Welcome
15th Anniversary Concert
On November 10th 2011 we held a special concert at St George's Bristol to celebrate the AJSW’s 15th anniversary. Here are some recordings of pieces played at the concert.
• Saint-Saens: The Swan (from ‘Carnival of the Animals’)
Played by Aiki Mori – cello and string ensemble
with Akiko Murakami – piano
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• Mozart: Divertimento in D, KV136
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• A. Rosenblatt: Fantasia on Japanese Themes for 2 Pianos and 8 Hands
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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
Our regular Wednesday lunchtime concerts are held at the church of St Dunstan-in-the-West on Fleet Street.
(Photo: lonpicman@wikipedia)
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.
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.
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 Patrons and President
- Patron: Kyoko Gledhill
- Hon. Patron: Professor Tomotada Soh (Hon ARAM)
- Hon. Patron: George Logan (Dr Evadne Hinge)
- Hon. Patron: Alexander Rosenblatt
- 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.
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