Konnichiwa!

My name is Kumiko Imai-Duxfield. I am vice president of the society in charge of Art, Culture & Community.  (This photo is me having Japanese buffet breakfast at Toyako/Hokkaido hotel. A Taste of Japan).

I first came to NZ when I was a child in late 1970s with the family. I joined NZJS after my father passed away in 1996. He loved NZJS and I wanted to carry his legacy.  I am a surviver of Kobe earthquake as I was trapped in a rubble, inhaling gas for 5 hours until people came to rescue me. Yes, I lived a very dramatic life.

"Do what you can where you are with what you have" Theodore Roosevelt-my favourite words.  My passion is " to pioneer".  Frank's (my late father's name) Butter Fingers Softball team, Haere Mai Yosakoi Soran Dance, Haere Mai Taiko, Sado-bu, Taste of Japan, you can see where I've been.

I love new projects, innovative and positive changes.  I do a lot of fund-raising for the society now. I grew up with NZJS and I am grateful for the opportunities the society has given me.

On a personal note, I am married to Stephen Duxfield.  I was running a family business for 11 years (Export/Import company) but currently preparing for a new chapter of my life to open.

Hello / Konnichiwa Stephen Duxfield (that’s me on the right),

New Zealander and married to Kumiko for over ten years.Born in Wanganui, I have lived in Auckland for 19 years now so I guess you can call me an Aucklander. I have two adult sons – one is single an English Tutor who has lived and worked in Japan for five years and the other is settled in Palmerston North and engaged to be married.

A sports lover, I play and watch most sports and football and tennis are two favourites.Liverpool is my team, and although and I will probably cheer for England, Japan and New Zealand at the World Cup, I would love to see Spain v Brazil final. I’ve always enjoyed running and have won my fair share of middle to long distance races.

I have been involved with the NZ Japan Society since the mid 1990’s and in leadership since 1998 and I have grown to love Japanese culture and the people.I love the way a person will dedicate himself / herself 100% to the perfection of a chosen art, never wavering.In Japan, if you want tranquillity and serenity you can find it; if you want the most vibrant flashy cities, they are there and you can get from one to the other in the blink of an eye on a speeding train. I appreciate the simplicity of the architecture and interior design and the beauty and colours of the gardens, with such strong emphasis on the seasonal differences.

The NZ Japan Society has an established history with purposeful aims and goals, which focuses on helping the people of our two countries to interact and learn to understand one another better and I’m proud to play my part in furthering those aims. As a Recruiter, my profession is one of sourcing people with certain talents and skills to meet a company’s need.As such my strengths are in determining whether someone fits what a company needs and also how to bring out the best in people.I like the chance to do this through the society as well, helping people find what they’re looking for, encouraging them to go after their passions and helping them to achieve. Through individual achievement we all gain and society improves.

Stephen Duxfield

 Hello, I am Keiko Kano.
I've been on the Council since early this year and I am in charge of Japanese language courses and some other educational events of the Society as the Director of Education. I am a member of Sado (Way of Tea) club and also interested in Karuta.
I like travelling to learn about various cultures, history and people around the world.
I am interested in photography as a journal so take photos every day wherever I am. Since I moved to Auckland, I enjoy the natural environment and culture here. I also love gardening, growing vegetables, DIY, watching birds, movies and sports, listening to music (classical), reading books (non-fiction), and playing tennis.
I would like to welcome more people living here, who are genuinely interested in Japanese culture, history and tradition, and who want to contribute to improve the relationship between the two countries as that is the purpose of this society for which our members in the past have been making efforts since 1960.

 Hi, I’m Eleanor Goldsmith. I’m from Wales in the UK originally, but have been living in NZ for the last 6 years. After starting to learn Japanese at high school, I decided to major in the language at university and graduated from Durham University with a BA in Japanese Studies in 1998. For our second year at university, my classmates and I were sent as international exchange students to Kumamoto University, and it was during our year abroad that I developed an interest in Japanese culture, both traditional and pop. After graduating, I went back to Japan as a CIR on the JET Programme, which posted me to Joetsu, in southern Niigata Prefecture. After two years on the JET Programme, I moved to Niigata City and in due course took up a position as a translator at a research institute specialising in economic issues in Northeast Asia. Working for this institute for almost six years, I had the opportunity to meet researchers from throughout Asia and assist with the organisation of international conferences, including one in Seoul and another in Khabarovsk, in the Far Eastern region of Russia. I also met my husband, who was the Russian translator at the same institute, and at the end of 2006, we moved to NZ, with a view to settling in a country that would give us the opportunity to acquire the same nationality. After moving to NZ, I worked for an international assistance company for five years, helping people who had become unwell or found themselves in difficulty overseas. As well as my day job, I have worked freelance as a Japanese translator since 2000. In early 2012, I decided to take the plunge and abandon the world of (relatively) secure employment to become fully freelance as a translator. I have worked on translations for a range of Japanese government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Defense and the Reconstruction Agency, as well as other public sector bodies and private sector companies, covering fields including medical safety, the environment, economics, labour issues, and even nuclear safety.j

Soon after my arrival in Japan, I began to study tea ceremony, and continued to attend classes regularly throughout the nine years that I lived in Niigata Prefecture. It was through a message I posted on a Facebook page, seeking information about other tea ceremony practitioners in Auckland, that I became acquainted with Kumi and the NZJS. I have been privileged to have the opportunity to share my knowledge about tea with the members of the NZJS tea ceremony group since 2008, and you may have seen me at events such as Taste of Japan, giving demonstrations of tea ceremony. I also attend pottery classes given by a Japanese potter living in Glendowie.

I am keen to take on a more active role with NZJS and hope to be able to make good use of my skills and experience, as well as the wide range of sources of information about Japan that I have built up through my work as a translator.

 Bachelor of Arts at University of Auckland, Majoring in Japanese (second year student)

When I first started studying Japanese in Intermediate School, I saw it as just another subject at school. However, before long I found myself very attracted to learning the language. Looking back now, all I could do was greet people and introduce myself, but even so I felt such gratification and pride in being able to speak in another language. Over the years, I have improved at Japanese, and although I don’t really remember the process I know that I’ve enjoyed all of it. After taking a 1 year break I am finally resuming my Japanese language study at University of Auckland this year, which I am looking forward to with great anticipation and excitement.

During my 10 month student exchange in Fukuoka in 2010, I met other exchange students who were just as interested in Japanese language and culture, as well as many Japanese people who were keen on learning about English and New Zealand. Since then I have wanted to broaden my understanding of Japan, its language and its culture, so that I can share that wonder with everyone. I also want to help others to learn English because I know how good it feels to be able to communicate in a language that you have learnt. Although I have only been part of NZJS for 1 year, I feel it was a very rewarding and enjoyable year when I got closer to this goal.

 Hi! My name is Jon Waugh and I am a born-and-bred Aucklander. I had a good childhood and a well-rounded education (playing soccer as much as I could, learning the violin and attempting to keep my grades above the pass mark).

In 2005, I was selected to participate on the JET Programme and was lucky enough to be placed in Kumamoto City on Kyushu. I spent a total of 5 years on the JET Programme, during which I took up Kyudo, was able to continue studying Iaido, and starting horse riding again. In addition to these I also made most of my time visiting 29 of Japan’s 47 Prefectures (something which I plan to complete asap), and participating as much as possible in the festivals and community life of my adopted home city.

Upon returning from Japan, I have been an active member and council member of the NZJS, as well as being an active member and now committee member of the JETAA. For the previous two years, my NZJS council duties have included helping with/organising NZJS events in addition to managing the NZJS’ social media presence, including the ongoing development of our official Facebook Page and Twitter feed.

I have a Diploma in Germanistics (German Studies), a Bachelor of Arts in Sinology (Chinese Studies), and am currently working on my thesis (looking at the relevance of Sister City agreements and how they could be better used to improve international relationships) for a Masters in International Communication.

 Hi, my name is Monica,

I have studied Japanese language in Tokyo for a year and enjoyed many cultural aspects of Japan.  I joined NZJS last year as part of my co-opt placement for my final year paper at AUT. 

I have taken the role of Events coordinator as part of the council member this year and hope to bring more events for our members.