Join us for a picnic in the park on a Sunday. There are BBQs on site or you can pack a BYO picnic lunch. We'll also have a game of "suikawari". If you want to know what that is, you'll have to come and find out!

What: JAFA Family Day Picnic

When: Sunday, 5th February 2012, 12 noon onwards

BYO food, drinks and chairs

On-site BBQ facilities available

Where: Kensington Gardens Reserve (in Kensington Gardens) Adventure Playground Picnic Area

How do I get there? Read on...

NEXT ROUND STARTS IN FEBRUARY

The next round of Origami and Calligraphy Classes start on the 11th of February. Each round of classes will run for four consecutive weeks and cover origami, chigiri-e (torn washi paper painting), furoshiki cloth wrapping and calligraphy.

What: Origami and Calligraphy Classes

When: February 11th to March 4th (four Saturdays) 1:30-3pm

Where: Cowandilla Primary School (1 Jenkins St. Cowandilla)

How much: $30 for JAFA members, $70 for non-members (Paid before the course begins)

Beginners are welcome as well as those with various levels of experience.

If you would like to register, please fill in your details HERE.

Read on for payment details.

My report each year has taken on a familiar format and if I read last year’s report it would be a fair summation of what we have achieved over the last twelve months.  But it would omit the most important event in Japan since the end of World War 2.

I mention the War with good reason because the devastation that was wreaked upon the Tohoku region of Japan by the earthquake and tsunami that struck in March and the ongoing nuclear disaster is of a magnitude that is only surpassed by the destruction that Japan suffered during the war.  The images that streamed across TV screens on March 11th were so shocking it was hard to comprehend the enormity of what was happening.

JAFA is putting together a team of volunteers to go to some of the most harshly affected areas to help with ongoing clean-up and relief efforts. We are working towards sending the first team of volunteers to Japan in early January.

We will send the teams of volunteers to assist with an established relief organisation named Peace Boat.  Since March 16th 2011 (5 days after the earthquake and tsunami hit) Peace Boat has been active in the city of Ishinomaki, one of the hardest hit cities on the coast of north-eastern Japan.

If you are interested in donating money to help send volunteers, click here. If you're interested in volunteering yourself, read on...

Thanks to everyone who entered! The winners of the competition are...

First Prize - Annabel Kueh

Second Prize - Jemma from West Lakes Shore School

Third Prize- Charlotte Elliott from Glossop High School

Special Mentions

- Curtis Sumak (from Keithcot Farm Primary School)

- Jasmine Alldritt (from Keithcot Farm Primary School)

- Thiago Bernegossi (from Brazil)

- Tayla Thiele (from Keithcot Farm Primary School)

- Paige Goodwin (from Keithcot Farm Primary School)

Click here to see a slideshow of all of the designs. Artwork may be subject to copyright.

In November we had our AGM and it was also the last J-KAI of the year. Here's to another great year of J-KAI, look forward to seeing you again in the new year!

What is J-Kai?

J-Kai is JAFA's monthly social event that has been running since 1998. It provides an opportunity for Japanese and Australians with an interest in Japan to meet in a relaxed atmosphere. You don't have to be a JAFA member or speak any Japanese, just come along! Anyone can join and it's free.

2011 APPLICATION PERIOD HAS CLOSED

The 2011 Japanese Language Proficiency Test application period has now closed.

The test was held on Sunday, 4 December, 2011, at the University of South Australia City West Campus.

If you would like to register for information on the 2013 test, please click here.

Online Learning Materials

JAFA posts a "Word of the Week" on the JAFA Facebook page every week.

Click here to view the words with pictures on Flickr.

Click here to go to our Facebook page.

There are sets of Vocabulary and Kanji cards for the JLPT on Quizlet. Click on one of the links below to try it.

N5 N4(Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives) N3 N2 N1

The Golden Week Japan Festival, "Kodomo no Hi" was held on Sunday, May 1st 2011 at Cowandilla Primary School.

See a video of this year's festival here.

The festival raised over $8000 for the Red Cross Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal, and JAFA has decided to add some of its own funds to make the total donation $10,000.

Thanks to everyone involved for making the day such a big success.



To view videos of the festival from previous years, click here
Kodomo no Hi 2010
Kodomo no Hi 2009

We are now searching for subcommittee members to help organise next year's festival. If you are interested, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it