Welcome to the Australia Japan Society – ACT Inc
50th Anniversary – 1972-2022
IJSP (Ishikawa Japanese Studies Program)
14th Apr – 26th Apr 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 April course will be the 41st 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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It was a honour recently to attend the Award Ceremony for AJS Canberra’s Patron Mr Ron Murray for his recognition to the Nara Sister City Relationship and AJS Canberra. He received the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays. Congratulations!!
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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,
GPO Box 1066,
Canberra ACT 2601
14th Apr – 26th Apr 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 April course will be the 41st course that has been run under this program.
The program is sponsored by the Ishikawa Prefectural Government.
The course will run for two weeks from Sunday 14 April to Friday 26 April and includes intensive language lessons, cultural activities and home stay accommodation with a Japanese family.
You can choose whether you would like to stay with a host family which has some English or stay with a family with no or limited English.
The course and accommodation cost per participant, including all course fees, textbooks, cultural
activities and accommodation for the duration of the course will be, depending on fluctuations in the $/yen ratio, around $1,300 to $1,500. Note: this does NOT include your fares to and from Kanazawa, travel insurance, lunches, local transport costs or your spending money in Japan.
The classes are tailored to the individual participant’s language skills. Participants are assessed on
the first day and placed in groups according to their language abilities.
During the course, mornings are spent in formal language classes. Most afternoons opportunities are provided to explore the local culture, either in organised classes and expeditions or by exploring Kanazawa on your own. There is a cultural tour on the middle Saturday.
There are excellent facilities and very helpful teachers at the language school.
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 and,
if your profession is appropriate, the cost may be tax deductible as a self-education expense.
A deposit of $500 is payable by Friday 2 February 2024. The balance is payable after the course, when AJS ACT receives an invoice from the Institute.
Contact the Coordinator of the program, Mr Michael Hodgkin, for a more detailed outline of the
program and for course/homestay application forms. Completed course/homestay applications need to reach the Coordinator by Friday 2 February 202.
Michael Hodgkin | Coordinator IFIE Courses | c/o Australia – Japan Society (ACT)
M: 0438-584-943 | 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 1066 canberra ACT 2601