JANE EYRE

Dear IWA members and friends, July 2012 Just a short note to tell you that the move JANE EYRE has finally come to Akita City, Forus Cinema. It will be showing from Saturday 18 August to Friday 31st August. This is a new take on the old story written by Charlotte Bronte. It was directed by Mr Cari Joji Fukunaga. Starring Mia Wasikowska as Jane Eyre, Michael Fassbender as Mr Rochester and Judi Dench as the Housekeeper. This is a beautifully produced film and I am sure all members will love it! Since this is a very short window at the cinema for viewing and as many of our members are away on holiday, I am suggesting that later on in October we have a film afternoon with Potluck lunch and enjoy this film together with a background presentation by myself. Please check the IWA blog later on for further information and dates. Thank you.

talk on Rwanda 25th Meetng of IWA

The 25th Meeting on Friday 6th July 2012, of the International Women’s Association was attended by 9 members and guests. Mrs Morizono’s talk on RWANDA was most informative and the computer photographs were wonderful. Mrs Morizono explained that she was not too keen on visiting Rwanda after hearing negative stories of genocide and seeing the movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’. Also, Mrs M wondered if she would be able to endure the travelling time to this central African country. Travelling from Japan to Amsterdam first and then taking a 9 hour direct flight. There was also the question of the vaccinations that were needed for the trip. Hepatitis A/Yellow Fever and because of the side effects from the Malaria vaccine she and her husband declined that one. However, whilst seriously considering this journey of a life time…their friends and connection in Rwanda had bought them 2 tickets for the Gorilla Mountain National Park. (Each ticket costing US$500). So, after a visit to the Rwanda Embassy in Setagaya, Tokyo…they were off! It was February 2012 and quite cold on arrival at the capital Kigali, Rwanda airport. Being a very small central country of 10 million, 60% are Catholic/Protestant and 1% Islam and other native religions. Tea and Coffee is produced and exported widely. The eco-tourist Industry is growing and there are so many visitors now to visit the Gorillas at the Gorilla Park, that only 80 visitors are allowed each day in parties of 10 each and only in the mornings for 1 ½ hours for each group. There are now 700 Gorillas living in the Volanos area between Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. There were certain rules to observe during the visiting time 1. No eye contact 2. No flash photography 3. No coughing to keep germs at bay 4. Should the Gorillas approach, quietly walk away. It seems that through DNA research these Mountain Gorillas are 97% from the same route as human beings, which separated 8 million years ago. Mrs M explained that during the tour one of the baby Gorillas came down from the bamboo trees and came right up to touch her knee. She was so moved by this act that she felt like it was being with her own grandson! A most wonderful experience. The Silverback Gorillas were so fascinating to watch and be with. In 1994 1 million people 10% of the population were massacred using axes, knives over a period of 100 days of ethnic cleansing. Tensions between the Tutsi clan who were the minority and the Hutu, the majority clan, who came to power in the rebellion in 1958-62. It is now very peaceful and very safe to walk out alone at night. The cities are very clean and the climate is very temperate with little humidity. The infrastructural investment is made by China. There are many varieties of vegetables like beans, potatoes, river fish, beef and lots of bananas. Each day was spent enjoying the amazing countryside and the safari viewing elephants, zebra, giraffe and many more fantastic animals. IWA thanked Mrs M for her wonderful talk and a very delicious potluck supper was enjoyed by all afterwards.

the 25th meeting on RWANDA

Dear members and friends of the International Women’s Association in Akita, it is wonderful news that our speaker will be available for her talk on RWANDA on FRIDAY 6th JULY at 7 p.m. at 7-7-11 Motomachi, Goshono. This will be the 25th meeting of the IWA. We hope to get together after such a long absence and enjoy a pot luck supper together. I do hope we shall have a good following for this very unique talk by one of our very own members. Looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Cancellation of 15 June

ANNOUNCEMENT IWA is sorry to announce that owing to family circumstances our speaker for Friday 15th June has had to return to Tokyo and will be unable to meet us. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and hope that we can all meet soon. ANOTHER bit of information: Our treasurer for the past 3 years is retiring from the role for a while but is continuing to be a member of IWA. We are all very grateful for all her hard work. Thank you!

Report -Coca Cola Factory in Akita

The outing to the Coca Cola Factory in Akita on Wednesday 25th April was very interesting and enjoyable and I would like to share with you our discoveries about Coca Cola… First of all…a little quiz… 1. When did Coca Cola first come to Japan? 2. When was the Akita Coca Cola Factory opened? 3. How many countries are now enjoying Coca Cola around the world? 4. How many Coca Cola drinks are sold in one day around the world? Answers at the end of this report, if you haven’t answered them by then! Mrs It made all the arrangements and we are very thankful to her for arranging a lovely day. Unfortunately, only 5 members came as unexpected family commitments stopped others. The factory is a franchise and has 70 employees and runs 24 hours around the clock on shift work. They have one tour every day. 245,000 bottles are produced in one week. The recipe is top secret and only the Head Office in Atlanta USA knows the ingredients. The water is taken from under the Akita factory and purified and filtered. In one of the huge water tanks there is 20,000 litres. After filtering, the secret syrup is added and then the carbonic fizz is added and the process is well on the way. The famous glass Coca Cola bottle is recycled. At the factory the bottles are washed and sterilized and checked thoroughly for cracks, chips and appearance. This takes a lot of time and energy however, the bottles are traditional and they are used particularly for wedding ceremonies and special occasions as they are still considered attractive on the tables. When the Aquarius Drinks are being made they are heated during their production and to stop condensation the bottles are cooled down slowly in a cooling machine, taking about 20 to 30 minutes. We had a very good guide from Coca Cola who made our tour very enjoyable. At the end of the tour we saw a DVD in English of the production line. Also, we enjoyed a free, chilled, Coca Cola Bottle drink! Answers to the quiz: 1. 1910, during the Taishou Period. 2. Opened in 1972. 3. 200 countries around the world. 4. 1.6 billion drinks a day. We all enjoyed lunch at the wonderful Pork Cutlet Restaurant in Niida.