Japanese Pop-culture Workshop

Posted July 30th, 2015 in Perth WA | No Comments »

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Love another side of Japan?  If  you like Japanese anime, you may enjoy some cosplay experience.

Personally I like cosplay!  I wouldn’t do too much skin-showing, but I love to dress up in a totally different character.  🙂  That’d be fun!

There was a cosplay show at Japan Festival (I wrote about this festival here and here), so I know there’re some cosplay-lovers in Perth too.  For some people, cosplay may sound wicked, but I bet everyone has dreamed about being someone else once?

cosplay

Kids cosplay is so cute.

On 22nd August 2015, there will be Japanese Pop-culture introduction workshop in City Beach where you can experience the cosplay world and also get some tips about how and what.  There will also be a workshop for Manga drawing as well.  I remember drawing manga when I was a teenager :p  I was so into it and I still like drawing.

 

When:
22nd August 2015,  14:00 – 15:30

Where:
Hyogo Cultural Centre in City Beach

Admission:
$5  (Free tea & coffee, cookies are included)
Free entry for Hyogo members

– Attack on Titan Levi cosplay by Lecturer
– Asian ball joined doll (by Volks Japan) exhibit
– Manga character drawing workshop (please bring your own drawing materials)

For more information or to book, please contact Hyogo Cultural Centre at
[email protected]

 

 


My weird personality – Blood type AB & Pisces

Posted July 28th, 2015 in Ume's Thought | No Comments »

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I’ve lived over 30 years and I sure know it is my personality, but it’s really tiring to keep asking myself – “am I doing enough??!”

Ever since I was a teenager, I couldn’t have more than 2 hours of sitting down relaxing doing nothing.  I tend to think I’m wasting time if I’m not doing / achieving anything, and if I think I wasn’t really productive that day I feel upset at the end of the day and that makes me feel bad.  I do want to relax and have at least one day thinking nothing at all, but I can’t!  Is anyone like me? :-I

Now, I’m a full-time mum and spend most of my time with kids everyday around the house.  If you are a parent, you know being with kids uses lots of energy and at the end of the day I’m exhausted.  I do home business (Bagelier) on occasional bases, and I think I do housework pretty well… I try to keep house as tidy as possible, and cook breakfast, lunch & dinner almost everyday.

But, I still feel that I need to do something.  😮

After kids sleep, I often recall what happened on the day.  I “know” I should just forget about everything and relax on the couch watching some movie, but I just “can’t”.

Hmm I’m losing the point why I’m writing this…  I guess I just wanted to write down what I’m feeling.  I want to be with kids as much as possible and I know after my little one starts going to school I will have plenty of time doing “something”, so I will have to wait that for another few years.  I should be enjoying this moment and should think I’m doing things that I should be doing.  If I can really think so, I will be all relaxed and just enjoy my alone time  🙂

 


Colour of Wonder – Kitta Workshop & Exhibition

Posted July 22nd, 2015 in Perth WA | No Comments »

Kitta

A friend of mine is organising this wonderful workshop & exhibition of her creation here in Perth in August (next month!).  Places for the workshops are LIMITED! ↓↓

kitta

– ” Kitta creates fabrics and clothes dyed using natural Japanese techniques. Based in Okinawa, they specialise in the use of Ryukyu Indigo. This August, Kitta will visit Perth to exhibit a variety of their creations and run workshops that will show you their dyeing techniques.” –

At the workshops, you will be experiencing her world of “colour” dyeing.  It is a Japanese method of dyeing, and is truly unique and beautiful.

kitta kitta2

Colour of Wonder Facebook page

DATE: 22 – 23rd August 2015

PLACE: Pollard Designs studio (2 Otway place, Bedfordale 6112 WA)

Contact: [email protected]

<Workshop >
22-23rd August
kitta 2 days Japanese style natural plant dyeing work shop at Pollard studio (Bedfordale)
http://pollarddesigns.com/
You can choose to create a Dress, a Wrap-around Skirt, or a Bag.
The workshop will take place over two days – the first day for dyeing and the second day for sewing. (The finalcolour will depend on the materials chosen, the weather and
other factors).

(time schedule)
●22nd Saturday
10:00-Meet at Pollard Designs studio.
Bush walking to see nature color in the bush.
11:00-Start making color vat in the fire.
12:00-Japanese style Lunch
13:00-Explanation of the process of dyeing.
kitta’s slide show and Sawa’s guitar performance.
14:00-Begin dyeing
17:00-end of the first day

●23rd Sunday
10:00-Meet at Pollard Designs studio.
Beginning of hand sewing.
12:00-Japanese style Lunch
13:00-Sewing continues (if you finish early you can try
another experience of dyeing)
16:00-slide show about Japanese Ryukyu indigo
17:00-end of the work shop

(Work shop Fee)
●$300 for 2 days workshop including Japanese style lunch, materials (wrap skirt ,dress or bag ), tea and coffee.

(Things you should bring for the work shop)
●An apron and hat that is okay to get dirty

(Booking)
●All enquiries about enrolments please Email to
[email protected]

<Exhibition>

15-28th August
Kitta Exhibition at Poteau (North Fremantle)
http://www.poteauselect.com/
Kitta Exhibition opening is held on 15th August.

 

 

I’m sure you will have a beautiful experience over these two days!!!  Please note there are only 3 seats left for the workshop…  secure yours now!

 

 


Say Hi to Robots When Staying in Japan

Posted July 22nd, 2015 in Japan, Ume's Interests | No Comments »

Henn-na (weird) Hotel….  This new hotel has just opened its door this month in Nagasaki in Japan.  As the name suggests, this hotel is not an ordinal hotel at all -it is staffed completely by robots!

You will be greeted by humanoid robots & a robot dinosaur at reception.  Functional droids are on hand to cart luggage to the hotel’s 72 rooms, staff luggage lockers and clean as well.  Guestroom doors are accessed by facial-recognition technology, and at the end of the stay guests pay on the machine at the front-desk.

This hotel is not only about having robots, it’s more about being environmentally friendly.  This is an official hotel of Nagasaki Huis Ten Bosch amusement park, and this park was opened in 1992 as an “Eco-Friendly Future City.”

The concept of this hotel needed to be environmentally friendly, including buildings and facilities.  Plus, they wanted to create a hotel featuring contrivances to provide a comfortable, even fun stay at a reasonable price. To achieve this, there are several unique features at this hotel, including… ↓

– Guest rooms do not have refrigerators.

– Guests can watch television on a tablet device.

– All rooms feature a cutting-edge “radiant panel” air conditioning system which will detect body heat in rooms and adjust the temperature.

– Keyless Stay

– No pyjamas, bathrobes etc are provided.

I think, considering the concept of this hotel and also seeing the very reasonable pricing, this sounds like a great place to stay (and visiting Huis Ten Bosch amusement park would be a bonus).  I’m sure my 4-year-old son will love being greeted by a robot dinosaur!

Huis Ten Bosch

Henn-na Hotel’s website is simple and looks easy to follow.

The hotel is currently in its first phase. A second stage is due to be completed in 2016 adding an additional 72 rooms.


New & Old …

Posted July 15th, 2015 in Japan | No Comments »

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Kyoto, seventh largest city in Japan, is one of the popular tourists’ destination in Japan and is my most favourite city of all.  I love the character, history and the uniqueness of this city! My hometown is quite close to Kyoto and I used to go out a lot to Osaka & Kyoto area while I lived in Japan.  When people ask me where to visit in Japan, I always say Kyoto because there are so many things to see and experience there – lots of temples, shrines, beautiful old cities and delicious Kyoto food.

While visiting Kyoto, if you are lucky you may encounter with real Maiko-san (an apprentice geiko (not exactly same as geisha) in Kyoto).  I’ve visited Kyoto so many times but I’ve only seen the real one once.  Don’t mistake real Maiko-san with people dressed up like Maiko-san.  It’s one of popular activities in Kyoto for tourists to dress up like Maiko and wonder around the city!  I’ve seen foreign people taking photos with tourists in kimono :p

I’m flying back to Japan next year for holiday and I’d like to take my sons to Kyoto if we have a chance.  Wonder around Kamogawa River, Arashiyawa and Gion… That would be relaxing.  And if we are lucky we may find Maiko-san hurrying to work.  If we are really really lucky, we may get to see this … ↓

CJeER8EUcAAGhAy

It’s kinda funny to see Maiko-san commuting on an electric vehicle but I guess it’s more practical than walking or riding a bicycle as they have to keep their outfit and make-up nice and tidy for work.  Some Maiko-san use “walking bicycle” or “Segway” which is quite cool.  New generation, really. But I still like the old fashion way! Haha