e-newsletter
| home | about | state societies |
Report from NFAJS President – Leigh
McClintock
New Faces in Tasmania
AJS (Tasmania) held their AGM on May 11, and I was privileged to attend.
It was my first visit to Tasmania since the 2005 National Conference, and
I was very pleased to be able to catch up with the friends I made then, as
well as to meet those who have taken on leadership positions since then.
There was a lot to like about what I saw in Hobart. The Society's AGM was
lively, well organised and, above all, well attended. I estimated about 40
members turned up to hear a special presentation by Dr So Kawaguchi of the
Australian Antarctic Division, to receive the treasurer's report (the
Society is in excellent financial shape), and to elect a new committee.
Anne Lynch (pictured right with Dr Kawaguchi and me) was re-elected
President. Four new members joined the committee, which now has a
spectacularly youthful look. Great to see!
The next big event on the Society's calendar was to be a reception for
Tetsuya Wakuda, on 29 May. The famed restaurateur is "Brand Ambassador"
for Tasmania. We in Sydney know well how much Tetsuya is in demand –
getting him is quite a coup for the Society.
Later in the year AJS (Tasmania) will be running a Japanese film festival,
supported by the Japan Foundation and the Japanese Consulate-General in
Melbourne.
My congratulations to Anne and her team, and my thanks for their
hospitality. Most of the new committee, and some of their partners,
shouted me to a delicious dinner by the Hobart waterfront, the day after
the AGM.
Leigh McClintock
|
Ms Tokiko Kiyota has
taken up her position as Director of the Japan Foundation, Sydney. A 30-year
career employee of JF, Ms Kiyota comes to us from Tokyo. She has studied and
worked in Germany for long periods, but this is her first time in Australia.
Philip Mitchell – newly elected President of AJS NSW – and I paid a welcoming
call on her at her office on 1 June, and then invited her to lunch.
The main purpose of the meeting was to make Ms Kiyota personally feel at
home, but of course Philip and I took the chance to set out the importance
of the partnership between the Japan Foundation and Australia-Japan
Societies all over the country. My own particular slant was to testify to
the effectiveness of the Foundation's work in smaller population centres – a
bigger bang for the buck.
Ms Kiyota is an engaging personality, keen to get to know Australia and
Australians. On behalf of all our member societies, I urged her to make the
local AJS a "must-see', whenever she travels.
Leigh McClintock
|
JAFAfs New Website
JAFA has a new website, and it's a beauty.
Congratulations to those responsible – they have raised the bar.
One of the main functions of the Federation is to urge member societies to learn from each other. If you see something you like that another Society is doing, 'borrow it'. I am particularly interested in what Mike Dunphy, Ben Sparrow and co are going to do with the Facebook button on the new home page.
Leigh McClintock
|
The National Conference of the Federation of Japan Australia Societies will be held in Takayama (Gifu Pref) on 31 Oct and 1 Nov.
The venue is the Asocia Resort Hotel.
It's the best chance we get to impress upon our Japanese counterparts the
idea that we constitute a network worth working with (and on). It's also the
best place to develop the shinrai kankei on which the whole idea is
based.
The National Committee is looking for volunteers to form its delegation to
the conference.
If you're interested, please contact me. A modest contribution to costs can be expected.
Leigh McClintock
|
JAFA - South Australia
Calligraphy & Origami Classes
A successful initiative from JAFA this year has been calligraphy and origami
classes.
Classes take place on Saturday afternoons and are certainly a great channel
for relaxation and learning.
The third series of classes will begin on Saturday, 18
July.
>>
more information
....................................
AJS - New South Wales
24th June 09
Japanese Investment Down-Under - Recent events and where to from here?
AJS Business Series 2009
Through the eyes of veteran Japanese journalist, Tomohiro Takasa
In the recent past, a number of events have altered the landscape of
Japanese investment in Australia. The abrupt decline of the Aussie dollar
against the yen, Kirin's purchase of National Foods and more recently Lion
Nathan, the acquisition of a stake in the Australian life insurance industry
by a Japanese insurer, and the increasing interest of Chinese companies in
the Australian mining sector, are set against the global financial crisis
and its heavy impact on Japan.
Veteran Japanese journalist Tomohiro Takasa will give us some background and
explain the current perspective of Japanese business towards Australia.
Takasa-san's presentation (in English) will include time for Q&A, followed
by networking over drinks and canapes.
>>
further
information
|
New South Wales | Sydney
Facetnate! Returns in 2009
Japan Foundation Gallery
The Facetnate! emerging artist program returns for a second year, featuring
3 artists in contention for the Japan Foundation New Artist Award and one
invited guest artist. The exhibitions will run from 15 May - 28 August with
the chance to meet the artists on selected dates.
>> further information
............................................
New South Wales | Sydney
7 July 2009
Enchanted Sky: a night of Japanese harmony
Starring Susumu Aoyagi on piano, Takako Hagiwara on flute, Ayako
Ishikawa on violin and Risa Kataoka on koto.
Legend has it that star-crossed lovers Altair (cowherd star) and Vega
(weaver star) have been separated by the Milky Way river under the rule of
an angry king. They are allowed to meet only once a year on 7 July – the
Japanese call this day tanabata.
A constellation of harmonies with a unique blend of Western and Japanese
sounds, four renowned musicians will weave into the night magical melodies
from both classical and modern genres.
BOOK NOW from City Recital Hall. $28 Adults/ $20 Concession & JPF Members.
Booking fees may apply.
Accompanying this event is a free lecture 'Carrying the Beat' by Hiroyuki
Takashima, the music mogul who introduced the Beatles to Japan.
............................................
13-16 July 09
JSAA-ICJLE 2009 International Conference
University of New South Wales | University of Sydney
The Japanese Studies Association of Australia (JSAA) is delighted to host
JSAA-ICJLE 2009.
Featuring research and discussion in various disciplines of Japanese
language and studies, the main theme of the conference will be "Bridging the
gap between the Japanese language and Japanese studies".
The conference aims to provide a forum for Japanese language and studies
academics and educators from around the world to meet and share ideas beyond
and across their disciplines.
>> more information
............................................
Cowra
Sakura Matsuri
23rd-27Sept 09
Sakura Matsuri is a major event on Cowrafs tourism calendar, celebrating the
birth of spring. It attracts performers from across Australia and around the
world. Locals, Australian and International visitors alike have the
opportunity to experience traditional elements of Japanese culture.
Sakura at the Cowra Japanese Garden is celebrated annually in September when
the cherry blossoms are at their peak.
Activities from Wednesday to Friday will be directed towards visiting school
groups. The emphasis is on involvement and education with workshops
featuring Japanese crafts such as Origami, Calligraphy, Ikebana and Bonsai
held from Wednesday to Friday. The children also get to play with
traditional Japanese toys, fly kites and participate in a genuine Japanese
Tea Ceremony. Activities vary daily so please contact us for further details
and to book into these very popular workshops.
>>
more information
....................................
Queensland, Brisbane
Japanese Speakers Business Group
23rd June 09
The JSBG is a new Brisbane-based group formed in early 2009.
The idea of the JSBG is provide a forum in Brisbane, where Japanese speakers
- both Australian and Japanese nationals - can gather on a regular basis, to
converse in Japanese, in a business-level environment.
>> more information
............................................
>>
View other Japan-related Events around Australia
|
AJS - Far North Queensland
2009 Scholarship Program Application for Year 9 / 10
During the December School Holidays of 2009, the Australia-Japan Society FNQ
will again sponsor two students from a Cairns School, to live as Home-stay
and study within a Japanese Junior High School for a 4 to 5 week period.
Cairns Year 9 / 10 students are encouraged to apply for the scholarship and
be in Japan during December and January 2009. The AJS with this Scholarship
are building further relationships with the Cairns Sister Cities in both
Oyama City and Minami Town.
.........................
AJS - Northern Territory
Recently, Kylie Smith from the AJS Darwin was interviewed on SBS Japanese Radio.
Kylie is interviewed by SBS in relation to Kylie's involvement with a unique Darwin band called Semishigure who sings songs in Japanese.
SBS offers an extensive list of Japanese Radio Programs, many of which are available as mp3 downloads from the SBS Radio website here.
The interview with Kylie in MP3 format can be downloaded from the SBS Radio website directly by clicking on this link.
National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies
PO Box R937,
ROYAL EXCHANGE NSW 1225
info@austjapanfed.org.au