Consulate Updates March 2020 Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane

Contact Us

Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane

17th Floor, 12 Creek Street

Brisbane QLD. 4000

Phone: (07) 3221 5188

Fax: (07) 3229 0878

jpncg@bb.mofa.go.jp

http://www.brisbane.au.emb-japan.go.jp

In this month’s issue…

[Recent Events]

‘SHINNENKAI’ New Year’s Reception 2020 Reception for Mr Ross David McKinnon AM, Recipient of 2019 Autumn Imperial Decorations

Emperor’s Birthday Reception 2020 Queensland Country Women’s Association International Study Conference

Updates on the Bushfire Relief Efforts by the Japanese Government and Japanese Communities

[Upcoming Events]

Gold Coast Japan & Friends Day 2020 – POSTPONED HIROSHIMA 2020 - 18th Hiroshima International Animation Festival

Queensland Program for Japanese Education - 2020 Study Grants for Japanese Language Teachers & 2020 Professional Development Grants for Japanese Language Teachers

2020 Australian Shakuhachi Festival @ Redland Performing Arts Centre

[For Your Information…]

Japan Travel Resources Toko-ton Taiko 2020 School Program

Seniors’ Support - Laughter Group: Wahaha no Kai

Office Opening Hours

Monday to Friday 9:00am – 12:30pm

1:30pm – 5:00pm

Consular Section

(Reception – visa / passports)

9:00am – 12:00pm

1:30pm – 4:00pm

‘SHINNENKAI’ New Year’s Reception 2020

On Thursday, 30 January 2020, Consul-General Kazunari Tanaka hosted the annual New

Year’s Reception at his Official Residence, the first for the Reiwa Era.

The event was attended by about 120 members of the Japanese business, culture and

education communities providing a great opportunity to network.

The Consul-General spoke about the excitement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and

Paralympic Games and the prosperous outlook for the further development of Japan-

Queensland/Australia relations.

Recommended Websites

Embassy of Japan, Canberra http://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp

The Japan Foundation, Sydney http://www.jpf.org.au/

Japan National Tourism Organization http://www.jnto.org.au/

Japan External Trade Organization http://www.jetro.go.jp/

Japan Exchange Teaching (JET) Programme http://www.jetprogramme.org/

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) http://www.mofa.go.jp/

Reception for Mr Ross David McKinnon AM, Recipient of 2019 Autumn Imperial Decorations

On Friday, 14 February 2020, Consul-General Tanaka hosted an Official Decoration Ceremony and Reception for the Conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette bestowed upon Mr Ross McKinnon.

This decoration was awarded to Mr McKinnon to recognise his significant efforts and contribution towards Japan-Australia ties.

When the Japanese Gardens were brought to Brisbane for World Expo ‘88, Mr McKinnon, together with the Brisbane City Council, recognised the cultural significance of the Gardens and played an important role in its preservation and relocation to the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, where he was Curator-in-charge.

We thank Mr McKinnon for his work. Congratulations!

Office Closure Dates

MARCH

Friday 20 (Vernal Equinox Day)

APRIL

Friday 10 (Good Friday)

Monday 13 (Easter Monday)

MAY

Monday 4 (Labour Day)

For the full list,

please click here.

Emperor’s Birthday Reception 2020

On Friday, 21 February 2020, the Consul-General hosted a reception to celebrate His Majesty the Emperor of Japan’s 60th birthday.

The reception was attended by His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland and Mrs Kaye de Jersey; the Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, representing the Premier of Queensland; Ms Deb Frecklington, Leader of the Opposition; the Hon Justice David Thomas, President, Administrative Appeals Tribunal; and distinguished guests in the fields of politics, business and industry, agriculture, local governments, education, arts and cultural organisations, Japan-Australia exchange and friendship organisations from around Queensland.

This year’s reception marked the first for His Majesty the Emperor since his accession in May last year, and the first for the new Japanese era of Reiwa; beautiful harmony.

To read Consul-General Tanaka’s address, please visit: https://www.brisbane.au.emb-japan.go.jp/downloads/Consul-General-Address-EmperorsBirthday2020.pdf

Emperor’s Birthday Reception 2020 (continued)

Japanese flavour and technology were also on show at this year’s Emperor’s Birthday Reception.

A variety of brochures and displays from Kasukabe city, sister-city of Fraser Coast Region, Koshi-Hikari rice from Hyogo Prefecture, long-life bread and mochi (sticky rice) wrapped ice-cream, as well as a diverse range of sake from throughout Japan were available for guests to sample. Also on offer were beer brewed in Okinawa, and in Australia, by major Japanese beer producers.

Exceptional Japanese technology was also on display, including innovative packaging for perishable food, a Yamaha Off-Road motorbike which will join the Australian Motocross Championship with one of the top Japanese Off-Road Riders Mr Kota Toriyabe, and an unmanned helicopter which is widely used in Australia for ant eradication.

QCWA International Study Conference 2020

On Saturday, 22 February 2020, the Consul-General and Mrs Tanaka were invited by the Queensland Country Women’s Association to be guest presenters at their International Study Conference, which was held between 21-23 February at the Centenary Lakes Sports Club and Function Centre in Caboolture. Each year the QCWA have a country of study on which they provide their members with opportunities to learn about a foreign culture and its history. This year, their country of study is Japan.

To an audience of over 100 members, the Consul-General spoke about the rich history and current relations between Japan and Queensland, as well as the significant transition from the Heisei to the Reiwa era which took place last year.

Mrs Tanaka, being a jun-katoku professor of the Ikenobo school of ikebana (Japanese floral arrangement), created three stylistically different pieces on stage while explaining the central values of simplicity and appreciation of space reflected in ikebana that makes it distinct from Western flower arrangements.

Updates on the Bushfire Relief Efforts

by the Japanese Government and Japanese Communities

The friendship and cooperation between Australia and Japan has also seen a long history of

humanitarian assistance between the two

governments and their communities.

While emergencies and crises take a heavy toll on

the victims, they are also a time that brings out the

best in people when they come together to give

each other a helping hand.

The Japanese people received great kindness

from the Australian people during the 1995 Great

Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the 2011 Great East

Japan Earthquake; Japan now stands in sympathy

with Australians against the recent bushfire season.

We sincerely pray for the quick recovery of

Australia’s affected areas.

To read more on the bushfire relief efforts by

the Japanese government and Japanese communities, please visit:

Emergency Assistance to the Bushfires in Australia https://www.brisbane.au.emb-japan.go.jp/downloads/JDR_bushfire17012020eng.pdf

JICA’s Emergency Relief Goods delivered to Australia https://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/JICAs_Emergency_Relief_Goods.html

Donations from Japanese companies and Japan related organisations

to aid Australian bushfire disaster relief https://www.au.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/donations_bushfire_disaster_relief.html

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force transporting goods and personnel during

international emergency relief operations in Australia. (JASDF Facebook)

*POSTPONED*

For further updates, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/Japan-Friends-Day-134826950018791/

HIROSHIMA 2020 18th Hiroshima International Animation Festival

The Hiroshima International Animation Festival was established in 1985, as a project commemorating the 40th anniversary of the atomic bombing.

From the beginning, Hiroshima City and Association Internationale du Film d'Animation (ASIFA) shared a same idea, that is, to promote the international mutual understanding and to pursue eternal world peace through the development of animation art.

Hiroshima Festival (held from August 20-24 this year) is a comprehensive animation festival, featuring competition programs to choose the Grand Prize, Hiroshima Prize and other prizes out of many latest animation shorts submitted from around the world.

This year, animation entries are accepted from February 1st to April 1st, 2020.

Visit the official website for further information, rules and procedures:

https://www.eng.hiroanim.org/04compe/entries

(Text & images: Hiroshima International Animation Festival)

Queensland Program for Japanese Education Professional Development and Study Opportunities for Japanese Language Teachers

Australian Shakuhachi Festival 2020

2 – 5 OCTOBER 2020 Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC)

RPAC will once again host the Australian Shakuhachi Festival which consists of intensive, semi-residential workshops and a public concert.

Three Japanese teachers, Furuya Teruo, Matama Kazushi and Kakizakai Kaoru will be joined by Australia’s own Grand Master, Riley Lee, and three other highly-experienced Australians at ASF20. These shakuhachi masters will teach in the workshops and perform for the public concert.

ASF20 is the perfect introduction for absolute beginners who want to learn how to play this ancient bamboo flute, as well as a great opportunity for those who have some experience to further develop their skills. The public concert on Saturday night will also be a rare chance to experience the beauty of this ancient instrument when played by Japanese and local masters, who have a collective experience of over two hundred years of performing the shakuhachi.

Workshops: Fri 2 October - Sun 4 October Concert: Sat 3 October, 7:30pm

For more information please visit:

AUSTRALIAN SHAKUHACHI SOCIETY http://www.shakuhachi.org.au/

REDLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE http://www.rpac.com.au/Pages/Performances.aspx?PerfID=543

(Text & images: RPAC & Australian Shakuhachi Festival)

Japan Travel Resources

It is so exciting to hear that many of you are considering a visit to Japan this year and we have been delighted to receive enquiries requesting travel brochures, maps and general information about Japanese culture.

We would suggest to anyone travelling to have a look at the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) website for travel tips, maps and suggestions on not-to-miss destinations. Check out the deals and offers exclusive to 2020, and also their Practical Travel Guides – all available to download and view online https://www.japan.travel/en/

If you are visiting the Consulate, we do have limited copies of some of their brochures so please feel free to ask.

Also, do not forget the Niponica magazines! The latest edition is a guide on Tokyo 2020 Games, but do not miss past issues as they cover an extensive selection of Japanese culture from past, present and future. Physical copies are available to collect from our office and can also be accessed in HTML/PDF formats here: https://web-japan.org/niponica/

Happy travelling!

Laughter Group: Wahaha no Kai 2020

Eating, Smiling, and Meaningful Senior Support - Belonging, Connecting, and Supporting in Japanese

Once a month; Every second Tuesday from 10am~12pm

10 MAR

14 APR

12 MAY

09 JUN

14 JUL

11 AUG

08 SEP

13 OCT

10 NOV

08 DEC

Monthly Presentation Topics (examples)

o Australian Home Care Support Service (Co.As.It Community Services) o Prevention of dementia (Occupational therapist) o What is Tea Ceremony? (Tea Ceremony master) o Naturopathy and dementia (Naturopathy therapist) o Ideas of living safely in QLD (Japan Community of QLD) o 3Ds: Dementia, Delirium and Depression (Palliative Care Counsellor) o Japanese community in transition period (University professor) o Beyond the barrier of language (Medical interpreter)

o Stay healthy (GP) o Ending Note (end-of-life planner) o Reflection on 2020 (Buddhist teacher)

*Topics may change depending on the requests received from our participants.

FEE: $5 (includes venue costs & tea) LOCATION: Indooroopilly Activity Hub | 60 Stamford Road, Indooroopilly, QLD 4068

Laughter Group is run by Japanese volunteers who are members of Indooroopilly Activity Hub Inc. Interested in attending Laughter Group?

CONTACT: 0433 506 435 | Email: shukaijobne@gmail.com (Hiromi Ogata/Ayako Takada)

(Text & images: Wahaha no Kai)

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The Consulate-General of Japan newsletter features people-to-people exchanges and friendships between Japan and Australia. If you are involved in sister school friendships, exchanges or Japan-Australia related programs such as the JET Programme and would like to submit an article to be published in our newsletter, please email us at: jpncg@bb.mofa.go.jp

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Consulate Updates – Past Issues Past issues of “Consulate Updates” (PDF) can also be accessed via the Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane Website at: http://www.brisbane.au.emb-japan.go.jp/en/jicc/newsletters.html

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Consulate-General of Japan – Cultural Loans Program The Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane offers a Cultural Loans Program!

We have a wide range of Japanese cultural items available for teachers or persons/organisations in Queensland promoting or teaching Japanese culture. Items include DVDs on a wide range of Japanese subjects, toys, CDs, games, calligraphy sets, plastic food, traditional clothing, musical instruments and more! The items are free to borrow; the visual and tactile experience of a cultural prop contributes to a richer classroom experience.

For further information, please visit the link below to access catalogues and forms or call our office on (07) 3221 5188: http://www.brisbane.au.emb-japan.go.jp/en/jicc/resources.html

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Like Our Facebook Page!

For the latest news and updates on Japanese culture related events, visit: https://www.facebook.com/JapanCons.Brisbane

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You have received this e-mail because your e-mail address is registered with the Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane’s e-newsletter mailing list. To unsubscribe from this mailing list please e-mail: jpncg@bb.mofa.go.jp

We respect your privacy. We will not disclose your personal details to any third party.

The Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane is not affiliated with the above events unless stated, and is not responsible for these events or the content of linked websites. For further details on any of the above events, please contact the event organisers directly.

If you know of any upcoming Japan-related events and would like to publicise them in our e-newsletter, please e-mail the details through to us at: jpncg@bb.mofa.go.jp

The final choice of articles will be at the discretion of the Consulate-General of Japan, Brisbane.