Tuesday, 3rd August 2010, 6.30pm
and every first Tuesday of the monthThe Old Explorer (Lower Ground Floor)
23 Great Castle Street
Oxford Circus
London, W1G 0HY

Standard Admission ￡5.50,
£1 Discount for: JS Members/Students/Regulars

The Japanese Conversation Group provides a friendly and informal atmosphere for Japanese speakers of all nationalities to come together and speak Japanese. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at The Old Explorer, a central London pub. They begin at 6.30pm with a pay-as-you-go bar, and finish around 10.30pm.

You will receive all discounts for which you qualify. The Regular Attendee Discount will apply if you attended at least 50% of meetings during the previous calendar year, or once you attend six meetings in the current year.

Please visit the Japanese Conversation Group website www.japaneseconversationgroup.co.uk for further details on their programme, which may be subject to change.

(http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-1447.php)

Friday, 20th August 2010

Further information to follow shortly

Tuesday, 31st August 6.30pm
Bloomsbury

Orange Dot Gallery
54 Tavistock Place
Bloomsbury
London WC1H 9RG

Free for Japan Society members (registration required)

Japan Society members are invited to this private view and talk with photographer Sam Seager who has just returned from a three-month, 6500km journey through rural Japan on a search exposing both the beauty and devastation in the lives of the people in those communities on the brink of extinction.

During his journey Sam set out to capture what is best summed up by the ancient Japanese aesthetic of Sabi; a celebration of that which is old and faded with at heart a very Buddhist sense of life’s transitory nature.  It was a search for communities on the brink of extinction, a step back in time and an adventure fuelled by rice and the kindness of strangers and blessed with a magical touch by the occasional appearance of geriatric heroes.  People like Yamamoto-San, a coal making, nature loving 75 year old living in the mountains of Niigata prefecture and still lifting logs on a daily diet of 2litres of green tea, naps and wild vegetables.  

From the mottled corrugated iron and tilting roofs to the overgrown fields and collapsing bus shelters of the countryside (Inaka), he found it (sabi) everywhere and the result of his hard work are presented in this moving photographic exhibition.

To book your place please contact the Japan Society office on tel: 020 7828 6330 or email: events@japansociety.org.uk

Tuesday, 7th September 2010, 6.30pm
and every first Tuesday of the monthThe Old Explorer (Lower Ground Floor)
23 Great Castle Street
Oxford Circus
London, W1G 0HY

Standard Admission ￡5.50,
£1 Discount for: JS Members/Students/Regulars

The Japanese Conversation Group provides a friendly and informal atmosphere for Japanese speakers of all nationalities to come together and speak Japanese. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at The Old Explorer, a central London pub. They begin at 6.30pm with a pay-as-you-go bar, and finish around 10.30pm.

You will receive all discounts for which you qualify. The Regular Attendee Discount will apply if you attended at least 50% of meetings during the previous calendar year, or once you attend six meetings in the current year.

Please visit the Japanese Conversation Group website www.japaneseconversationgroup.co.uk for further details on their programme, which may be subject to change.

(http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-1447.php)

Tuesday, 14th September 2010 12.30pm for 1.00pm

The National Liberal Club
Whitehall Place
London
SW1A 2HE
(nearest tube: Embankment Station)

£50 per head

David Cairns has just completed a four year appointment as Head of Investment at the British Embassy and his talk will be of great interest to members of both nationalities.

David has been Director of UK Trade & Investment in Japan since 2006 and studied Japanese art and language at Oxford University.  David  entered the Foreign Office in 1993, after an early career in banking (Nomura and Barclays, Tokyo). He has held appointments in Tokyo (‘95-‘98), Geneva (‘02-‘06) and London and has been The Director of Trade and Investment in Tokyo since 2006. As such he is responsible for the promotion of Japanese investment into the UK and for British business interest in Japan. He heads a team of 60.

Drinks will be served from 12.30pm to 1.00pm in the library (known as the Smoking Room), which is on the first floor; the lunch will be at tables of 10 in The Lloyd George Room.

To reserve your place, please contact the Japan Society office on tel: 020 7828 6330 or email: events@japansociety.org.uk

Saturday, 18th September 2010 10.00am – 8.00pm

Brushfield Street
Spitalfields
London E1

By Bus: (8, 242, 149 and 67) By Underground: Central, Hammersmith and City, District, Circle and Metroplitan lines
By Train: Liverpool Street BR

Japan Matsuri 2010 at Spitalfields is confirmed for Saturday, 18th September. There have been some exciting developments, so please watch this space for details and updates between now and September.  We want to make Japan Matsuri 2010 a truly special occasion. In the meantime, see the video and photographs below to remind yourself of the 2009 Japan Matsuri experience. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Japan Matsuri 2009 surpassed our wildest dreams. We anticipated that the maximum number of festival-goers would be around 15,000. In fact, we had more than twice this number, all of whom enjoyed the delicious food and wonderful entertainment throughout the day. One restaurant stall alone made 2,700 skewers of yakitori – another served 1,100 meals in 5 hours!

Our kind friends at Don Productions have made a video of the event. It brilliantly captures something of the atmosphere and range of activities represented at the Matsuri, but compressing 10 hours into less than five minutes only really scratches the surface!

Do take a look at John Sturrock’s wonderful matsuri photos too (including also a few from other people!)

and at the comments and photographs linked to the Japan Matsuri website and facebook page. There are also quite a few videos on YouTube – see the links on the website.

Japan Matsuri 2009 was co-organized with the Japanese Residents’ Association in association with the Embassy of Japan, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the UK, Nippon Club, Spitalfields and generously supported by many companies, volunteers and participants.

Monday 20 September    18:30
Khalili Lecture Theatre
Lower Ground Floor, Main Building
School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
Nearest Tube: Russell Square (Piccadilly Line)

Free to attend: booking recommended

To mark the publication of Biographical Portraits Vol. VII the Japan Society Autumn lecture series starts with presentations on some of the personalities within its covers.  More details regarding the lecture to follow.

Booking
This lecture is free to attend, however booking is recommended. Please contact the Japan Society office on tel: 020 7828 6330 or email: events@japansociety.org.uk.

In association with:
The Japan Research Centre, SOAS

Saturday, 2nd October 2010
Breakfast: 8.30am
Assembly: by 9.20am (registration possible and breakfast available from 8.00am)
First tee-off: 10.00am (9 minute intervals to last tee-off at 10.45am)

The Buckinghamshire Golf Club
Denham Curt Drive
Denham
Bucks UB9 5BG
Tel: 01895 835 777

£70 for Japan Society Members and Members of Buckinghamshire Golf Club

The Annual golf match between the Japan Society and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry is being held this year at The Buckinghamshire Golf Club, Denham. 12 players from the JCCI and 12 players from the Japan Society will compete for the Collar Cup, which is currently held by the JCCI.

A light breakfast will be provided on arrival and the programme includes the 18-hole competition (Stableford Rules), buffet lunch on completion and a presentation ceremony at the end of the day.

We are now choosing our team and are looking for members who would like to play. The all-in price for everyone, including members of The Buckinghamshire Golf Club, is £70. The Society hopes that members who are golfers will be able to participate.

More detailed instructions, including directions and the format to be played, will be sent nearer the date.

All cheques should be made payable to “Buckinghamshire Golf Club” and enclosed with your entry form. Please remember to state your golf handicap when making your booking.

For further information and to reserve your place, please call the Japan Society office on 020 7828 6330 or email events@japansociety.org.uk .

If you would prefer to register by post, please complete and return the reply slip below together with your payment to The Japan Society office.

Reply Slip

The Japan Society is proposing to form a party of around a dozen members who will travel to Kyoto in early April 2011 at cherry blossom season. If you have never visited the ancient capital in spring, one of the most beautiful times of year, this is your opportunity to do so! Planning has started and firm commitments from participants will be sought in September 2010. At this stage, you are simply asked to register your interest.

Draft Itinerary (dates tbc)

Arrival of all participants in Kyoto by approx. 31st March

Day 1  Hanami in the grounds of the Kyoto Gosho, with a brief background about the city, past & present

Day 2  Kinkakuji and optional kaiseki group supper

Day 3  Yasaka Shrine, Gion, Pontocho and Kiyamachi areas

Day 4  Ginkakuji, Tetsugaku-no-michi, Nanzenji, Yojiya, Okazaki, Heian Shrine, Fureaikan

Day 5  Arashiyama, possibly with a visit to a dying factory

Day 6  Kiyomizudera, Sannenzaka, Kodaiji, Machiya Tour #1

Day 7  Shugakuin Villa, possibly karakami workshop with a visit to Manshuin

Day 8  Toji Temple with brief talk about Japanese religions, Fushimi-Inari Shrine

Day 9  Machiya Tour #2, Shopping in Shijo and free time.

Day 10 Hirano shrine cherry blossom festival

We expect this visit to be over-subscribed. Please note that bookings will be taken on a “first-come, first-served” basis. As yet we cannot guarantee a fixed price due to such variables as the exchange rate and differences in participants’ budgets, however, you should anticipate a cost of approximately £2,000 per head.

Anyone interested in this trip is asked to email Miss Pauline Chakmakjian (on spyglass8@aol.com or c/o ai.takahashi@japansociety.org.uk ) no later than 15th May 2010. Please include your name, address, contact telephone number.  We will then get in touch with you with a more detailed programme and costing as soon as these are ready

Anyone interested in the Springtime in Kyoto trip may also wish to attend a special Travellers’ Social Club event featuring Kyoto on Monday, 12th April from 7.00pm.  More info