Apologies to all for there not being a weekly e-mail last week. A few new items this week including a poll on whether or not to hold O-Shaberikai on the Wednesday following Easter.
- Easter week O-Shaberikai – is it on?
- Pre departure orientation for April departees
- JETAA NY Magazine
- Next JETAA event
- Rakugo Lecture and Performance
- AJS Pitch and Putt Mini Golf Day
- News from Japan
Easter week O-Shaberikai – is it on?
The next O-Shaberikai is scheduled to be held on will be held on Wednesday, 3 March 2010 at the Holy Grail in Civic from 5.30pm onwards.
However, that is the week of Easter and many JETAA members may be on holiday. Also, the most recent O-Shaberikais have been poorly attended. So unless there is sufficient interest four JETAA to book the Holy Grail for this event then it will be cancelled. Eight or so starters will be enough for this to go ahead.
If you intend to come along, please let Murray know at: woodford_murray@yahoo.com.au otherwise see you in May.
For those who don’t know, the O-Shaberikai is a very informal monthly get-together where Japanese people staying in Canberra can meet Australians who have some interest in Japan. As it is informal, you’re not bound by time constraints so turning up late or leaving early is not a problem at all.
Pre departure orientation for April departees
This is the first year that the JET Program has offered new participants the option of arriving in Japan in April, rather than July/August.
Canberra is sending three new JETs in this intake.
As the Embassy of Japan has advised they are unable to provide any pre-departure orientation support it is up to JETAA to prepare these new JETs for their time in Japan.
As such, JETAA will hold an informal pre-departure orientation on the evening of Wednesday, 31 March 2010 prior to their departure on 10 April 2010. If you’d like to come along and help out please let Murray know at: woodford_murray@yahoo.com.au
Pizza or similar substances of little nutritional value will be provided.
JETAA NY Magazine
Our chums in the Large Apple have once again produced a corker of a magazine. In this issue, they interview the “Martha Stewart of Japan” Harumi Kurihara and JET alum filmmaker and Harimaya Bridge writer/director Aaron Woofolk. Check it out here:
http://jetaany.org/magazine/
They are also taking on new writers if you’d like to provide some “local international coverage” of your chapter to appear in our pages. Contact Justin at magazine@jetaany.org for details
Next JETAA event
The next scheduled JETAA event will be the AGM, due to our auditing requirements with both CLAIR and the ACT Government we are not sure when this will be.
In the meantime, if you’d like to run a JETAA event (small or large) please contact Murray (woodford_murray@yahoo.com.au) and we’ll see what we can do to support this event.
Rakugo Lecture and Performance
Time/Date: 7:30-8:30pm Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Venue: The Street Theatre
(Cnr. Childer St. & University Ave. Canberra City)
Admission: Free (bookings essential)
Booking & Enquiries: Embassy of Japan
02 6272 7268 or cultural@japan.org.au
Rakugo can be best described as Japanese comedic storytelling much like Western stand-up comedy, except entertainers are seated on their heels in the seiza position for the duration of the performance.
Rakugo storytellers wear traditional Japanese clothes and use fans and hand towels as props. Differentiation of characters is accomplished through changes in pitch, tone, style, facial expression and head position. Audience members are encouraged to imagine the story in their minds while listening to the entertainer.
The performance will introduce the audience to Japanese comedic performing art and showcase the differences between traditional Western and Japanese humour.
AJS Pitch and Putt Mini Golf Day
Date: Saturday 20 March 2010
Time: 4pm tee off event concludes at 6.30pm
Cost: $20 per person – includes admission and equipment Booking closes on Monday 15 March
Venue: Canberra International Golf Centre
Cnr. Jerrabomberra Ave & Hindmarsh Drive, Narrabundah
Booking and more information:
Eriko Prior eriko.prior@japan.org.au or 02 6272 7268
Children over 10 welcome to participate.
News from Japan
As JAL slides in bankruptcy, concern has shifted to preventing their corporate uniforms falling into the hands of fetishists:
In other aviation news, Ibaraki airport guarantees short queues for its one flight a day:
Have a great week,
Murray
JETAA President
JETAA website – http://jetaacanberra.wordpress.com/
JETAA Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=1459073402