All photos © JETAAWA

November is always the busiest month for JETAAWA and this year is no exception. We have some big events we are organising or involved in and some other news to report – read on!

1. CAREERS SEMINAR
Every year JETAAWA organises this seminar for students, ex-JETs and others who are interested in working in a Japanese company or in Japanese-related industries either in Australia or globally.

This year the seminar is from 545pm (starting 6pm sharp) on Tuesday 8 November 2011 at UWA Social Sciences Lecture Theatre 1. Details are on facebook here.

A number of speakers will be presenting at the seminar to talk about how they began employment and their experiences. Speakers will include those from resources, commercial, educational, translation and other professional fields, many of whom participated in JET themselves.There will also be a presentation on the JET Programme itself, for prospective participants.

The seminar is a great introduction to Japan-related careers and an opportunity to meet with people who are using Japanese knowledge in the workplace.

Entry is free and open to all so please RSVP to employ@jetaawa.com or on facebook ASAP!

2. RETURNEES HANAMI

On Sunday 20 November 2011 from 3pm-7pmish, we will be holding a combined hanami – returnees welcome-back party under the beautiful jacaranda in Hyde Park in North Perth.

Some food will be provided but drinks are BYO, except for the returnees: we’ve got you covered with some cho-traditional beer and tantakatan to get you in the mood to pen some haiku and reminisce under the purple.

Please RSVP to president@jetaawa.com by 18 November. This is open to the general public but we need RSVPs so don’t just show up!

3. CHARITY GYOZA
On Sunday 27 November 2011 we will be cooking gyoza in “Genki Japan”, the Japanese Association’s reformed bunkasai, which this year is a fundraiser for the nuclear/natural disasters that have affected Japan since March this year.

Entry is from 9:30 with stalls and a charity concert starting from 10am and running until 3pm. The venue is the Japanese School in Perth, 20 Kalinda Drive, City Beach.

Come along and enjoy the authentic matsuri atmosphere, JETAAWA’s ever-popular gyoza, and your contribution to charity.
If you are interested in helping cook at some stage throughout the day, then please contact president@jetaawa.com – you would be most welcome!

4. JAPANESE HISTORY CONFERENCE
Murdoch University is hosting an international conference, the 4th Japanese History Workshop Australia, inviting 24 scholars from 13 universities in 7 countries to Murdoch campus. Keynote Speakers are Professor Richard Rubinger (University of Indiana, USA), Professor Koichiro Matsuda (Rikkyo University, Japan) and Dr Barak Kushner (University of Cambridge, UK).

When: From Wednesday 30 November to Friday 2 December, 2011
Where: ECL Lecture Theatre 3, Murdoch University (Murdoch campus, South Street, Murdoch)
RSVP: by Wednesday 16 November to Tamara Dent at t.dent@murdoch.edu.au or 9360 2263
Please see the flyer attached for further details. JETAAWA members are welcome to attend.

• Japanese History Workshop Australia 2011 (PDF)

5. kaiWA
kaiWA continues every second Thursday from 530pm at 43 Below on the corner of Hay and Barrack Streets. It’s a great place to polish your Japanese, make new friends and help Japanese tourists get to know the real Perth.
Upcoming dates are 3/11 and 17/11.

Hot off the presses first is the announcement of our annual Winter Matsuri to the Swan Valley.
This is always a great event for JETAAWA members to catch up and for Japanese participants to learn about some of the great produce WA has to offer.
This year’s edition is on Sunday 26 June 2011. The bus (from a new, reliable company!) departs Barrack Street Jetty 10:00 sharp and returns by 17:00.
Tickets are $25, which includes transport, visits to 2 wineries with tastings, a nougat factory visit with free tasting, a chocolate factory visit with free tasting, a brewery visit and refreshments and cultural activities on the bus.
$25 is a pretty excellent price for this kind of event!
Lunch is BYO or buy on course.
This always sells out quickly. There are limited spots available, so please RSVP to social@jetaawa.com ASAP!
We’ll give you the EFT details for payment in advance.

Next is a Japan travel update via DFAT.

The advisory for travel to Japan has been updated and is now at a reduced level.

The overall Japan advisory level is currently ‘Be alert to own security’.

Travel advice to the affected coastal areas of Northern Honshu is to ‘reconsider’, while travel within 80km of the Fukushima Nuclear Plant is advised against.

View the travel advisory at: http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Japan
We’d also like to recognise the great efforts of JETAAWA member Rachelle Kearney, who as you may recall recently organised a fundraising movie night for the relief efforts in Japan.
Rachelle managed to raise over $1000 for the cause, which is a pretty awesome effort. Great work!

Finally, there’s an interesting discussion of the recent film Departures (okuribito) at the Hyogo Cultural Centre on Tuesday, June 14th from 4pm to 6pm.
This seminar will introduce participants to the themes and characters of the academy award-winning film: (http://www.madman.com.au/catalogue/view/12066/departures).
It’s aimed at Japanese language educators including native speakers and advanced students in senior secondary, but all are welcome. The presenters demonstrate intercultural language teaching and learning activities through the film.
The session will be presented in Japanese. Participants might like to view the film on DVD in advance. (The DVD is available at major local retailers).
If you are interested in attending, please contact Hyogo Cultural Centre at hyogoprogram@iinet.net.au or on 9385 9002. A flyer is attached:

• After school seminar – Departures Flyer

Look forward to seeing you at the Winter Matsuri!

Nick John
President
JETAAWA
Mobile: +61 4 0808 3131
president@jetaawa.com

On behalf of all of JETAAWA I hope that nobody close to you has been lost in the ongoing disaster in northern Japan.
We have been informed by CLAIR that all WA JETs (all ANZ JETs, in fact) in affected areas have at this stage been accounted for, which is a relief.

I am sure that many of you are wondering what you can do to help.
Firstly, of course, Red Cross / Save the Children etc have funds that you can contribute to.

(1) QUIZ NIGHT: 30/3/2011

Another way you can help is by participating in our annual quiz night on 30 March 2011 at the UWA Tavern from 1915 sharp (doors open 1900), held jointly with UWA JapSSoc. Tickets are available on the door and cost $10. All proceeds will go directly to the relief efforts via Support Net Niji-no-kai, a WA charitable organisation that is channeling donations here.

Please RSVP ASAP to president@jetaawa.com.
You can RSVP individually, with friends, or as a table of 8. Even if you can’t get 8 together, we will ensure you have a good team and the opportunity to make new friends!

We have already been generously offered plenty of fantastic prizes from WA businesses and are working to get more.
In addition to prizes for the quiz itself, there will also be auctions of some of the more unique contributions that we have received.

Another way to help, whether or not you are able to participate in the quiz itself, is by making a contribution to the prize pool. If your business or your contacts are willing to donate a prize that we can then auction off to raise further funds it would be wonderful. We will ensure that all contributors are properly recognised and promoted both at the quiz itself and via email to all our and JapSSoc’s members, so you will be getting publicity while helping the relief efforts.

We look forward to your cooperation!

(2) SUNDAY MARKET: 20/3/2011

Niji-no-kai itself is holding its annual stall at the Karrinyup Shopping Centre Sunday markets this Sunday 20 March 2011 from 0630-1130.
All donations and proceeds will go to the relief fund. You should be able to find all sorts of great items for sale, including many Japanese ones.
Again, you will be helping Japan with any purchases!

Thanks everyone – again, we hope everyone you know is safe and look forward to your support.
Please pass this email on to anyone who might be interested.
I understand other organisations are moving forward with their own initiatives and we will pass details on to you as we receive them.

Please also remember that the JETAAWA AGM will be held on Friday 25 March 2011 from 1800 at 43 Below, corner of Hay and Barrack streets.
Please RSVP if you are interested in attending to discuss our year and what we can do to continue to help the relief efforts.

Nick John
President
JETAAWA
Mobile: +61 4 0808 3131
president@jetaawa.com