Event Reports 2019

2020/6/4

Event Reports 2019

2019 Autumn Conferment of Decoration

On 3rd November, 2019 (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2019 Autumn Imperial Decorations. Mr Ross David McKinnon AM is among this year’s foreign recipients and, in recognition of his contributions towards introducing Japanese cultures and promoting the understanding of Japan in Australia, he will receive The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.

DECORATION: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
SERVICE: Contributed to introducing Japanese culture and promoting understanding of Japan in Australia
NAME: Ross David McKinnon AM
MAJOR TITLE: Former Curator-in-Charge, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
ADDRESS (NATIONALITY): Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

As Curator-in-Charge of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mr McKinnon recognised the cultural significance of the Japanese Gardens in the Japanese Pavilion at the World Expo 1988 in Brisbane, and played an important role in its preservation and relocation to the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. Since relocation, Mr McKinnon continued to support Japanese cultural groups and events through the use of the gardens, and made great contributions to introducing Japanese culture and promoting the understanding of Japan in Australia.

Japan Week 2019

As part of the Japan Week celebrations for 2019, the annual Japanese Cultural Performances Day was held on Friday 16th at the Queen Street Mall Main Stage. Workshops and performances of Japanese Traditional Dancing and Wadaiko drumming, along with Karate, Shakuhachi and Calligraphy demonstrations were held throughout the day.

On Sunday, 18th August, cultural activities such as Japanese Tea Ceremony, Calligraphy, Ikebana flower arrangement and mochi pounding were on display around the Japanese Garden at Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

Helicopter Destroyer JS ISE in Brisbane

On Sunday, 28 July, 2019, a special tour was conducted for the Japanese Supplementary School of Brisbane and the Gold Coast of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS ISE (DDH182) that was docked in Brisbane. Approximately 400 students and families took this opportunity to observe the ship.

Guided by the ship’s crew, guests enjoyed a ride on the aircraft lift, taking them from inside the ship to the deck where they inspected the ship’s equipment and helicopters, pilothouse and flight operations room. Looking through the captain’s telescope and sitting in the cockpit of the helicopters were just some of the highlights for the children.

There were many eager questions about the ship and activities of both the Japanese Maritime and Ground Self-Defense Forces, to which the crew were very open to providing detailed answers.

The following day, the JS ISE departed Brisbane for their next stop, Papua New Guinea.

Thank you to all the crews of the JMSDF and JGSDF for making everyone feel so welcome and enjoy the tour.

We look forward to your next port of call on Brisbane!

Foreign Minister's Commendation for FY 2019

On July 16, the recipients of the 2019 Foreign Minister’s Commendation were announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The commendation was awarded to 206 individuals and 63 groups or organisations worldwide.

The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and their respective countries. The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for the activities of the recipients.

The Consulate-General of Japan in Brisbane wishes it to be known that the following recipient shall be awarded the Commendation in recognition of his endeavours.

Mr Kojima Eimatsu (also known as Kojima Shuuhou): Calligrapher

Conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays on Ms Akiko Yamada

On the 7th of March, 2019, an Official Imperial Decoration Ceremony and Reception was held at the Consul-General’s Official Residence for the 2018 Autumn Conferment of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays on Ms Akiko Yamada.

As Director of Urasenke Brisbane Liaison Office as well as Director of the Japanese Culture Centre, Ms. Yamada has been recognised for her long-standing contribution to the introduction of Japanese culture in Australia.

New Year's Reception 2019

A New Year Celebration Reception was held at the Consul-General’s Residence on January 31st. About 90 people attended the reception and included representatives from Japan-related associations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, namely the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Japan Club, Japanese Society and various cultural and educational associates.

The reception incorporated washoku (Japanese cuisine) and sake, as well as the ritual of breaking open a wooden sake barrel (Kagami-biraki) as part of cultural promotion.