Kobe Women’s Club　

Program descriptions for 2019-2020

 

September 10.  Opening show:  Iga Ninja Show 　　　　　　　　　　　by Iga-no-Ninja-shyu RAIDO

 

A great kick off with Ninja show and workshop by Iga-no-Ninja-shyu RAIDO.

Based in Mie prefecture, they have been actively introducing Japan’s unique and historical culture of Ninja at home and abroad, such as in Hawaii, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and so forth. The sought-after group wins high praise for their performance wherever they appear. On this special occasion, they will provide us with a chance to turn into a ninja, where we can learn how ninjas act and move.  Don’t miss one-of-a-kind opportunity.

 

October 8.  Glass Art                                   by Dominic Fonde and Nobuyasu Yoshida

 

Dominic Fonde is a British artist who lives and works in Kobe. He works with blown and engraved glass objects such as vases, paperweights, bowls and sake glasses with images of nature and his own original short stories. He will talk about his fascination with glass as material, how he came to live in Japan and how he came to be involved in a residency project created and run by Shin-Nagata based glass artist Nobuyasu Yoshida. Mr. Yoshida will take over the second half of the talk, talking about his glass studio and his plans for collaborations between artists from the UK and Japan with exciting news about an artist from the UK who will be visiting Kobe very soon.

 

November 5.  Special Event:  Aurora Wonder                              by Tetsuya Nakagaki

 

Aurora messenger Mr. Nakagaki, a photographer specialized in northern lights, will come all the way from the northernmost island Hokaido to give an amazing visual exhibition of Aurora. He was utterly captivated by the wonder and beauty of Aurora in New Zealand and decided to dedicate his life to introducing the miracles and beauties of the earth to the people all over in Japan. His visits to North America and Northern Europe amount to more than 80 times. He also organizes tours to provide us with an amazing experience in nature.  Come and be enchanted by the mysteries of aurora.

 

November 12.  Violin & Dance Show                                     　 by Ezéchiel N'tsaï

 

Born to a French mother and an African (Congo) father, Ezéchiel N'tsaï has expanded his career as a professional violinist by touring worldwide between Europe, South & Central America, USA, Canada, Asia, etc. for numerous meetings & collaborations with multiple artists in music and dance. He follows a path that is not limited to only one style / genre / musical culture. His "unique" ability to improvise on violin & dance permit him to play/perform in any kind of context. Make a musical start to your beautiful autumn day.

 

December 10.  Holiday Luncheon

 

January 21.  Zen                                                      by Takafumi Kawakami

 

In Kyoto, Myoshiniji-temple has been designated as one of the major Zen Buddhism temples throughout its long history. Rev.Takafumi Kawakami, deputy head priest of Shunkoin Temple, one of Myoshinji’s sub-temples, will let us gain insights into Zen philosophy. What is Zen? It has been very popular in name and practice, but how many people do really know of an in-depth meaning of Zen philosophy? He has given numerous lectures on Zen Buddhism in Japan and overseas, including TED talk and at MIT in the US. Come join us to dig deep into the profound message of Zen.

 

February 18.  Caffarel Chocolate                                              by Atsuko Kato

 

There is a saying in Italy: “Nove persone su dieci amano la cioccolata, la decima mente.” This means “Nine out of ten people love chocolate, the tenth lies.” Atsuko Kato with H. Yamamoto & Co., Ltd. that has started to import and introduce the Caffarel chocolates and their charm to Japan, will disclose the secret as to why a piece of Caffarel chocolate sparks joy and explain its history and how they are manufactured in a traditional manner. Join us for a sweet morning over Caffarel chocolates and coffee/tea. Don’t miss this opportunity to find “White Day Gifts” among a wide selection of beloved Caffarel items. 

 

March 10.  International Women’s Day                                       by Jane Armstrong

 

Do you Know about International Women’s Day? International Women's Day (March 8th) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. It was established in 1911, and since then, there have been so many activities to make a positive difference in women’s lives. KWC will celebrate this day led by Jane Armstrong, who has facilitated at many events in Kobe to highlight abilities and talents in the Kobe area.  Come join us to showcase your undisclosed talent or gift.

 

April 21.  Eco-Architecture                                                by Viviana Di Blasi

 

We are fortunate to have one of our lovely members, with a master’s degree in architecture, sharing her professional expertise with us.　Viviana was born and raised in Italy, she moved to Japan with her family in 2011 after living in Germany for a number of years. She fell in love with Japanese culture and Wafu design, this prompted her to return to her professional career. After working in Kyoto with a great mentor and her team, she is now engaged in a new international project as her own business. Viviana encourages the broad use of local, natural materials to create appealing spaces for family or community buildings and carefully incorporates the use of sustainable materials to provide a healthy living and working environment. She is committed to using local materials in her design elements by following the genius loci, or spirit of place, at each of her building sites.  Come learn more about architecture through Viviana’s passion and zest for life.

 

May 19.  Straw Performance                                               by Toru Kamiya

 

Mr. Kamiya majored in astrophysics at the University of Kyoto, but pursued a musical path as a recorder player of Baroque music at home and abroad. In addition to his recorder performance activities, he has become famous as the “straw-pipe” player. He has invented a unique family of musical instruments with unusual charm, which has attracted wide attention in the public media. He has appeared on several Japanese television programs. Recently his straw-pipe concert activities have been extended globally to Germany, U.S.A., Korea, China, and Britain.  He has been the only person in the whole world pursuing a performance career with such an unusual “straw-pipe” instrument. Don’t miss this truly extraordinary opportunity.

 

May 26:  Spring Luncheon