Japanese Cultural Directory

Category Index

Traditional and Modern Arts

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Ren Yano Calligraphy Ren Yano specialises in Japanese traditional calligraphy. He moved to Sydney in 1996 after holding exhibitions in Tokyo and Osaka. Now Ren's work can be seen in exhibitions across NSW. He has also held various performances and workshops on many occasions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Japanese Embassy's Candle Festival and the Cowra Japanese Gardens. He received a Consul-General’s Commendation award in 2016.		Midori Furze Origami Midori Furze is a Japanese-born, Sydney-based contemporary artist. Since moving to Sydney in 1989, she has become an active participant in the local art community. Midori is known as an origami specialist and runs workshops and projects across numerous venues. She was also invited to run workshops for the Embassy of Japan in Canberra in 2017 and the Embassy of Japan in Tonga in 2019. She received a Consul-General's Commendation award in 2016.
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Mitsuo Shoji Ceramics Mitsuo Shoji is a Japanese trained ceramist with international renown who has lived and worked in Sydney for more than forty years. His artwork can be found in almost every major art gallery in Australia and he has a studio in Ryde where he creates and exhibits his work. He received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2016.		Roger Pulvers Novelist, playwright, film director and translator Roger Pulvers has published more than fifty books in both English and Japanese, and has written and directed original scripts for television and radio that have been produced by the ABC in Australia and NHK in Japan. In 2016, he wrote and directed the feature film Star Sand, released throughout Japan the following year. Roger is currently developing a new musical of "Night on the Milky Way Train," based on the classic novel by Kenji MIYAZAWA. He was conferred "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon" by the Government of Japan in 2018. It was awarded for his contribution to developing foreign language education and promoting understanding of Science and Technology in Japan. In 2019 he was awarded the Order of Australia.

Music

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Wadaiko Rindo Sydney Taiko Group Wadaiko Rindo Sydney is a Japanese taiko drumming performance group, formed in 2009 as a local chapter from the head group Wadaiko Rindo Melbourne. The ensemble performs at several cultural festivals each year, as well as at various events including weddings, parties, and functions. Wadaiko Rindo Sydney’s mission is to deliver the deep, strong sound of taiko drums in a way that will energise and touch the hearts of their audience. They received a Consul-General’s Commendation award in 2016.		Taikoz Taiko Group Since 1997, Taikoz has developed an international reputation, appearing in Australia's major concert halls, as well as in Japan, USA, Paris, New Zealand, Taiwan, and India. Taikoz also appears in regional Australia and has collaborated with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Kodo and Bell Shakespeare Company. At its Sydney dojo, Taikoz holds weekly community classes and a program for aspiring professional performers. Co-founders Ian Cleworth and Riley Lee individually received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2016.

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Satsuki Odamura Koto Satsuki Odamura is a koto virtuoso, who has pioneered the teaching and performing of this ancient Japanese instrument in Australia. She has recorded three of her own albums in collaboration with Australian musicians, finding new and exciting contexts for the koto, and has performed widely in Australia and overseas. She received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2016.		Aiko Goto Violin Aiko Goto has been a member of the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) since 1998. She began her violin training with the Suzuki Method and studied at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Japan and the Juilliard School in New York. Aiko has been a member of the Saito Kinen Orchestra since 1995 (directed by Seiji Ozawa). Since 2000, she has held annual charity concerts at the Japanese Embassy in Canberra and has also held solo recitals around Australia. In 2006 Aiko gave recitals in Tokyo for the Australia-Japan Year of Exchange. She received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2016.

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Riley Lee Shakuhachi Riley Lee began playing the shakuhachi in Japan in 1971, under the guidance of Chikuho Sakai II and Katsuya Yokoyama. In the early 1970s, he became the first non-Japanese professional taiko player, as a founding member of Ondekoza. In 1980, he became the first non-Japanese to attain Grand Master (dai shihan) rank in shakuhachi. In 1997, he co-founded Taikoz with Ian Cleworth. He was also the Artistic Director and Executive Producer of the 2008 World Shakuhachi Festival in Sydney, and has performed at all but one of the World Shakuhachi Festivals since its inception in 1994. Riley tours the world as a performer and teacher of the shakuhachi flute, and has released over sixty albums internationally. In 2020, he continues to give lessons to his students around the world via the Internet. He received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2016.		Ian Cleworth Wadaiko Ian Cleworth co-founded the wadaiko performance group Taikoz in 1997 and has been the Artistic Director since inception. In 2005, he became full-time with the group after having spent 20 years as Principal Percussionist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and 16 years with the percussion group Synergy. Ian began wadaiko study in Japan in the 1980s and performed with Sen Amano from Yamanashi Prefecture, followed by tutorship with taiko great, Eitetsu Hayashi. He received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2016.

Bonsai and Ikebana

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Australian Sogetsu Teacher’s Association Inc. (ASTA) Sogestu Ikebana NSW Sogetsu is a modern school of Ikebana that encourages artists to work with nature in an individual and imaginative form, creating arrangements for all to enjoy. The NSW branch of ASTA started meeting 60 years ago and they continue to share ikebana through exhibitions, workshops and meetings. They received the Consul-General’s commendation award in 2017.		Kuniko Nakano Ohara School of Ikebana Kuniko Nakano has been a practicing member of the Ohara School of Ikebana in Sydney for over 25 years. She is certified as a top instructor of the Ikebana, having attended the Ohara School of Ikebana Master Course in Tokyo and Osaka in 2012 and 2017 and taught by Iemoto Hiroki Ohara, an honour reserved only for the highest rank teachers. Kuniko has held demonstrations extensively at local festivals and functions, most notably the Australia-Japan Society 50th Anniversary and the annual Cowra Sakura Matsuri. She has also taught Ikebana publicly and privately for almost 20 years - Ohara School Sydney Chapter, Sydney Community College, Balmain Ryokan Gojyuan are among many. She received the Consul-General’s Commendation award in 2016.
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Megumi Bennett Bonsai, Koryu Shoyo-kai School of Ikebana Megumi Bennett founded the Bonsai Society of Sydney inc. in 1999 and is a member of the Nippon Bonsai Association and Ikebana International. For many years she has given demonstrations, exhibitions and workshops and is the first overseas person to receive bonsai instructors recognition in 2008. She received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2006.

Kimono, Fashion and Design

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Tae Gessner Kimono Tae Gessner was born in Aichi, Japan where she grew up helping her mother with her Kimono business. She is a graduate from the Takiwa-Jogakuin Kimono division. Tae has created Kimono shows, displays and has done various Kimono wearing demonstrations and workshops. She also began the International Kimono Club Sydney for lovers of kimono, organising various activities and excursions to teach about Kimonos and Japanese culture. She received the Consul-General’s Commendation award in 2017.		Akira Isogawa Fashion design Akira Isogawa was born in Kyoto, Japan and studied fashion design at the Sydney Institute of Technology when he moved to Australia in 1986. Akira is one of Australia’s most celebrated designers and maintains a strong presence in Sydney. He has shown his Resort collections during Australian Fashion week since 1996 and has two stand-alone boutiques in Australia – at the Strand Arcade in Sydney and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane. He received the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award in 2016.

Cuisine

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Hideo Dekura Hideo Dekura was born in Tokyo, Japan and settled in Sydney in 1974. He is an author of several Japanese cooking books and an instructor of Japanese cooking. He set up the first Japanese catering company in Sydney and later opened Culinary Studio Dekura in Chatswood. Hideo is a member of the Japan Master Chef Association and is a Master of Hosho-shihan and Shijyo-Shike (Japanese knife Master). He also runs ‘The chefs’ seminar and ‘Chats and Eat’ at Culinary Studio Dekura and is a lecturer at the Sydney Seafood School. In 2016, Hideo was appointed as an official “Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese Cuisine” and in 2015, he received a Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation award.

Tea Ceremony

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Chado Urasenke Tankokai Sydney Association Inc. Founded in 1973, the Association follows the centuries old Urasenke school of chado, or tea ceremony. The Association is affiliated to the Urasenke Foundation headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. Teachers in Canberra, Newcastle, and the Sydney region have groups of students (many of whom are not of Japanese origin). Besides an annual tea-gathering for the public, members (over 80 in total) give demonstrations for schools and other organisations, support cultural events, attend seminars and other member-events, and conduct ceremonies to welcome important visitors to Australia. The Association is incorporated in NSW, and it is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. They received the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation award in 2016.

Pop Culture

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SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show SMASH! is a Japanese pop culture convention that is devoted to artists, creators and fans. It is a non-profit organisation run by volunteers that brings in a host of local and international guests, art, competitions, and cosplay every year. The first SMASH! convention was held in 2007 with 1,400 attendees and today attracts a community of more than 22,000. The organisation received the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation award in 2016.

Societies, Clubs and Other Organisations

A listing of relevant Japan-related clubs, societies and organisations can be found on our website under links here.

Disclaimer:

The information provided is for reference purposes only and is not an exhaustive list. The Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney does not specifically endorse any of the individuals or organisations listed, or necessarily share the opinions or messages that may be expressed by them. Additionally, the list is made in no particular order.

Notes:

1. Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas. The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for the activities of the recipients.

2. Consul-General's Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups to honour the significant contribution to the Japan-Australia friendship.