JAPANESE DAY

The theme of the October meeting was Japanese Day, an annual event on the calendar which focusses on some aspect of Japanese culture. This year the focus was on Wagashi (Japanese sweets) and Chabana (Tea Flowers). 

            

Our guest speaker was Minako Asai, the owner and chef of Minnie Sweets, a specialist company that makes traditional Japanese sweets, that are usually served with Japanese tea, Matcha. 

In her presentation Ms Asai emphasised the importance of Japanese aesthetics that goes into the making of these sweets, pointing out that we first eat with our eyes before we put them in our mouths.

Ms Asai demonstrated the complex methods and specialist tools used for making this beautifully crafted confectionary. 
Below are some examples of the Wagashi she made at the meeting.

     

As usual members created ikebana responding to the meetings theme.

Christopher James, Sogetsu School

Jenny Loo, Sogetsu School

Kim Ng, Ohara School

Josephine Tan, Ohara School

Lee Johnstone, Sogetsu School

Rachel Lok, Shogetsudo koryu School

Akemi Suzuki, Sogetsu School

Margaret Wilson, Sogetsu School

Reiko Ito, Sogetsu School

Beverley Webster, Sogetsu School

Margaret Leung, Sogetsu School

Anne Conrick, Ohara School

Greta Young, Sogetsu School

Emily Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School

Betty Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School

Toula Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School

Helen Marriott, Shogetsudo Koryu School

Kaye Wong, Ichiyo School

2019 ANNUAL EXHIBITION

The 2019 annual exhibition of the Melbourne Chapter was held over four days, Thursday to Sunday, in a vacant retail space in District Docklands, on the west side of the Melbourne central business district. The space was very large being approximately 10 metres X 16 metres. Because of the size of the space it was possible for the thirty one participating members to exhibit at the same time.

On the setup day the space was a hive of activity

Members set individual and collaborative works. 

Unfortunately the configuration of the space and the use of our Shoji screens made a photograph of the whole exhibition in one view impossible.

An invitation only, formal opening of the exhibition was held on the first evening. The Chapter President Mrs Trish Ward welcomed Mr Shota TOHARA, the Vice Consul of Japan, who gave a short speech and formally opened the exhibition. 

Below are photographs of the works in the exhibition.

Akemi Suzuki, Sogetsu School.

Angela Chau, Ikenobo School.

Belinda Au, Ohara School.

Chieko Yazaki, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Chiemi Daly, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Christopher James, Sogetsu School.

Emily Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School.

Felicia Huang, Ohara School.

Helen Marriott, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Ivy Loo, Ohara School.

Jenny Loo, Sogetsu School.

Josephine Tan, Ohara School.

Julie Ireland, Sogetsu School.

Katrina Cunningham, Ichiyo School.

Kaye Wong, Ichiyo School.

Kim Louey, Ichiyo School.

Kim Ng, Ohara School.

Lucy Papas, Sogetsu School.

Lyn Wong, Ohara School.

Margaret Leung, Sogetsu School.

Margaret Wilson, Sogetsu School.

Marina Dunn, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Midori Nakajima, Sogetsu School.

Naomi Cullen, Ichiyo School.

Nobuko Kobayashi, Ichiyo School.

Ohara School group exhibit: Felicia Huang, Ivy Loo, Kim Ng, Josephine Tan.

Pearl Yau, Sogetsu School.

Qin Li, Ichiyo School.

Rachel Lok, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Shogetsudo koryu School group exhibit:
Chieko Yazaki, Rachel Lok, Chiemi Daly, Helen Marriott, Marina Dunn. 

Swann Lam, Sogetsu School.

Trish Ward, Sogetsu School.

Yukako Braun, Ikenobo School.

SEPTEMBER OUTING TO RIPPONLEA

In lieu of our regular meeting in September,  27 members enjoyed an outing to the the Ripponlea Estate south of Melbourne's city centre. 

This is a large nineteenth century estate with a 14 acre garden that is managed by the National Trust. The coordinator for the project was Margaret Wilson who liaised with the estate Property Supervisor, Matt Chester. 

On arrival the members were invited to take a self-guided tour of the beautiful pleasure garden.

Although the day was quite cool the sunshine was brilliant.
In the photo: front, Rosemary Farrelly.
Standing, committee members (L - R), Chieko Yazaki, Sally Wilkinson, Anne Conrick.

The iris bed at the edge of the lake.

View of the grotto across the ornamental lake.
Many members of the chapter are keen gardeners and felt uplifted and inspired by walking around this exceptional pleasure garden.

On return to the house members were permitted to make ikebana arrangements in the ballroom. Unfortunately the environment did not lend itself to photography of individual arrangements.