JADC 08

JADC 2ND MEETING
Meeting commenced at 2.30pm on 28th June 2008 at JADC’s premise.

JADC website
The JADC website for now is rather monochrome. Therefore some changes were suggested by members.
There were comments on the chatbox. Wai Keet disagrees and suggests that changes to be done to it. The change suggested was to remove the chatbox as it takes up quite a lot of space. Next are recommendations by members on what to add to the website. Ads bar, a link to Gamespot, a gaming website for news, reviews, downloads and other information. There was also a suggestion to link the JADC gallery to the Sketch Team’s Deviant Art galleries. A preview of their work may be shown in the JADC gallery. For now it has been decided that the website will be kept at a simple design, but works will be done to make it more attractive in the near future.

Nihongo class
Suggest to Sensei that no mother tongue should be spoken during Nihongo class, in order to help students pick up the language faster. Only allow the mother tongue to be spoken at the Basic 1 class where translation is needed more.

Club Tshirt
The club t-shirt has already been decided and the only thing left is to amend the height of the picture.

Plushie
Wai Keet mentioned that he is able to get help from his friend about making a plushie out of our mascot. Please comment.

Calendar
The front of the calendar has also been decided. This artwork is by Shuet Ling aka Kyu Erien.

Bookmarks
Bookmarks will be taken over by Yuki.

The next meeting will be held on 19TH JULY 2008.

With no other matters, the meeting was adjourned at 4.30pm

Hey guys,

Apart from having Japanese classes going on (we have 1 class on Sunday, at the moment) and some events preparation or going for events,
y not use the base for some regular activities?

Some suggested we could have gaming sessions.....PS2 (PS3), wii, xbox?

Maybe some come together drawing day?

...C'mon lads...
suggest some

Hey guys,

I'll be starting to prepare some bookmarks, arts etc for UM event on the coming Saturday (5/7/08)
Those who would like to help, please come at 2pm....


Pls support!!

Hey Guys!!!

We are going to have a 2nd meeting at JADC base, 47, ss2/6 near tmn bahagian station (can refer to the map)
at 12.30pm

Pls reply to akihito_tan@hotmail.com if you are attending...
Lunch is provided...
Either Pizza or KFC...not decided yet...prob will end up getting domino though


Anyway, discussion this meeting are:
1) follow up project > Taylors & UM
2) get to know each other
3) Introducing some activities there are in JADC
4) Creating more activities in JADC
5) Library
6) etc etc etc

As we all know the Bon Odori Festival 2008 is coming up. What most of us know is that it IS A FESTIVAL, but do you really know what is the festival all about? what do people do there? what is the occasion for the festival? why do the Japanese celebrate this festival even though they are so far from home? Here's a brief history on the festival.

Obon (お盆, Obon) or just Bon (盆, Bon) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves. It has existed in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.

The festival of Obon lasts for three days; however its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. When the lunar calendar was changed to the solar calendar in the beginning of the Meiji era, the localities in Japan reacted differently and this resulted in three different times of Obon. "Shichigatsu Bon" (Bon in July) is based on the solar calendar and is celebrated around the 15th of July in areas such as Tokyo, Yokohama and Tohoku region. "Hachigatsu Bon" (Bon in August) is based on the solar calendar, is celebrated around the 15th of August and is the most commonly celebrated time. "Kyu Bon" (Old Bon) is celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and so differs each year. "Kyu Bon" is celebrated in areas like the northern part of the Kantō region, Chūgoku, Shikoku, Kyūshū and the Southwestern islands. These three days are not listed as public holidays but it is customary that people are given leave.

Bon Odori (盆踊り, meaning simply Bon dance) is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratefulness one should feel toward one's ancestors.
Originally a Nenbutsu folk dance to express the effusive welcome for the spirits of the dead, the style of celebration varies in many aspects from region to region. Each region has a respective local Bon dance, as well as different music accompanying the dance. The music can be songs specifically pertinent to the spiritual message of Obon, or local min'yo folk songs. Consequently, the Bon dance will look and sound different from region to region. Hokkaidō, or northern Japan, is known for a folk-song known as "Soran Bushi." The song "Tokyo Ondo" takes its namesake from the capital of Japan. "Goshu Ondo" is a folk song from Shiga prefecture. Residents of the Kansai area will recognize the famous "Kawachi ondo." Tokushima in Shikoku is very famous for its "Awa Odori," or "fool's dance," and in the far south, one can hear the "Ohara Bushi" of Kagoshima, Kyūshū.

The dance of a region can depict the area's history and specialization. For example, the movements of the dance of the Tankō Bushi (the "coal mining song") of old Miike Mine in Kyūshū show the movements of miners, i.e. digging, cart pushing, lantern hanging, etc. All dancers perform the same dance sequence in unison.

There are other ways in which a regional Bon dance can vary. Some dances involve the use of different kinds of fans, others involve the use of small towels called tenugui which may have colorful designs. Some require the use of small wooden clappers, or "kachi-kachi" during the dance. The "Hanagasa Odori" of Yamagata is preformed with a straw hat that has been decorated with flowers.
source from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bon_Odori#Bon_Odori

The Bon Odori Festival is celebrated in other parts of the world as well like in Canada, United States, Malaysia, China and Brazil

In Malaysia, Bon Odori Festivals are also celebrated every year in Penang and at the Matsushita Corp Stadium in Shah Alam, Selangor. This celebration, which is a major attraction for the state of Selangor, is the brain child of the Japanese Expatriate & Immigrant's Society in Malaysia. In comparison to the celebrations in Japan, the festival is celebrated on a much smaller scale in Penang and Selangor, and is less associated with Buddhism and more with Japanese culture. Held mainly to expose locals to a part of Japanese culture, the festival provides the experience of a variety of Japanese food & drinks, art and dance.


this is a good experience for you guyz who have not been or heard of such a festival. I didn't know such a festival existed until last year (2007) a friend got me to join as a participant. A truly enjoyable experience.