Kitsune in the Mercury

We made it into the Mercury in an article on local Japanese societies. Thank you to Bec Fitzgibbon for a glowing and positive article on the popularity of Japan in Tasmania. Read the full article here: http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/12/02/281601_todays-news.html

YAY JAPAN IS THIS SATURDAY!!!

Kitsune Kimono Club, together with AJS (Tasmania), TUU Wasabi, TUU Taiko, Digi Visi Pop (proud presenters of AI CON) and the UTAS School of Asian Languages and Studies are pleased to present YAY JAPAN: An afternoon of Kimono, Cosplay, Kabuki, Traditional Dance, Taiko and Anime Trivia.

When: December 3, 2011 4.00pm-6.00pm (doors open 3.30 pm)

Where: Studio Theatre, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay (in the University Centre/Stanley Burberry Theatre building)

Cost: $5.00 for members; $10.00 non members.

ALL AGES EVENT

All funds to go to the AJS (Tasmania) Eastern Japan Flood Relief Fund. http://www.austjapanfed.org.au/?MMID=389&SMID=403

facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/#%21/event.php?eid=238721692852208

Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima Photography Exhibition

Luke O’Brien Photography and the Australia Japan Society (Tasmania) invite you to a Fundraising Photographic Exhibition for the earthquake and tsunami disaster hit region of North East Japan. The event will be held at the Waterside Pavilion, Mawson Place, Hobart Waterfront. The exhibition will run from 21 to 27 November 2011.

The photographs were taken throughout Iwate, Miyagi & Fukushima Prefectures in Japan during July & August 2011, 4-5 months after the disaster. The aim of the exhibition is to show that the communities of the affected areas still have a very long road ahead of them to recovery, and that the people of the region are greatly appreciative of all support.

The photographs were taken by Hobart Photographer Luke O'Brien, whose wife Midori is from Fukushima, one of the prefectures hardest hit by the disaster; and Hideki Okubo who is from Ibaraki Prefecture (just south of Fukushima). Hideki spent a number of weeks doing volunteer work in many of the towns affected by the tsunami. Hideki now lives in Hobart.

Opening Night is Monday November 21 at 6:00pm, and we particularly ask members to attend that function to show their support. Drinks will be available (for purchase) and entry is by donation. All funds raised will be donated to the disaster affected areas of North East Japan.

The exhibition runs until Sunday November 27. Opening Hours are as follows:

Monday 21st 6:00 pm onwards
Tues 22nd – Fri 25th 11:00 am ~ 6:00 pm
Sat 23rd and Sun 24th 9:00 am ~ 3:00 pm (Taiko Drum performance Saturday 1:00pm TBC)

For more information: www.lukeobrien.com.au <http://www.lukeobrien.com.au/> or phone (Luke): 6231 9964 or 04488 50077

YAY JAPAN - Kimono fundraiser!!

Kitsune Kimono Club, together with AJS (Tasmania), TUU Wasabi, TUU Taiko, Digi Visi Pop (proud presenters of AI CON) and the UTAS School of Asian Languages and Studies are pleased to present YAY JAPAN:

An afternoon of Kimono, Cosplay, Kabuki, Traditional Dance, Taiko and Anime Trivia.

Cost: $5.00 for members; $10.00 non members.

All funds to go to the AJS (Tasmania) Eastern Japan Flood Relief Fund. http://www.austjapanfed.org.au/?MMID=389&SMID=403

facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=238721692852208

Up coming Japan related events

SEPTEMBER 17TH 10AM – 5PM
AICON: TASMANIA’S ANIME ISLAND CONVENTION (LAUNCESTON)

It's AICon miniaturised!
This September AICon hits the road and all that travelling has helped it lose weight.
It's all the best parts of the convention all rolled into 1 day and a smaller price tag as a result.
There will be a cosplay/fruits fashion parade, games room, game shows, AMV's and more.
The location for the event will be Faculty of Arts Lecture Theatre, Launceston Campus
Entry for the day is $10
For more information check out AICon on Facebook, Twitter or their webpage at
www.aicon.org.au


OCTOBER 16, 17 & 19 (SUN, MON, & WED)
JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL, STATE CINEMA, HOBART

Dates for the 2011 Annual Japanese Film Festival for Hobart have now been confirmed.
We are currently in the process of determining the list of Films to be displayed.
Further information will be provided in the next edition of the AJS TAS Newsletter.


NOVEMBER 21- 28, 2011
FUKUSHIMA EXHIBITION & FUNDRAISING EVENT

AJS, and Tasmania’s well known photographer Luke O’Brien, will jointly be hosting an
exhibition of images of the Fukushima Prefecture at the Mawson Pavilion from 21 to 28
November 2011. A cocktail party to mark the opening of the exhibition and ongoing
fundraising activities to assist the victims of the disaster will be important features.
The event is intended to show the beauty of the area, the devastation suffered during the
tsunami, and the rebuilding effort that is taking place.
More details will be provided later.

AJS newsletter

We were featured in the AJS newsletter. Thanks to Miriam Doi.

2nd Kitsune club meeting minutes

This meeting we practiced dressing in yukata and folding kimono with the help of members of the AJS.
-Emerald introduced the differences between formal 'kimono school' style and 'street style.'

The difference between (image on the left) - a seijinshiki (coming of age day) formal ensemble that took 3 hours for hair, makeup and kitsuke - and (image on the left) - a komon (all over pattern kimono) with heels and white wig informal ensemble put together for the cosplay catwalk. The first is very bulky using lots of towels to get my curvey western body all the one shape from hips to bust. The second uses no towels and binding cords (datejime) to surpress the bust. Both outfits use a fukuro obi (formal sash).

-Member Rebecca and Emerald did a kistuke demonstration showing two ways to dress in yukata using himo (strings), datejime and corin belts. Emerald showed how to tie a hanhaba obi (half width obi) into a bunkyou musubi (a bow like knot that is used with yukata and worn under hakama).

-The group tried on yukata supplied by Emerald, Miriam and Hitomi or wore their own. Those who had experience in kitsuke were able to help those in the group who had less (or no) experience.

-The possibility of a kimono event was raised with Barbara making the fantastic suggestion that we should aim for a display in the Morris Miller Library.

-Affiliation with the UTAS student union was raised and it was decided that we should affiliate.

-The group learnt how to fold kimono and yukata and helped to put the yukata away.

Sorry for the lateness of these very brief minutes. Thank you to everyone who helped look for my manky brown datejime. It somehow made its way into my bag when I wasn't looking so all is well! Thank you to those who attended and helped to make it a good meeting. Thank you for baring with me while I made way through the meeting without the help of Hitomi sensei who was sick.

Japan Design Today 100

http://www.jpf.org.au/jpfevents/11-jpdesigntoday100/index.html

The Australia Japan Society (Tasmania) with the Japan Foundation are bringing this fantastic exhibition down to Hobart from the 20 June - 15 July at the Schoolhouse Gallery & Rosny Barn, City of Clarence.

Featuring the finest Japanese design of household products from the 1990s to the present-day.
These selected designs provide a modern mirror into the hopes and dreams of the people who used the products, as well as the designers and corporations who created them. It illustrates the trends and features of Japanese design at specific time periods, allowing an insight into the nature of today's Japanese culture.

More details and photos on the website.