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Please allow me to extend this heartfelt invitation to you for our upcoming Swiss Alumni Sakura event, a premiere at our brand-new Consulate.

As we celebrate the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Switzerland, and the 50th anniversary of Heidi animation in 2024, our goal is to bring together the extensive network of over 1000 Alumni from Swiss schools and universities. Join us in this memorable year as we relish Swiss delicious food & drinks, marvel at the enchanting Sakura, and strengthen connections within the Swiss Alumni network! A wonderful chance to reunite (see recap and impressions of last year’s event)!!

Event Details

Location: Consulate of Switzerland, Swissnex in Japan, Umeda Shinmichi Bldg. 1F, 1-1-5 Dojima, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0003 (Access)

Date and time: Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 14:00 – 17:00

Cost: Free; registration required

Event page: www.swissnex.org/japan/event/swiss-alumni-sakura-2024

Registration: https://forms.gle/yefJpTTSM2fdjino9

Dress Code: smart casual

Kindly secure your spot early, as the number of guests is limited. 

Registered Alumni will receive further details prior to the event. For questions, please contact Minami, Head of Academic Relations at minami.kotani@swissnex.org

Background

The Consulate of Switzerland, Swissnex in Japan follows the tradition of Swiss Alumni gatherings of our Swissnex colleagues in the US (Boston and San Francisco), China (Shanghai), India (Bangalore), and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). Swissnex is the global network connecting Switzerland and the world in education, research, and innovation. Our mission is to support the outreach and active engagement of our partners in the international exchange of knowledge, ideas and talent. We thereby contribute to strengthening Switzerland’s profile as a world-leading innovation hotspot.

While enjoying Swiss delicacies and beautiful Sakura during peak season in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Nara, Alumni from Swiss schools and universities will get to bond with their chapters, to exchange ideas, build connections and share latest news. We look forward to your presence at this special Swiss Alumni Sakura gathering!

Please also kindly share this invitation in your Alumni peers.

With warm regards, 

   — Felix Moesner

• Agenda for the 45th AGM of the Swiss Society of the Kansai
• Minutes of the 44rd AGM of March 4, 2023, held at the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club, Kobe
• Annual report of the Committee for the year 2023
• Treasurer’s report for 2023 and Budget Proposal for 2024
• Auditor report for 2023
• Events Calendar 2024

See the flier for details, and contact the organizers for inquires.

About the organist:

Kazuki Tomita 

was born in Osaka and studied the organ at the Osaka College of Music under Kaoru Dobashi, as well as under Arvid Gast and Hans-Jürgen Schnoor at the Lübeck Academy of Music in Germany. 
Specializing in baroque music, he has appeared in many concerts in Japan and abroad, and also introduced pipe organs on YouTube.
He is a member of the Japan Organist Association, a part-time lecturer at Osaka College of Music and he belongs to Office Forte.
He was awarded the Sakuya Konohana Prize (by the city of Osaka for young artists) and the Music Critic Clubs Prize (Japanese Organisation of Musicians in Kansai). He became known to a wider audience through the TV documentary Jounetsu Tairiku about his studies in Germany (MBS 2016). 
He has also appeared in the documentary program “Jounetsu Tairiku” (Continent of Passion).
In 2016, he became the first Japanese to win first prize, as well as the audience award, at the 20th edition of the International Johann-Sebastian-Bach Competition in Leipzig.

We are very pleased to introduce the special entertainment presentation for our upcoming Swiss National Day Party. This year the presentation will be by Samurai Artist named KAMUI, who will be performing the THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI.

About Samurai Artist named KAMUI

The Samurai Artist named KAMUI was formed by Tetsuro Shimaguchi in 1998. KAMUI gives performances which mix beauty of form with acting, and martial arts.

In Japan, they perform their own live shows, as well as appearing in theatrical performances, movies and other events. They also teach and choreograph sword fighting scenes for both movies and the stage. Past performances include live stage appearances with Meijiza and CHIKYU GORGEOUS, films by Japanese director Masahiko Makino, and promotional videos of popular musicians.

KAMUI actively collaborate with different genres artists, from Japanese traditional arts such as Kabuki, Noh, Kyogen, Wadaiko, Shakuhachi, and Shamisen to foreign arts such as classical ballet dance, orchestra music, rock music, trance music and break dance.

In oversea activities, the leader of KAMUI, Tetsuro Shimaguchi choreographed the sword fighting scenes in the movie KILL BILL vol.1, and performed as CRAZY88-MIKI.

After the success of KILL BILL, KAMUI has seen highly regarded international performances: At the Kennedy Center (2005), at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (in 2006 and 2008), at the Teatro Della Pergola and Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy (2010), at the Japan Expo in Paris (2011), at the Blue Note Poznan Jazz Club in Poland (2013), and at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia (2015) among others.

The leader of KAMUI, Tetsuro Shimaguchi created THE WAY of SAMURAI named KENGIDO, and opened dojos to teach KENGIDO in Japan, America and Europe. This activity to introduce Japanese SAMURAI culture has attracted the attention of mass media all around the world.

About Tetsuro Shimaguchi

Tetsuro Shimaguchi was born in Saitama prefecture in Japan and graduated from Nihon University College of Arts. After getting his start in theater activities such as kabuki, he established “Kengishu KAMUI”. He is a “SAMURAI ARTIST” pursuing Kengido, which mixes beauty of form, with acting, and martial arts.

His major accomplishments as an actor include performing as Crazy 88’s “MIKI”, as well as directing the choreography in “KILL BILL Vol. 1” a film by Quentin Tarantino. Among other achievements, he led the KAMUI Tour in the US including a performance in the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; “CHANBARA”, “SAMURAI SPIRIT” performances in Edinburgh; European tours in places such as Teatre della Pergola in Italy, and at the Hermitage Museum in Russia, in addition to dinner shows around the world in Hyatt Hotels and Sheraton Hotels, and at the Armani Hotel in Dubai. He has also performed main roles in short movies.

He also choreographed performances in Meijiza, “CLAUDIA”, “HUMANITY”, and “HOSHINO DAICHI NI FURU NAMIDA” performed by Chikyu Gorgeous, and “JIROCHO-SANGOKUSHI” a film by Masahiko Makino.

Currently, media networks in the US and Europe feature his works, and he advocates for the promotion of SAMURAI culture.

He has a certification as a master of Nanaougi-ryu classical Japanese dance, and he excels in Shinkageryu-Kenjutsu and Karate. In 2012, he established the original samurai dojo “KENGIDO”.

About KENGIDO

KENGIDO integrates martial arts (sword play) and performing arts (Japanese traditional stage performances); it creates a unique and innovative discipline while learning from traditions.

The original method, KENGIDO, has the primary theme of “communication,” and the leader, Tetsuro Shimaguchi, teaches the techniques and mental attitudes of KENGIDO from the beginning in a careful manner.

Practitioners of KENGIDO may have the opportunity to join tours and theater performances by KAMUI, not only in Japan but overseas, and to perform in front of audiences in many countries.

There are no requirements or limitations to entry, including experience, age, gender, or nationality. All are welcome. 

Festival de la Francophonie dans le Kansai 2023 à Kobe

Our dear member, Mr. Daniel Aviolat, will be giving the welcome speech at this event which is also actively supported by the Swiss Embassy.

Please check the link above for the details of the program.

Below are the official documents for the 44th Annual General Meeting of the Swiss Society of the Kansai, which will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 6PM.

• Agenda for the 44th AGM of the Swiss Society of the Kansai
• Minutes of the 43rd AGM of March 12, 2022, held at the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club, Kobe
• Annual report of the Committee for the year 2022
• Treasurer’s report for 2022 and Budget Proposal for 2023
• Events Calendar 2023

The minutes for this year’s meeting:

• Minutes 44th AGM – March 4 2023

Flamenco Dancer Benito Garcia

The performance will also include a female dancer, guitar and a cantaora (a female singer).

Just one more reason to join our event.

See you there

• Agenda for the 43rd AGM of the Swiss Society of the Kansai
• Minutes of the 42nd AGM of March 12, 2021, held at the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club, Kobe
• Annual report of the Committee for the year 2021
• Treasurer’s report for 2021 and Budget Proposal for 2022
• Events Calendar 2022

Here the minutes of the meeting

• Minutes of the 43 AGM of March 12, 2022, held at the Kobe Regatta & Athletic Club, Kobe

• Agenda for 42nd AGM 2021
• Minutes of the 41st Annual General Meeting of March 6, 2020
• Annual Report of Activities for Year 2020
• Treasurer’s Report for 2020 and Budget for 2021
• Events Calendar 2021
• Member Movements 2020

Update March 15: Below are the minutes of the meeting.

• SSOK – Minutes 42nd AGM – March 12 2020