December 2022 Newsletter

Tomodachi

President's message

This is our final newsletter for 2022, a year in which AJS-NSW gradually returned to in-person events. However we do plan to continue our ever-popular Zoom presentations by wonderful practitioners of Japanese culture.

Our AGM on November 30th was the first held in-person for some years, and after the formal meeting, members in attendance enjoyed a talk by Tokyo Broadcasting correspondent Hiroki Iijima about his new book, as well as networking over drinks and sushi. Thank you to those members who attended and approved some changes to our "Rules" (aka Constitution) to bring them in line with modern governance and communication practices.

We are in the planning stage for 2023 events, with three January events already open for registration: a group to the Maho Magic Bar Show on January 11th, our Shinnenkai (Welcome the New Year party) on January 19th, and a Zoom Culture online talk about Japanese kimono makeup (shironuri) on January 22nd. Event details are below.

If you have ideas for events or speakers, please feel free to contact us with your wishlist or proposals.

In the meantime, thank you to all our members and friends for your support of AJS and our people-to-people links, and of the Australia-Japan relationship in general, during 2022. We look forward to seeing you in the Year of the Rabbit (2023), and for those of you in Sydney in January, our Shinnenkai will be a great place to reconnect and celebrate the New Year.

With best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.

Anita Byrnes, President

Upcoming AJS events

Maho Magic Bar Show

We're organizing a small group to go to this Sydney Festival event. The Maho Magic Bar is a performance/show at a bar. It is inspired by the magic bars in Japan’s nightlife districts. Magicians perform close-up magic at your bar table, while you enjoy a delicious drink and bar snacks.

To confirm the group booking we need at least 12 people, so please register and pay by January 4.

New Year Party 新年会

Welcome the New Year in with AJS members and friends at a Shinnenkai (New Year Party) with Japanese food and drinks.

We've booked Izakaya Masuya in central Sydney for up to 40 people. The price includes one drink on arrival and a set menu (dietary options available). Additional drinks will be available at reasonable prices. See details and book at our website here.

TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MAKEUP (SHIRO-NURI)  with LUCIA CHUNG

Ever wondered about the white makeup worn by people in the Japanese arts such as kabuki and classical dance, or iconically, by the Geisha and Maiko.

Join a Sydney-based expert, Lucia Chung for a live tutorial on Japanese Shiro-nuri (白塗り, or white-paint) makeup using traditional techniques and products as she explores the standards of the classic beauty in this art form.

Register for this free online talk in our Zoom Culture series, here.

Supported events

Japan Foundation Exhibition:Storymakers in Contemporary Japanese Art

The Japan Foundation's Storymakers exhibition is still open until January 28th 2023. Five contemporary Japanese artists evoke imagery from traditional fairy tales across cultures through their art. Note the Xmas/New Year closure dates. More details here.

Free screening of films by Roger Pulvers, January 18th 2023

Joe's Encyclopedia & Star Sand

Roger Pulvers gave us a well-attended talk about Japanese Humour in July, just prior to going to Japan to direct his latest film, about to be released as Joe's Encyclopedia. Tickets for the free screening will be available from January 4th, HERE.

The website of the National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies, to which AJS-NSW and other State Societies are affiliated, provides even more  Australia-Japan news and information about events by State Societies. If online events, your attendance is welcome. AJS-WA has initiated crowd-funding with a goal to establish and operate the Japan Educational and Cultural Centre WA (JECCWA) on the site of the former Hyogo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre. See here for information and donations.

Kanji of the Year The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced the kanji for "war" (sen/ikusa) as the Kanji of the Year. See article from the Japan Times here.

Got something you would like to share with the AJS-NSW community? Let us know by email.