Prospectus of NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano (Certified Non- Profit Organization)

Today, with the advancement of digitalization, people easily become isolated from each other. This isolation deprives them of opportunities for heart-felt communication.
Japan too has recently experienced diplomatic and economic problems with other countries due to a lack of mutual understanding. Good relations, however, can be fostered by mutual respect for culture and ideas. At the same time, government, corporations as well as individual people must convey clearly their ideas.

One way to cope with communicating clearly is through expressions of Iberoamerican culture. In Iberoamerica, the integration of heterogeneous cultures has progressed for over a thousand years or more. Iberoamerica, as well, has a long history of close relations with Kyushu, Japan. Kyushu has been the home to different cultures and peoples from Iberoamerica with the introduction, for example, of Christianity by Francis Xavier in the 16th century as well as with trade with Portugal and other foreign countries in times of national isolation. After the Meiji Era, many immigrants to Latin American countries were largely from Kyushu. Kyushu seems to be the area in Japan that has the strongest historical ties with Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries (Iberoamerica).

Given this background and the push to decentralize in Japan, Tiempo Iberoamericano chose to establish its base in Kyushu versus Tokyo or Osaka. In addition, often unique ideas which promote new cultural activities are found in smaller local areas instead of large metropolises. Thus, Tiempo would like to promote international and cultural exchange through language learning, enjoyment of music and dance classes, exhibitions, and exchange programs with Iberoamerica. For the diversification of people’s knowledge about Iberoamerica, Tiempo also provides a variety of information. Tiempo stimulates joyful and lively human communication. Through this communication, people respect others’ ideas and cultures, deepening their mutual understanding. This mutual understanding becomes a channel for true international exchanges whether at the individual, corporate or national level.

As Tiempo Iberoamericano wanted to expand such activities to more people, it applied for official certification as a non-profit organization. Tiempo hopes that our activities will keep producing internationally-minded people who will lead to a greater exchange of ideas and cultures.

Our activities

We carry out following activities mainly.

Culture courses with native teachers and instructors

The center aims to maintain a dynamism or movement that recognizes the centrality of communication and the diversity of expression. This is seen in our curricula for language education and dance instruction, providing the foundation for Tiempo’s dynamic dialogues. Taken togeth- er, these verbal and non-verbal efforts seek to improve understandings of differences and similarities between the various groups of people that attend.

The center offers traditional language classes in Spanish, Portuguese and French, and a regular exchange of dance instructors from abroad teach a wide variety of Ibero-American dances. Specially trained and/or experienced instructors and performers expand the skills of students, with regular student shows on the calendar. In addition, the center regularly hosts special lectures on a wide range of topics that involve socio-cultural and scientific aspects of the societies that is represented in our member network.

Tiempo maintains a well-established system of inviting instructors and typically offer 3- or 6-month exchanges with dance professionals from Spain and Latin America, often hosting teachers from Brazil, Argentina and Cuba. In this way, and through the exciting world of dance and its varied forms or expression, the center continues to offer variety and diversity to its membership, build new relationships and strengthen older ones.

International exchange activities

Tiempo Hall serves as the main event space for our regular milonga and pachanga parties. These events and parties offer opportunities to meet and get acquainted with new people, mingle with other members who have different interests, and get to know instructors and staff better. Pachanga also allows you to discover various modes of artistic expression, watch the fantastic and constantly renewed performances of our instructors and the shows put on by the students. All of this requires just a nominal entrance fee and allows for a free cultural and learning exchange in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Gastronomy and Fine Arts

Galería EL TALLER

Tiempo is involved in the promotion of the arts at different levels. Our center provides fine arts classes in painting, paper objects, sculpture and ceramics. It also exhibits art regularly in its gallery, Galería El Taller, and in the various exhibition spaces of our center. Members have also worked with the center to produce art competition events and exhibitions with international artists. Collaborative work with other NPO’s, as well as local and international organizations occur regularly.

Website

Café Restaurante SANCHO PANZA

Sancho Panza is a café and restaurant managed by Tiempo on the 5th floor of the center. The venue is the perfect place to experience, through food and wine, the various cultural traditions which reflect Spanish and/or Latin American heritage. It also provides an ideal space for live music that is often accompanied by a dance performance, such as tango or flamenco. The restaurant’s adjacent terrace also hosts Argentinian asado (a variety of meat, grilled on an open fire) and a giant Spanish paella.

Current chefs at the restaurant come from Peru, Chile and Spain and their work with local people bring a unique set of skills, resentations and flavors to the table. Sancho Panza further offers cooking classes, presently directed by a Chilean instructor with long years of experience in the fusion of Japanese and Latin American cuisines.

Website

Advisory Board & Staff

Advisory Board    (October, 2023)

Administrative Staff    (October, 2023)

Professors and Instructors    (October, 2023)

Membership

Membership of NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano

NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano (also known as Latin Cultural CenterTiempo) is a non-profit organization established in 1997, that centers on arts related to Ibero-America (Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries), with a focus on cultural exchange activities, such as music, dance, arts, languages and foods; allowing you to experience cultural diversity from different points of view. Also, these activities are supported by members who support these purposes.

Classification of members

Our organization recognizes two classes of members:

Active member

A person or group that agrees with Tiempo’s objectives, can vote at an extraordinary or general assembly. In order for Tiempo to continue as an organization, members need to observe the situation carefully so that the activities objectives remain unchanged. Additionally, they need to share opinions and think about ways to achieve Tiempo’s objectives as a non-profit organization.

Supporting member

A person or group that supports TIEMPO’s activities. These members support by participating in courses and events, as well as having meals at the restaurant. In order for Tiempo to continue as an organization, the active support of their members is essential.

Annual membership fee / Expiration date

[ Annual membership fee ]

• Active member: 10,000 yen per person or even more.
• Supporting member: 3,000 yen per person or even more.
• Active member’s fees will be accepted not as a daily activity fee, but as the group’s savings. The use of the savings will be suggested and approved at general meetings.

[ Expiration date ]

• Membership will be valid for one year.
• To renew your membership, a notification will be sent by post mail 2 months before the month when your membership expires.
  If you want to renew your membership, pay the annual fee by bank transfer or at the organization's office.
• If the member wishes to renew his/her membership, he/she should deposit the total amount at the established bank account or pay in cash at Tiempo’s reception desk.
• Members taking courses at Tiempo, should deposit the annual fee together with the course tuition fee. In the event where the deadline to renew their membershipis expired without any notice, the member will be automatically withdrawn from the center.