TSUNAGU: Passing on Books, Memories & Culture つなぐ：本と思い出と文化交流
October 3 @ 11:30 am - 4:30 pm EDT
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Join us for TSUNAGU (つなぐ: to connect), a special celebration of the books, memories, and cultural connections that have flourished at the JFT Library. As we prepare to relocate, this will be our final in-person celebration at our current library location and the final Saturday that the physical library will be open to the public.
Some of our library items are selected for giveaway, including books, manga, magazines, CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and VHSs in English, Japanese, and French. Find a treasure to take home and help us pass our collection on to new readers!
At our hands-on origami station, you’re invited to fold a paper butterfly and pair it with an ema (絵馬)-inspired message card. Drawing on the Japanese tradition of writing wishes and messages on wooden plaques, you can share a memory, wish, cultural discovery, or message for the future. A butterfly is also included in the Japan Foundation’s logo, whose form represents the cyclical exchange of culture: our wish to deliver Japanese culture to the world while conveying diverse cultures of the world back to Japan. Add your butterfly and message to a growing collaborative art installation, and help us create a collective expression of the connections made through the library!
Whether you have been visiting us for years, discovered the library recently, or simply love Japanese books and culture, we invite you to join us, meet fellow patrons and staff, share your memories, and create something together!
About the JFT Library Collection After Our Relocation
In preparation for our relocation, our public-lending physical library will conclude its operations on Friday, October 9, 2026. At the new location of our Centre, a portion of the library’s existing collection will be retained as a reference-only (not public lending) resource at our new location and will be made available upon request. (These materials will not be included in the giveaway items during the TSUNAGU event.) We will announce further details about this service and how to access the collection after this winter.
Our JF Canada Digital Library will continue its service without interruption, providing continued access to ebooks and audiobooks for eligible users.
Related Programming
Bring Your Own Bento: Japanese Language and Culture Talk [Topic: Japanese Gift-Giving Culture]
Saturday October 3, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (ET)
In-person at JFT | Admission Free | Registration Required | Presented in English and basic Japanese
In conjunction with the JFT Library’s event titled “Tsunagu: Passing on Books, Memories & Culture”, this session’s topic will be Japanese Gift-Giving Culture. Come join us and learn Japanese words and phrases related to gift-giving, along with interesting facts about this theme. All attendees will receive a gift from our center! Join us for the talk, and take the opportunity to participate in the library’s event during your visit! This session is B.Y.O.B. (“bring your own bento“), so please feel free to bring your lunch with you.
