Visit our website at jsnw.org.uk 1

NEWSLETTER

Japan Society North West

No. 9 July 2006

Visit our website at jsnw.org.uk

In the midst of what must be one of the wettest droughtson record, the sun did shine on the Festival of Japan,held in Swinton Park, Masham. Swinton Park provided apicturesque setting for a wide range of exhibits anddemonstrations, giving the many visitors a rare taste ofJapanese culture. Participants included Society MemberMarilyn Ratcliffe’s Japanese Tex-Style and the JapaneseGarden Society.

Authentic okonomiyaki and sushi were available outsidein a marquee. Sharing the marquee was KimieMarkarian, a very patient soroban instructor, whoenthusiastically showed groups of school children howto do arithmetic using the Japanese abacus.

The highlight of this event was the appearance of a realgeisha and maiko. They mingled with the delightedvisitors, and even joined them for a lunch ofokonomiyaki.

It was quite a long drive getting there, but well worth it!

Geisha in Yorkshire

E-mail us at info@jsnw.org.uk2

AGM ReportThis year’s AGM was hosted by Paul Cantell and AliceHynes at their house in Crosby. The afternoon was spentin their garden, as the weather was so good.

Attendance was well up on last year, and the mood wasvery up-beat. After hearing the Officers’ reports, themeeting approved the new Constitution and elected aCommittee. Immediately following the AGM theCommittee met to appoint its Officers.

Your New CommitteeRobert Bierman*, John Croall, Louise Croall (MembershipSecretary), Angela Davies (Vice Chairman), Steve Fensom,Kevin Howes (Chairman), Alice Hynes (Secretary), CathyPeel, David Willis (Treasurer) and David Woolf*.*co-opted members

Cathy PeelHello, I’m Cathy Peel.

My first awareness of Japan started when Iwas 4 years old. I was given a beautifulJapanese doll, dressed in a kimono, andshe is now over 50! So it was probablyinevitable that in the mid 1960s oncompletion of a year of voluntary service inIndia, working alongside a Japanese nurse,I accepted the offer of a further year ofvoluntary service in Japan.

My experiences included workingalongside Japanese workers in a children’shome in Hiroshima city; a Pioneer dairyfarm in the mountains of Yamanashiprefecture and then later an institution formentally and physically handicapped

young people in Tokyo. All were wonderful and variedexperiences, but after a good number of years back in theUK I missed contact with Japan. This caused me to trainand work for the last 18 years as a ‘Blue Badge’ Tour

Guide, mostly in Chester guiding groupsof Japanese tourists. I have occasionallygiven talks about life in Japan, and helpedwith Japan related projects in localschools.

In recent years I have been fortunate tohave been able to revisit Japan a numberof times both for recreation and work.

I joined the UK Japan Society of the NorthWest when it was first set up, and amhappy to be involved with the currentSociety, JSNW. It’s good to be with peoplewho share a similar interest and be able towiden my knowledge and experience ofJapan in doing so.

Committee Member Profile

Visit our website at jsnw.org.uk 3

Review of April EventsThe display of Hiroshige's Tokaido Road Prints had beenset up in the Exhibition Room. The pictures were framed,glassed and hung on the walls, unlike the occasion whenJSNW had been invited to the Blackburn Museum, when wewere able to view the collection of prints in their 'original'state. In the centre of the room there was a display ofJapanese tea room and in viewing cases there were anumber of items of interest, including netsuke, whichadded interest and authenticity to the pictures, as manyof these are of the refreshment stations along the TokaidoRoute. This was basically the same route as theShinkansen of today, but the stations and style ofrefreshments not quite so canned or open to theelements!

For both the preview evening and the Lecture JSNW hadbeen given the use of a table in the main entrance hall,where we had some promotional material on display,which was helpful and quite a good number of leafletswere taken, and people could talk about the Society.

Preview EveningThis was the evening for invited guests which included anumber of JSNW members but was largely for institutions

and other interested parties who have an interest in theArts and the Grosvenor Museum.

Proceedings commenced in Chester's Grosvenor MuseumLecture Theatre with a welcome and introduction to theexhibition given by the Sheriff of Chester, followed by ashort talk from Adrian Sumner thanking the BlackburnMuseum and Art Gallery for the loan of their prints, andalso the Japan Shop in Chester for artifacts to support theexhibition, and the provision of refreshments.

JSNW was kindly given a slot to talk about the Society andthen there was time to admire the prints in the adjacentexhibition room, and take refreshments of sushi andgreen tea, which was in the Roman Gallery where theattendees mingled, and talked.

'The Peacock Fan Revisited'This lecture given by Adrian Sumner, Arts andDevelopment Officer for Chester, was a well illustratedand lively talk showing the impact on European Art of theearly ukiyoe pictures, showing many cases whereinfluence could be seen directly on the work of Westernartists, which was particularly notable in the pictures ofthe Impressionists. The lecture ended with bringing thatinfluence right up to present day showing modern art andartifacts.

Pictures from the Tokaido Road Preview Evening

E-mail us at info@jsnw.org.uk4

Samurai and SwordsSATURDAY 15 JULY

An introduction to the landmark participants and eventsin the development of Samurai power in the 16th and17th centuries, illustrated with actual arms and armourof the time and a slide show of significant objectsrepresenting the period.

The objects and slides will be explained by Steve Smith,Secretary of the Northern To-Ken Society, member ofthe International Netsuke Society and former volunteercurator of the Japanese Collections in LiverpoolMuseum. Members may recall that Steve made anexcellent presentation for us a year ago on Netsuke sothis talk is sure to be something to appreciate.

This approximate one hour talk will be in LiverpoolWorld Museum’s Treasure House Theatre, WilliamBrown Street, Liverpool L1. It will be preceded byattendance at the scheduled 45 minute demonstrationof how a Samurai armour is worn, and an explanation ofthe individual components: how they work and why.

Arrive for 10.00 am at the Museum foyer for distributionof tickets. The armour performance commences10.30  am after which society members will remain inthe theatre for the talk to continue until approximately12.30 pm.

We hope afterwards to go for a bite to eat (probably notJapanese as it’s Saturday lunchtime, but there’s arecommended Chinese eating place nearby). If you letus know when replying if you’re likely to be joining uswe’ll book an appropriate space.

It’s important that we know how many JSNW membersare expected so we can reserve seats in the very popularSamurai demonstration. Respond please to David Willis(dwillis@jsnw.org.uk) or by phone (01704-878994,leave message on answerphone).

Venue: World Museum Liverpool

July Event

Graham Worth, an academic and expert on Japanesetextile crafts from Manchester Metropolitan University,has agreed to give a talk to JSNW members in October.The event will take place on an evening in early Octoberand the venue will be the All Saints Campus ofManchester Metropolitan University.

Graham is a JSNW member who has made several visitsto Japan, meeting and working with some of the mosthighly skilled Japanese craftsmen dyers and kimonomakers. In particular he has been spending time withthe dyer Nasu san, some of whose exquisite work wewill see photographed as part of Graham's talk.

Watch for more information in the next Newsletter andon the web site.

October Event

Discovering Japan through Textiles and Kimono, a Personal Journey

An example of the bingata traditional dyeing technique

15July

Visit our website at jsnw.org.uk 5

Japan DayIn September last year the Society invited the public to

in Lymm. The success of the event, withbetween 150 and 200 people attending, hasencouraged your Society to be more ambitious byorganising a in the Great Hall of ManchesterTown Hall on Saturday 21 October. A key objective ofthe Society, and therefore of , is to bring anunderstanding and appreciation to the people of theNorthwest of the people, culture and language of Japan.However this event also gives us a great opportunity topublicise and promote the Society much more widelyand therefore hopefully to grow our membership.

The Society is delighted that its patron, the JapaneseAmbassador, has accepted our invitation to attend andthat the Lord Mayor of Manchester will receive theAmbassador.

We could not have held Japan without thesupport of Japan Airlines, a longstanding member of thepresent and previous Societies. JAL’s response to

has been immediate and generous and so too is thesupport we are receiving from the Japanese Embassy.But is a major undertaking and we urgentlyneed further financial support from our organisationalmembers. Committee Member Steve Fensom will be intouch with you if you do not contact him first onsteve.m.fensom@bnfl.com or 01925 832165.

As you might imagine it’s all hands to the pumps on theCommittee to organise and as the eventapproaches we will need the support of our members tohelp both before and on the day. If you can offer a littleof your time please contact Alice Hynes onarh@paulcan.free-online.co.uk or 0151 928 0820.

promises to be a great event – bigger, better,more varied in its attractions and even more successfulthan . So put the date in your diary now:

Saturday 21st October is Japan Day

We’ll remind you again (andagain…) and please help if youcan!

Venue: Manchester Town Hall

21October

October Event

E-mail us at info@jsnw.org.uk6

30 June - 6 July2006 The first story by Haruki Murakami to be adapted for

cinema, TONY TAKITANI is the story of one man (IsseyOgata) whose solitude and self-sufficiency leave himisolated. When he meets Eiko (Miyazawa Rie), his lifechanges. Employing narrative and cinematic devices and asoundtrack by Ryuichi Sakamoto, director Jun Ichikawasucceeds in translating Murakami's sense of strangeotherworldliness of to the screen.

Cornerhouse, 70 OxfordStreet, Manchester M1 5NH

Various

Hands on demonstration suitable for all the family. Find outabout the history and traditions of the Samurai and see avolunteer get dressed up in replica armour. Places are freebut numbers are limited. Collect your free ticket in advancefrom the Information Desk.

Treasure House Theatre,World Museum Liverpool

liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

16 July 2006A large exhibition of bonsai but also other things Japanese.

01204 884432enquires@bonsaiartists.co.uk

Regional Events

JAPAN SOCIETY AWARDS 2006Japan Society North West members will be pleased tohear that one of two Japan Society Awards for this yearwas presented to Keith Haines. The Awards marksignificant work in the field of Anglo-Japanese relationsby those who have not otherwise been recognised.

Keith is approaching retirement as the Deputy GeneralManager of Japan Airlines and the key contact of JSNWwith the airline, which is a corporate member of ourSociety. He was ever encouraging and providedconsiderable assistance to us for the "Dip into Japan"event we held in Lymm. He and his colleague RobertRigby are already offering generous support for JapanDay in October.

The (London based) Japan Society's announcement of theAward praised Keith's efforts for the Society

The second award was made to Mr Eiji Seki, a retiredJapanese diplomat who had twice served at the Embassyin London and had pursued tirelessly his deep interest inAnglo-Japanese relations.

Our Society takes this opportunity to congratulate Keithon deservedly receiving this award and to thank him forthe support that JAL, and he personally, havecontinuously given to JSNW and its forerunner, UKJSNW.

News

Visit our website at jsnw.org.uk 7

Jewish HaikuNews of a craze sweeping New York: the Jewish haiku.The author of this little titbit (taken from the DailyTelegraph) considers "this new hybrid conveys many morelayers of meaning than the pretentious Japaneseoriginals". See what you think of these:

Her lips near my ear,Aunt Sadie whispers the nameOf her friend's disease.

Beyond Valium,The peace of knowingOne's child is an internist.

Hard to tell under the lights.White yarmulke orMale-pattern baldness.

Like a bonsai tree,Your terrible postureAt my dinner table.

Government Plans to Ban'Samurai swords'Steve Smith has updated us on some draft legislation thatcould have an extreme effect on serious collectors ofswords.

The Government may have slipped up in proposing a banon the carrying of weapons – a definition, which it isfeared, may lead to prohibition on the transport anddisplay of Samurai swords. The proposed legislation isintended to deal with gangsters and other criminals usingcheap foreign replica swords in the furtherance of crime.

However, it seems their choice of phrase for a replica is a'Samurai sword'. This obviously over-simplifies theproblem and encapsulates it in a thoroughly inaccurateterm. Rather worse, the currently proposed legislationdoes not differentiate between genuine, historicallysignificant art swords and cheap modern replicas.

The idea that there is a problem in this country withgenuine swords being used by criminals does not seem tobe supported by any evidence: there are no statistics inexistence to show a single instance of a genuine antiquesword being used in crime.

There is a danger also that this choice of target may betaken as an implied insult to Japan – as though the sword

of Japan is somehow inherently criminal in nature. Thereis also the matter that these objects, largely in privatecollections, represent a significant body of Japaneseculture present in this country. To eliminate them fromprivate ownership would deprive this country of a greatbody of academic knowledge of Japanese culture, andcondemn future generations to derive their knowledge ofJapan only from the distorted products of Hollywood andManga comics.

The To-Ken Society has sent letters of objection to theHome Office about the proposal; you can find them onwww.northerntokensociety.co.uk

Loincloths Emerging as CoolProduct for Summer in JapanLoincloths are being marketed by the Mitsukoshidepartment store in Tokyo's Ginza district as a featureproduct for the summer months ahead, it has emerged.

A boom in the sale of loincloths has been seen since lastspring, and in just half a year the department store hassold about 5,000 loincloths -- roughly 25 times thenormal number it sells."They're unconstrained and have got good ventilation, andthey're suited for Japan's humid summers," a departmentstore official said.

The popularity of loincloths has reportedly continued evenduring the colder months, with about 200 loincloths beingsold monthly in winter.

The store predicts that that a full-scale loincloth boom iseminent. It has prepared an abundant range of productsfor customers, from sleek designs featuring dots,goldfish, and fireworks, to loincloths that come withmatching T-shirts.

With the hot summer months ahead, the loincloths mayadd a new twist to the "Cool-biz" trend of dressing downto cool off. (Mainichi) May 21, 2006

News

E-mail us at info@jsnw.org.uk8

Japan Society North West

No. 9 NEWSLETTER

Visit our website at jsnw.org.uk

Event Review:Tatton’s Japanese Gardens As our group gathered, awaiting the formal start of thisvisit, there were quite a few nervous looks at the darkthunderclouds overhead. Fortunately however on thisoccasion the doom-laden weather forecast wasn't quitecorrect and the spots held off for the duration of whatproved to be an excellent, and sunny, tour of theJapanese gardens.

This was a private visit for JSNW members under theguidance of Tatton's famous Head Gardener, and SocietyMember, Sam Youd. Sam outlined the history of TattonPark and its two historic houses, and how the 1000 acresof beautiful parkland came to be developed. Of particularinterest was his involvement over many years in efforts topersuade Cheshire County Council (which manages,maintains and finances Tatton Park on behalf of theNational Trust) to take the badly neglected Japanesegardens under their wing. Eventually the gardens,originally built between 1910-1913, received a majorrenovation in 2001. Sam covered in some depth the work

that was involved in the restoration, using records of thegarden's construction, research work undertaken by theOsaka University of Art, and the skills of Japanesecraftsmen brought in specially for the task.

Most experts agree this is the finest Japanese garden in theUnited Kingdom and Ireland. In the style of a tea gardenconnected to an island upon which rests a Shinto shrine,its memorable features include a teahouse and handsomebamboo enclosure fences. Sam provided an insight intothe spectacular colouring and planting of the Garden aswell as an especially welcome explanation of the numerousfeatures that have special significance to Japanese cultureand religious beliefs.

Every season brings it own beauty here, and we wererewarded both with glorious spring colours but also theopportunity to tour the gardens from within and outsidethe bamboo enclosure to view its many subtly-designedchanges of perspective.

A rewarding visit, which was completed for some byafternoon tea in the (English) tearoom. The visit concludedwith heart-felt thanks to Sam Youd for an excellent tour.