The tentative JAFWA program for Saturday 14^th October 2009 is below. To be held in the Hayden Williams lecture theatre. 405.102

Things of Note:
1) For the month of November, due to exams (does the University think exams are more important than us!), we shall be in the Nursing lecture theatre one building across.
2) In late November the Japanese ship Shirase will make a port call at Fremantle. Shirase, which is based in Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is an icebreaker which is operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). It is a newly commissioned ship, which replaces the existing icebreaker of the same name.
3) Sunday November 15 is Shichi-go-san (7-5-3 Festival).

In Japan, when boys reach the ages of three and five, and when girls reach the ages of three and seven, their parents take them to a shrine to pray for their future health and growth. This festival is called Shichi-go-san, takes place on 15th November and dates back to the Meiji era (1868-1912). Shichi is the Japanese word meaning seven, go means five and san means three, respectively.

Children of these ages are dressed in traditional kimono (for girls) and haori jacket and hakama trousers (for boys) to celebrate their special day. However, recently Western-style dresses and suits have been worn instead of the more traditional attire.

After visiting the Shinto shrine, parents buy their children candy called chitose-ame as a symbol of their wish for their child to lead a long, prosperous life. Chitose literally means one thousand years, and ame means candy, while the bag holding the candy is illustrated with pictures of turtles and cranes (both animals symbolize longevity in Japan).

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The tentative JAFWA program for Saturday 31^st October 2009 is below. To be held in the Jones lecture theatre 402.220.

Things of Note:
1) Happy Halloween! We are skewing the program towards the spooky this week, including the original “Vampire Hunter D” animated movie. Come in appropriate cosplay this week for free entry - think of it as practice for the end of year marathon.

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The tentative JAFWA program for Saturday 17^th October 2009 is below. To be held in the Jones lecture theatre 402.220.

Things of Note:
1) This week in the Bean Poll we wish to examine the possibilty that starting sometime next year, that JAFWA instead of screening most Saturdays from 5 till 11PM, we instead try only 2 Saturdays a month with sessions lasting 3 till 11PM. Using the Bean Poll we wish to find out how the JAFWA attendees might consider this proposal.
2) Some people thought that the retro item “Photon” that was shown last week may have been a bit extreme, even with the lack of graphic detail and concealing black dots. I prefer to recall how hilarious it was.
3) There are two previews again this week. Eventually we will replace one of the timeslots with “Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi II”, but we are planning on starting it so the timing has most of the ‘Endless 8′ episodes taking place when JAFWA takes a break over summer. For those who haven’t seen all of the ‘Endless 8′ episodes, they tend to make people who have very, very vein-poppingly angry. JAFWA is planning this as a Health and Safety issue.
4) “A Certain Scientific Railgun” is, shockingly, a side story to the previously screened “A certain Magical Index”.

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This is JAFWA’s usual monthly weekend off. Also a few people are going to Go3, where JAFWA hopes to have a stall.

Not to worry, JAFWA will return for Saturday 10^th October 2009.

Things of Note:
1) The Bean Poll on August 29^th says we should remove “Wangan Midnight” from the JAFWA program, by 24 to 5. What should we replace the end of night item with?

Special Note: Japanese Film Festival 2009

Venue: State Library Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge (entry via Francis Street)
Dates: 8-15 October 2009
Screening Time: 7:00pm (doors open 30 minutes prior to screening)
Admission: Free (limit of 2 tickets per person per film are available from 29 September from The State Library Shop, Ground Floor, 25 Francis Street, Perth)

Film Details:

• Thursday 8 October, 7:00pm The Makioka Sisters (140 mins, 1984, Literature/Drama, Rated G)
• Friday 9 October, 7:00pm All About Our House (112 mins, 2001, Family/Comedy, Rated PG)
• Tuesday 13 October, 7:00pm Summer Days with Coo (138 mins, 2007, Animation, Rated M)
• Wednesday 14 October, 7:00pm Still Walking (114 mins, 2008, Drama, Rated G)
• Thursday 15 October, 7:00pm Hula Girls (108 mins, 2006, Comedy/Drama, Rated M)

The tentative JAFWA program for Saturday 19^th September 2009 is below. To be held in the Jones lecture theatre 402.220.

Things of Note:
1) Frrree Entry to apprroprriate cosplay.
2) Arrr! We didn’t see them, but somebody seems to have stolen most of the pirates.
3) For those who remember, Mrs Inoue of JA Press is flying into Perth next week for a holiday.

Continued…