JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Yōkai

Loading Events

« All Events

November 21 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm EST

Details »

Indulge in Silent Reading & Connect over Shared Curiosity for Yōkai from Folklore to Art to Manga!

Inspired by the JFT Gallery’s current exhibition, our upcoming book club meeting will explore Yōkai – Japanese monsters and mysterious creatures that have appeared in ancient Japanese texts, folklore, artworks, and are now gaining international recognition through manga/anime characters! Join us in the library or virtually from anywhere to indulge in silent reading and engage in optional discussion to share your discoveries with fellow participants interested in Japanese culture!

No prior knowledge/preparation is required!

Register Here  

*Please be aware that space may be limited.

  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us in person, by phone, email, or via contact form.


Show WHY JOIN JFT BOOK CLUB “WITH SILENT READING TIME”?

WHY JOIN JFT BOOK CLUB “WITH SILENT READING TIME”?

Many of us simply want more time to read but cannot squeeze the time in, as we have too many distractions and interruptions in our daily lives to concentrate on reading. JFT Book Club with Silent Reading Time offers a sanctuary to indulge in the simple pleasure of reading, surrounded by fellow book enthusiasts who share your love for literature.

In addition, we provide an optional space for those who wish to connect and discuss their reading experiences with others. Engage in conversations at your comfort level and learn new perspectives from other book lovers from different cultural backgrounds that you wouldn’t gain from reading alone! It’s a safe space where your thoughts and impressions are valued, regardless of whether you choose to actively participate or quietly absorb the conversations around you.

We welcome both seasoned book club members and first-time participants to discover the joy of silent reading without the pressures of finishing an assigned book on time and/or participating in mandatory discussions.


Show HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK?

HOW DOES THE UPCOMING JFT BOOK CLUB WORK?

  1. Once you register for the event, find a book to read based on the criteria listed in WHAT BOOK TO BRING? (see below) or from JFT Library’s collection.
  2. On the day of the event, we will meet via Zoom and in person at the Japan Foundation Toronto Library (2 Bloor St E #300, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 Canada). *Click here to check how to get to our Library.
  3. We will start with a quick introduction & ice-breaking activity (*Light refreshments will be served for in-person participants)
  4. Participants will share their books and why they pick them up (2-3 minutes each)
  5. Silent Reading Time: Participants will read the book they bring or the one recommended by other participants anywhere in the library or wherever they want if participating virtually. If you join the book club in-person, you can check the JFT Gallery exhibition to compare the yōkai-themed artworks with what is described on the book you read.
  6. Optional Discussion Time: We will share what we have learned, what we think about the depictions of yōkai, favourite moments/characters from your chosen book, suggestions for next reads, etc.

*There is no right or wrong answer. Different perspectives make the discussion more fun and vibrant!


Show WHAT BOOK TO READ?

WHAT BOOK TO READ?

A book to bring can be either a physical book, ebook, or audiobook (excluding DVDs & Blu-rays) that meets the following criteria:

  • Theme: Yōkai (i.e., fiction, nonfiction, or manga about yōkai); fiction, or manga featuring yōkai character(s) written by Japanese author
  • Language: Books can be written in any language (i.e. English, Japanese, French) but the book club meeting will be in English.

Check out JFT Library’s Book Lists to get ideas! 

*You can either select a book from the JFT Library’s collection, or bring your own copy from home (can be a book not in JFT library collection if it meets the criteria above).

  • If you would like to bring a book that is not in JFT library collection, please consult us in advance with the book information. (We may consider the book for future library acquisitions.)  

 

*You can check whether the book is part of our collection by searching on our online catalogue (*to search physical & digital items) or JF Canada/USA Digital Library (*to search and read ebooks & audiobooks). Please contact us if you wish to confirm the availability with us.

To get a new JFT library card or to renew your existing card, please follow the instructions found here.


Related Programming

Yokai Netsuke Exhibition

October 17, 2024 – January 25, 2025

Experience the mysterious universe of Yōkai through these Netsuke figures, which serve as gateways to bridge across the dimensions, from flat images to three dimensional sculptures, and from monochrome to colour.

Register Here

 

 

 

 

A Letter to Momo (film screening)

Tuesday, November 12, 6:00 PM

Join us at the JFT Event Hall on November 12 for a screening of the stunning film, A Letter to Momo. Presented in conjunction with our Yōkai Netuke Exhibition, currently running in the JFT Gallery.

After the death of her father, Momo moves with her mother to a small island town. There, she encounters three mischievous yōkai, invisible to others, who try to help her cope with her loss.

Register Here

 
 
 
 
 

Previous Book Clubs

Japanese Tadoku Book Club – October 26, 2024

JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Before the Coffee Gets Cold by KAWAGUCHI Toshikazu – September 4, 2024

JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Japanese Ceramics & Life in the Edo to Meiji Periods – June 18, 2024

JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: BL Metamorphosis by TSURUTANI Kaori – April 18, 2024

JFT Book Club (Hybrid): Mild Vertigo by KANAI Mieko – February 13, 2024

JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – Holiday Reading Recommendations – November 16, 2023

JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – Manga: Planetes by YUKIMURA Makoto – September 28, 2023

JFT Book Club (Hybrid) – With Silent Reading Time – LGBTQIA+ Books -June 20, 2023

JFT Book Club Online – Manga: After the Rain by MAYUZUKI Jun -April 24, 2023

JFT Book Club Online – Three Short Works by NISHI Kanako: On beauty, the Female Experience and Othering – February 8, 2023

JFT Book Club Online: Temple Alley Summer by KASHIWABA Sachiko – September 15, 2022

JFT Book Club Online: Manga – June 15, 2022

 

JFT Book Club Online: Bring Your Own Book – April 13, 2022

JFT Book Club Online: The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura
– February 9, 2022

JFT Book Club Online:
Colorful by Eto Mori
– November 10, 2021

 

JFT Book Club Online: Heaven by Mieko Kawakami – August 12, 2021

JFT Book Club Online: Manga – June 10, 2021

 

JFT Book Club Online: Bring Your Own Book – April 8, 2021

JFT Book Club Online: The Memory Police – February 11, 2021

JFT Book Club Online: Breasts and Egg – November 5, 2020

JFT Book Club Online: Travel Japan – August 20, 2020

JFT Book Club Online – June 11, 2020

Memoirs of a Polar Bear – February 20, 2020

 

The Little House – December 12, 2019

Mystery Book Club – October 10, 2019

Movies and Books – August 8, 2019

Books and Tea – June 6, 2019


Details

Starts:
November 21 @ 6:30 pm
Ends:
November 21 @ 8:00 pm
Event Category:
,
Doors Open:
6:00 pm
Registration:
Required
Language:
English, Japanese
Language Requirement:
English

Organizer

The Japan Foundation, Toronto Library
Phone:
416-966-2935
Email:
library_jftoronto@jpf.go.jp
Website:
View Organizer Website

Venue

The Japan Foundation, Toronto
2 Bloor St. East, 3rd Floor
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8 Canada
+ Google Map
Phone:
416-966-2935
Website:
View Organizer Website