NZJS
New Zealand Japan Society of Auckland inc.
English Japanese

Taste Of Japan 2012


Taste of Japan 2012
 
Auckland Museum Event Centre
Saturday October 27th 10am to 5pm
Event Manager - Kumiko Imai-Duxfield
 
We rightly refer to ToJ 2012 as a 'RED DIAMOND event' as 2012 is a special year for New Zealand and Japan, celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between our two nations. Many of you will realize the significance of having Mitsubishi Corporation as our sponsor and appreciate the contribution they are making to promote Japanese education and culture.
We do thank all our sponsors without whom this event would not be possible. Alongside Mitsubishi Corporation we specifically mention our hosts Auckland Museum and many others acknowledged on our NZJS and ToJ websites: nzjapan.net/tasteofjapan/  
Visitors from Japan are from a variety of disciplines and interests. We have people arriving here from the disaster affected area of North East Japan bringing thanks from the Mayor of Rikuzen Takada City to Auckland City for last year's Wings of Hope and other fundraising efforts. We continue to pray and fundraise and wish them well as they continue with their recovery.
 
Special guests this year are Mr Inoe a Tatami craftsman from Fukuoka who is in New Zealand for his second ToJ festival, having been here in 2010. Conducting workshops in his special craft, we expect these will again be very popular this year.  
 
Here for the first time is Mr Miyazawa, a sweet-craftsman from Takasaki, Gumma Ken, who will conduct Wagashi (Japanese traditional sweets) workshops and demonstra­tions, which we expect will be a crowd favourite.
 
Feature performances at ToJ 2012:
  • Daidabou, a famous Taiko ( Japanese drum) group from Nagano, Japan
  •  The Satsuki Odamura Koto Emsemble from Aus­tralia.
  • Our own NZ Japan Society Haere Mai Taiko drummers
  • Sakura no kai, who also participated in Wings of Hope in 2011
We all love performers and we know that many will come to enjoy Daidabou Taiko from Nagano. You will have various opportunities to enjoy their talent and enthusiasm, a class act. On Sunday 28th October some of you may get the chance to attend a workshop and also limited ticket charity concert. However, if you don't have tickets now, regrettably you will have missed the chance.
 
As well as workshops and performances, you will be treated to the live final of the New Zealand –Japan Fusion Cooking Challenge, a NZ Japan Society of Auckland & AUT project, which will take place on the top floor of the event centre. The winner will get a trip to Japan to experience an intern­ship at a Japanese hotel restaurant. Viewing screens will be set up in the Atrium and on the top floor as there is limited space in kitchen where the two finalists compete!
 
On the day you will noticed some origami art work and a model, which is a long time brainchild of Jonathan Baxter. In collaboration with Robert Langholm and Kelly Hearsey they have set up a fantastic display for your pleasure. Jonathan also had a hand in coordinating the efforts to design and create the wearable art dress of 'Princess Tsuru'. This was first worn in Rotorua earlier this year and used in Rotorua's 60th Anniversary Celebrations.
 
For those who have never been to the Auckland Museum Event Centre, you might want to go to the top floor and take in the 360 degree views of Auckland City, which looks pretty good from up there.
 
You'll appreciate the work which has gone in behind the scenes by volunteers to bring this event to the stage.I've written only a 'taster' for what you might experience on the day, so come along and celebrate 60 years of goodwill and diplomacy with us on Saturday October 27th.
 
Stephen Duxfield
Society President

 

 

Taste of Japan 2012 'Celebration of 60th Diplomatic Ties between NZ and Japan  

日本とニュージーランド国交６０周年記念企画

When: Saturday 27th October 2012  日時：１０月２７日（土）
Where: Auckland Museum & Event Centre　　　場所：オークランド博物館
Special Feature: Business Expo, NZ-Japan Fusion Cooking Competition Final, Wagashi (Japanese Sweet) maker demonstration, Daidabo (Nagano's famous Taiko Team)
 
特別企画：ビジネスエキスポ、日本／キウイフュージョンクッキングコンテストファイナル、
和菓子職人によるデモンストレーション、大太坊（長野の有名太鼓チーム)パフォーマンス
 
Volunteers Wanted: Please contact volunteers_toj@nzjapan.net
ボランティア大募集：volunteers_toj@nzjapan.net までご連絡ください
 
Business expo & sponsorship enquiries: culture@nzjapan.net
ビジネスエキスポ／スポンサーシップ問い合わせ：culture@nzjapan.net
 
Fusion Cooking Competition: marketing@nzjapan.net
フュージョン料理コンテスト問い合わせ：marketing@nzjapan.net

July-August Newsletter 2012

Taste of Japan – Special Programmes:

NZ/Japan Business Expo:

Inviting companies currently trading (or seeking opportunity) in Japan/NZ to exhibit and share. Chance to taste what NZ export to Japan and what Japan export to NZ.

We are encouraging food & beverage companies to bring Japanese flavoured samples for tasting.  In return businesses can conduct simple surveys as part of a direct market research.

This programme may also suit companies seeking opportunities to export to Japan as they can gain immediate feedback from the consumers. 

We cannot ignore the fact that NZ and Japan have been enjoying 60 years of business relationships.  We appreciate that businesses has brought us closer.

We are currently working on NZ-Japan Timeline.  This will be displayed at the museum acknowledging various milestones.

If you own a business or know someone who has, please register by clicking the here.  The spaces are limited.

 


NZ-Japan Fusion Cooking Competition Final:

Students and cooking fanatics are invited to compete in a bi-cultural theme cooking competition. 

‘Umami’ must be woven into the dish to create a tasteful harmony of West and East (Japan). Thanks to AUT, the preliminary will be held at AUT and the final will be held live at the Auckland Museum Event Centre.

The winner will get:

  • A trip to Japan (Thanks to Air NZ)
  • 5 nights accommodation at Chisun Hotel-Hamamatsu Cho (Thanks to Solare Resort and Hotels)
  • Work experience at Kurumaya’ in Tokyo (5 star authentic Japanese restaurant)
  • A free Orientation & preparation course hosted by NZJS
  • Plus NZ$1000 spending money (to be converted in Japanese-Yen)

Delicious food always brings people closer.  Japanese food is very popular all over the world now but can you believe that in 1974 only one Japanese restaurant called ‘Yamato’ had opened in Auckland?  Most people were not familiar with

Japanese food and Japanese food ingredients were scarcely available. 

When I first came to New Zealand as a child, I took traditional obento (lunch) box to my primary school in St Heliers.  I was surrounded by curious classmates asking what I was eating pointing at the food. I knew very little English so,

pointed my Japanese-English dictionary, のり＝‘Seaweed’ and got strange reaction.  Everyone frowned or giggled or said ‘Yuck!”  (In fact, ‘Yuck’ was one of my first words I learned at school.)

On the following day, where I sat in the classroom, there was a huge pile of dried seaweed.  Everyone was watching and smiling.  I was not sure if they were teasing me or being kind to me.  I still don’t know.

I guess these experiences taught me how important it is to share my culture (Japanese) and learn their culture (New Zealand) as a child.  I am grateful that I can still do this through NZJS.

Lastly, I am sure the final competition will make you very hungry so, we have asked food stalls to satisfy your needs. 

Kumiko Imai-Duxfield

 

 
 
 
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