Issue 3
July 2004
JET Newsletter

On the 21^st June, a Japanese Zen Garden was officially opened at Whitburn Academy in West Lothian.

Thanks to the hard work of geography teacher and former JET participant, Graham Rutherford, a Japanese club has been running at the school since August 2003. At the club, pupils have been learning about Japanese culture and exchanging letters with Japanese penpals in Miyagi. It was while designing miniature Zen gardens that the pupils came up with the idea of redesigning the overgrown school garden.

Japanese Club pupils started work in the garden around Easter time, and with assistance from fellow classmates and teachers, they ensured the garden was ready for an official opening by the end of the school year.

Consul Hotta and Joanna Stuart from the Consulate General of Japan, were treated to a wonderful welcome which included taiko drum performances and Scottish pipe music.

Mr Hotta was then delighted to officially open the garden and expressed his hope that the garden will be used as a place of relaxation for both pupils and staff.

For the second year running, a JET Pre-Departure Orientation Course took place at the University of Edinburgh on the 12^th and 13^th July.

The aim of the course was to provide new participants with essential information and language basics in order to ease their transition into Japanese society and working life. A Q&A session was also organised with several ex-JET’s answering queries and offering advice.

After a long day, the participants were then able to relax at an informal reception hosted by Mr Hiraoka, Consul General.

This year, nearly 500 UK participants will be joining the programme, over 60 of which, took part in the Edinburgh course. The new participants are leaving for Japan at the end of July, and the Consulate General of Japan would like to wish them the best of luck.

Weekend in the Highlands with JETAA Scotland and North England

Despite the rain, despite the mud and despite the midges, 14 intrepid members of the JET Alumni dug out their waterproofs and sleeping bags, and headed off to the glens of Scotland for a weekend of eating, drinking and reminiscing.

We had reserved accommodation for the nights of the 16^th and 17^th July at the Strathfillan Wigwams, a series of no-frills wigwam-shaped huts about an hour and a half’s drive north from Glasgow, near Crianlarich. Set in the glorious scenery of the Scottish Highlands, the wigwams themselves are spartan, but warm and cosy, and there are communal kitchens and showers for guests’ use.

Being mid-July in Scotland, naturally the rain battered down, so we abandoned our plans to bag a Munro and instead sat chatting, guzzling toast and drinking tea until the rain gave up and the sun came out. Grabbing the opportunity, we headed off along the West Highland Way for a few hours of hiking, before stopping off a local pub for a well-earned drink.

Back at the campsite, we prepared a magnificent barbeque of chicken, burgers, veggie kebabs and fish, and then sat round our campfire swapping anecdotes and telling not-very-scary-ghost stories till the wee hours.

Many thanks to everyone who came along and made it such a fun weekend!

JETAA events are organised by this year’s committee, who are:

Quynh Luong (Chair)
Suzie Huggins (Communications Officer)
Eilidh McLean (Glasgow coordinator)
Sarah Murray (Edinburgh Coordinator)
Beth Sergeant (Treasurer)

We usually send out information on events by email, so if you’d like to subscribe to JETAA, please send your details to:

jetaascotland-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Otherwise, please contact the committee at: jetaascotland@yahoo.com

And remember, keep a look out for forthcoming Japanese events in the Edinburgh Festival, there is plenty to choose from!
Suzie
Communications Officer

Japanese Robots Old and New

The Japan Foundation and The Japan Society of Scotland, with assistance from the Consulate General of Japan, were pleased to welcome Professor Yoshikazu Suematsu of Nagoya University, and the 9^th Shyobei Tamaya, Grand Master of Karakuri traditional dolls for a free event at Edinburgh City Art Centre back in January.

Karakuri dolls are a particular type of puppet developed in the 17^th century whose movements are controlled by a combination of strings and mechanism.

Professor Yoshikazu Suematsu gave a lecture on the unique phenomenon of Karakuri dolls during the Edo period (1603-1868) and compared them with automata in the west. He also explored the cultural aspects of the industrial development of Japan that contributed to Japan’s position as a leading producer of robots. He illustrated his talk by showing two Aibo (robot dogs) from his own collection.

The lecture was then followed by a demonstration from Shyobei Tamaya where he showed the intricate inner workings of his Karakuri dolls.

The event proved extremely popular, with over 100 people attending.

Scotland Visit by Cosmos Chorus

August 2004

Cosmos Chorus are an all-female amateur choral group, established in 1976 in Fukui City, and next month you will have the opportunity to see them for free in Edinburgh. Ten group members will be visiting Scotland in August to perform a unique show comprising of Japanese folk songs as well as Scottish songs sung in Japanese.

Their first free concert will be held on Friday 20th August at St. Cuthbert Episcopal Church in Colinton, Edinburgh. The performance will start at 7pm and as space will be limited, seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Cosmos Chorus will then perform at the Japan Day at Lauriston Castle on Sunday 22nd August. The Japan Day will focus on Japanese crafts and music, and will also include a performance by the taiko drum group Mugenkyo. The Japan Day runs from 12 till 4 pm and will be held in the Japanese Garden at the Castle.

If you require more information, please contact Ian Harkness on Tel: 0131 441 7626 or email: i.harkness@btinternet.com

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A New Face at the Consulate

The Consulate General of Japan would like to welcome Mr Hotta as the new Consul in charge of Culture and Information. He succeeds Mr Ota, who returned to Japan in May after 3 busy years in Scotland.

Mr Hotta is from Hokkaido and arrived in Edinburgh on the 22nd April with his wife and two young children. He was delighted to learn he would be posted to Scotland and plans to see as much of the country as possible, indeed he has already visited Loch Ness in an attempt to glimpse Nessie!

Mr Hotta is very much looking forward to the exciting challenge of his new position, and to working closely with JET participants and all other aspects of the JET programme.

Consulate General of Japan, 2 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7HW

Tel: 0131 225 4777, Fax: 0131 225 1752

Web: www.edinburgh.uk.emb-japan.go.jp