of PAS activities throughout the year. Consulate Principal Officer Daniel Rochman spoke about the larger economic, security and cultural bonds shared by the U.S. and Japan. Mr. Yasuhiro Yasui, AAJS Chairman, toasted the friendship and the close ties Consulate Nagoya and the Nagoya American Center have with local communities.

Central Japan Braces for Bird Flu

NAGOYA, December 6 - Yuri Fedkiw, Embassy Tokyo Science Officer, gave a presentation on US efforts to combat avian influenza at the Nagoya American Center to a gathering of government officials from four prefectures, local businesses and industries and the press. Nearly 70 attendees squeezed into the Public Affairs auditorium to hear Mr. Fedkiw discuss the threat of avian influenza, the need for international cooperation and US measures in public health and agriculture. Moderating the discussion was Dr. Hideto Fukushi, Gifu University, who, as a scientist who has studied the virus, proved to be the perfect counterpart to Mr. Fedkiw. Together, this dynamic duo not only provided a public service and promoted USG policy, but they also enhanced the reputation of PAS Nagoya for excellent and timely programs. Related links.

In Nagoya for One Night it's Summertime, And the Livin' is Easy

NAGOYA, December 1 - Vocalist Deborah Brown and pianist Mike del Ferro thrilled audiences at the Principal Officer Daniel Rochman's residence during the Consulate and the Nagoya American Center's annual holiday reception. Brown and del Ferro, performing under the banner "American Voices," played traditional American jazz tunes that had guests toe-tapping and finger-snapping. Guests included some of Central Japan's top executives, academics and media elites.

American Libraries on the Cutting Edge

NAGOYA, November 18 - The Nagoya American Center hosted a lecture/discussion for 15 regional librarians by returning International Visitor grantee Mr. Masaki Matsubayashi, Chubu University Miura Commemorative Library. His lecture, "Digital Reference and the Cutting Edge Library Services in the U.S." delved into the diversity of U.S. libraries as well as advantages and strengths of U.S. libraries in general. He placed special emphasis on the sense of community and public responsibility that American libraries engender. The fifteen librarians attending the discussion came from various university, prefectural and city libraries from four prefectures.

US Education Fair Draws Record Numbers

NAGOYA, November 1 - The U.S. Commercial Service and the Nagoya American Center co-organized the "2005 Study in the USA Fair" and drew a record number of participants: about 300 participants attended the fair, more than double the amount from the year before. With support from the Nagoya International Center for two venues, twenty-five top American universities set-up booths to distribute information and to meet students. Students were able to talk to university representatives and ask them about their campuses and courses. The Japan-US Education Commission (Fulbright Commission) proved a popular draw for students and their parents and about 100 students came to their seminar. A number of other seminars were held on the sidelines of the fair. A visa officer from US Consulate Osaka gave presentations to students and study abroad advisors. Two dozen study abroad advisors, from across the Chubu region, were able to ask detailed questions about the US visa process while seventy students learned the ins-and-outs of visa applications.
Photo 1 caption: Consular Officer dicusses the visa process
Photo 2 caption: Students gather information about American universities.

Artist Hits High Tech Notes

TOYOTASHI, October 26 - The Nagoya American Center co-sponsored a performance/lecture by Prof. Jeffrey Stolet, University of Oregon, at Chukyo University. Prof. Stolet, a renowned composer and conductor, presented a lecture entitled "Performance, Metaphor and Data Mapping Strategies" and performed on a self-created "infra-red keyboard" using software he wrote. The "keyboard" consisted of two infra-red beams projected vertically that, when broken by a wave of the hand, would create synthesized piano notes. Prof. Stolet vigorously pawed the air while he played "Tokyo Lick" a composition he wrote inspired by the Tokyo subway system.

Professor Talks Financial Cooperation with Young Economists

Nagoya, October 5 - Prof. William Grimes, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Department of International Relations, Boston University, met with faculty and students at the Graduate School of Economics, Nagoya University. His lecture, "Japan, East Asia, and the Limits to Financial Regionalism" examined, among other things, the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the lesson learned from this regional calamity. While optimistic about the Chiang Mai Initiative, he was skeptical about an Asian Monetary Fund and underscored the importance of the IMF to Japan and the need to work within the IMF framework.

Wright Glider Flies at Centrair

NAGOYA, September 27 - One day after the close of World Expo Aichi 2005, the United States Pavilion donated an exact replica of the Wright Brother's 1902 glider to Japan's newest international airport, Centrair. The Wright Glider was one of the US Pavilion's key attractions and hung in the main gallery during the six months the Expo ran. Rick Young, an aviation historian who built the model using the same materials the Wrights used, was a special guest. Visitors to Central Japan's premier airport will find the Wright Glider hanging from the ceiling between the Exhibition Deck and Sky Town on the 4th floor of the passenger terminal building. (L to R: Fuu-chan, Mr. Yukihisa Hirano, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Young, USP Deputy Director Doug West, and Mr. Theo Panagiotoulias, American Airlines)

US Judge Discusses Domestic Violence

NAGOYA, September 17-18 - The Nagoya American Center arranged for Judge Marjory D. Fields to be the keynote speaker at the 8th Annual National Symposium on Domestic Violence held in Nagoya, Japan. More than 800 activists, lawyers and academics from across Japan attended this symposium, which examined the state of domestic violence and sought new strategies for combating the problem. As both as a judge and trial lawyer, Judge Fields brought with her a wealth of experience. Judge Fields mapped out the history of domestic and family violence in the US and explained how homicide rates have steadily declined since the criminalization of domestic violence. She offered concrete examples of how laws can and should be changed to prosecute criminals and protect victims.

Where No Man ( or Robot ) has Gone Before!

NAGOYA, September 16 - The Nagoya American Center organized a lecture by Dr. Randii Wessen, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to discuss the "Robotic Exploration of Space" to an invited audience of seventy aerospace engineers, scientists, academics and the general public. Dr. Wessen was invited to Japan by the US Pavilion, which is displaying models of the Mars Rover and images of Saturn taken by the Cassini-Huygens space probe, at the Aichi Expo. Dr. Wessen, explained complex cosmic phenomenon in an understandable and inspiring manner that kept the audience spellbound. Dr. Wessen showed dozens of images and graphsics including new images of the surface of Titan, one of Saturn's moons, and pictures of the Eagle Nebula, 7000 light years from Earth, where stars are being born. (Photo of Eagle Nebula courtesy of NASA.)

Security in East Asia Pacific

NAGOYA, September 16 - Roy Kamphausen, Director of National Security Affairs at the National Bureau of Asian Research, met with reporters and academics to discuss the US-Japan security alliance and the need to prepare for potential future threats. The Nagoya American Center organized the event, held at Aichi University. Kamphasusen underscored the many benefits US military forces deployed in Asia bring to the region, including the maintenance of safe and open sea lanes and humanitarian relief as seen in the recent tsunami disaster.