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

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.

foxy fox fox - kitsune in images #1

Prince Hanzoku terrorized by a nine-tailed fox. Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th century http://www.worldsofimagination.com/monster%20Kitsune.htm; Kikukawa Eizan, 'Geisha Playing the Hand-Game Kitsune-ken' http://www.vam.ac.uk/users/node/7318; Kuniyoshi's woodblock print of the legendary kitsune Kuzunoha http://abutterflydreaming.com/2009/05/20/fox-magic-kitsune/; Kitsune no Yomeiri - The Fox's Wedding Series Print by Tachibana Minko and his Circle http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-photo/rights-managed/IX004602/kitsune-no-yomeiri---the-foxs-wedding/?ext=1; Dancing Fox, Ohara Koson (Japanese), c. 1910http://effyeaharthistory.tumblr.com/post/1177190896/dancing-fox-ohara-koson-japanese-c-1910; Kuniyoshi's "Fox Wife Departing" http://endicottstudio.typepad.com/endicott_redux/2007/02/meg_foxs_commen.html; Kunitarō Sawamura II as Kitsune Tadanobu (left) flying over the stage, in the August 1825 production of Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura http://wapedia.mobi/en/Kabuki; (1R) Nakamura Sankô I as Kojorô kitsune (fox); (2R) Kataoka Nizaemon VII as Sengoku Gonpei; (3R) Ichikawa Ebijûrô I as Takechi Samanosuke; (4R) Arashi Karoku IV as Izumo no Okuni; (5R) Nakamura Utaemon III as Nagoya Sanza in Kotobuki Horaisan, Naka Theater, Osaka http://www.osakaprints.com/content/artists/info_pp/hokushu_info/hokushu_13a.htm

At the first meeting of 'Kitsune' the meaning of the club name and symbol was discussed. The pictures above are a small sample of wood block prints depicting kitsune in various forms: fox wives, nine-tailed foxes, and a fox wearing a leaf on his head preparing to transform. Some of these foxes are from kabuki plays. One image depicts geisha in kimono doing the hand actions to a dance about foxes. You will notice that all of these foxes are red or brown not white. White foxes are messengers to the rice and fertility deity Inari.

The 'Kitsune' club logo is taken from a woodblock print by the artist Yoshitoshi and is part of his series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon (1885–1892).

This post is the first in what will hopefully be a series on famous kitsune and foxes. Topics that I hope to cover include: Inari shrines and foxes; foxes in anime and manga; fox wives; foxes in kabuki; Yoshitune senbon zakura; Abe no Seme;