Thursday 22^nd January

A.G.M.   Followed by  Having Fun with Origami ! by Sachiko Mason- a light- hearted demonstration and  opportunity to try origami . A very successful and fun evening.  

Thursday 26^th February

Inside the British Museum. A Japanese viewpoint  . Hiromi Uchida, a Sainsbury Fellow on secondment to the British Museum told  us about the treasures to be found in its Japan Gallery..

Friday  27^th February

The Way of Tea  A demonstration of the tea ceremony in the Japanese Gallery of the British Museum. After a tour of the gallery we went to eat okonomiaki at a Japanese restaurant beside the Museum , alas missed the tea ceremony! But enjoyed our lunch!

Thursday 12^th  March

Memories of Japan  Sir Graham Fry, recently-returned British Ambassador to Japan and a keen birdwatcher,  recounted his fascinating  experiences there.  

Thursday 23^rd  April

“An Exceptional Fondness for Butterflies – a shared passion in Japan and UK”  Dick Vane Wright, former Keeper of Entomology at the Natural History Museum and world authority on butterflies  had many happy experiences with his Japanese opposite number while in Japan.

Thursday 28^th  May

An Evening of Japanese Music  Melissa Holding, internationally celebrated koto player ,  returned with a programme of ancient and modern Japanese music,  this time  with renowned shakuhachi player Clive Bell.

 Saturday 13thJune

Walk and pub lunch in the beautiful Hampshire countryside . We had a delightful  walk all round Jane Austen’s village of Chawton, and a delicious meal at the local pub.

Thursday 23^rd July

The Story of Ohara Ikebana   An   talk by Diana Norman who  beautifully demonstrated this fascinating  and elegant Japanese method of flower arranging.

Thursday 27^th August

At the United Reform Church Hall

Kendo, the Way of the Sword.   A demonstration of  exciting Japanese fencing . Clive Smith has spent 4 years in Japan, and studied kendo there in Kyoto, attaining 3^rd Dan.   .

Thursday September 24^th

At the Physic Garden Hall

Beond Diplomacy- Great Britain and the “Opening” of Japan.  Dr Angus Lockyer, lecturer in the History of Japan and Chair of the Research Centre at the School of African and Oriental Studies at London University tells the fascinating story of Japan’s early  contact with the West.

Wednesday October 28th 

At the United Reform Church Hall

An illustrated  Talk on Seaonal Japanese Food,  followed by a talk on Sake with a complimentary Tasting and Japanese snacks.   Shirley Booth, President of the British Sake Association, explains seasonal variations in Japanese food, prepares some for us, and introduces us also to this traditional Japanese drink  and allows us to sample different types of sake, hopefully including one which contains gold! Tickets from Wendy Arnold Tel: 01730 266992

Thursday 26^th November

At the Physic Garden Hall

Japanese Nurses at Netley Hospital during WW1  Gordon Daniels, Reader Emeritus in History at Sheffield University , and a  leading figure in the study of Anglo-Japanese relations has unearthed an almost forgotten story of how in 1915 Japanese nurses and doctors helped nurse UK wounded in Hampshire, since Japan was our ally . 

Sunday December 6^th  At Rosemary Alexander’s Guest Cottage

Sushi and mince pies!  A social evening when everyone brings something, traditional Japanese or Christmas food, plus a small gift, which will be distributed by  Santa-san. For members and their guests only.