Australia-Japan Society of NSW upcoming events

Film screening - The Making of a Japanese, with discussion (29 Oct 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT

The Making of a Japanese - free film screening

AJS-NSW, in collaboration with The Japan Foundation, Sydney, is presenting a screening of the documentary "The Making of a Japanese".

The Making of a Japanese is a documentary film that chronicles life at a large Japanese elementary school in suburban Tokyo. Filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki, who herself attended a similar elementary school, distilled over 700 hours of footage taken during the Covid-19 pandemic, into a compelling examination of how Japanese schools cultivate culturally distinct characteristics in young students.

The film follows first- and sixth-grade students across a full academic year. By observing daily rituals—morning greetings, lunch service, cleaning duties, assemblies—the filmmaker says she sought to document the subtle mechanisms of socialization that operate beneath the surface of formal education and are formative for the Japanese national character.

The film has received numerous awards, and a shorter adaptation entitled Instruments of a Beating Heart, received a nomination for Best Documentary Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards. For more information about the film see here: LINK.

Prior to the screening, we will have a brief introduction to the Japanese education system, with two teachers, one Japanese, and one Australian returned JET who taught in Japanese elementary schools. (Details to be confirmed).

The film runs for 90 minutes. The event is free but seats are limited and registration is essential.

This is another event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan.

Spring in Sydney 2026: Australia-Japan Harbourside Reception (05 Nov 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Spring in Sydney 2026:

Australia-Japan Harbourside Reception

Thursday NOVEMBER 5 2026

SIGN UP NOW FOR EARLYBIRD TICKETS

Building on the success of our past two Spring in Sydney events, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation (the NARA Treaty), AJS-NSW and co-host the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sydney (JCCI Sydney) invite you to join us for a cocktail reception dedicated to strengthening the vital business ties between Australia and Japan.

Join senior members of the Australian and Japanese business communities for an evening of networking and conversation on Sydney Harbour.

Set at Campbell’s Stores in The Rocks, with views across the harbour towards the Sydney Opera House, the reception will bring together business executives, government representatives, and industry leaders from Sydney's Australia-Japan community.

Enjoy

Three-hour premium food and beverage package
Premium Australian wines
Japanese and Australian beers
Substantial canapés and roaming cocktail-style service

Who Will Attend

Australia-Japan business leaders
Senior corporate and industry representatives
Government representatives
AJS-NSW and JCCI Sydney members
Sponsors, partners and community leaders

Hosted by AJS-NSW and JCCI Sydney, with support from the Japanese Society of Sydney Inc.

Early bird tickets are now available, sign up quickly to ensure your place. Register and pay online (secure entry of credit card details via Paypal, Paypal membership not required), or register online and then pay to our bank account.

AJS-NSW AGM 2026 (08 Dec 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Annual General Meeting 2026

SAVE the DATE - ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting of Members of the Australia Japan Society of NSW Incorporated will be held on Tuesday 8 December 2026 at 6.00pm, at The Japan Foundation, Sydney.

More details will follow in due course, including the AGM papers.

We expect to have a guest speaker and networking refreshments to follow the meeting.