October 2025  Newsletter

Tomodachi

President's message

With the end of the year approaching, it’s a busy time for business and social events. However, don’t miss our Zoom Culture talk by member Sue Pedley this coming Sunday. Sue’s art project Prevailing Gales takes inspiration from the story of escaped convicts who commandeered a ship and sailed to the Awa Domain (Tokushima) in 1830. Register here.

Our second Spring in Sydney: Australia-Japan Business Networking Dinner, co-hosted with AJBCC at the end of August, was a wonderful evening of networking and celebration of the Australia-Japan relationship. Over 260 guests came together at the Fullerton Hotel to renew ties and make new connections, with welcoming remarks from journalist Kumi Taguchi and brief speeches from Ambassador Kazuhiro Suzuki and NSW Minister for Trade Anoulack Chanthivong. Huge thanks to our sponsors: Suntory - The Premium Malt’s; Gilbert + Tobin; Castle Group; Windowrie Wines; Forvis Mazars Australia; and JFC Australia. We look forward to building on this success next year! Photos of the event are still available here; also see our social media posts.

In September, AJS-NSW Board members Terry Crotty, Max Yatsuzuka and Emily Yamanishi were speakers at an Industry Networking Event held at Western Sydney University’s Launchpad. Aimed at students, both local and visiting from Kansai University of International Studies, the panel discussion covered both corporate entrepreneurship and building bicultural careers between Australia and Japan.

Congratulations to UNSW’s Japanese Studies program, which celebrated a half century of teaching and research in Japanese studies recently. An impressive lineup of graduates spoke of the impact of the program on their lives and careers. Amid some turmoil in the university sector, AJS-NSW is proud to support the teaching of Japanese at tertiary level in NSW and sees such programs as vital in developing the Japan-savvy Australians who are the future of the business and cultural relationship.

Finally Save the Date for our AGM, scheduled for December 1 at The Japan Foundation. The formalities will be followed by a speaker (TBC) and networking over drinks. We look forward to seeing you then.

Anita Byrnes, President

UPCOMING Events

Zoom Culture: Prevailing Gales Art Project – Colliding Cultures in an Australia-Japan First Contact Story

Date: 26 Oct 2025  4:30 PM - 5:30 PM Online by Zoom

Sue will present her powerful multi-media body of work, which draws on manuscripts written by samurai officials recounting their encounters with the so-called ‘barbarian’ sailors, the first of which was authored by local samurai Hamaguchi Makita and illustrated with watercolour and indigo dye.

• Register HERE to receive your Zoom link.

Walk in the Botanic Gardens

Date: Saturday 15 November 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30, 1.5-hour followed by optional lunch at the Leaf Dept Cafe

Register HERE.

Join a family-friendly walk, strolling around Australia’s oldest botanic garden and scientific institution, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, a heritage-listed 30-hectare oasis founded in 1816.
Our walk will start at The Calyx to visit the current exhibition, Alchemy of a Rainforest.
We will then take in some of the Garden’s highlights, including November’s Must See seasonal list of plants looking at their best, plus the Japanese section of the Oriental Garden. 

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Like to join AJS-NSW?

Would you like to support our mission of friendship between Australia and Japan? You can now sign up for membership online. 

Some links for related communities:

National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies https://austjapanfed.org.au/

Consulate General of Japan, Sydney Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CGJSYD

AJBCC https://www.ajbcc.com.au

Office: 02 8078 4110 | Address: PO Box 626 Campbelltown NSW 2560
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