kaiWA language exchange

会WA for September 2010: Thu 9,23

The fortnightly Japanese-English conversation exchange 会WA (kaiWA) is back for the new decade.

The event is hosted and organised by the JET Program Alumni Association of WA, and is a great chance to practise your English or Japanese, or to learn more about going to teach English in Japan on the JET program.

JETAAWA asks for a gold coin donation for participation (and, as JETAAWA is non-profit, that money all goes back into your body in food form during the evening).

会WA is held at 43 Below (formerly known as the Bar on Barracks) on the corner of Hay and Barrack Sts in Perth city every second Thursday.

It starts from 5:30 pm and will run until everyone gets sick of each other (usually about 8:30/9), so don’t worry if you can’t be there spot on the start time.

Japanese Dance

Are you interested in Japanese culture? Ever seen the dances of Maikos, Geishas and Samurai on TV (or YouTube)? If you feel intrigued by the dance of Zhang Zi Yi as Sayuri in Memoirs of a Geisha, there is news for you!

Reitoku-Kai school of Nihon Buyo is looking for everyone interested in Japanese Dance. We teach traditional dance (the kind Geishas do as well as male dances relating to Samurai) and folk dance (as seen in street festivals). We welcome people of all ages, both male and female to join us! All that is required is an enthusiasm in learning the art!

Date: 5th June 2010 (Saturday)
Venue: Murdoch University Drama Workshop
Time: 1hr (Morning or Afternoon)
Fee: $50 (excluding rentals)

PLACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED TO 8 PER CLASS. This is to ensure that all participants get a good amount of attention from the instructor. For all enquiries, please contact Kailin at 0433 177 644 or kailin98@hotmail.com (preferred).

About the Instructor – Naya Reitoku (Suiko Reitoku) has been dancing Nihon Buyo since 1988. In 1994 he was under the tutelage of Ms Hanayagi Momonosato (President of Reisen-Kai) and was awarded the title of Shihan (Master) by the Reisen-Kai school. This is a rare opportunity to be able to learn traditional Japanese dance under an instructor fluent in both Japanese and English language. Reitoku-Kai school is a member of International Organization of Folk Art (IOV), so there will be opportunities for international performances.

Catastrophe, Ritual, and Renewal in Japan, 1923-1957

On Tuesday, December 15 from 10am to 12:45pm, the Hyogo Cultural Centre is hosting a Murdoch University seminar entitled Catastrophe, Ritual, and Renewal in Japan, 1923-1957. It’s free, and those who would like to pre-order an obento to have for lunch following the seminar, are welcome to do so for just $10.

Please RSVP to reserve your seat by Thursday, December 10 by calling 9385 9002 or email hyogo@iinet.net.au.

The flyer is available here.

KaiWA language exchange

Next 会WA: Thu 29 January 2009

The fortnightly Japanese-English conversation exchange 会WA (kaiWA) is back for 09.

The event is hosted and organised by the JET Program Alumni Association of WA, and is a great chance to practise your English or Japanese, or to learn more about going to teach English in Japan on the JET program.

For those who need a refresher, see our article on the inaugural event.

JETAAWA asks for a gold coin donation for participation (and, as JETAAWA is non-profit, that money all goes back into your body in food form during the evening).

会WA is held at 43 Below (formerly known as the Bar on Barracks) on the corner of Hay and Barrack Sts in Perth city every second Thursday – the next edition is 29 January 2009, and thereafter 12 Feb, 26 Feb etc etc.

It starts from 5:30 pm and will run until everyone gets sick of each other (usually about 8:30/9), so don’t worry if you can’t be there spot on the start time.

Japanese movie: Antenna

Tonight (Fri Jan 9 2009) on SBS, Kazuyoshi Kumakiri’s Antenna is screening from 10:55 pm. It’s based on a novel by Randy Taguchi.

Yuichiro, a postgraduate student of philosophy, had a little sister called Marie who disappeared 15 years ago. His uncle killed himself after Marie’s disappearance, and his father also died some years later.

News of a kidnapped girl found after nine years stirs up the remaining members of Yuichiro’s family. When he returns to his family home to support his mother and brother, he discovers how his mother has coped with the loss of her daughter. Yuichiro, on the other hand, resorts to inflicting physical pain on himself. When he meets Naomi, a dominatrix, he continues his study on sadomasochistic experience as a means of coping with personal pain.

This film was screened at the 2003 Venice Film Festival and Ryo Kase received Best Actor at the Japanese Professional Movie Awards.

Not one to show the kids, but sounds like it might be worth a look! Subtitled in English.

Death and Rebirth

No, not us.
But it is nice to be back – happy new year to everybody!

Tonight, Monday 5 Jan 09, from 1am (i.e. Tuesday morning), our friends at SBS are showing the cult Japanese anime Neon Genesis Evangelion”: Death and Rebirth.

Evangelion: Death, the first part of the film, is a digest of clips from the first 24 episodes of the TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion) (1995). It covers the fight against the invading giant robots known as Angels. The only defence against them is the NERV organisation’s EVAs, giant biomechanical robots piloted by humans.

Evangelion: Rebirth reveals why humanity and the Angels cannot co-exist: the Angels were not aliens but failed attempts by the organisation SEELE (German for “soul”) to move humanity onto a higher plane of evolution by subsuming all individual souls into one giant soul – a plan known as the Human Instrumentality Project.

It’s dubbed into English.

会WA Japanese-English exchange

Next 会WA: Thu 11 December 2008

The fortnightly Japanese-English conversation exchange 会WA (kaiWA) is still going strong. This week will be the last week before we take holidays over xmas / NY!! You can be sure we will be back bigger and better in 09.

The event is hosted and organised by the JET Program Alumni Association of WA, and is a great chance to practise your English or Japanese, or to learn more about going to teach English in Japan on the JET program.

For those who need a refresher, see our article on the inaugural event.

JETAAWA asks for a gold coin donation for participation (and, as JETAAWA is non-profit, that money all goes back into your body in food form during the evening).

会WA is held at 43 Below (formerly known as the Bar on Barracks) on the corner of Hay and Barrack Sts in Perth city every second Thursday – the next edition is 11 December 2008, and thereafter it will be sometime in Jan 09.

It starts from 5:30 pm and will run until everyone gets sick of each other (usually about 8:30/9), so don’t worry if you can’t be there spot on the start time.

Tales of an Osaka Love Thief

On Thursday 27 November 2008 (early Friday morning) from 12:55 am, SBS is rescreening Tales of an Osaka Love Thief, a very interesting inside look at host bars in Japan, the people who work there, and their clients. It’s a side of Japan that most people have not had full-on contact with, and the ultimate ambiguity of this great doco is fitting. Subtitles in English.

Stylish Café Rakkyo is a host club in Minami, Osaka. Its owner Issei is reputedly the best-earning host in the area. He has many clients willing to pay sometimes thousands of dollars in one visit. The clients seek to be entertained and even to fall in love. But sometimes the boys’ attachments to particular clients gets in the way of their earnings. The strain of their work takes its emotional toll and the top hosts confess they cannot fall in love even if they want to.

kaiWA conversation

Next 会WA: Thu 16 October 2008

The fortnightly Japanese-English conversation exchange 会WA (kaiWA) has been hugely popular of late, with over 40 people showing up some weeks!

The event is hosted and organised by the JET Program Alumni Association of WA, and is a great chance to practise your English or Japanese, or to learn more about going to teach English in Japan on the JET program.

For those who need a refresher, see our article on the inaugural event.

JETAAWA asks for a gold coin donation for participation (and, as JETAAWA is non-profit, that money all goes back into your body in food form during the evening).

会WA is held at 43 Below (formerly known as the Bar on Barracks) on the corner of Hay and Barrack Sts in Perth city every second Thursday – the next edition is 16 October 2008, and thereafter it will be 30 Oct, 13 Nov… and so on.

It starts from 5:30 pm and will run until everyone gets sick of each other (usually about 8:30/9), so don’t worry if you can’t be there spot on the start time.

The Outdoor Room: Japanese garden

For anybody who watches Channel 7’s The Outdoor Room from 6:30pm on Sundays, you’ll know they apparently plan their backyard renovations by sending Jamie Durie to overseas countries and having him check out local art and architecture.

The next episode (which, according to the website, is Sunday October 12, rather than this Sunday, October 5) features a Japanese garden makeover. Check it out and get some ideas for your own garden. All I want is a nice roten-buro!

There will apparently be a recipe for tuna tataki with soba noodles and wasabi dressing too (as if you needed it).