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Welcome

Since 1996, the Anglo-Japanese Society of Wessex (formerly the South-West Anglo-Japanese Society) has been promoting Japanese culture and Japanese artists in events throughout the Wessex region (which extends from the south west of England as far as Southwark in London).

What we do

We aim to further mutual awareness through the promotion of our own events, supporting those of others, and helping to provide information linking members and the public with other organizations sharing the same ideals. We represent a number of Japanese and Japanese orientated entertainers and cultural presenters for the theatre, festivals and clubs, and cultural presenters for educational establishments etc. We seek to serve all aspects of Anglo-Japanese affairs in the region and beyond, and welcome your enquiries. We are a voluntary organization and all funds raised go into society funds. Corporate, Arts organizations, and individual funding will be welcome as well as membership enquiries.

Events

Over the years, we have taken part in many memorable events such as Japan 2001 (a year-long UK festival with over 2000 events — our contribution included 50 events), providing Japanese performers and hospitality ladies in Kimono for the Beckhams’ 2002 pre-World Cup Party, over 30 events for the 2005 European–Japan festival People to People exchange...some 15% of the total held nationwide. Our archive lists some of the events we have held in the past, and our events page lists the forthcoming events organized by the society. In 2009 we are honoured to organise sisters Sayaka and Aska Matsumoto, supported by a concert orchestra, to be featured in the High Sheriff of Bristol's concert. That this year the society will be involved in organising some 60 concerts is a remarkable achievment.

Our Wednesday lunchtime concerts at St. Dunstan-in-the-West on Fleet Street frequently feature Japanese musicians who we do our best to encourage. In the last few years we have organized nearly 200 concerts and events featuring some of the cream of Japanese classical young musicians visiting or residing in the UK with some wonderful memories of great concerts and fond friendships.

For 2009 we continue our expanded programme at St. Dunstans as well as our association with St. James, Piccadilly and Bristol Cathedral as our events page will reveal.

We also help to arrange cultural presentations by visiting Japanese performers and cultural events for organisations including corporate functions. Our growing links enable us to organise almost everything Japanese.

Want to know more?

Join us if you wish to keep in touch with what we are doing. Our constitution is written on our membership form so you know what you are signing up to. There will be a fresh approach to membership options as part of our overhaul and we have some exciting ideas we hope to bring to fruition in time not least with our web site that Phil Ronan looks after for us. If you have any ideas please contact us.

Our Honorary Patrons and President

• Hon. Patron: Professor Tomotada Soh (Hon ARAM)
• Hon. Patron: George Logan (Dr Evadne Hinge)
• President: Shakti

Our illustrious figureheads represent cultural diversity and success midst diversity. Each have had lives that beg the question… ‘what is normal?’. Each are much loved and admired as much for ‘doing it their way’ as for being human beings imbued with a generosity of spirit.

AJSW events are supported by Japan Airlines