Welcome
Are you interested in Japan? Its people? Its culture? Its language?
If so, come and join us!
Japan Society North West holds regular Japan-related events in the Manchester / Liverpool / Cheshire / Lancashire region.
What’s On
Audio Book: Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji) - Click here to learn more
Upcoming JSNW Events
Our 2018 programme of events is supported by the The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
Udon Noodle Making Demonstration by Jon Tanimura
Saturday
25 August 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Jon Tanimura, a professional Udon Chef trained in Kagawa (Shikoku), is travelling the world. He is in the UK in August. Jon Says … After training in Kagawa prefecture which is also known as the Udon prefecture, I have been making udon all around the world while traveling. In my party plan, you will be able to briefly experience stepping and cutting the dough, and eat two versions of handmade udon (hot udon and cold udon) as much as you want. In your awesome company I will introduce myself and share my travel experiences.
This event is £18 for JSNW members and £22 for non-members. £10 for children under 14 years, children under 3 years are free. Booking required. If you would like to attend this event it is essential that you contact our Events Co-ordinator.
Venue: The Tim Parry Community Centre, Cromdale Way, Warrington WA5 3NY
A Japanese Conversation Evening in Liverpool
Tuesday
28
August 2018 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Angela Davies, a very experienced instructor of Japanese, will host an evening of Japanese conversation, over delicious food at Etsu restaurant.
If you would like to attend this event it is essential that you contact our Events Co-ordinator. Etsu is a small restaurant - places are limited.
Venue: Etsu Japanese Restaurant, 25 The Strand, (off Brunswick Street) Liverpool, L2 0XJ
JSNW Social and Japanese Conversation Evening in Manchester
TBA
September 2018 7:00
pm to 9:00 pm
Let’s have a drink, enjoy food, and meet someone new. Our former Newsletter Editor,Yuko Howes, will host this fun event. You don't need to be able to speak Japanese, so you can just relax.
If you would like to attend this event please email
Venue: Samsi, 36-38 Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 3NR
Bookbinding Workshop
Saturday 29 September 2018 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
A demonstration of traditional Japanese bookbinding by Sandra McFarlane. Sandra will show you how to make a four hole notebook, and then you'll get to make your own! All materials will be supplied.
Refreshments will be provided.
This event is free to JSNW members, and £5 to non-members.
If you would like to attend this event it is essential that you contact our Events Co-ordinator by 15 September at the latest, to give us time to prepare materials.
Venue: The Tim Parry Community Centre, Cromdale Way, Warrington WA5 3NY
What's On
Japanese Summer Festival Natsumatsuri
Saturday
4 August 2018 10 am - 4.30 pm
Sushi-making class, Origami workshop, Omen (Japanese face mask)-making, Suika wari (smashing a watermelon blindfolded), traditional children's stories, wear a kimono and more! Details
Japanese food & drink available to purchase.
FREE ENTRY
Venue: Wallasey Central Library, 17 Earlston Rd, Wallasey CH45 5DX
Tanabata Festival
Saturday
18 August 2018 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tanabata, or the Star Festival, traditionally is held on the evening of 7 July throughout Japan although it can be held anytime in July or August.
This year Tatton is inviting its visitors to take part in the vicinity of the beautiful Japanese garden. There will be an opportunity to learn origami and make paper decorations to adorn the bamboo and nearby trees as well as to write wishes on the tanzaku strips of card and hang them on the bamboo branches. In addition there will be children's Japanese games and story cards telling the story of the Tabanata to enjoy. Tatton is privileged to be joined by representatives from the Japanese Embassy who will help demonstrate origami and traditional paper decorations. Details
Venue: Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN
World Shakuhachi Festival
73rd Anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Atomic Weapons Attack
Audio Book: Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji)
The
Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) is a classic work of Japanese literature
attributed to the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh
century, around the peak of the Heian Period. It is sometimes called the
world's first novel, the first modern novel, the first romance novel, or the
first novel to still be considered a classic.
The Genji was written for the women of the aristocracy (the yokibito) and has many elements found in a modern novel: a central character and a very large number of major and minor characters, well-developed characterization of all the major players, a sequence of events happening over a period of time covering the central character's lifetime and beyond. The work does not make use of a plot; instead, much as in real life, events just happen and characters evolve simply by growing older.
NOTE: this is a highly condensed version of the text, running to just under 200 pages, whereas the original is nearly 1000 pages long! librivox.org
In Our Time: Hokusai
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), the
Japanese artist whose views of Mt Fuji such as The Great Wave off Kanagawa
(pictured) are some of the most iconic in world art. He worked as Japan was
slowly moving towards greater contact with the outside world, trading with
China and allowing two Dutch ships to dock each year. From these ships he
picked up new synthetic colours and illustrations with Western compositions,
which he incorporated in his traditional wood block prints. The quality of
his images helped drive demand for prints among the highly literate Japanese
public, particularly those required to travel to Edo under feudal
obligations and who wanted to collect all his prints. As well as the quality
of his work, Hokusai's success stems partly from his long life and career.
He completed some of his most memorable works in his 70s and 80s and claimed
he would not reach his best until he was 110. BBC
iPlayer Radio
NHK World
Kabuki
is a world-class theater with a history of over 400 years, but is also
exciting entertainment. What is the secret of its enduring attraction?
Ichikawa Somegoro, brilliant member of the younger generation of actors,
guides us through the world of kabuki.
This is a monthly series on NHK World
You can watch NHK WORLD TV Live Streaming and
Japan Society Events
The
Japan Society in London organises a wide range of events. Visit their
web site for a full
list of upcoming events.
In Our Time: Japan's Sakoku Period
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss Japan's Sakoku period, two centuries when the country deliberately isolated itself from the outside world. Sakoku began with a series of edicts in the 1630s which restricted the rights of Japanese to leave their country and expelled Europeans living there. It was not until 1858 and the "gunboat diplomacy" of the American Commodore Matthew Perry that Japan's international isolation finally ended.
BBC iPlayer Radio
Noriko Ogawa in conversation with Melanie Spanswick
An interview with Japanese pianist, Noriko Ogawa which took place in December 2012 at Jaques Samuel Pianos in London.
Find out what kind of child Noriko was, and what kind of sound world she lives in in this biographical interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnm2Q5fJ-ds&feature=youtu.be
Study Tours to Japan
Visit Akemi's web site for more information.
Japanese Food in Lymm
Japanese Food Specialists TK Trading set up shop in Lymm High School every other Saturday - see their
web site for the schedule.
Venue: Lymm High School, Oughtrington Lane, Lymm, Cheshire WA13 0RB
Japan Photos
Explore JapanPhotos.org.uk for a high resolution tour of Japan.
