Welcome to the Australia Japan Society – ACT Inc
IJSP (Ishikawa Japanese Studies Program)
27 October to 8 November 2024
The Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange (IFIE), in association with the Australia-Japan Society (ACT), has resumed the two-week residential courses in Japanese language/culture in Kanazawa.
The 2024 October course will be the 42nd course that has been run under this program.
Membership
Membership of the AJS is open to all persons and organisations who have a genuine interest in Australia-Japan relationships. Members are invited to renew membership from 1 July each year. There are Individual, Family; Youth/Student; Educational Institution and Corporate membership categories.
Why not join the AJS (ACT), participate in the many events and active community of people interested in Japan and things Japanese?
Become a member of the AJS (ACT) and you will be automatically be signed up for our quarterly newsletter, Kakehashi, which contains articles of general interest regarding Japan-related events and exhibitions in Canberra, as well as film reviews and links to information and resources about the Japanese language and culture. As an AJS member, you will also receive discounts to Japan-related events around Canberra.
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The Australia – Japan Society (ACT) Inc. (AJS) is a non-profit community organisation, formed in 1972 to facilitate contact and understanding between Australians and Japanese and to promote informed interest in Japan, Japanese culture and Japanese people.
The Society enthusiastically cooperates with other organisations interested in promoting the Australia – Japan relationship, including universities, schools and the Federal and ACT governments, and works closely with the Embassy of Japan.
Affilliations
The AJS (ACT) has affiliations with many other organisations and groups that share our key goals.
- The AJS (ACT) has a longstanding ‘sister’ relationship with the Japan-Australia Society in Nara and is represented on the Canberra Nara Sister City Committee established to provide assistance and advice to the ACT Government on the implementation of the agreement between the ACT Government and the municipality of Nara.
- The AJS (ACT) has close working relationships with the Embassy of Japan and with a number of Japan-Australia Society, including in Kobe and Kumamoto.
- AJS (ACT) is affiliated with the Japanese Language Teachers Association (ACT), the Australia-Japan Foundation and has connections with the Canberra JET Alumni Association
- AJS (ACT) is a member of the National Federation of Australia-Japan Societies.
About
Advice and Assistance
AJS (ACT) receives a variety of requests from companies, organisations and individuals seeking information and assistance on Japanese contacts and communication. We assist where we can, including by providing referrals for interpreting and translation services
Exchanges
AJS (ACT) conducts an annual student exchange between secondary schools in Canberra and in Japan in collaboration with the Japan-Australia Society, Kobe.
Arranging host accommodation and short term billets for visitors from Japan is an integral part of the Society’s activities. Each year Society members host a large number of students and visiting cultural groups from Japan.
Newsletter
The Society’s quarterly newsletter, “Kakehashi”, includes articles of general interest on Japan contributed by members. There are regular items on AJS news, social events, exhibitions, television and film reviews and links to on-line information on Japan.
Programs
The Society manages, coordinates and supports a number of Program each year.
Please click on the Tabs below to view relevant details:
Student Exchange Scholarships
A student exchange is conducted each year in cooperation with the Kobe Japan-Australia Society. Secondary students from Canberra and from Kobe have an opportunity to study and live with a family. The 6-10 weeks exchange provides a unique cultural experience, immersion in the local language and can lead to lasting friendships. The AJS (ACT) provides the selected Canberra secondary students with the full cost of return travel.
Contact:
AJS (ACT) Student Exchange Program Coordinator,
PO Box 406, Jamison, ACT 2614
27 October to 8 November 2024 | in conjunction with the Australia-Japan Society (ACT)
The Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange (IFIE), in association with the Australia-Japan Society (ACT), has resumed the two-week residential courses in Japanese language/culture in Kanazawa. The 2024 October course will be the 42nd course that has been run under this program.
The program is sponsored by the Ishikawa Prefectural Government.
The courses run for 2 weeks from a Sunday afternoon to the Friday evening two weeks later and include intensive language lessons, cultural activities and home stay accommodation with a Japanese family. This latter is one of the outstanding features of the program and certainly gives a boost to the participants’ language skills.
During the course, mornings are spent in formal language classes and, most afternoons, opportunities are provided to explore the local culture, either in organised classes and excursions or course participants are encourged to explore Kanazawa by themselves or with other members of the group.
The classes are tailored to the individual participant’s language skills – participants are assessed on the first day and placed in classes according to their language abilities. Beginner classes are available. There are excellent facilities and very helpful teachers at the Institute.
The total course cost per participant, including all course fees, books, cultural activities and accommodation for the duration of the course (but NOT including fares to and from Kanazawa, Japan), depending on fluctuations in the $/Yen ratio and the number of participants, is around $1,000 – $1,400. Participants are advised to allow about $35 – $50 per day for day-to-day expenses (bus fares, lunches, souvenirs etc) so the total cost for the two week experience, by the time you have travelled to and from Kanazawa, is probably going to be around $3,500.
Applicants for this course must be at least 20 years old, must be a member or join an Australia Japan Society or an affiliated organisation (including Japanese Language and Modern Language Teachers associations) and must be prepared to stay in Japan for the duration of the course.
This is a great chance to commence, refresh, improve or develop your Japanese language skills.
Contact the Coordinator of the program, Mr Michael Hodgkin, for a more detailed outline of the
program and for course/homestay application forms.
Michael Hodgkin | Coordinator IFIE Courses | c/o Australia Japan Society (ACT)
ajsifiecourses@gmail.com
Tohoku Tsunami Youth Victims Program
HELP US BRING YOUNG VICTIMS OF THE 2011 TOHOKU DISASTER TO CANBERRA FOR A BRIEF RESPITE HOLIDAY
From early 2012 the AJS (ACT) has been running a program to bring students who lost parents in the disastrous Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, for a brief respite holiday in Canberra. Up to 300 children lost both parents and more than 1000 lost one parent.
This program is called the “TOHOKU YOUTH PROGRAM”.
The purpose of these visits is to create friendship and goodwill and to show these young people that the Australian community cares for them and wishes to help.They participate in many social and educational programs while in Canberra: they are hosted at schools, visit Federal and ACT government departments and visit many venues and sights in Canberra.
This program is supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation, the Embassy of Japan, Ashinaga Ikuei Kai in Japan, Radford College, Questacon, the National Zoo and Aquarium, the Farmyard Nursery at Symonston, our patron Mr. Ron Murray AM of Murrays Bus Company, Japan Airlines plus many more Canberran individuals. The students home-stay in pairs with host families from Radford College.
The funds for the program have been raised by the AJS (ACT) though fund raising events, grants from the Australia-Japan Foundation, plus the support many other Canberra organisations, too many to acknowledge here. The first visit took place in March 2012 and to date we have accepted eighteen young students and planning for another four this year.
We now know that this program does help these young people and can change their lives.
The AJS (ACT) is inviting the community to participate by supporting this program.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE TOHOKU YOUTH PROGRAM
- You can help by raising the money to sponsor a young victim to take part in this program. Contact ajspresidentact@gmail.com or the Australia-Japan Society (ACT), PO Box 1066 Canberra ACT 2601
- Your organisation can partner with the AJS (ACT) in sponsoring a young victim. Contact bjarman@homemail.com.au or the TYP co ordinator AJS (ACT) PO Box 406, Jamison, ACT 2614
Great night at the Nara Candle Festival in Canberra, celebrating our Sister City Relationship. Weather was beautiful and there was plenty of entertainment and cultural activities to watch and participate in. Thanks to all the AJS volunteers and the student volunteers from ANU who came out to help us with the AJS Stall. Seems like some people missed out on our delicious okonomiyaki, so make sure you come to our stall next year! … See MoreSee Less
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events.canberra.com.au/whats-on/663997d7517829a3363e111c/canberra-nara-candle-festival-2024
Don’t forget this Saturday is the Canberra Nara Candle Festival. Come down and eat some Okonomiyaki, taste some more delicious Japanese food and visit the Embassy of Japan in Australia. Enjoy the variety of performances on the main stage and stay for the magic of the candles lit at night. … See MoreSee Less
Canberra Nara Candle Festival 2024 | Events Canberra
events.canberra.com.au
The Canberra Nara Candle Festival celebrates Canberra’s sister city relationship with Nara, Japan.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Please register to hear the incredible story of Harry Freame, the first Australian Spy in Japan!
Harry Freame was the first Australian soldier to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal at Gallipoli. He risked his life again and again to scout the battlefield, reporting invaluable intelligence and relieving stranded soldiers. Few knew that Harry was half Japanese – real name Wykeham Henry Koba Freame – born in Japan in 1885 and raised in a samurai household.
In the inter-war years, Harry was a successful orchardist in the New England region. However in the lead-up to World War II, Harry was recruited into Australian intelligence and sent to Japan. Not long after his arrival in Tokyo in 1941, he was reportedly attacked. He died a few weeks later back in Australia, and is buried in Macquarie Park Cemetery.
Author Ryan Butta has discovered more of the untold story of Harry Freame. His recently released book, The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli is a fascinating investigation into an eventful life and a grievous historical wrong.
We are pleased to welcome Ryan to talk us through his research into the story of Harry Freame.
Registrations for the event can be found:
www.ajsnsw.org.au/event-5887484
The author talk will be followed by networking over drinks.
AUTHOR BIO
Ryan Butta is a writer of feature articles and historical nonfiction. Through his books he looks to reveal the hidden and forgotten stories of Australia and the Australians who came across the seas to make their home here. His first book, The Ballad of Abdul Wade, was the story of a pioneering cameleer who first brought camels to the outback. … See MoreSee Less
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