Author: Peter

Autumn has arrived and it is time to hit the trails again!

For starters, I would like to offer a guided tour along the Daibutsu trail, which is probably the most popular hiking route around Kamakura.

We will meet on Saturday, October 29 at the north exit of Kita-Kamakura Station (near Engaku-ji temple).

Please take along your own lunch and maybe a plastic sheet to sit upon.

For further details please refer to the attachment.

If you are interested, please let us know as soon as possible. https://swissclubtokyo.com/contact/

Fellow Swiss Roger Mottini contributes on a regular basis with Swiss-Japan related essays in the OAG-Notizen (monthly publication of the OAG or Deutsche Gesellschaft für Natur- und Völkerkunde Ostasiens).

Please check our his most recent article (in German) on the war between Japan and Russia (1904/05), seen through the eyes of Swiss military observer Colonel Fritz Gertsch.

You can also find past publications by Roger Mottini via the following link:

https://oag.jp/people/roger-mottini/

The wait is over!

Registration for “COLORISSIMO” – the Year End Party of the SCCIJ and the Swiss Club Tokyo – is now open.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet and mingle with (fellow) Swiss people and friends of Switzerland in a glamorous and fun atmosphere with great food, musical entertainment and the chance to win some fabulous prizes!

For details and application, please open the attached link, select the “register here” button and follow instructions.

https://www.sccij.jp/events/yep-2022/

Looking forward to seeing you at the party!

No doubt last year was quite a challenge: it was difficult to meet in person, events and activities had to be cancelled, and in the end it was only the hikes and a few Stammtisch gatherings that gave our club a semblance of “life”.

Being cautiously optimistic, I believe we can go ahead planning some of our regular events. The Stammtisch is definitely on again, and we are slowly getting ready for the Annual General Meeting, which is scheduled for June 8, 18:00 at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo (the AGM is a “members only” event, but it is of course possible to join the club on that occasion).

On Sunday, May 15, we successfully launched our new activity, the Family Picnic at a riverside park in Futako Tamagawa. Like the “Hikes”, the Family Picnic is meant to be a casual gathering where you bring your own food and drinks. The main purpose is to give families with a Swiss background a chance to get together, share and exchange. This being said, anybody is welcome to join.

With the KEIO Floral Garden Ange no longer in operation, we had to look for a new venue for our National Day Celebration. It was not easy to find something suitable that offers a nice setting at a reasonable rate. After careful consideration, we decided to try out the Yokohama Country and Athletic Club this year. The party is scheduled for Saturday, July 30 (save the date!).

I will of course continue offering nature walks in the beautiful surroundings of Kamakura, but I am not sure I can make it one more time before the rainy season and the summer heat.

Also, a “Year End Party” is in the making! The definite date is yet to be decided, but we are working together with the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry to offer a party in the “old” format with lots of fun and entertainment. There are some other ideas for activities that haven’t taken shape yet. We will keep you posted on developments.
So please stay tuned!

Fellow Swiss Club Member Elena Laghi, who is very active on social media, has posted a very nice article on our hiking experiences in and around Kamakura.

Japan Virtual Tours – Four Amazing Hiking Trails in Kamakura With the Swiss Club Tokyo

Elena has been on all the excursion we currently offer in the Kamakura area. Enjoy her article and find out more about her experiences and impressions.

Also, on her webpage you find a plethora of information that might be of interest for you. Check it out!

And here some photos of the hikes:

Daibutsu Trail

Kinubari Yama Trail

Tennen Trail

Trail to Takatori Yama

The Culture Section of the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo has released a new event calendar:

Cherry Picking

Dear Readers of SWISS CULTURE IN JAPAN,

We are delighted to present to you the spring 2022 edition of our event calendar. The new film of Japan-based Swiss director Roger Walch, “ANAÏS”, is on the front cover.

Cross-border restrictions remain a challenge for cultural exchanges, yet inspiring Swiss events are flourishing in Tokyo and beyond this season once again. From Max Frisch to Christian Marclay, from architecture to classical music, high quality is the keyword this season. In addition, we selected a few online offerings (podcasts, festivals, literary platforms, etc.) for the pleasure of digital wanderers. Happy cherry picking!