Stitched Up! from Sashiko to Manga

Date: 30 June 2009 ~ 1 July 2009

Venue: The Japan Foundation, London Russell Square House 10-12 Russell Square London WC1B 5EH

To celebrate the first major museum exhibition of Sashiko textiles in the UK and the launch of the innovative book Manga Cross-Stitch, the Japan Foundation presents two very special events looking at textiles and needlework.
Sashiko is a traditional sewing technique of Japan, similar to quilting, and characterised by geometric patterns of white stitching on indigo coloured cloth. In this illustrative lecture, Textile Artist and Researcher, Michele Walker, will explore the significance and uniqueness of Sashiko textiles in a cultural and historical context, looking at the technical aspects of how they are produced, as well as their social bearing. At a critical time, when the last generation of traditional Japanese Sashiko makers and their skills are being lost, this is a very timely opportunity to find out more about this traditional craft, now classed as Mingei, and its very special place in Japanese heritage.

Distinguished Manga/Anime expert and author of the newly published book Manga Cross Stitch, Helen McCarthy, will present a unique event focusing on cross-stitch designs inspired by Manga and Anime, discussing how the graphic imagery of Manga and Anime can be interpreted in textiles. There will also be the opportunity for participants to create their own cross-stitch pieces with Helen’s guidance. This event is free to attend but there is a £3 fee to cover the cost of workshop materials, payment is by cash on the day.

TASTE OF ASIA 2009

Britain’s love affair with Asian cuisine continued at Taste of Asia, Potters Fields London between 29th and 31st May. Taste of Asia is the part of the Celebrasian festival and for the last three years the Celebrasian festival has received significant media coverage to millions of people. Asian Woman and B4U continued their partnership in 2009 with increased coverage alongside. Other partners included Taste of Asia magazine, Food and Travel magazine and Taste London.
The organisors of Taste of Asia announced the event also gave back to the community and the Child in Need Institute (CINI) who were their chosen partners for 2009; CINI works to break down the cycle of poverty, malnutrition and ill health and provides basic educational services to some of India’s poorest communities.

Cherie Blair opened the show and Celebrity chef Ross Burden again hosted the Rangemaster cookery theatre with chefs demonstrating how to cook amazing Asian dishes. There were cultural performances on stage with an excellent range of companies exhibiting throughout the show.

Visitors could get the chance to learn from the chefs’ demonstrations how to make great Asian cuisine including what ingredients and spices were best, what were the ideal utensils to use, what wines / drinks matched different dishes. Furthermore, these gave visitors a real feel for Asia and encouraged them to make Asia their next overseas holiday destination.

There were exhibitors from the food & drink companies, travel and cultural products as well as tourism boards. Exhibitors could choose from their own individual marquee or within a country zone. They could also be within a market-style environment.

Amongst them the Korea Food section, Taste of Korea, showed a spectacular exhibition. Under the catchphrase of “Globalising Korean Food Campaign”, Korean Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp, Korea Tourism Organization UK, Korean Cultural Centre UK, Asiana Airlines, CJ Corporate, Nongshim, Chongga Kimchi, OKF Corp and THE EAST produced a very well organised cultural show under the organisation of Korea Foods Ltd, the biggest Korean food whole seller in the UK.
OKF’s Aloe Vera juice and Nongshim’s Onion snack were most welcomed by the visitors.
The Korean cooking demonstration by Ms Heewon Jun, Marketing & PR Executive of Korea foods and Ross Burden received the most appreciative responses from the thousands of visitors on that day. During the show, Ms Jun cooked BULGOGGI with CJ Sauce by demonstrating how healthy and scientific Korean food was.

“Since this year, the Korean government has been spending so much time and efforts to globalise Korean food abroad. We are very proud of introducing the national treasury food, such as Kimchi in the UK and we hope this exhibition will give more chance for westerners to experience how healthy Korean food is. With a continuous campaign and exhibitions, we strongly believe that Korean food will be recognised as the world’s most healthy and famous food within 5 years as the Korean government and company work very closely under this scheme,” said an official from Korean Agro-Fisheries Trade Corp.

Japanese Freemasonry Today

Date: 09/06/2009

Venue: The Japan Room, Lodge Room No.11, The Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2

Fee: £12 for members of The Japan Society, £18 for non-members

You are most welcome to attend the fourth annual lecture of the Japan Room. In 2005, a lecture was given to the Society to explain Freemasonry and its presence in Japan up until the formation of Japan’s own Grand Lodge in 1957. This lecture expands on the topic by explaining the current aims and activities of Freemasonry in Japan.

There is also the usual optional tour of the Hall.

Following the lecture, those who wish will transfer to Wolfe’s Bar and Grill for drinks and/or dinner.

Please note that the ticket price covers only the lecture in the hall. Please assemble at 5.15pm if going on the usual optional tour of the Hall.

No tickets will be issued but you will receive confirmation of your place.

Funeral held for former President Roh Moo-hyun

The funeral for the late ex-President Roh Moo-hyun took place at 11 a.m. Friday (May 29) inside the ancient palace of Gyeongbokgung in central Seoul.

The so-called “people's funeral” service for the late President Roh, who died on May 23 in his hometown of Bongha Village in Gimhae about 450 kilometers south of Seoul, lasted about an hour and a half, with some 2,500 invited guests in attendance.
President Lee Myung-bak, along with former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam, lawmakers, key government officials, political and religious leaders, diplomatic delegations and funeral committee members attended the ceremony, expressing deepest condolences over former President Roh's death and to his surviving family.

For those who couldn't be inside the palace, the ceremony was shown live on large monitors across central Seoul.

During the funeral, Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Dal-gon read a short personal history of Roh followed by funeral addresses -- one by Prime Minister Han Seung-soo and another by former premier Han Myung-sook.

"We have gathered here today to bid goodbye to former President Roh Moo-hyun, who spent his life fighting for human rights, democracy and the end of authoritarianism -- a true 'people's president' he was. We will strive to follow your last wishes on reconciliation, unity and a better nation," Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said in his memorial address. After the memorial addresses, four religious ceremonies --Buddhist, Won Buddhist, Catholic and Protestant took place. After the religious ceremonies, video clips of Roh's life were shown.Towards the end of the funeral, guests laid flowers in remembrance of Roh, including President Lee Myung-bak, First Lady Kim Yoon-ok and former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam.

After the ceremony ended, the coffin was moved to Seoul Plaza in front of the city hall, where a public mourning service was held. A large crowd -- estimates varied between two and four hundred thousand people -- turned out for the publc mourning service. About five million mourners paid their respects at some 300 altars nationwide from morning to night since Roh, who was 62, died on May 23.

By Han Aran (Korea.net Staff Writer)

The Globalisation of Accounting Branches & its Implications

Date: 02/06/2009

Venue: JETRO, MidCity Place, 71 High Holborn, London WC1V 6AL

Fee: £12 for members & those introduced by JETRO & UKTI, £18 for all others

Sir David Tweedie, the Chairman of the International Accounting Standards Board, will talk about his organisation, its role in the globalisation of accounting standards and on how this will affect the corporate governance of the future. This subject is very topical and of great importance and relevance to all members of any nationality.

The International Accounting Standards Board’s mission is to develop, in the public interest, a single set of high quality reporting standards for general purpose financial statements. With current talk of the need for a stronger regulatory regime for companies, globally understood and based on standardised accounting and reporting requirements, this topic is highly relevant. Sir David has been developing such standards working with colleagues in Britain, Japan and other countries and some progress has been made - but he is likely to tell us that there is a long way to go. Sir David Tweedie qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1972 and was, for five years, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. His subsequent academic and accounting career includes periods at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and KPMG; he became the first Chairman of the UK Accounting Standards Board in 1990, remaining until 2000. He was knighted in 1994 and is a visiting professor at three universities.

To reserve your place, Please contact the Japan Society office on tel: 020 7828 6330 or email: events@japansociety.org.uk

Neo-Confucianism

Neo-Confucianism is a form of Confucianism that was primarily developed during the Song Dynasty, but which can be traced back to Han Yu and Li Ao (772-841) in the Tang Dynasty. It formed the basis of Confucian orthodoxy in the Qing Dynasty of China. It was a philosophy that attempted to merge certain basic elements of Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist thought. Most important of early Neo-Confucianists was the Chinese thinker Zhu Xi (1130-1200).

Confucians of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) studied the classical works of their faith, but were also familiar with Buddhist and Taoist teachings. Buddhist thought offered to them many things that they considered worthy of admiration, including ideas such as the nature of the soul and the relation of the individual to the cosmos, ideas not yet fully explored by Confucianism. Song Confucians drew greatly from Buddhist thought as well as their own traditions, thus giving rise to the English-language name of “Neo-Confucianism”.One of the most important exponents of Neo-Confucianism was Zhu Xi. He was a rather prolific writer, maintaining and defending his Confucian beliefs of social harmony and proper personal conduct. One of his most remembered was the book Family Rituals, where he provided detailed advice on how to conduct weddings, funerals, family ceremonies, and the veneration of ancestors. Buddhist thought soon attracted him, and he began to argue in Confucian style for the Buddhist observance of high moral standards. He also believed that it was important to practical affairs that one should engage in both academic and philosophical pursuits, although his writings are concentrated more on issues of theoretical (as opposed to practical) significance. It is reputed that he wrote many essays attempting to explain how his ideas were not Buddhist or Taoist, and included some heated denunciations of Buddhism and Taoism. There were many competing views within the Neo-Confucian community, but overall, a system emerged that resembled both Buddhist and Taoist (Daoist) thought of the time and some of the ideas expressed in the Book of Changes (I Ching) as well as other yin yang theories associated with the Taiji symbol (Taijitu).

A well known Neo-Confucian motif is paintings of Confucius, Buddha, and Lao Tzu all drinking out of the same vinegar jar, paintings associated with the slogan “The three teachings are one!” While Neo-Confucianism incorporated Buddhist and Taoist ideas, many Neo-Confucianists strongly oppose Buddhism and Taoism. Indeed, they rejected the Buddhist and Taoist religions. One of Han Yu’s most famous essays decries the worship of Buddhist relics. Nonetheless, Neo-Confucian writings adapted Buddhist thoughts and beliefs to the Confucian interest. In China Neo-Confucianism was an officially-recognized creed from its development during the Song dynasty until the early twentieth century, and lands in the sphere of Song China (Korea, Vietnam, and Japan) were all deeply influenced by Neo-Confucianism for more than half a millennium.Zhu Xi’s formulation of the Neo-Confucian world view is as follows. He believed that the Tao of Tian is expressed in principle or li, but that it is sheathed in matter or qi. In this, his system is based on Buddhist systems of the time that divided things into principle (again, li), and shi. In the Neo-Confucian formulation, li in itself is pure and almost-perfect, but with the addition of qi, base emotions and conflicts arise. Human nature is originally good, the Neo-Confucians argued (following Mencius), but not pure unless action is taken to purify it. The imperative is then to purify one’s li.

However, in contrast to Buddhists and Taoists, neo-Confucians did not believe in an external world unconnected with the world of matter. In addition, Neo-Confucians in general rejected the idea of reincarnation and the associated idea of karma. Different Neo-Confucians had differing ideas for how to do so. Zhu Xi believed in gewu, the Investigation of Things, essentially an academic form of observational science, based on the idea that li lies within the world. Wang Yangming (Wang Shouren), probably the second most influential Neo-Confucian, came to another conclusion: namely, that if li is in all things, and li is in one’s heart, there is no better place to seek than within oneself. His preferred method of doing so was jingzuo, a practice that strongly resembles zazen or Chan (Zen) meditation. Wang Yangming developed the idea of innate knowing, arguing that every person knows from birth the difference between good and evil. Such knowledge is intuitive and not rational. These revolutionizing ideas of Wang Yangming would later inspire prominent Japanese thinkers like Motoori Norinaga, who argued that because of the Shinto deities, Japanese people alone had the intuitive ability to distinguish good and evil without complex rationalization.

The 24th Korean Film Night (Hansel and Gretel)

Date: May 28th 2009, 7pm

Venue: Multi-purpose Hall, The Korean Cultural Centre UKGrand Buildings, 1 -3 Strand, London WC2N 5BW

Director: YIM Pil-sung
Cast: Shim Eun-kyung, Cheon Jeong-myung, Eun Won-jae, Jin Ji-hye, Jang Yeong-nam, Kim Kyung-ik
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Running Time: 117 mins

Synopsis
When Eun-soo crashes his car on a country road, he meets a young girl who leads him to her beautiful house in the middle of the forest, where he is welcomed by her parents and two young siblings, who appear to be the picture of the perfect family. The morning after, when he tries to get back to his car, the forest seems never-ending and inevitably leads back to the house. Soon Eun-soo realizes he’s trapped in the kids’ gloomy fairy-tale alternate reality, a world no other adult has managed to escape.

Filmography of YIM Pil-sung
Hansel & Gretel (2007), Namgeuk-ilgi (2005), Baby (1999), So-Nyun-Ghi (1998)

Awards
Gerardmer Film Festival, Nominated for Grand Prize : Hansel & Gretel (2009)
Fantasporto, International Fantasy Film Special Jury Award / Orient Express Section Grand Prize : Hansel & Gretel (2007)

JAL Code Shares with Korean Air on Shizuoka-Incheon Route

Japan Airlines (JAL) will start offering code share flights between Shizuoka and Seoul (Incheon) operated by Korean Air (KAL) starting June 4, 2009, the first day of operation of the new Shizuoka Airport.
The new code share flights will internationalize JAL’s network out from Shizuoka, where the carrier will already be operating three daily return flights between Shizuoka and Fukuoka, and one daily between Shizuoka and Sapporo when the prefecture’s new airport opens its doors this June.

JAL and KAL entered their first code share partnership in August 2004 with the objective of mutual development on the Japan-Korea network. Through this new agreement to include the Shizuoka-Seoul (Incheon) route, passengers traveling between the two countries, either for business or for leisure, can now expect greater convenience provided by the expanded network to 16 routes and 165 return flights a week.
Meanwhile JAL announced that the company will relocate its check-in counters and office at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport in Paris from Terminal 2F to Terminal 2E from June 17, 2009.

After the move into CDG Airport’s most recently renewed terminal that is decked with the latest facilities, passengers can look forward to checking-in at an island in the terminal that has been designated especially to JAL. The spacious terminal with roomier gate areas and other common facilities is certain to provide greater comfort and convenience to passengers, particularly those in transit and who have tight connections to another flight.

The revamped terminal also boasts of a larger common lounge, increasing in space from 820 m2 to 2147 m2, and which comes fully furnished with a business center, shower rooms, and wireless LAN connections. One travel companion of each eligible passenger is also welcome to enjoy the facilities at no additional charge.
With its current offering of 32 flights (including codeshare flights) a week between Japan and Paris, JAL connects Japan via Paris, to 12 other destinations in Europe, namely Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Istanbul, Lyon, Munich, Nice, Prague, Stockholm and Warsaw.

tracing elements : Mitsuko Hoshino Exhibition

Date: 02 -17 June 2009 (Gallery open Tues - Fri 12:00 - 16:00 / Sat 11:00 - 15:00)
Venue: Gallery Koukan, 106A Alexandra Park Road, London N10 2AE

The first major exhibition of new works by Mitsuko Hoshino in London since 2003 will open at the Gallery Koukan on Tuesday, 2nd June 2009. The show will include twenty-two new works in a site-specific installation.
Mitsuko Hoshino is a London-based artist whose work has been exhibited in the USA, Europe and Japan. She was born in Kanagawa, Japan, graduating from Tokyo's prestigious Tama Art University in 1988. After having worked in the United States and Austria she settled in London.
Hoshino attempts to capture the essence of nature in her largely abstract work, incorporating her eastern background and experiences with western cultures.Focusing on lines and strokes, her new body of work is chromatically reduced and rendered on one or more layers of semi-transparent material (silicone or drafting film).
Jurgen Kisters commented ‘movement and lightness are characteristic of Hoshino’s use of colour…to express the transience of being’ about her ‘dialogue’ exhibition with the German potter Gerd Knapper at the Japanese Cultural Institute in Cologne, Germany ('Kolner Stadt Anzeiger', 2005).Previously in London, Hoshino had a solo exhibition at Daiwa Anglo-Japan Foundation and in 2007 she was short listed for the Jerwood Drawing Prize. Other recent international solo shows include Gallery Gen, Tokyo (2006) and Gallery F.route, Kanagawa (2009). Her work is represented in private collections in Europe, USA, UK and Japan.

Discover Korean Food #9: Dr. Sook-Ja Yoon's "Tangpyeongchae" (THE EAST Campaign in Association with The Institute of Traditional Korean Food)

Tangpyeongchae is a dish made of jellied mung beans, sprouts, beef, watercress, and eggs. It is sweet and sour in taste, rich in nutrition and harmonized with colors from the meat and vegetables. The name ‘tangpyeongchae’ came about when the dish appeared on the table for the first time, during discussions of tangpeongchaek (unbiased policy) in the Yeongjo era of the Joseon Dynasty.

* Ingredients & Quantity

300 g (1 cake) mung bean jelly, 600 g (3 cups) water seasoning : 2 g (1 tsp) salt, 2 g (½ tsp) sesame oil 100 g beef (top round)seasoning sauce : 13 g (⅔ tbsp) soy sauce, 6 g (½ tbsp) sugar, 4.5 g (1 tsp) minced green onion, 2.5 g (½ tsp) minced garlic, 1 g (½ tsp) sesame salt, 0.3 g (⅛ tsp) ground black pepper, 2 g (½ tsp) sesame oil100 g mung bean sprouts, 50 g watercress, 400 g (2 cups) water, 1 g (¼ tsp) salt 2 g (¼ ea) red pepper, 2 g (1 sheet) laver 60 g (1 ea) egg, 4 g (1 tsp) edible oil vinegar soy sauce : 13 g (⅔ tbsp) soy sauce, 30 g (2 tbsp) vinegar, 12 g (1 tbsp) sugar, 2 g (1 tsp) sesame salt

* Preparation

1. Shred mung bean jelly into 7 cm-long and 0.5 cm-wide/thick.

2. Clean blood of beef with cotton cloths, shred into 5 cm-long and 0.3 cm-wide/thick (70 g), mix with seasoning sauce together (100 g).

3. Remove heads and tails of mung bean sprouts (80 g). Trim watercress stalks cleanly (25 g) and wash under running water. Shred red pepper at intervals of 3 cm-long.

4. Panfry egg for yellow/white garnish, and cut into 4 cm-long and 0.3 cm-wide.

5. Blend vinegar soy sauce.

* Recipe

1. Put water in to a pot, heat it up for 3 min. on high heat. When it boils, scald mung bean jelly for 1 min. (250 g), take out the jelly from the pot and drain water. Mix with seasoning together.

2. When the frying pan heated up, put the beef and pan-fry it for 2 min. on medium heat.

3. Pour water in the pot and heat it up for 2 min. on high heat. When it boils, scald mung bean sprouts with salt for 2 min. (70 g). Scald watercress for 1 min. (27 g) and rinse in water, cut into 4 cm-long.

4. Toast laver for 1 min. on low heat and crush up.

5. Mix mung bean jelly with beef, mung bean sprouts, watercress and vinegar soy sauce together. Garnish with red pepper, laver and egg garnish.

About The Beauty of Korean Food: With 100 Best-Loved Recipes

Korean food has been appraised as a genuine, slow, healthy food for its organization with the seasons and regional specialties, harmony of food ingredients and combination of food groups. In spite of high interest in Korean food by global villagers, there haven't been any good books introducing Korean food with internationally comprehensible recipes. As part of the project "Research and Development Project for Standardization of Korean Cuisine" driven by the Korean government, this book is designed to standardize the recipes of the selected 100 Korean foods by using international system of units (SI unit) and to present the pleasure of cooking healthy Korean food easily for everyone around the world. It also gives useful tips, such as service temperature, total cooking time, suggested utensils, nutritional information for one serve, along with specific instructions for preparing ingredients and cooking.

About Dr. Sook-Ja Yoon

As a principal researcher of the Research and Development Project for the Standardization of Korean Cuisine, she has been in the lead to popularize and globalize the Korean food. She has been extending diverse R&D, lectures and writing books, and also acting as a publicity ambassador for the globalization of Korean food at the various overseas exhibitions. She has held the Special Exhibition of Korean Royal Court Cuisine during the APEC Korea in 2005 and promoted the 4th Korean Food Festival in UN Headquarters in 2007, won high praises from ambassadors to UN and overseas journals for the beauty and excellence of Korean food. Major works are: "Korean Food," "Traditional Korean Food," "The Store and Fermentation Food of Korea," "Korean Traditional tteok," "Cookies and Beverages," "Good Morning, Kimchi," "Gyuhapchongseo," "The Beauty of Wedding Food" and so on.

Japanese Strings & English Male Voices

Date: 31 May 2009
Venue: Everyman Theatre, Regent Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1HQ
Tel: 01242 512515

Email: admin@everymantheatre.org.uk

The Fukuoka String Ensemble from Japan will be joining local favourites, The Cotswold Male Voice Choir, for an evening of classic, operatic, big show numbers and popular music in support of Sue Ryder Care.
Many of the sixteen members of The Fukuoka String Ensemble have played violin, viola, cello or bass since the ages of three and four. Some of them have played before in England and in Europe, winning a variety of awards, going on to become recognized instructors in Japan. Their founder and leader, violinist Kimie Yoshinaga attended master classes with Issac Stern in Switzerland and has also played as a soloist with Prague Chamber Orchestra and Czech Philharmony Orchestra.
For the forty plus members of The Cotswold Male Voice Choir, this represents a highlight in their very busy 60th anniversary year. In addition to many local events including concerts at Tewkesbury Abbey and Gloucester Cathedral, recently the Choir has recently performed in the French Alps at Annecy, in Wales with three Welsh choirs, in York’s Guildhall at the invitation of the Mayor, and twice at the Malvern Music Festivals.

Top quality digital voice recording for professionals with the Sony ICD-SX series

With its sleek design and full-function display, the new Sony ICD-SX Series digital voice recorder is clearly something out of the ordinary. Highly compact and weighing just 75g, the ICD-SX is ideal for situations where quality is essential. This can range from applications in journalism and law, where an unambiguous record of an interview is essential, to dictation, musical performance or live field recording.
The ICD-SX uses a combination of three integrated microphones to ensure every recording is detailed and crystal clear. Various audio standards are supported, including MP3 and LPEC long play, but it’s the Linear PCM mode that delivers CD quality recording when the highest definition is essential.
All models offer sophisticated digital signal processing to enhance recording and playback. Features include a noise cut function, a low frequency filter, Index button for ‘bookmarking’ during recording to make it easy to find important moments, and digital pitch control for optimum voice quality during playback. Voice activated recording is also standard on all models.
The ICD-SX800DR comes with Dragon NaturallySpeaking® v10 Recorder Edition software for fast, accurate transcription of recorded speech to text. Simply connect the ICD-SX to a PC via USB and with a few clicks the speech-to-text conversion is underway. As a bonus, the ICD-SX charges its internal battery from the USB connection.
Model options include a choice of either 1GB or 2GB memory (ICD-SX700 and ICD-SX800 respectively), and a black or silver finish. All models are both PC and Apple Mac compatible.
All models offer sophisticated digital signal processing to enhance recording and playback. Features include a noise cut function, a low frequency filter, Index button for ‘bookmarking’ during recording to make it easy to find important moments, and digital pitch control for optimum voice quality during playback. Voice activated recording is also standard on all models.
The ICD-SX800DR comes with Dragon NaturallySpeaking® v10 Recorder Edition software for fast, accurate transcription of recorded speech to text. Simply connect the ICD-SX to a PC via USB and with a few clicks the speech-to-text conversion is underway. As a bonus, the ICD-SX charges its internal battery from the USB connection.
Model options include a choice of either 1GB or 2GB memory (ICD-SX700 and ICD-SX800 respectively), and a black or silver finish. All models are both PC and Apple Mac compatible.

Taste of Asia (Exhibition)

Date: Friday 29 May to Sunday

Venue: Potters Field, SE1

Britain’s love affair with Asian cuisine continues at Taste of AsiaCelebrity chef Ross Burden again hosts the Rangemaster cookery theatre with chefs demonstrating how to cook amazing Asian dishes. Cherie Blair will open the show and cook on stage with Anjum Anand (BBC’s Indian Food Made Easy) There are cultural performances on stage with an excellent range of companies exhibiting throughout the show Visitors will get the chance to learn from the chefs’ demonstrations how to make great Asian cuisine including what ingredients and spices are best, what are the ideal utensils to use, what wines / drinks match different dishes.

There will be ongoing performances from dance and cultural acts showcasing the best of Asian culture over the three days. These will give visitors a real feel for Asia and encourage them to make Asia their next overseas holiday destination. There will be exhibitors from the food & drink companies, travel and cultural products as well as tourism boards. Exhibitors can choose from their own individual marquee or within a country zone. They can also be within a market-style environment.For the last three years the Celebrasian festival has received significant media coverage to millions of people. Asian Woman and B4U will continue their partnership in 2009 with increased coverage alongside. Other partners include Taste of Asia magazine, Food and Travel magazine and Taste London.

Over a quarter of a million flyers will be circulated as part of the marketing campaign which will include promotions in local, national and international media such as the London Paper, UK Asia Times and Sing Tao Daily. The organisors of Taste of Asia are keen to ensure that the event also gives back to the community and we are delighted to announce that the Child in Need Institute (CINI) will be our chosen partners for 2009. CINI works to break down the cycle of poverty, malnutrition and ill health and provides basic educational services to some of India’s poorest communities. Its vision is of an India where children are able to reach their full potential, regardless of their gender, caste, class or ethnicity. A key target for CINI is to support mothers in the last six months of their pregnancy and their children’s first two years., empowering them to give their child the best possible start in life.

Discover Korea #4: BUSAN (THE EAST Campaign in Association with Korea Tourism Organization)

Busan, a bustling city of approximately 3.6 million residents, is located on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula. The size of Busan is 765.64km² which is 0.8% of the whole land of the Korean Peninsula. The natural environment of Busan is a perfect example of harmony between mountains, rivers and sea. Its geography includes a coastline with superb beaches and scenic cliffs, mountains which provide excellent hiking and extraordinary views, and hot springs scattered throughout the city. Busan enjoys four distinct seasons and a temperate climate that never gets too hot or too cold. Busan is the second largest city in Korea. Its deep harbor and gentle tides have allowed it to grow into the largest container handling port in the country and the fifth largest in the world. In the coming years, capacity is set to grow further with the opening of the New Port. The city’s natural endowments and rich history have resulted in Busan’s increasing reputation as a world class city of tourism and culture, and it is also becoming renowned as an international convention destination.

The first human presence on the Korean Peninsula can be traced back as far as the Paleolithic Age. By examining other remains of the Paleolithic Age (such as the hunting stones) collected in areas known today as Cheongsa-po of Haeundae and the new urban development areas of Jwa-dong and Jung-dong, it appears that people were present in Busan by the late Paleolithic Age. Most of the ruins and remains in the Busan area to date are from the period after the beginning of the Neolithic Age.

The well-known remains of the Neolithic Age in Busan are shell mounds and these are all consistently located near rivers or the sea (locations such as Dongsam-dong, Yeongseon-dong, Dadae-dong, Amnam-dong, Geumgok-dong and Beombang.). It appears therefore that our ancestors’ life centered around fishing. In particular, the Neolithic Culture of the southern coast region was formed around the Busan area. It was influential on the Neolithic Culture found in the Kitakyushu region of Japan.Busan is geographically located in the south-east corner of the Korean Peninsula, and this might explain the late arrival of the Bronze Age there. The ruins and remains of the Bronze Age are being discovered, in places such as Guseo-dong, Geumgang Park, Geumsa-dong, Sajik-dong, Bugok-dong, Goijeong-dong, and Nopo-dong. The ruins being discovered are more numerous and significant when compared with the ruins of the Neolithic Age. Of particular note is the inland location of the ruins on hilly regions some distance from the sea. Bronze Age communities in Busan used no patterned earthenware. There are many more old tombs of the Busan region dating from the Iron Age compared to other regions. Since the place for refining iron was discovered in Dongnae shell-mounds, excavations have shown that Busan was the central production area for Iron. It is also apparent that refined iron from here was exported to Japan, Naglang ,Dabang and other regions by means of the Suyeong River. These facts are recorded in the “Wui History” chapter of the “History of the Three Kingdoms of China”. After this period, there was a historic shift towards the area around the Suyeong River and Oncheon stream. According to studies of literature during that period, small territories such as Geochilsanguk and Dokloguk were influential.In the middle of the 6th century the Silla Kingdom annexed Gaya. After the name for the Busan region was changed from Geochilsanguk to Geochilsangun, in the reign of King Gyeongdeock (757) it was changed again from Geochilsangun to Dongnaehyeon.

Honda Begins Sales of Honda Safety Navi Safe Driving Educational Software for PC-based Auto Driving Simulator

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. begins sales in Japan of Honda Safety Navi, new educational software for safe driving developed for a PC-based automobile driving simulator.

Combined with a retail personal computer and accessories such as a steering wheel, Honda Safety Navi provides a simple and easy to use automobile driving simulator. Honda Safety Navi will be sold as software alone or bundled with the recommended hardware. Leveraging know-how Honda accumulated through its development of automobile driving simulators that Honda has sold mostly to driving schools since 2001, Honda Safety Navi was developed for a wider-range of users. The use of a personal computer enables the user to readily experience the simulator in a space as small as a desk. In addition, users learn simply by following the on-screen and audio instructions, making an instructor unnecessary. Honda Safety Navi contains two types of programs. One program (“Eco-Drive”) helps users understand fuel-efficient driving techniques and learn key points of eco-driving. The other program (“SD Coacher”) helps users learn key points of safe driving in the case of risks inherent to various road conditions such as snow, rain, and night driving. Honda Safety Navi is designed to enable users to enjoy learning about eco and safe driving. This is the first time for Honda to develop software for an automobile simulator which helps users to learn eco-driving. By pricing it affordably, Honda aims for widespread use of this software -- which enables drivers of all levels, from beginner to experienced, to learn safe driving through a virtual experience -- by a range of customers including automobile dealers, public offices, companies whose employees use automobiles for commuting or business purposes, and driving schools.

Lloyd's in Japan: Iain Ferguson, President Lloyd's Japan Inc.

Date: Wednesday, 20th May 2009 6.30pm
Venue: Lloyd's of London, 1 Lime Street, London EC3
Fee: Free for Japan Society members & members of BJLA

This presentation in association with the British Japanese Law Association will provide an introductory account of the structure of the Lloyd's insurance market and the role of brokers, underwriters and agents. It will also include the history of Lloyd's in Japan and describe how Lloyd's is currently established there and how Lloyd's of Japan, Inc. is regulated.

The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by Chizu Nakajima of Cass Business School and Co-Chairman of the BJLA. Drinks will be served after the meeting courtesy of Lloyd's of London.

The British Japanese Law Association ("BJLA") is a bilateral law association which exists to promote understanding and exchange of knowledge between British and Japanese lawyers. It holds regular lectures, seminars and social events in London.

To reserve your place, please call the Japan Society office on 020 7828 6330 or email events@japansociety.org.uk .

Kia sales soar in eight countries during April

Outperforming the overall market, Kia’s new car sales in Western Europe achieved significant increases in April, seeing major improvements in eight countries. Sales rose by 91% (Slovakia), 51% (Austria), 42% (Germany), 32% (Poland and Czech Republic), 18% (Sweden), 14% (France) and 5% in Portugal. Total sales in April were 20,500 units, raising Kia’s market share in the region once again. The best-selling Kia models included the cee’d family (5dr, wagon and 3dr coupe), followed by the Picanto (known as ‘Morning’ in some markets) and the Rio (also known as ‘Pride’ in some markets).

In addition, the exciting new Kia Soul urban crossover, is attracting thousands of new customers to the Kia brand and into dealer showrooms for the very first time. “The Kia model line-up is proving extremely competitive in the current economic climate as buyers focus more than ever on good value, reliability, service and peace of mind guaranteed by a generous warranty,” commented Mr. Panu Vainamo, General Manager Marketing, Kia Motors Europe. He continued, “It’s not just the striking new Soul which is demonstrating Kia’s ‘Power to Surprise.’ Customers are discovering that modern Kia products now have ‘stand-out’ design qualities and cars like the European-made Kia cee’d and Sportage, along with the Picanto and Rio, match the very best in class.”

Soul sales in Europe this year have passed the 6,500 mark and are running at a level 13% higher than Kia predicted. Marketing of the Kia Soul is now underway in USA and Australia. Media reception for the newcomer has been very positive on both continents and more than 3,200 customers picked up their new Soul car in the USA last month, alone. The Kia Soul five-door hatchback is already a multi-award winner. In Europe, Soul was the first Korean car ever to receive the prestigious recognition of a design award from the world-renowned RedDot product design competition. The Texas Auto Writers’ Association named Soul as a ‘Best Value’ car, while the USA’s Ward’s AutoWorld voted Soul as having the ‘Grooviest Interior’. In the UK, Fast Car magazine also named Soul the ‘Best New Model for 2009.’

IR3S-Tyndall Centre Joint Symposium - Pathway towards low carbon society and global sustainability

Date: 19-21 May 2009
Venue: University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK

The Japanese Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S) at the University of Tokyo and the UK’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change announce a three day joint symposium to be held on 19-21 May 2009 at University of East Anglia in Norwich.
The purpose of the symposium is to share interdisciplinary learning and knowledge about transitioning to a low carbon society, with specific focus on dialogue between i) Japanese and UK researchers, and ii) between established faculty and junior researchers and students.

The symposium has four primary objectives:
1. Review and discuss the current status of the research activities, goals and policies with special reference to the respective characteristics and future challenges, in order to promote mutual understanding between Japan and UK.
2. Discuss how scientific research community can effectively contribute to the improvement of international negotiation, climate policies and social perception.
3. Encourage the interdisciplinary cooperation among universities and research institutes in IR3S and Tyndall Centre for climate change research through initiatives such as student exchange, visiting fellows and joint research projects.
4. Preserve the challenge for global sustainability through discussion among senior professors, young researchers and students.

This event is not open to general public; however, if you are a university student or an academic professional interested in joining this event, please contact:

http://www2.ir3s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/tyndall/index.html