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To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the 1976 Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan the year 2006 has been chosen as the "Australia-Japan Year of Exchange". The aim is to promote cooperation between Australia and Japan, through various bilateral and co-operative cultural activities and events.
One of the highlights of the year will be the Australia Festival. The Australia Festival is a collection of several cultural, food and wine and educational events happening in and around Tokyo. It will run for almost two weeks starting with National Geographic Australia Gallery from 27 September and ending with Australian Education International's Study in Australia fair on 9 October.
Sure to be one of the main attractions are the two concerts by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) which will perform in Tokyo and Osaka during the Asia Orchestra Week 2006 (sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs). The SSO is a flagship orchestra of Australia that will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. It is the second time for the SSO to visit Japan and this time, under the direction of chief conductor Gianluigi Gelmetti, they will perform pieces by Ravel, Tchaikovsky and internationally acclaimed Australian composer Liza Lim.
The Australian Film Festival will, with its more than 30 planned screenings, be one of the key events of the festival. The selected films will span the whole history of Australian filmmaking, from the earliest silent movies to the latest blockbusters with celebrities like Cate Blanchett. And you can catch the latest trends in Australian art at the Bridgestone Prism exhibition—the biggest exhibition in Japan ever of contemporary works by a range of Australia's leading artists.
The festival is for anyone! Are you a long time admirer of Australian culture or a newcomer who wants to have a taste of what Australia can offer? In any case be sure to come along and "Discover Australia"!
Scheduled events
Below is a list of major events. More events will be added shortly and the list is subject to confirmation or change.
1. National Geographic Australia Gallery
A photography exhibition by National Geographic photographer, Sam Abell. The photographs that show dramatic colors and landscapes, nature and wildlife are an invitation to Australia.
| Dates: | 25 September - 13 October Weekdays only |
| Open hours: | 9:30 - 19:00 |
| Venue: | Otemachi Café
Otemachi Bldg. 1F, 1-6-1 Chiyoda-ku
Admission to the Gallery is free of charge, but drinks taken at the cafe will be charged. |
| Website: | http://aussie.australia.jp/yoe/ |
Click here for further details about "National Geographic Australia Gallery".
2. Australia Japan Art Exchange Public Symposium - 'Present and future of art in Australia and Japan'
Circumstances surrounding contemporary art of Australia and Japan will be introduced by representing curators and artists from both countries and potential future art exchange between both countries and in the Asia Pacific region will be sought and discussed in the symposium.
| Public Symposium: | 30 September 14:00-17:00 |
| Venue: | The National Art Center, Tokyo |
| Website: | www.nact.jp |
Please use the online form to make an advance registration if you wish to attend for the symposium. There are 200 seats available and applications will be accepted in the order of arrival. A confirmation email will be sent once your registration has been completed. Click here for more details and register.
3. Chef Shannon Bennett's Vue De Monde Special Week
Modern French cuisine chef Shannon Bennett from Melbourne will visit Japan and introduce a range of cuisine featuring Australian produce.
| Dates: | 26 September - 1 October |
| Venue: | Girandole at Park Hyatt Tokyo |
| Website: | www.parkhyatttokyo.com |
| Contact: | Park Hyatt Tokyo |
Click here for further details about "Vue De Monde Special Week".
4. Australian Dance Theatre "HELD" Performance
Australian Dance Theatre was established in 1965 in Adelaide. The dancers perform a very unique performance taking in techniques of classic ballet, contemporary dance, break dance, martial art and gymnasium. "Held" is directed by Garry Stewart and performed by dancers of Australian Dance Theatre and Royce Greenfield.
Click here for further details about "HELD".
5. Dramatic Australia "The Window" Performance
Dramatic Australia is formed to increase understanding of Australia through the performing arts; dance, music, readings and theatre, Dramatic Australia introduces Australian work in Japanese and collaborations between Australian and Japanese artists. The Window is a theatre performance by Mark Bromilow, Basta Inc., Casa and Company.
Click here for further details about "The Window".
6. Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance in Tokyo and Osaka during Asia Orchestra Week 2006
Tokyo
| Date: | 2 October 19:00- |
| Venue: | Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall Takemitsu Memorial |
| Website: | www.orchestra.or.jp |
| Contact: | Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras |
| Email: | ajso@ma.neweb.ne.jp |
| Tel&Fax: | TEL:+81-3-5610-7275 / FAX: +81-3-5610-7276 |
Osaka
| Date: | 4 October 19:00- |
| Venue: | The Symphony Hall |
| Website: | www.asahi.co.jp/symphony |
| Contact: | Classic House |
| Tel: | +81-6-6341-8116 |
Click here for further details about the SSO's performance in Japan.
7. Australian Film Festival
Co-organised by the National Film Centre, Tokyo and the Australian Film Commission, this programme will show approximately 30 films from 3 different eras, i.e., the silent era the representative work of which is The Sentimental Bloke (1919), the so-called "Australian Film Renaissance" of the 1970s when master directors such as Peter Weir started filmmaking, and recent titles.
| Screening: | 3-29 October
Tuesday-Friday: screenings from 15:00 & 19:00 (3 October: Screening from 19:00 only)
Saturday, Sunday and Public holidays: screenings from 13:00 & 16:00
For 7 and 14 October there will be a lecture from 13:00 and the screenings are from 11:00 & 17:00 |
| Venue: | Cinema 1, The National Film Center, Tokyo |
| Website: | www.momat.go.jp/english/nfc |
| Contact: | The National Film Center, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo |
| Tel: | +81-3-3561-0823 |
Click here for further details about "Australian Film Festival".
8. "Great Australia" - Masaaki Aihara Photo Exhibition
A photography exhibition by Masaaki Aihara will highlight the Australian landscape and colour variations through a series of panoramic photos.
Click here for further details about "Great Australia", Masaaki Aihara Photo Exhibition.
9. Prism: Contemporary Australian Art Exhibition at the Bridgestone Museum of Art
A major exhibition of works of top indigenous and non- indigenous Australian artists. The aim of this exhibition is to discover a new Australia, not known to Japanese, as seen through the prism of 35 leading Australian contemporary artists with broad cultural backgrounds.
| Exhibition Dates: | 7 October-3 December |
| Opening hours: | Tue-Sat 10:00-20:00
Sun/Public holidays 10:00-18:00
*Closed on 10, 16, 23, 30 October, 6, 13, 20, 27 November |
| Venue: | Bridgestone Museum of Art |
| Website: | www.bridgestone-museum.gr.jp/en |
| Contact: | Bridgestone Museum of Art, Tokyo |
Click here for further details about "Prism".
10. Chef Scott Webster's Australian Food Fair
Australia is one of the most renowned countries for innovative cuisine. This Australia food fair showcases a variety of genuine Australian cuisine using beef, lamb and other Australian produce.
Click here for further details about "Australian Food Fair".
11. Study in Australia Fair
The Study in Australia Fair provides an opportunity for prospective students to receive one-on-one counselling from Australian institution representatives and advice from former students.
Click here for further details about the event.
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