JAPANESE LANGUAGE
SCHOLARSHIP "AURORA" FOUNDATION Announces the 3rd annual
AURORA CHALLENGE GRANT Winner
For Immediate Release
Press contact: CEI
Tel: (323) 463-9929
Fax: (323) 464-8048
Los Angeles - August 9 - The Japanese Language Scholarship "AURORA"
Foundation is delighted to announce their third annual Aurora
Challenge Grant winner, Mr. Alan Bair. The grant is awarded to
a USA citizen who resides in California and has a unique dream,
in any field of endeavor, which is related to Japanese culture
and which would never be possible to realize without travelling
to Japan. There are no age limits or GPA/Scholastic achievement
requirements. The award goes to an individual with a creative
dream or challenge that if fulfilled, will contribute to global
goodwill and intercultural appreciation of mankind. The winner
receives a $5000 value grant and the recipient can travel anytime
between the autumn of 2002 and summer 2003. By awarding this
grant, the Aurora Foundation hopes to help the winner enhance
his/her pursuit of their truest, most heartfelt dream by providing
the opportunity for a once in a lifetime experience.
Alan Bair is a freelance social documentary
photographer who specializes in Asia. He is interested in globalization
and traditional cultures, and currently has projects under way
in Japan and Burma. In 1993 he exhibited a collection of work
featuring the people of central Miyazaki Prefecture on the island
of Kyushu.
For the last eight years, Alan has dreamed
of returning to the Kyushu Mountain Range and capturing the feeling
and spirit of the all night long Shiromi Kagura. He also wants
to photograph the people of the mountains, to portray a sense
of the mountain culture and creation mythology which the Kagura
celebrates.
Educated at U.C. Berkeley and The Columbia
University School of International And Public Affairs, Alan is
fluent in Japanese and Spanish, and is based in Pasadena, California.
He received the HARC Foundation Emerging Artist Award in 1998.
The grant includes attendance at the Aurora
Foundation Award Dinner on September 5th at the New Otani Hotel
& Gardens; and the Yuzo Kayama "Aurora" Concert.
The scholarships will be formally presented at the Award Dinner.
Yuzo Kayama is one of Japan's most popular
actors and singers. He appeared in films such as "Sanjuro"
and "Red Beard" which were directed by Akira Kurosawa
and is most well known for the popular film series, "Young
Guy" (Wakadaisho). Well known songs include his 1961 debut,
"Yoru no Taiyo" (The Sun of the Night) and 1965's"Kimito
Itsumademo" (Always with You). Mr. Kayama makes his Los
Angeles debut at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
on September 6, 2002. The benefit concert, presented by the Aurora
Foundation and produced by Bridge USA, Creative Enterprise International,
Inc., and Hiroaki Kaneko Office Co., Ltd.., is a charitable fundraising
event for the Aurora Foundation (EIN: 31-1639219).
The Japanese Language Scholarship "AURORA"
Foundation is generously supported by the following corporate
sponsors: Panasonic, Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., Japan Airlines,
All Nippon Airways Co., LTD., Aratani Foundation, Crystal Cruises/Shogun
Cruises& Tours, Nijiya Market
All Nippon Airways, Asahi Ryokuken, California Bank & Trust,
Elephant Tours, Hakutsuru, Hitachi LTD, Inaba, Tomio Ito, JFC
International, Inc., Kamiya & Takahashi Insurance Agency,
Kawai, Kikkoman International Inc., Kinokuniya Bookstores of
America, Koyo Graphic International Inc., Nobu Matsuhisa, Maeda-en,
Mishima Foods USA Inc., The New Otani Hotel & Garden, Nippon
Express USA, Northwest Airlines, Ozeki Corporation, Parachute
America, Sakura Rent-A-Car, Sanuki no Sato, Sapporo USA Inc.,
Shirako, Yamamotoyama of America.
Media sponsors are BRIDGE U.S.A., Rafu Shimpo, and United Television
Broadcasting. Aurora is also supported by the Consulate General
of Japan Los Angeles, Japan America Society, The Japan Foundation
and Language Center in Los Angeles, Japanese American Cultural
& Community Center, Japan Business Association, Japanese
Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, Japan External Trade
Organization Los Angeles, L.A. Mita-kai, L.A. Tokyo-kai.
For more information, including sponsorship, please contact the
Aurora Foundation at (323) 466-1237 or by e-mail at AuroraFoundation@usa.net.
Please check the JLSF website at www.jlsf-aurora.org.
2nd Aurora Challenge
Grant Winner
1st Aurora Challenge
Grant Winner
