| Japanese (日本語)

What's On



 Martial Arts Demonstration
by Nittai-dai (Nippon Sport Science University)
A group of students of Nittai-dai (Nippon Sport Science University) are coming to Melbourne to do demonstrations of Japanese martial arts and traditional performaing arts, including Judo, Karate, Kendo, Kyudo, Aikido, Sumo, Taiko Drumming and more. It's a two-hour entertainment extravaganza...
and it's FREE!

When: Saturday, February 13, 4pm - 6pm
Where: Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre Showcourt
Address: Aughtie Drive, Albert Park
Entry: Free of charge

Please click here for an event poster with details listed.


Free event at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
SIT-DOWN "RAKUGO" COMEDY FROM OSAKA
Japan does things a little different...trains run on time, karaoke is serious stuff, and "stand-up" comedy is actually "sit-down" comedy.

Rakugo has a history of over 300 years, with a solo-narrator that tells stories involving peculiar characters and situations. A different comedy experience rarely seen outside Japan, Asakichi Katsura will make you laugh till you can't sit-down-stand it no more!

When: 17.30 - 18.30 on Thursday 25th & Friday 26th March 2010
Where: City of Melbourne Lower Town Hall, Swanston Street, Melbourne
Entry: Free of charge. To request tickets please email katsuratickets@comedyfestival.com.au

Please click here for a media release with further information.


Bon Odori Summer Dance Festival
Obon is a summer festival in Japan to honour the spirits of one's ancestors, with participants wearing yukata and performing the Bon Odori, or Bon Dance. It's a colourful and joyous remembrance of the departed.

Organised by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and Japanese Society of Melbourne (JSM) this festvial will feature traditional dancing, music, food and crafts.

When: February 27, 2010; 4pm - 8pm
Where: Docklands Waterfront City, Melbourne

For more information contact info@jcci-jsm.org.au or (03) 9642 2120, or go to www.jcci-jsm.org.au (Japanese).


Visions of Harmony
Photographic Exhibition of the
Asia-Pacific Children's Covention
This is an exhibition of photos by children participating in the Asia Pacific Children's Convention, held in Fukuoka each year in July. It includes photographs taken by Australian children selected by the Australia Japan Society of Victoria.

When: 18th January to 6th February 2010
Where: Toorak Library, 340 Toorak Road, South Yarra, Victoria (Melway Ref: Map 58, F3)
Entry: Free of charge

Please click here for an exhibition invitation, or contact Lindsay at bridgeclubaustralia@yahoo.com.au
for further information.


    Courtesy of Madman
MIFF on Deckchairs
Free screening The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
(replacement for PONYO)
Something strange has happened to Makoto Konno. Time has suddenly stopped and moved her backwards. With her newly discovered ability to literally leap backwards in time Makoto finds that tests become a piece of cake, embarrassing situations are corrected, and she can have her favorite food anytime she wants. Unfortunately, her carefree time traveling has adverse effects on the people she cares for.

With every successful leap Makoto somehow alters the fate of those around her. This wasn't supposed to happen and as she races back in time to fix everything, she notices that her abilities are not limitless but with every successful jump she's one step closer to discovering the most wonderful secret in her young adult life.

When: February 11, 2010
Where: Federation Square, Melbourne
Cost: Free of charge (first in best dressed with seating)

For more information please go to www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au.


Name the neko!
and win a free copy of the DVD!
2-Disc Special Edition with Language Resource Kit.

Watch. Listen. Practise. Speak.

Japanese made easy by simply watching the film Happy Family Plan!

Heartwarming family comedy + bonus language resource + interactive website.

The 5 best entries will win a copy of the DVD, with the winning name revealed on 1st February 2010....Stay tuned!

For more information please go to www.happyfamilyplan.com.


Shakuhachi Chamber Music Composition Competition 2010
2010 is the second occassion for this bi-annual international competition. Entries are invited for new compositions of any combination of shakuhachi with piano, violin and cello. Finalist compositions will be performed and recorded in Melbourne.

Closing date for entries is Friday, 26th February 2010

For further details, including instrumentation, eligibility, duration, judging, prize money and concerts, please go to the competition website at www.shakuhachichambermusic.com.


World Children's Haiku Contest
This competition is organised by Japan Airlines Marketing Department.

Please note that Australian applicants will need to complete the attached form and submit entries to the Australian address (see below).

Forms for Australian applicants can be found here.

Applications due: 28th February, 2010
Mail to: Japan Airlines Marketing Department, GPO Box 686 Sydney, NSW 2001
Email enquiries: syd.marketing@jal.com

Further information for Australian applicants can be found here, or at the
World Children's Haiku Contest website.
nomikai flyer The Australia Japan Society of Victoria
Konshin-kai - Young Professional's Network
Have you returned to Australia having spent time living in Japan and want to meet others who share a similar experience?

Do you have a general interest in Japan and/or would like to meet others who do?

Are you a Japanese person living or working in Melbourne who wants to meet locals with an interest in Japan and vice versa?

If you answered YES to any of these, then Konshin-kai is for you!

For details regarding the time and venue, please go to the AJS Victoria website.
The Australia Japan Society of Victoria
Shaberoo-kai - Conversation Night
Shaberoo-kai aims to foster friendships between people in a relaxed, informal environment, and to facilitate cultural exchange. Conversation nights cater to speakers of both English and Japanese of all levels, offering the opportunity to socialise informally in a mixed language environment while expanding Japanese/English skills.

Date: Usually 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month *Please refer to AJSV website for specific dates and times.
Venue: Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Cost: Free for AJSV members, $3.00 for others

For more information please go to the AJS Victoria website.

2010 JICC Exhibition Schedule

Where: JICC, 45th Floor, Melbourne Central Tower, Elizabeth St Melbourne
When: 9am-1pm, 2pm -5pm weekdays only

JANUARY/ FEBRUARY ARTIST PROFILE

"Cherry Blossoms and Demons" expresses the duality of the human character -
the "internal" that we try to keep to ourselves, and the "external" that we project to the world.

In order to express both the gap and the syncronicity between these aspects,
two methods were used to make the images: painting and etching.

For more information please contact Fuhito at shott244@hotmail.com or go to http://sun-fuhito.blogspot.com.
If you are a Japanese artist or your art encompasses some form of Japanese influence,
you may be able to exhibit on a short term basis at the JICC.
Please contact us for more details - (03) 9639 3277