No Screening this Saturday, 3rd January 2026

yoi otoshi o (“have a happy new year”)

The most auspicious and beloved holiday in Japan is New Year’s Day.
Some things to look forward to:

• Come midnight on December 31 Buddhist temples ring their bells a total of 108 times, one for each of the worldly desires. The 108th is rung after the stroke of midnight.
• Instead of Christmas Cards, the Japanese send each other New Year’s cards.
• There is Hatsumode, the first Shinto Shrine visit of the New year, often as dawn breaks.
• And every child should throw adzuki red beans over the roof of their house to fend off the the Namahage oni. And the children are eager for otoshidama, when their adult relatives gift them money.
• Time to feast on osechi-ryori and even listen to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, an odd little tradition picked up from German POWs in World War I.
• Hearing “Akemeshite Omedetou Gozaimasu!” all day on January 1^st.

No JAFWA screening until Saturday 10^th January 2026!

Tis the week of New Year’s Day and TV station SBS World movies is still showing JAFWA‘s favourite Studio Ghibli movies. Pardon me if I chill out for the next week or so.

In Japan, rather than calling out Happy New Year! on January 1^st, it is instead part of tradition to cry out Akemeshite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Stay healthy safe and cool for the next couple of weeks as you chill out.

Not much left to tease out of the expected program now. Last details next week.

If you strongly feel that JAFWA is neglecting certain well-deserving anime, please offer to sponsor a night of JAFWA and screen your favourites. If you don’t want to sponsor an entire night like both Lindsay and Elliot did previously, there is the other scheme for our signed up members. On the night nearest your birthday, as Greg and Sally did, you can nominate something to play during the Dinner Break (limited to 30 minutes max). You may have to help us source this material, so plan and inform us in advance please.
Note that Feb 14, 2026 already has dibs on it.

Remember – SBS World movies TV channel is showing Studio Ghibli movies.

Below is the draft program for the evening of Saturday January 10^th, 2026.

All items in the original Japanese language with English subtitles. With assistance from a grant from and

5:15pm	Alma-chan wants a Family	Ep 1/11
5:40pm	Zatsu Tabi	Ep 9/12
6:05pm	Zatsu Tabi	Ep 10/12
6:30pm	dinner break, with possibly interesting stuff
7:15pm	door prize drawing, and announcements
7:30pm	May I Ask for One Final Thing?	Ep 1/13?
7:55pm	Cocoon	movie	(v)
9:00pm	Late Break
9:10pm	New series 1	Ep 1/?	TBA
9:35pm	The Beginning After the End	Ep 1/12
10:00pm	New series 2	Ep 1/?	TBA

Doors Open before Screening:~5:00 PM

Program Finishes:~10:45 PM

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Dates of Interest

Barring a resurgence of COVID-19 pestilence, these fannish events of interest are scheduled to happen:

• Saturday January 10^th 2026 — JAFWA’s first screening upon returning in 2026!
• Thursday January 15^th 2026 — Missed out on the Mamoru Hosoda retrospective – its back!
• From Thursday January 29^th 2026 — In assorted cinemas Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Urdr-Hunt.
• From Thursday February 5^th 2026 — Mamoru Hosoda’s latest masterpiece film Scarlet.
• Weekend May 9-10^th 2026 — Local artists celebrate at Tokyo Alley 10th Anniversary at Perth Comvention and Exhibition Center.