Australia now Monthly – September 2018

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Like many in Japan and Australia, I was deeply moved by the images of hardship and endurance following natural disasters in Hokkaido and Kansai this month. Our thoughts are with all those affected, and our sincere thanks go the local responders helping those affected, including Australians who found themselves caught up in events.

September has already seen a rush of Australia now events, including medical research symposiums, gourmet food celebrations and Australian musicians at Tokyo’s largest jazz festival.

Those present won’t forget the thrill of seeing didgeridoo master, Djalu Gurruwiwi perform in the rice fields of Niigata as a fitting celebration of the Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia exhibition. I wasn’t alone in being moved by Djalu’s performance, especially when joined on stage by Japanese didgeridoo sensation, GOMA.

Another highlight this month was seeing the UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES / UNIQUE PROJECTS architecture exhibition given full treatment in Japan’s leading architectural monthly, a+u (Architecture and Urbanism) Magazine. More than a magazine, this is a collector’s coffee table item on sustainability and modern living.

With less than two months to go, we’re looking forward to many more such highlights until Australia now wraps up with Bangarra Dance Theatre in November.

Bassim Blazey

Didgeridoo masters Djalu Gurruwiwi and GOMA at Australia House, Niigata on 9 September
Photo credit: Australian Embassy Tokyo

The Australian economy grew by 3.4 per cent over the year to June 2018, stronger than any G7 economy

3-29 Sept: Little Penguin Cup

15 Sept-18 Nov: Jörg Schmeisser Retrospective: Neverending Journeys

28-30 Sept: “THE FROCK“ by Graeme Murphy ＆ Mature Artists Dance Experience

3-4 Oct: Split at Dance New Air Tokyo

6-8 Oct: Study in Australia Fair 2018

10-12 Oct: Australian Life Science Showcase at BioJapan 2018

11-21 Oct: I let my body fall into a rhythm

12 Oct-11 Nov: Science Circus Tour Japan 2018

Cementing its place as a definite Australia now highlight, the UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES / UNIQUE PROJECTS architecture exhibition wrapped up at Mori Tower on 26 August, before moving to its new temporary home at A+U Magazine’s Shinkenchiku-sha Aoyama House.

More than 190,000 people passed through the exhibition during its seven-week stay at the Sky Gallery, treating viewers to a unique architectural journey through innovative Australian approaches to sustainable, resource-friendly and resilient architecture.

The exhibition has also taken over this month’s edition of a+u (Architecture and Urbanism) Magazine, featuring interviews with exhibition curator Wendy Lewin and collaborators Tom Heneghan and Maryam Gusheh.

The exhibition was specially curated for Australia now with the support of Mori Building Co. Ltd, Chiba Institute of Technology, Tokyo University of the Arts and NHK Enterprises Inc.

 

Australian architect and curator Wendy Lewin at the UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES / UNIQUE PROJECTS exhibition opening on 7 July 2018
Photo credit: Australian Embassy Tokyo

Tokyo tour dates have been announced for Back to Back Theatre’s presentation of small metal objects for Australia now.

Supported by Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria and the City of Greater Geelong, Geelong-based Back to Back Theatre is a world-leading ensemble of six actors with disabilities, who challenge what is possible in theatre by creating thought-provoking works.

Presented by Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre as part of Festival/Tokyo, the company will present 14 outdoor shows in Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park from 20-29 October. Audience members will use headphones to take part in this intensely personal drama being played out among unsuspecting Tokyo crowds. Don’t miss it!

Back to Back actors will explore how respect is withheld from outsiders and those deemed to be ‘unproductive’ in their outdoor performances as part of Festival/Tokyo
Photo credit: Jeff Busby

Extra tickets needed to be issued quickly to cater for the oversubscribed one-night-only performance YIDAKI in concert featuring Djalu Gurruwiwi & GOMA held in Niigata on

8 September as part of the Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale for Australia now.

Audiences were immersed in the sounds of Australia, with internationally-recognised Yidaki master Djalu Gurruwiwi performing in collaboration with Japanese artist GOMA to create a truly powerful and uniquely Australian audio experience.

Djalu is a Yolngu elder from north-east Arnhem Land, the traditional home of the Yidaki (also known as didgeridoo). Djalu was joined for this unique performance by seven other Yonglu artists, celebrating the successful international debut of the Yidaki: Didjeridu and the Sound of Australia exhibition, presented by the South Australian Museum and the National Museum of Australia, and supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation and DFAT’s Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program.

Yidaki (didgeridoo) master Djalu Gurruwiwi performs with Yolngu community members for more than 600 eager guests at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale on 8 September
Photo credit: Australian Embassy Tokyo

Tickets also sold out to the 13 September Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ) Gourmet Food and Wine Garden Party held at the Embassy garden as part of Australia now.

The multicourse meal prepared by Luke Mangan’s restaurant, Salt Tokyo, let diners indulge in the full diversity of flavours offered by Australia and New Zealand. A variety of craft beers and Australian wines also satiated palates.

Co-hosted by ANZCCJ and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), the event featured several guest speakers, including Australia now Goodwill Ambassador and actor Toshio Shiba AM, who spoke of his love for Australian cuisine and his efforts to promote food diplomacy between Australia and Japan.

Australia now Goodwill Ambassador and actor Toshio Shiba AM shares his passion for Australia’s gourmet culture at the Embassy on 13 September
Photo credit: Australian Embassy Tokyo

The Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Tokyo (UTokyo) will shortly announce speakers for the Australia-Japan Science Diplomacy and Public Policy Forum, to be held at the University of Tokyo on 5 November as part of Australia now.

Confirmed keynote speakers include Professor Kishi Teruo, Science and Technology Advisor to the Minster for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anna-Maria Arabia, CEO, Australian Academy of Science, Professor Akira Furusawa, Deputy Dean of Engineering, UTokyo, Professor Elanor Huntingdon, Dean of Engineering and Computer Science, ANU, and Professor James Wilsdon, Vice-Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice.

Supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation, the forum will share leading examples of active research collaborations between Australia and Japan, inside and outside of academia.

Save the date to hear advisors to Government on the role of science in diplomacy and policy and see collaborative research in action. Registration details are to be released soon.

Collaborations like Rio Tinto and Komatsu’s efforts to convert traditional trucks to autonomous vehicles are not only improving productivity, but also forging new science diplomacy linkages between Australia and Japan
Photo credit: Rio Tinto

Autumn was ushered in with a fittingly refreshing outdoor performance on 1 September by The Gravity Project, led by legendary jazz pianist Paul Grabowsky AO at the Tokyo Jazz Festival. Several hundred jazz fans braved the rain to hear the nine-piece ensemble bring together Australian and Japanese musicians for a special Australia now celebration, powered by Creative Victoria.

From Tokyo, the Australian Jazz Journey travelled on to the Iwate Jazz Festival with performances by Melbourne musician Robert Burke and his band on 8-9 September. For the third consecutive year, Robert returned to Iwate Prefecture to visit schools affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Australian jazz musicians have visited schools in Iwate prefecture to perform and conduct workshops each year since 2011. The Australian Jazz Journey 2018 was supported by DFAT’s Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program and the Australia Council for the Arts.

Crowds gather in front of NHK Hall to hear The Gravity Project, featuring Paul Grabowsky with Australian and Japanese musicians on 1 September.
Photo credit: Australian Embassy Tokyo

Around 50 Japanese and Australian business leaders gathered at the Embassy on 5 September to hear an update on Australia’s Foreign Investment Framework with Australian Treasury Senior Official, Jessica Robinson.

Held in collaboration with the Japan Australia Business Cooperation Committee (JABCC), the forum heard an update on recent changes to Australia’s foreign investment regime and the evolving focus on national interest concerns.

Japan is a critical source of foreign direct investment into Australia, with some 500 Japanese companies employing over 73,900 Australians (2014-15).

Six of Australia’s best lifesavers joined Japanese lifesavers at the Ocean Surf Challenge 2018 in Nanki-shirahama, Wakayama on 9 September as part of Australia now. The Australian team shared their experience with the Lifesaving Patrol Competition, a unique Surf Lifesaving Australia competition format that encourages skills learning and teamwork.

Supported by the Australia-Japan Foundation, the team wowed the crowd with their synchronised rescue methods and demonstrated how to provide safer beaches by strengthening surf patrol skill sets.

They also had the opportunity to meet with local officials and members of the Japanese Lifesaving Association. Australian and Japanese participants enjoyed communicating across cultures to address the shared challenge of beach safety in Japan and Australia.

Australian lifesavers greet fans during a children’s beach safety class at Shirarahama Beach on 9 September
Photo credit: Australian Embassy Tokyo