IWA 30th Meeting

IWA’s 30^th meeting will take place on Thursday 17^th July 2014 from 7.15 p.m. at

7-7-11 Motomachi, Goshono.

IWA is very happy to announce that our speaker for the evening will be Professor Mark Williams, Vice President of AIU Akita.  Professor Williams is well known for his studies and translation work for the famous author Shusaku ENDO.  ‘Endo Sensei’ is known for his literary works and for the famous novel ‘SILENCE’ (Chinmoku) - (1966).  Endo Sensei won the Tanizaka Prize in 1966.  Professor Williams translated ‘The Girl I Left Behind’ (1994) another famous work by Endo Sensei.  Professor Williams has in depth knowledge of the author and I do urge members and friends of IWA not to miss this very unique opportunity to look deeper into this once very famous colourful character, of his time, in Japan.

As we print this announcement, Martin Scorsese together with Daniel Day-Lewis,  Liam Neeson and Ken Watanabe are adapting the novel SILENCE and entering into film production in Hollywood in June 2014.

We shall enjoy a pot-luck supper after the talk and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion after the talk.

Partners and husbands are most welcome.

Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible to Mrs Ichikawa. 

TThe 29th Meeting of IWA Akita at Jizaiya

The 29^th Meeting of the International Women’s Association in Akita was a great success.

JIZAIYA, as usual, was another wonderful day out.  7 members took part.

Starting at 10.45 a.m. from Jizaiya house down the country lanes, passing rice paddies being planted by neighbouring farmers, we made our way through lots of MOUNTAIN VEGETABLES (Sansai) and Mr Kawai explained many points of interest, on how to pick them and on how not to collect the poisonous plants.  We picked quite a lot of sansei for our own tempura treats at home.  On our arrival back at the house Mrs Kawai had cooked a whole selection of foods for us to enjoy.  We all enjoyed listening to Mr Kawai’s stories handed down from his ancestors.

We were able to make DAMAKO (rice ball) SOUP and we could take a lot of the delicious foods home with us so we had no need to cook that evening!

Many thanks for Mrs S for all her arrangements and many thanks to Mr & Mrs Kawai who once again made us so welcome and delighted us all.  THANK YOU.