JAFA's Kodomo No Hi Japan Festival is over for another year. Thanks to everyone who made the day such a big success.

Our next J-KAI is on Thursday 26 April at 6pm at the Metropolitan Hotel, 46 Grote St.

This month we'll be gathering for a drink and a chat, and there'll be photos of "Kodomo no Hi" on the screen.

• What: J-KAI
• When: Thursday 24th May
• Where: Metropolitan Hotel (46 Grote St.)
• When: 6-9pm
• How much: FREE!

What is J-Kai?

J-Kai is JAFA's monthly social event that has been running since 1998. It provides an opportunity for Japanese and Australians with an interest in Japan to meet in a relaxed atmosphere. You don't have to be a JAFA member or speak any Japanese, just come along! Anyone can join and it's free.

JAFA is putting together a team of volunteers to go to some of the most harshly affected areas to help with ongoing clean-up and relief efforts. We are working towards sending the first team of volunteers to Japan in early January.

We will send the teams of volunteers to assist with an established relief organisation named Peace Boat.  Since March 16th 2011 (5 days after the earthquake and tsunami hit) Peace Boat has been active in the city of Ishinomaki, one of the hardest hit cities on the coast of north-eastern Japan.

If you are interested in donating money to help send volunteers, click here. If you're interested in volunteering yourself, read on...

Those of you who came along to J-KAI heard another fascinating account of the situation in the Tohoku region from Peace Boat Volunteer Paul Bilney. Here is a link to the video that appeared at the end of his presentation. It's a very moving message from people who live in the affected region.

Thank you from Japan

Big Bento Lunch

To commemorate the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit north eastern Japan last year and to raise much needed funds for UNICEF’s ongoing recovery work in the affected regions, Big Bento Lunch encourages everyone to get together for a Japanese-style lunch and collect donations. Big Bento Lunch is proudly supported by JETAA (Japan Exchange & Teaching Programme Alumni Association) in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.

All you need to do is register at www.bigbentolunch.com.au and organise your bento lunch. Further information:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NEXT ROUND STARTS IN MAY

The next round of Origami and Calligraphy Classes start on the 26th of May. Each round of classes will run for four consecutive weeks and cover origami, chigiri-e (torn washi paper painting), furoshiki cloth wrapping and calligraphy.

What: Origami and Calligraphy Classes

When: May 26th to June 16th (four Saturdays) 1:30-3pm

Where: Cowandilla Primary School (1 Jenkins St. Cowandilla)

How much: $30 for JAFA members, $70 for non-members (Paid before the course begins)

Beginners are welcome as well as those with various levels of experience.

If you would like to register, please fill in your details HERE.

Read on for payment details.

My report each year has taken on a familiar format and if I read last year’s report it would be a fair summation of what we have achieved over the last twelve months.  But it would omit the most important event in Japan since the end of World War 2.

I mention the War with good reason because the devastation that was wreaked upon the Tohoku region of Japan by the earthquake and tsunami that struck in March and the ongoing nuclear disaster is of a magnitude that is only surpassed by the destruction that Japan suffered during the war.  The images that streamed across TV screens on March 11th were so shocking it was hard to comprehend the enormity of what was happening.